Presidents of the USA 1995 | 10 Fun Facts (Updated)

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*This video is an update of our original video. This version features updated text formating for easier viewing and a few jokes have been re-arranged for better placement.

10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SELF TITLED ALBUM
PUSA 1995 Self Titled

Did you know that the hit song "Peaches" by Presidents of the United States was written all because of a random trip to a Seattle bus-stop? Or that lyrics to one of the band's biggest hits were inspired by a time lead singer Chris Ballew took acid? What about the music video that MTV refused to play because it was too "dark and disturbing? Stick around as we answer these questions and more!

1. Five Strings

The band performs with just 5 strings on their guitars.

No, I don't mean the guitarist simply removed a strong and called himself Keith Richards, I mean they collectively play with just 5 strings among the entire band! Chris Ballew on what he calls the two-string "bassitar" and Dave Dederer on the three-string guitbass

"Between Dave and I, we have five strings, and you can make the most complicated chord in the world with five strings... We just have to cooperate with each other." - Chris Ballew; Weird Lyrics Come Naturally To The Presidents, Brooks Whitney, Chicago Tribune (May 10, 1996)

"By now, I am so used to playing two string instruments that I don’t remember the headspace I had when I wrote on regular instruments! It just seems completely natural now. In fact, I wonder why people don’t actually just learn on a two string or three string. It’s so much easier!

I have also come to learn about the origins of rock and roll music and the African banjo... The idea of using fewer strings connects what we do back in time to the roots of rock n roll in Africa." - Chris Ballew; Interview With Chris Ballew.., Will Hodge, NoiseTrade (Apr 9, 2013)

2. Anti-Grunge

The band intentionally wrote humorous material to brighten up the mood of the rock scene which was dominated by moody grunge acts like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

"I’ve been making silly music my whole life. I’ve also been making serious music as well. I have a lot of different colors in my paint box. But I do remember a distinct feeling that the scene needed to be lightened up a little bit and so it felt like it was time to bring out my silly stuff and see if it would be well received in that environment. I do remember watching the MTV Music Awards in 1992 or 1993 and thinking that the scene needed a little bit of a smile." - Chris Ballew; Interview With Chris Ballew.., Will Hodge, NoiseTrade (Apr 9, 2013)

3. Inspired by Buzzcocks

"Lump" was partially inspired by The Buzzcocks.

"In the beginning, it was me trying to write a Buzzcocks song. I guess I still channel them a little bit whenever I play it." - Chris Ballew; Interview With Chris Ballew.., Will Hodge, NoiseTrade (Apr 9, 2013)

4. Energizer Presidents

They keep going and going and going... OK, young people have no idea what I'm talking referencing here ... but Chris Ballew and Dave Dederer never get tired of performing the band's breakthrough hit "Lump."

"No matter how many times we play it (and we have played it at almost every single show we’ve ever played), it is as fresh and as alive as if I just wrote it that afternoon. I am not sure what it is, but I am never bored playing that song." - Chris Ballew; Interview With Chris Ballew.., Will Hodge, NoiseTrade (Apr 9, 2013)

"Never got tired of the songs, esp. "Lump." Every night is different, every stage is different, every crowd is different." - Dave Dederer; IamA Has Been Rockstar.., Reddit (2010)

5. Dark & Disturbing

MTV refused to play the original music video for "Lump" because it was allegedly considered "too dark & disturbing."

While I definitely think that calling the content of the music video "disturbing" is a bit of a Karen move, I will also admit that re-doing the video with brighter and more colorful imagery was a good thing.

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