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THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CALL IT QUITS Columbia Records Trio Disbands To Follow Individual Pursuits Columbia Records trio the Presidents Of The United States Of America has disbanded. Singer/bassitarist Chris Ballew resigned from the band to spend more time being a father and husband and to pursue other musical interests. "The band wants to thank everyone who supported us over the last four years," said guitarist Dave Dederer. When asked what prompted the breakup, drummer Jason Finn quipped, "We broke up for the same reason Soundgarden did...Chris left the band." Columbia Records will release a final Presidents album in 1998; the record will contain previously unreleased new songs, b-sides, cover tunes, live tracks, and material previously available on seven-inch singles only. The Presidents recently recorded their version of "Video Killed The Radio Star" (an in-concert favorite) for the forthcoming Adam Sandler film "The Wedding Singer." The song can be heard during the closing credits of the film and on the Maverick Records soundtrack (both film and album are due for an early '98 release). PUSA will also be featured in a music video for the song. During the group's Columbia Records tenure, the Presidents sold more than 4 million records worldwide. The band's Top 10 self-titled debut album spawned three top 40 singles: "Lump" (which also hit the #1 Modern Rock Airplay slot), "Kitty," and "Peaches." The Presidents Of The United States Of America was nominated for the Best Alternative Music Performance Grammy award in 1995; a year later, "Peaches" was nominated in the Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal category. Videos for both "Lump" and "Peaches" achieved MTV "Buzz Clip" stress rotation. The album set a record on the CMJ chart as the longest-charting debut album released in 1995 (outlasting the Foo Fighters and Alanis Morissette, among others). II, 1996's follow-up to The Presidents Of The United States Of America, contained the hits "Volcano" and "Mach 5." Rolling Stone critic David Fricke, an early Presidents fan, caught a live show and wrote that the band was "like the Minutemen with a Cheap Trick jones." Steve Hochman, of the LA Times, called them "a necessary addition to mid-90's rock." The Presidents Of The United States Of America will play a farewell concert in Seattle in February 1998. |