Reel Big Fish parts ways with Jive Records

Posted by Justin on Friday, January 13, 2006 at 7:05 PM (EST)

Reel Big Fish have parted way with Jive Records. The band released two records (We're Not Happy 'Till You're Not Happy and Cheer Up!) on the label. The band's manager, Vince Pileggi., had this to say:

"The traditional major label business model is a dinosaur whose feet are already covered in tar. We have already been in touch with numerous labels and are actively considering aggressive deals that we hope will be the new industry standard."

Reel Big Fish ended up on Jive's roster in 2001 when the label (through its parent label Zomba) purchased the imprint Mojo Records, to which the band was signed. Through the same process other acts signed to Mojo like Goldfinger found themselves on the label, which was then primarily known for releasing teen-pop and capitalizing on the boy band trend.

The band is in the middle of the Deep Freeze Tour with Goldfinger, Zebrahead and the Bottom Line.

Ska and Reggae (71 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Someone (January 13, 2006)

O wtf If your gonna talk shit about majors, dont be reel big fish.

the_other_scott (January 13, 2006)

i couldn't have said it any better myself

the_other_scott (January 13, 2006)

except that i wouldn't have said "wtf"

AlmostPunkEnough (January 13, 2006)

and you woulda said 'you're' not 'your'. or am i giving you too much credit?

Someone (January 14, 2006)

Your definately not giving "someone" to much credit. (Count the errors!)

the_other_scott (January 14, 2006)

my critques of his post were based on choice of words, not on grammar. p.s. i have a degree in journalism.

adam (January 13, 2006)

This comment from the press release is pretty funny: "Reel Big Fish can now pursue more daring opportunities that didn't fit into the corporate scheme of things and Jive will continue to search for the next big boy-band." -adam

Someone (January 13, 2006)

Hmm, I wonder if the split was amicable. Hard to tell? :)

StormOf59 (January 14, 2006)

I can't really see Jive dying to keep RBF, as they weren't really a top seller.

SalsaShark (January 13, 2006)

I heard the RBF cover of Social D's "Story of My Life" today. Shit, it was terrible. The tone is all goofy, and makes a bit of a mockery of the original song. I hoped for so much more.

joeg (January 13, 2006)

when is RBF's tone not goofy?

Someone (April 25, 2006)

i thought it was a great cover. they took the song and made it their own, and it's not just an upstroke version, they actually took some liberty with it.

Big_Guy (January 13, 2006)

who didn't see this coming? I still like this band a lot, and I hope they get signed by Side One Dummy or something and release something as good as Why Do They Rock So Hard?

tommy_jarvis (January 13, 2006)

Seriously, that is one of my favorite CDs ever. I like their more recent stuff, but both full-lengths since then have been drastic steps towards poopville.

jamespastepunk (January 13, 2006)

Good luck to RBF.

Rudy (January 13, 2006)

Who wants to be on a label with britney spears anyway.

Someone (January 13, 2006)

Don't Start A Band = Don't Sign to a Major?

swingline (January 13, 2006)

i'm just surprised people still care about rbf. it's like i jerked off so hard i threw off the whole space time continum thingamajig and ended up in the year 1997.

adam (January 13, 2006)

Interesting how your genitals are the crux of the whole space-time continuum. You should be more careful. -adam

swingline (January 13, 2006)

they're a really big deal.

ThreeChordsAndTheTruth (January 13, 2006)

If only Doc Brown knew about this back in 1985, it woulda saved on the flux capacitor bill.

Dante3000 (rich) (January 13, 2006)

I did something similar once but instead I woke up in a dumpster outside of Chuck E. Cheese. -Dante

klonny (January 13, 2006)

I'm surprised they didn't part sooner. Hell, I'd think they'd part after every album, with the songs they sing. Seriosuly, though, I'm a RBF fan.

Someone (January 13, 2006)

Warner Bros here they come

PsychoOS231 (January 13, 2006)

I bet they're going to play Warped and then sign to SideoneDummy. Then they'll became good again

Dante3000 (rich) (January 13, 2006)

First off it looked like this was coming from a mile away. And I may not like Jive but I know they'll be alright without Reel Big Fish. Reel Big Fish, however, may have their days numbered and that has almost nothing to do with Jive. I wish the best for the Fish though. -Dante

I-type-poorly (January 13, 2006)

about. fucking. time.

Godfather (January 13, 2006)

sellouts

Badmouth (January 13, 2006)

it's probably because they have the two guys from jfc now and the black guy was afraid of the underground

Someone (January 13, 2006)

the black guy is probably more "underground" then the whole band.

Badmouth (January 13, 2006)

good call... he did wear the confederate flag hat in the dvd and doesn't so heroin like the rest of the band

Jon_the_Skafather (January 13, 2006)

justin was the only member of JFC and "the black guy" was fucking awesome and his name is tyler and played in spring heeled jack...which was more underground than rbf has been in the last 9 or so years.

Someone (January 13, 2006)

Reel big fish is a joke!

I-type-poorly (January 14, 2006)

It is a pun, yes.

Someone (January 13, 2006)

fuck this site for posting garbage like this!

Someone (January 14, 2006)

Then fuck off and don't come back buddy Moo

xblakeyoung (January 13, 2006)

I really wish their manager was Mitch Pileggi. X-files fans would go nuts.

Someone (January 13, 2006)

more like... "Reel Big Shit"

skamanifesto (January 13, 2006)

heyooo!

Someone (January 13, 2006)

100 bux says they sign to either a major or to Side One Dummy with the rest of the wash ups.....

NoControl (January 13, 2006)

never type "bux" again poseur

AlmostPunkEnough (January 13, 2006)

derp!

NoControl (January 13, 2006)

De Derp De Derp Da Teetly Derpee Derpee Dum

AlmostPunkEnough (January 13, 2006)

Rob Schneider - i'm a carrot! Announcer - it's 24-carrot comedy!!!

NoControl (January 13, 2006)

hahahahaha

NoControl (January 13, 2006)

Rob Schneider is somewhat a popular comedic actor, who seems to have it all. Until one day, he came across a pot roast. And his life changed forever. Now he's sharing his body with an eight-year-old boy, and he's soon gonna find out, that being eight... ain't so great. Rob Schneider is... KENNY! Rated PG-13 Rob Schneider is a Wall Street Executive, who seems to have everything going for him. Until one day, he became a carrot! ROB: I'm a carrot! It's 24- "carrot" gold. Rob Schneider is: A Carrot! Rated PG-13. Rob Schnieder was an animal. He was also a woman. And now, Rob Schnieder is... a Stapler. Being a stapler can be harder than it looks. Rob Schnieder is... The Stapler. Rob Schneieder der derp dee derp! Der derp dee derpy derpy derp! Until one day... Der derp derpiddy derpy derp! Der derp de derp! Ta teetley tum! From the creators of "DER" and "Tum Ta Teetly Tum Ta Do", Rob Schnieder is "Der Derp Tum Teetly Tum der derpy dumb!" Rated PG-13

tommy_jarvis (January 14, 2006)

Holy shit! I saw that episode and laughed for like three hours, but I never managed to catch it in reruns. Was it the crab people episode? There are so many damn episodes ...

NoControl (January 13, 2006)

go here http://www.southparkstudios.com/downloads/display_sound.php?snd=h ttp://images.southparkstudios.com/media/sounds/615/ROBSCHNEIDERDE RPDEDER.wav&snd_name=Rob%20Schneider%20is%20derp%20de%20derp%20ti %20tilly%20terp!&tab=30

Someone (January 14, 2006)

Hahah that's awesome

AlmostPunkEnough (January 13, 2006)

umm, interesting. i'm certainly not here to make fun of ska-punk or whatever, hell, my name is a ska-punk song, but RBF, you pretty much suck tremendous amounts of ass lately. either grow a set and just make a record that i know you're capable of making, or sit down and shut up. for christsake the sticker on the front of your last album says that it FEATURES two fucking cover songs. to think of how good "Turn the Radio Off" and "Why Do They Rock So Hard" were.

Jon_the_Skafather (January 13, 2006)

the last album had three covers. revolution, we hate it when our friends become successful, and story of my life. same number as cheer up had with new york new york, boss dj, and give it to me. actually we're not happy would have had four if they had redone beer (thank god they didn't put it on the album!).

AlmostPunkEnough (January 13, 2006)

oh i know, i just have an issue with the promo sticker hyping those songs and no originals. i mean, i know it's the label, but come on. i like 'Cheer Up' more at first but it never stuck. and their "Boss DJ" was awesome.

Jon_the_Skafather (January 14, 2006)

i always liked the older version better....remember the old clip of it from the live radio station performance?

sceneupdates (January 13, 2006)

Didnt they play in a movie, Dodgeball or some shit?

givemeamuseumandillfillit (January 13, 2006)

Dodgeball was released in 2004. They were in BASEketball, the best movie ever. And yeah, i like it because it's just so loveably cheesy.

Vincent_M (January 13, 2006)

Fuckin' A! BASEketball was genius. And RBF didn't suck back then. Wait...they don't now, either. Hey! I liked Cheer Up!

Someone (January 13, 2006)

this band roxx, i love yoooooooo in other news i just had a tree full of grapes

GlassPipeMurder (January 13, 2006)

Every band that signs to SideOneDummy gets good again. Mighty Bosstones, Suicide Machines, MxPx, Piebald, etc.

Someone (January 13, 2006)

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Piebald and The Suicide Machines were already good before they signed to SideOneDummy. As for MxPx....well, they were never good to begin with Therefore, your theory is incorrect

Someone (January 13, 2006)

The only thing more redundant than Pennywise releasing the same album over and over again is Reel Big Fish touring with Goldfinger and Zebrahead over and over again.

Longshot (January 13, 2006)

you are correct, sir!

Fatty_Arbuckle (January 16, 2006)

haha, i was just thinking that. i mean, it's seriously happened once every year or two for over a decade. aside from that, i do like RBF and hope this works out for them.

Someone (January 14, 2006)

At least this means their next record will be better.

Someone (January 14, 2006)

Will Aaron still be able to afford the heroin/coke/whatever else he does?

off_the_fucken_map (January 14, 2006)

is this band even capable of making good music?

Someone (January 14, 2006)

Dropped!

fox82 (January 14, 2006)

They should sign to Havoc Records and become a crust band.

tommy_jarvis (January 14, 2006)

Or Plan-It-X and become a folk-ska band. It could happen!

NoUse4aScnName00 (January 14, 2006)

'Why Do They Rock So Hard' was an amazing CD. But I wouldn't mind if they toned down their ska act and went for another 'Cheer Up' power pop effort. That was one hell of a CD. I guess I was a bit disappointed by 'We're Not Happy' because it didn't follow the same vein as 'Cheer Up'. It was good for a ska-punk CD. But ska-punk is a flogged, beaten-down horse by now.

Someone (January 24, 2006)

Cheery up! is a damn fine cd. All of you pansy kids on here need to get out and buy a new cd once in a while instead of waitin for a lame ass site like this to review it and the forces of evil are more like classic RBF and they were on Jive so the label wasn't what was holding them back they'll be fine they are all good song writers aaron's supposed to be a dick though

Someone (April 25, 2006)

i don't know, i thought Happy was a pretty damn good album. I didn't care for cheer up that much, but Happy had a great flow, and the songs i thought were actually pretty creative for this band. i just enjoy it the whole way through pretty much. there are a few tracks i don't like, of course, but overall, good.