The Dance Hall Crashers are a ska punk band who formed in 1989, shooting off from the then recently-expired Operation Ivy. For a short time the band featured Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong, rising from Operation Ivy's ashes, both of whom reunited in the band Rancid.
However, it wasn't long before the aforementioned guys left, with the band fighting to stay together, now with Elyse Rogers on vocals and new guitarist Jason Hammon. During the first year, a few songs were recorded and are featured on the band's The Old Record, however it wasn't long before another member joined - the exuberant Karina Denike. Not long after this 1990 growth, the band disbanded, however due to endless numbers of fans making a rather huge fuss, the band played a reunion gig in 1992, which was met with huge applause.
Subsequent to such a wonderful reception, the band formed themselves into the permanent outfit that they are today with Hammon's brother Gavin playing the drums, Scott Goodell on second guitar and Mikey Weiss on bass.
Signing to MCA in 1995, their debut LP Lockjaw was released that year, followed by The Old Record, featuring their early songs from first formation, still regarded as one of their best albums ever made.
Year by year more and more records were released, totalling at a rather comfortable 6 EPs/LPs, all of which are more than worth a purchase.
At time of writing (July 2004), the band are all off living their own lives, playing only a few gigs a year for the forseeable future. There is certainly, however, no chance of this prolific band splitting up.