Jughead’s Revenge

Jughead’s Revenge is an American punk rock band that started in Los Angeles in 1989, released a run of studio albums through the 1990s, then split in 2001 after a lawsuit connected to the Jughead name before returning to the stage in 2010 and continuing on with new releases in later years.

Across their first 12 years, Jughead’s Revenge recorded and toured extensively and put out six studio albums, with Pearly Gates arriving in 1999. The band disbanded in 2001 following legal action involving Archie Comics, then reformed in 2009 and resumed live shows in 2010. In 2023, the band released the EP Vultures.

How The Band Got Started

Jughead’s Revenge formed in 1989 when guitarist Joe Rimicci and bassist Brian Preiss, both formerly of Broadax, were looking for a singer and met Joe Doherty through mutual friends connected to Rimicci’s earlier band Cholos on Acid. Doherty joined on vocals, and drummer Kevin Heller completed the first lineup.

Early Years

After their first show in 1989, the band recorded their debut album Unstuck in Time in spring 1990 on their own Lawsuit Records with new drummer Nenus Givargis. The album was recorded in two days at Westbeach Recorders in Hollywood, produced by Brett Gurewitz and engineered by Donnell Cameron. It was limited to 1,000 copies on black 12 inch vinyl.

In summer 1990, Jughead’s Revenge toured the United States for the first time with local punk outfit One Direction. Using money from that tour, the band released Out of Beer, Out of Tune and Out of Control in 1991, a 7 inch single limited to 500 copies on blue vinyl. It included live songs recorded at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley on the previous tour, along with studio material from Unstuck in Time. A live version of “Fabric of the Mind” was also recorded for a split single with NOFX for Ox Fanzine in Germany.

The second full length, It’s Lonely at the Bottom, arrived in 1992. It was recorded between tours at Westbeach Recorders, produced by Poison Idea’s Thee Slayer Hippie and engineered by Donnell Cameron. The album was initially a CD only release in the United States on Cash Money Records, and it was pressed on 12 inch vinyl in Germany on Do It! Records. The band toured Europe for the first time in spring 1992.

BYO Years

After touring behind It’s Lonely at the Bottom, Jughead’s Revenge recorded their third full length, Elimination, released in 1994. Recorded in winter 1993 at Paramount Studios Hollywood by Barry Conley, it became the first of the band’s releases to be licensed to and distributed by BYO Records, which helped them tour more. Unstuck in Time and It’s Lonely at the Bottom followed soon after. The band also recorded an alternate version of “Unlimited” for a split single with Strung Out intended for Fearless Records.

After Elimination, drummer Nenus Givargis left the band for family related reasons. The band began running their own shows, a move the bio links to keeping door prices low and helping support lesser known touring bands.

In 1994, Jughead’s Revenge toured Canada for the first time while supporting Face to Face. A B sides and rarities compilation, 13 Kiddie Favorites, followed and marked the first release featuring drummer Jarrod Thornton. Recorded in 1995 at Paramount Studios and produced by Barry Conley, it was originally intended for European release on Do It! Records in Germany, then later licensed to BYO in 1995. The track “49/61” appeared on the Punk Sucks compilation via Liberation Records, and a video for “49/61” appeared on Hopeless Records’ Cinema Beer Goggles compilation the same year.

During this period the band also contributed covers to compilations, including “Hitman” by the Plasmatics for Punk Rock Jukebox and “Young Turks” by Rod Stewart for Before You Were Punk. In 1995, Jughead’s Revenge released a split single with Lagwagon that included a version of Poison Idea’s “Just to Get Away,” and they recorded Devo’s “Jerkin’ Back and Forth” for the We Are NOT Devo tribute compilation, produced by Jim Goodwin.

Nitro Years, Lineup Shifts, and the Lawsuit

In 1995, Jughead’s Revenge signed to Nitro Records, founded by The Offspring’s Dexter Holland. The band’s fourth full length, Image Is Everything, was released in 1996. Produced by Warren Fitzgerald and recorded at Paramount Studios, it was engineered by Barry Conley. The bio notes that around this time the band began weaving their long running interest in surf music into recordings and live sets, including covers like “Rumble at Waikiki” by Jon and the Nightriders and originals such as “Skag Up My Ass.”

Drummer Jarrod Thornton left and was replaced by Ty Smith, formerly of The Vandals, and Craig Riker joined as a second guitarist.

After Image Is Everything, the band stepped off the road to write Just Joined, released the following year. It was recorded at Westbeach Recorders, produced by Trever Keith and engineered by Donnell Cameron. Andy Alvarez joined as full time drummer after the first leg of the U.S. tour.

In 1999, Jughead’s Revenge released Pearly Gates. Recorded by Paul Miner at For The Record in Orange, California, it is described in the bio as a goodbye letter to friends and fans, with the band hoping to move into a hiatus after years of touring and recording. The band’s last tour took place in 2001 across the United States and Canada, with the plan of an open ended break afterward.

In 2000, Archie Comics reached a settlement with Nitro Records that did not request financial compensation if the band agreed to stop using any likeness resembling Jughead Jones and changed their name to Jugg’s Revenge. Shortly afterward, Nitro announced the band’s breakup, and Jughead’s Revenge disbanded in 2001.

Reunion and Recent Activity

In December 2009, it was announced that Jughead’s Revenge would reunite for 20th anniversary shows in early 2010. Joe Doherty said the band had been rehearsing and would announce plans once shows were booked. At the time, members were also involved in other projects including Kill Detail, Cellphish, and Black Fag, and Doherty co hosts the podcast Raised by Wolves.

The first reunion show took place at Scotland Yard in Canoga Park, California on March 20, 2010. On April 1, 2010, Jughead’s Revenge supported Bad Religion at the House of Blues in Anaheim, alongside The Darlings. The bio also notes their earlier connection to Bad Religion in the early 1990s and that Brett Gurewitz produced Unstuck in Time.

By June 2011, Andy Alvarez was no longer drumming in the band and was replaced by A.J. Condosta. In July 2011, Doherty said the band was working on 7 inch releases with new material. On February 4, 2018, the band teased a new album via Twitter. On May 5, 2023, they released the EP Vultures on SBÄM Records.

Members

• Joe Doherty, vocals (1989 to 2001, 2009 to present)
• Eric Bootow, bass (2009 to present)
• A.J. Condosta, drums (2011 to present)

Former Members

• Brian Preiss, bass (1989 to 2001)
• George Snow, guitar (1989 to 1993)
• Craig Riker, guitar (1996 to 1999)
• Kevin Heller, drums (1989)
• Nenus Givargis, drums (1989 to 1994)
• Jarrod Thornton, drums (1994 to 1996)
• Ty Smith, drums (1996 to 1998)
• Andy Alvarez, drums (1998 to 2001, 2009 to 2011)
• Joey Rimicci, guitar (1989 to 2001, 2009 to 2025)

Discography

• Unstuck in Time (1990)
• It’s Lonely at the Bottom (1992)
• Elimination (1994)
• Image Is Everything (1996)
• Just Joined (1998)
• Pearly Gates (1999)