Music / Alkaline Trio

Alkaline Trio is a Punk Rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1996.

From 2001 to 2023, the band consisted of lead vocalist and guitarist Matt Skiba^note (founding member), bassist and co-lead vocalist Dan Andriano ^note (since 1997, replaced founding member Rob Doran) and drummer Derek Grant ^note (replaced Mike Felumlee, who himself replaced founding member Glenn Porter in 2000). Grant left the band in June of 2023, and was replaced by Atom Willard (who also previously served as a touring drummer for the band before Derek's arrival).

Although they were never as big mainstream stars as other pop punk bands, such as blink182 or Green Day, they still had a cult following, with songs such as "Radio", "We've Had Enough", "Mercy Me" or "Stupid Kid".

Between 2015 and 2022, Matt was a member of blink-182, where he replaced original member Tom DeLonge until he rejoined the band.

Members (founding in bold, current in italic)

• Matt Skiba - lead vocals, guitar (1996-present)
• Rob Doran - bass, backing vocals (1996-1997)
• Glenn Porter - drums (1996-2000)
• Dan Andriano - bass, co-lead vocals (1997-present)
• Mike Felumlee - drums (2000-2001)
• Derek Grant - drums, backing vocals (2001-2023)
• Atom Willard - drums (2023-present) (also a touring member in 2001)

Discography:

Studio albums

• Goddamnit (1998)
• Maybe I'll Catch Fire (2000)^note last album to feature Glenn Porter
• From Here to Infirmary (2001)^note the only album with Mike Felumlee
• Good Mourning (2003)^note first album with current line-up
• Crimson (2005)
• Agony & Irony (2008)
• This Addiction (2010)
• My Shame Is True (2013)
• Is This Thing Cursed? (2018)
• Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs (2024)

Other notable releases

• For Your Lungs Only (1998, EP)
• I Lied My Face Off (1999, EP)
• Alkaline Trio (2000, compilation)^note features songs from aforementioned EPs, as well as from their first single "Sundials", the only release to feature Rob Doran
• Remains (2007, b-sides and rarities compilation)
• Damnesia (2011, acoustic album)
• Broken Wings (2013, EP) ^note The songs were recorded during My Shame Is True sessions, but were left off the album, due to not fitting in with the theme

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Tropes:

• Break Up Song: "Stupid Kid".
• Changed for the Video: The music video for "We've Had Enough" features the chorus after first verse already, whereas album version doesn't have the chorus until after second verse.
• Cover Version: "Halloween" by The Misfits, "Metro" by Berlin, "Wait for the Blackout" by The Damned, "Movin' Right Along" from The Muppet Movie.
• Concept Album: My Shame Is True is centered around the theme of catharsis.
• Face on the Cover: From Here to Infirmary and Good Mourning.
• Fading into the Next Song: "Mr. Chainsaw" to "Take Lots with Alcohol" on From Here to Infirmary.
• Faith–Heel Turn: "Hell Yes" appears to be about a person, who lost any faith in God and resorts to being "selfish and drunken and vulgar and lazy".
• Growing Up Sucks: "Mr. Chainsaw". This line at the end explains the meaning:
  In case you're wondering, I'm singing about growing up, about giving in.
• Long-Runner Line-up: Matt (vocals/guitar), Dan (bass/vocals) and Derek (drums/chorus) since 2001, when Derek joined to 2023, when he left.
• Lyrical Dissonance: "This Could Be Love". The music is a fairly accessible punk rock, but the lyrics are graphically disturbing. See Murder Ballad below.
• Murder Ballad: "This Could Be Love" is sung from a perspective of a mentally unstable would-be murder victim, altough it's implied, that the reason he wants the other person to kill him not because he feels like he deserves it, but because he wants that other person to become just as twisted as he is.
  Step one, slit my throat, step two, play in my blood
  Step three, cover me in dirty sheets and run laughing out of the house
  Step four, stop off at edgebrook creek and rinse those crimson hands
  You took me hostage and made your demands
  I couldn't meet them so you cut off my fingers one by one
• Number of the Beast: Cover of debut album Goddamnit has three alarm clocks, all set at 6th hour.
• One-Woman Song: "Emma" (from Good Mourning), "Sadie" (from Crimson, the song is about Suzan Atkins, a member of Charles Manson's notorious murderer cult), "Dorothy" (from This Addiction).
• Person as Verb: From "We've Had Enough"
  Fighting back the tears, and every urge to Van Gogh both our ears
• Punk Rock
• Rock Trio: With a name Alkaline Trio, this should be probably expected.
• Self-Titled Album: Not a studio album, but a compilation of early releases.
• Shout-Out: A subtle one to A Clockwork Orange in "Piss and Vinegar":
  I got a burning temptation like clockwork orange herbicide
• Surreal Music Video: "Mercy Me". At one point, Matt is seen screwing his miniature self into the ground. In next scene, Derek is doing the same to his miniature self, but it also causes his own head to spin around. And that's just part of it.
• Teacher/Student Romance: A one-sided on boy's part in "Stupid Kid" music video. The teacher appears to be creeped out by this, especially as the boy becomes more and more obssesive. After he is rejected, he is seen standing outside, where he removes his hat, revealing a part of devil horns, while the teacher, stuck in the inside, is consumed by smoke.
• Vocal Tag Team: Mostly between Matt and Dan.
  • Step Up to the Microphone: While Derek typically only sings backing vocals, he gets to sing a small part in "Don't Say You Won't". He also does co-lead vocals on live version of "I, Pessimist" (studio version featured Tim McIlrath).