Limp

Limp was an American pop punk band formed in 1994, blending pop punk drive with clear ska and rock touches, and based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over their run, the band released three studio albums through Honest Don’s, the Fat Wreck Chords subsidiary, plus an EP through Fueled by Ramen, before breaking up in 2002.

How it started

Limp began with Phil Ensor on vocals and guitar and Serge Verkhovsky on bass. Early on, they brought in Scott Goodell, a member of Dance Hall Crashers, as their first drummer. The group recorded a demo that made the rounds through their orbit, landing with Marty Gregori of Bracket and then reaching Michael Burkett at Fat Wreck Chords. The demo connected quickly enough that a 7-inch was initially planned. After recording “Clear Color” and “Bug Dance,” the label instead offered the band a full-length release on its then-new subsidiary, Honest Don’s.

Pop and Disorderly and the first core lineup

That offer became Pop and Disorderly, released in 1997. The album was recorded with Ensor, Verkhovsky, second guitarist Billy Bouchard, and drummer Johnny Cruz. The record leaned hard into pop punk, with a big emphasis on vocal harmonies, a habit the band kept throughout their catalog. Ensor handled lead vocals on most of the album, while Bouchard took lead on “Eighteen” and also sang on a cover of Lindsey Buckingham’s “Holiday Road,” known from National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983).

Fine Girl EP and a busy 1998

After touring twice with Less Than Jake, Less Than Jake drummer Vinnie Fiorello offered Limp a release on his label, Fueled by Ramen. That became the Fine Girl EP in 1998, a mix of leftover songs from Pop and Disorderly and newer tracks that would later tie into the band’s next full-length. The EP also introduced guitarist Douglas Sangalang, formerly of Screw 32, who had replaced Bouchard. Because of the specific songs chosen, both Bouchard and Sangalang appeared on the EP.

Also in 1998, Limp released a four-song 7-inch of older material on Coldfront Records. Those recordings traced back to August 1996, when Ensor and Verkhovsky tracked songs as a three-piece with original drummer Gavin Hammon at Westbeach Recorders, working with producer Greg Hetson.

Guitarded, more attention, and a case of mistaken identity

In February 1999, Limp released Guitarded, their second Honest Don’s album. It was recorded across seven months, squeezed between constant touring. Compared to the debut, the record pushed toward a more mature sound, and it landed modest traction on college radio, earning more airplay than any previous Honest Don’s release. Around this period the band also dealt with an ongoing mix-up with Limp Bizkit, even tossing a thank-you to them in the liner notes. The bands had actually played together in 1997, before either group had much wider attention.

Not long after Guitarded, Limp were briefly courted by MCA Records after Blink-182 suggested them. The interest faded as label consolidation hit and rosters got trimmed. With the grind of touring catching up, the band stepped back for a breather.

The final album and the end of the band

Limp returned in 2002 with their third and final album, Limp. Produced by Ryan Greene at Motor Studios in San Francisco, the record moved toward a more straightforward rock approach compared to the earlier pop punk balance. Sangalang left before recording began, and Bouchard returned. His return was treated as a practical move rather than a full reset, which the liner notes reflected by listing him separately from the rest of the group. The album also featured Karina Deniké of Dance Hall Crashers on “Get Away.” Later in 2002, Limp broke up, with the self-titled record standing as the closing chapter.

Members

• Phil Ensor, vocals and guitar
• Serge Verkhovsky, bass
• Johnny Cruz, drums

Former members

• Billy Bouchard, guitar and vocals
• Dan McLintock, guitar and backing vocals
• Douglas Sangalang, guitar and backing vocals
• Gavin Hammon, drums

Discography

• Pop and Disorderly (June 24, 1997, Honest Don’s)
• Guitarded (February 23, 1999, Honest Don’s)
• Limp (February 19, 2002, Honest Don’s)
• Fine Girl EP (1998, Fueled by Ramen)
• Limp EP (1998, Coldfront Records)