Song Of The Week: 3/6/11

Song: "Travis Bickle"

Artist: Rancid

Album: "Indestructible"

Year: 2003



This song is based on the main character of the Martin Scorcese directed film, 1976's "Taxi Driver". In the film Robert Deniro plays the main character Travis Bickle. Bickle becomes frustrated and disgusted with the filth and scum that oozes out of the city, especially at night. He grows tired of the junkies, the pimps, the whores and the drug dealers. He wishes all of the filth would just wash away. Ultimately, he goes on a rampage feeling that he is the only one who can rid the city of all of these shady characters. "Travis Bickle", the song, basically sums up the same feelings, sung from the perspective of Bickle himself. Rancid formed as a band back in 1991 from the ashes of the ska punk outfit Operation Ivy. Operation Ivy's Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman remained great friends and formed a number of bands after O.P.'s break-up before finally settling on Rancid. In 1993, the band added Lars Frederiksen as another guitarist as well as vocalist. Rancid was at the forefront of the 90's punk rock revival which consisted of them as well as other bands such as The Offspring, Bad Religion and Green Day. 1995's "And Out Comes The Wolves" would be the album that put Rancid on the map when it came to it's biggest success. Though their roots were in hardcore punk, Rancid wasn't shy about experimenting in different musical genres such as rock-a-billy and reggae. By delving into these different styles, it has led to several comparison to punk legends The Clash. Rancid has released seven full length studio albums as well as appearing on several compilations throughout their career. Their last album was 2009's "Let The Dominoes Fall". After touring to support that album, the band decided to take a bit of a break from Rancid. Though, the band members have plenty of side projects to keep them busy most notably Devil's Brigade, The Bastards, The Transplants as well as Tim Armstrong's solo material. Currently, the only word coming out of the Rancid camp is the possibility of a live DVD set to be released in the fall of 2011.