Bim Skala Bim formed in Boston as a ska band that was influenced by the bands in England’s two-tone movement as well as artists such as the Clash, UB40 and Bob Marley. Their "Boston Blue Beat" sound, a mix of upbeat two-tone ska, rock ‘n’ roll and calypso with a substantial reggae undertone, made them, along with The Toasters, the premier bands kickstarting the third wave of ska in the 1980s. Other bands quickly followed their example resulting in a lively scene in Boston and much of the United States. In 1997, Bim Skala Bim, the

Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys are an American Celtic punk band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. Singer and bassist Ken Casey has been the band's only constant member. Other current members include drummer Matt Kelly (1997– ), singer Al Barr (199 ...

, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones embarked on a 50-date nationwide "Boston on the Road" tour. Since their formation in 1983, Bim Skala Bim has released twelve LPs and has been the winner of ten Boston Music Awards and eight ''Boston Phoenix'' Reader’s Poll awards, as well as ''Boston'' magazine’s "Best of Boston" twice. In March 2013, ''Boston Business Journal'' rated Bim Skala Bim’s "Bones" album #19 in their "Boston Top 40 Albums of All Time" list. Bim Skala Bim went on hiatus in 2002 but reformed to record a new album titled ''Chet’s Last Call'', released late 2013. The song "Paraguayan Sun" is used as the outro music for the tabletop gaming podcast, "Cast Dice".

Band members

Current

* Dan Vitale (vocals) * Mark Ferranti (bass) * Jim Jones (guitar, vocals, 1985–present) * Jim Arhelger (drums, 1985–present) * Vinny Nobile (trombone, keyboards, 1986–96, 2000–present) * Dave Butts (keyboards, saxophone, 2000–present) * Rick Barry (percussion, 1986 - 1995, 2010-present))

Former

* John Ferry (trombone, vocals, 1983–86, 1998–99) * Chris Kramtch (drums, 1983) * Ephraim Lessell (guitar, 1983) * Robin Ducot (keyboards, 1983–84) * John Sullivan (drums, 1983–84) * Will Cluster (guitar, 1983–84) * Lauren Flesher (vocals, 1985) * John Cameron (keyboard, saxophone, 1985–99) * Jackie Starr (vocals, keyboards, 1985–89) * Rick Barry (percussion, 1986–96) * Mark Paquin (trombone, 1996–98) *

Chris Rhodes Chris Rhodes is a trombone player from New Haven, Connecticut best known for playing trombone in several notable ska bands including Spring Heeled Jack, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Bim Skala Bim and the Toasters as well as Connecticut funk band ...

(trombone, 2000)

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Bim Skala Bim'' (1986) * ''Tuba City'' (1989) * ''How's It Goin'?'' (1990) * ''Bones'' (1991) * ''Eyes & Ears'' (1995) * ''American Playhouse'' (1995) * ''Universal'' (1997) * ''The One That Got Away'' (1998) * ''Krinkle'' (2000) * ''Chet's Last Call'' (2013) * ''Musical Biscuits'' (2013) (Digital release only) * ''Sonic Tonic'' (2021)

Singles and EPs

* ''Fat Head'' (1987) * ''Bim Skala Bim / Stabilizer (3)'' (1991) * ''Concert-Freebie: Marquee; Friday 14th July 1995'' (1995) * ''Skeleton'' (1995) * ''Capone and the Bullets / Bim Skala Bim - Godfather/Sunshine'' (1996) * ''Test Patterns'' (1999) * ''King Hammond, Bim Skala Bim - Mad Not Cancer'' (2014)

Live albums

* ''Live at the Paradise'' (1993)

Compilation appearances

* ''Boston Does the Beatles'' (1988) * ''Mashin’ Up The Nation Best of U.S. Ska Vol. 1'' (1988) * ''Skankin' Round the World, Vol. 1'' (1989) * ''Place of General Happiness'' (1993) * ''The Shack'' (1994) * ''We Don't Skare'' (1994) * ''Mashin' Up the Nation: The Best of American Ska, Vols. 1&2'' (1991) * ''Ska: Cover to Cover'' (1996) * ''Joint Ventures in Ska'' (1996) * ''Mash It Up, Vol. 3'' (1996) * ''SKAndalous: I've Gotcha Covered'' (1996) * ''Mash It Up, Vol. 4'' (1997) * ''Ska Down Her Way'' (1997) * ''The Ska Parade: Runnin' Naked Thru the Cornfield'' (1998) * ''Big Indie Beats'' (1998) * ''Love and Affection: Ska in the Key of Love'' (1998) * ''Mashin' Up the Nation: The Best of American Ska Vols. 3 & 4'' (1998) * ''Steady Sounds from the Underground'' (1998) * ''Boston, Vol. 2'' (1999) * ''Ska Party '99'' (1999) * ''Club Ska '99: The Shack Vol. 2'' (1999) * ''Welcome to Beatville'' (1999) * ''Mash It Up 2000 It’s Alive Boston Ska Vol. 5'' (2000) * ''Still Standing – A North American Ska Uprising'' (2003)

Awards

* 10 Boston Music Awards * 8 Boston Phoenix Reader's Poll Awards * Boston Magazine's ''Best of Boston'' twice * Boston Business Journal - Bim Skala Bim ''Bones'' Album, #19 of Boston Top 40 Albums of All Time * Top Ten Local Shows for 2014 - Bim Skala Bim at ''The Middle East'' Cambridge MA (August 2014) * Reggae Steady Ska - Best of 2014 - Best Live Band #2 Bim Skala Bim * Reggae Steady Ska - Best of 2014 - 7" Vinyl of the Year #1 Various: Bim Skala Bim, King Hammond (taken from Specialized 3 - ''Mad Not Cancer'') * Bim Skala Bim ''Chet's Last Call'' debuted on National Jamband.com radio chart at #25 (Marcy 2014)

References

External links

* {{Authority control Third-wave ska groups Musical groups from Boston American ska musical groups