USELESS

Formed in 1995 from the ashes of early 90’s punk bands Dead Tree, Blade World, and Weedwhore. Useless is a band that refuses to die, even pushing up dirt as we speak. Auditioning drummers or bass players for the next arduous adventure into the Southern California music scene.

In 1995, Benny Siegel (guitar and vocals), Mike Villalobos (drums), and Mike Amundson (bass and lead vocal), original members of Useless, started jamming at Mike V’s pad in Eagle Rock Ca. With only original song parts but no complete songs, Benny and Mike A taught Mike V. what was to become “Stop Wait Please Don’t”. After learning some Dead Tree covers and an odd Blade World tune here and there, Useless started to build their catalog of fun and powerful pop punk songs. They also created a reputation for a spontaneous and super-charged live show.

Useless has had membership in double figures over the years. Usually performing as a trio, they have been known to employ as many as 10 people on the stage once. One thing remaining a constant in Useless is the duo of Benny and Mike V. Benny takes the songwriting duties while Mike V handles the job of arrangements and musical direction.

USELESS DATES AND FACTS

7/95- Useless is born at Mike V’s pad in Eagle Rock.

8/95- Useless Plays its first gig somewhere in Hollywood.

10/95- Useless Records its first demo in Eagle Rock. It contains the songs “Stop Wait Please Don’t”, “Rubber Road”, “Short Blast”, “Pink Luger”, and “Batman” and clocks in at about 20 minutes.

10/31/95- Useless plays a backyard b-day party opening up for the Hippo’s. Mike A. tells the mostly high school age crowd” well, I was playing punk rock while most of you guys were still shitting your diapers.” He wasn’t kidding. Mike was close to 40 at the time.

12/95- Mike V and Benny Take time out from Useless to record Benny’s song “Small” at Loyola-Marymount University. Benny has Ally sing and Tom Schelly play bass.

12/30/95- 1/3/96- Useless record their second demo, once again at Mike V’s pad. This one is much Longer at about 12 songs and 50 minutes. It contains all the songs from the first demo plus, “Eleanor Braun”, ”Another One”, “Harm To Culture” “Freebie”, “Start”, and “Geritol Enema”

2/96- Useless plays a noontime gig to a big crowd outside the KXLU radio station at Loyola-Marymount University. Mike V wears a tie and is introduced as Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick by Mike A, who is a little too intoxicated. Benny wears a shirt that reads “fuck corporate coffee!” and the Dean wont let us continue until Benny removes the shirt and Mike A stops cussing!

2/96- Mike A leaves Useless. He goes on to join the seeds.Useeless disbands for the 1st time.

3/96- Andy Rivera replaces Mike A. on bass. Mike V takes on vocal duties along with Benny.

4/96- 7/96- Useless plays first of many gigs with local teen punkers “Incomplete”

7/96- Useless records another demo to show off new lineup of Benny, Mike and Andy. It contains “Short Blast”, “Shovelin’ Shit”, “Beer Goggles”, “Wasted” “Rubber Road” and ”Stop Wait, Please, Don’t”

8/96- Andy leaves Useless for reasons unknown.

11/96- Paul Reyes of Rustic Souls replaces Andy as bassist. Play local gigs with teen punkers “ Incomplete”.

12/96- Andy rejoins Useless for one gig at Leo’s B-day party.

?/1997- Paul Reyes leaves Useless and is replaced by Paul Saenz. Paul plays drums while Mike V takes over the bass duties.

7/97 Useless plays gig with Dave Drive(of the Gears) and Ralph Lopez’ Band "Heavy Jumbo" at the Eagles Hall. Mike V is on crutches and way too many painkillers. One of the best Useless gigs to date.

12/97-Useless with Paul Saenz plays yet another Leo Matilla B-day party. Andy Kush gets pulled over for dui and Mike v and Paul have to walk home with bass in hand from Pasadena.

12/97-Paul Saenz leaves Useless for unknown reasons. Paul Reyes rejoins band.

1/98- Useless Sits in for My Head at the last minute to open up for Mike Watt. The Thick Boys also open.

4/98- Andy Rivera rejoins Useless making them a quartet. They record yet another demo with both Andy and Paul. Songs include "Negativity", "Beer Goggles"(with Dale Deaguerro on back ups), "Wasted","Stop,Wait,Please,Don't",Rubber Road", Say What You Want, and others.

5/98- Useless plays as quartet at Benny’s B-day party.

7/98-Useless plays backyard punk fest booked by John Goranson. One kid breaks their leg during Useless’ set.

12/98- Another Leo b-day party. This time without Andy, Who has moved to Vegas. Captain Zero and Gremory open up.

4/1999- Mike V’s B-day Party features every member of Useless except Mike A. (who was invited).

1999- A few gigs for Useless in 99. One highlight is with Mike Watt and Stephen Perkins Banyan and the Tijuana Bibles at Mr. T’s. Paul Reyes also leaves the band again.

2000- George and Maurice joins the band making it a quartet for the second time.

12/31/2000- Andy rejoins Useless for one gig at Kevin Alvarez's Pad and do a 10 song set

2001- Useless(with George and Maurice) plays its last show to date at a bar in Maywood. They open for the “Eyelashes”

2001- Useless (now Benny, Mike and Maurice) record a demo. It contains ”Walking Blind”, Say What You Want”, Indulgence”, and Instrumental”.

2002- Useless is shelved Benny and Mike play in N.O.S.

4/2004 Useless is looking for musicians to audition. Gig Dates to be announced.

6/2005 Useless is currently trying to convince Sean Antillion( Gears,Wierdos) to join Useless. We jammed once and it went good so we'll see! Until then Mike V is occasionally filling in playing bass for L.A. legends "The Gears" who have Sean on drums and original members Axxel G. Reese and Kidd Spike.

1/2006

Zach Cottrell of Vinson Massif joins Useless on drums.

1/2006

Zach Cottrell is dismissed as drummer due to conflicting schedules.

1/2006

Shawn Antillion joins USELESS. Shows scheduled for Feb-April.

2/17/2006

USELESS plays first gig in 5 years at a gig in Palm Desert W/ x-useless bassists band Cakecutter and Greg Saenz's band Vega, along with The Hellions.

3/2006

USELESS plays gig at an Art Gallery in Highland Park. Truck Stop Girl f/ Sean Antillion and Zander Schloss.

4/15/2006

Useless opens up for the Gears at Mr 's Bowl. The sirens, the scrid Hunters, and The hellions also perform.

4/2006

USELESS is talking to Original member Mike A about rejoining the band. Stay tuned.....

Useless#1 1995-96

Mike Amundson-Bass,Lead Voc

Benny Seigel-Guitar,Voc

Mike V-Drums

Songs played:

ANOTHER ONE

DAY AFTER DAY

ELANOR BRAUN

FREEBIE

GERITOL ENEMA

GET DOWN

HARM TO CULTURE

NEGATIVITY

PINK LUGER

RUBBER ROAD

SAY WHAT?

SHORT BLAST

SHOVELIN SHIT

S.W.P.D.

VACANCY OF THE CRANIUM

COVER SONGS

BATMAN

LITTLE MAN W/ A GUN

Useless#2 1996-97

Benny-Guitar,Voc

Mike V-Drums,Lead Voc

Andy Rivera-Bass

Useless#3 1997

Benny-Guitar,Voc

Mike V-Drums,Lead Voc

Paul Reyes-Bass

Useless#4 1997

Benny-Guitar,Lead Voc

Mike V-Bass,Voc

Paul Saenz-Drums

Useless#5 1998-99

Benny-Guitar,Voc

Mike V-Drums,Lead Voc

Andy-Guitar

Paul Reyes-Bass

Useless#6a 2000

Benny-Guitar,Voc

Mike V-Drums,Lead Voc

Paul Reyes-Bass

Useless#6b (12/31/00)

Benny-Guitar ,Voc

Mike V-Drums

Andy Rivera-Bass

Useless #7 2001

Benny-Guitar,Lead Voc

Mike V-Drums

George Diaz-Bass

Useless#8 2001

Benny-Guitar,Lead Voc

Mike V-Drums Voc

George Diaz-Bass

Maurice Fitzmaurice-Keys

Useless#9(studio only) 2001

Benny-Guitar,Lead Voc

Mike V-Bass,Drums

Maurice Fitzmaurice-Keys

USELESS #10 2005

BENNY SIEGEL - GUITAR

MIKE V -BASS,VOCALS

SEAN ANTILLION - DRUMS

Useless (special b-day party band 1998)

Benny Seigel-Guitar,Voc

Mike V-Drums,Bass,Lead Voc

Paul Reyes-Bass

Paul Saenz-Drums

Jed Unrot-Congas

George Diaz-Guitar

Andy Rivera-Gutar

Mike Pell-Bass

Jon Abbinante-Drums

Special guests who have played with Useless.

Greg Saenz-Drums

Adam Seigel-Guitar

Chris from Magic Maggot

Mando from Captain Zero(drummer)

Kevin Alvarez-Voc

Daniel Ruiz-Voc