Editing Rocket from the Crypt (section)

==Band history==
===Formation===
After the breakup of his [[post-hardcore]] band [[Pitchfork (band)|Pitchfork]] in 1990, Reis formed both Rocket from the Crypt and [[Drive Like Jehu]] in July and August of that year respectively.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=1024}}</ref> Envisioned as a [[punk rock|punk]]-inspired [[rock and roll]] band, Rocket from the Crypt's original lineup consisted of Reis, guitarist [[Andy Stamets]], bassist Pete Reichert, drummer Sean, and backing vocalist Elaina.<ref name="Pecorelli, 73">Pecorelli, 73.</ref> The band took their name from the then-defunct 1970s underground punk band [[Rocket from the Tombs]]. This lineup lasted roughly six months and recorded the band's debut album ''[[Paint as a Fragrance]]'', released in 1991 on local label [[Cargo Music]]. At this time, Reis began to use the [[pseudonym]] "Speedo" when working with the band. He was also simultaneously performing in Drive Like Jehu, who recorded their debut album around the same time. When Sean and Elaina moved away from San Diego, drummer [[Adam Willard]] joined the band under the stage name "Atom."<ref name="Pecorelli, 73"/> The rest of the band also assumed stage monikers, with Stamets performing as "ND" and Reichert as "Petey X."

The band soon added a [[French horn|horn section]], recruiting saxophone player Paul "Apollo 9" O'Beirne.<ref name="Pecorelli, 73"/> They developed a reputation for their creative and energetic live shows, taking unusual measures to encourage audience participation such as handing out homemade lyric booklets and noisemakers.<ref name="Pecorelli, 73"/> They released many [[vinyl record|vinyl singles]] around this time and began to attract a dedicated underground following. Reis recalls:
<blockquote>"It was really immediate; that's why we loved putting out singles early on. We recorded some songs for [[Sympathy for the Record Industry]], and two weeks later, we had some finished copies of them. The turnaround time was amazing. And by the time people were able to get them, it was still under a month. They're hearing something that is completely fresh&ndash;this is something we're doing ''at the moment''. We did that for, like, a three-year period."<ref name="Pecorelli, 73"/></blockquote>
Their second album ''[[Circa: Now!]]'' was released in 1992, followed by their first tour and music videos for the songs "Ditchdigger" and "Sturdy Wrist." The band also added a second member to its horn section, bringing in [[trumpet]]er Jason "JC 2000" Crane.<ref name="Pecorelli, 73"/> Around this time Reis announced in a [[fanzine]] that all fans with Rocket from the Crypt tattoos would be allowed into the band's shows for free, for life, causing tattoos of their logo to become an international phenomenon.<ref name="Pecorelli, 73"/>

===Signing to Interscope===
Fueled by a label interest in Drive Like Jehu, both Rocket from the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu signed to [[Interscope Records]] in 1992,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/exclusives/entry/the_whole_thing_just_seemed_kind_of_mystical_the_story_of_rocket_from_the_c/ |title=Exclusives – The Whole Thing Just Seemed Kind of Mystical: The Story of Rocket from the Crypt |publisher=FILTER Magazine |date=2013-05-28 |access-date=2014-04-19}}</ref> with Rocket negotiating a deal that included the freedom to record vinyl releases for other labels. Many of the band's vinyl singles and other rarities were compiled and released as ''[[All Systems Go (Rocket From the Crypt album)|All Systems Go]]'', while Interscope re-released ''Circa: Now!'' and pushed for the band to continue touring in support of the album. Even with market saturation high, however, the band members decided to take a six-month break in 1994 while Reis recorded a second and final album with Drive Like Jehu.<ref name="Larkin"/>

Regrouping after their hiatus, the band experienced a flurry of creative energy that resulted in several more vinyl singles and a trilogy of records in 1995, beginning with the [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[The State of Art is on Fire]]'' and continuing with the critically acclaimed ''[[Hot Charity]]''.<ref name="Larkin"/> They embarked on a six-week "free tour" in support of ''Hot Charity'', with Interscope covering the costs so that fans were not charged admission to any of the band's performances across the [[United States]]. This was followed by the recording of their first album for Interscope, the critically acclaimed ''[[Scream, Dracula, Scream!]]''<ref name="Larkin"/> The band took advantage of their large recording budget, bringing in string sections and hiring producers to make the album sound as epic as possible, and it would later be regarded by most as their creative peak. Music videos were filmed for the singles "On a Rope," "Born in '69" and "Young Livers" and the band embarked on tours of the US, [[United Kingdom|UK]] and [[Europe]].<ref name="Larkin"/> They experienced a surge of popularity in the UK, where "On a Rope" entered the [[UK Singles Chart]] at No.&nbsp;12,<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> and was a hit on [[MTV Europe]], earning them rave reviews in ''[[NME]]'' and allowing them to play ''[[Top of the Pops]]''. 1996 also saw them win The Phillip Hall Radar award at the NME awards event.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/nme-awards/awards-history/1996-606158 | title=1996 | website=[[NME]] | date=28 February 1996 }}</ref>

They were also an [[alternative rock]] hit in the US, where their videos were featured on [[MTV]] and the band received many positive reviews in both mainstream and underground music presses. Then-ubiquitous MTV [[VJ (media personality)|VJ]] [[Lisa Kennedy Montgomery|Kennedy]] sported a tattoo of the band's logo on her ankle on national television, and increased radio and MTV airplay continued. A large headlining tour ensued in 1996, as well as supporting tours with [[Rancid (band)|Rancid]] and [[Soundgarden]]. The band also gained a reputation for a series of interesting and, at times, seemingly ludicrous gimmicks and stage antics which included holding raffles during live performances, spinning a large game show wheel to determine set lists, onstage fire breathing, annual [[Halloween]] and New Year's shows, and the wearing of coordinated and progressively more ornate stage costumes.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} In Europe the band also hosted a German variety show, played children's shows and morning shows, and did interviews with fashion magazines.

===Lineup change===
In 1998, Rocket from the Crypt released ''[[RFTC (Rocket from the Crypt album)|RFTC]]''. For the accompanying tour they were joined by [[Chris Prescott]] from San Diego bands [[Tanner (band)|Tanner]] and [[No Knife]], who performed as touring percussionist and keyboardist. Though overall reaction was positive and singles "Break it Up" and "Lipstick" received radio airplay, the album failed to sell well. The band settled some contractual obligations and then left their label. In 1999 San Diego music magazine ''SLAMM'' named them the "best San Diego band of all time" in their coverage of local acts leading up to New Year's Eve 2000. The band tried to maintain their creativity with the release of the EP ''[[Cut Carefully and Play Loud]]'' that year, but disagreements between members over the band's direction resulted in drummer Atom Willard departing the group in early 2000 (he would go on to act as [[Weezer]]'s drum technician and play in [[The Special Goodness]], later becoming permanent drummer in both [[The Offspring]] and [[Angels & Airwaves]]). Rocket took a brief hiatus, during which Reis launched his own record label [[Swami Records]] and released a second rarities collection called ''[[All Systems Go 2]]'', as well as debut albums by his newly formed bands [[Hot Snakes]] and [[Sultans (band)|Sultans]].

===Signing to Vagrant===
In 2000, the band signed to independent label [[Vagrant Records]] and began work on the album ''[[Group Sounds (album)|Group Sounds]]'', with [[Superchunk]] drummer [[Jon Wurster]] filling in on drums. Partway through the recording process they recruited San Diego drummer and professional skateboarder [[Mario Rubalcaba]] as their full-time drummer, giving him the stage name "Ruby Mars." The addition of Rubalcaba gave the band renewed energy, and ''Group Sounds'' was released in 2001 to positive reviews. Some touring followed, but band members drifted into other projects and Rocket became less the focus. In 2002 Rocket released what would prove to be their final studio album, ''[[Live From Camp X-Ray]]'', after which Reis devoted more energy to recording and touring with Hot Snakes and Sultans and to signing and producing bands for his Swami label. Rocket would perform infrequently over the next few years.

===Demise===
In August 2005, after breaking up Hot Snakes, Reis announced that Rocket from the Crypt would play their final show that Halloween in San Diego. After a final east coast performance in [[New York City|New York]], they played a farewell show before a capacity crowd at the Westin Horton Plaza Hotel in downtown San Diego on Halloween, which was filmed for a [[DVD]] release.

Following the band's breakup Reis focused his energy on running Swami Records and continued to play with the Sultans until their breakup in January 2007. He then formed [[The Night Marchers]], with whom he currently performs. Reichert founded and runs the online merchandise company Merch Lackey. O'Beirne teaches project management and marketing at a San Diego high school, while Crane left San Diego semi-permanently for [[Belize]]. Stamets continues to perform in San Diego-area bands such as Beehive & the Barracudas. Rubalcaba became part-owner of the independent record store Thirsty Moon Records in the Hillcrest area of San Diego and plays with the bands [[Earthless]] and [[Off! (band)|Off!]]. He also joined Reis in the Sultans for infrequent performances until that group's breakup in January 2007.

Swami Records released a "rough cut" of the Rocket from the Crypt farewell concert DVD in October 2006, but a fire at the offices of Fourth Project, the video company producing the DVD, pushed back the final version. It was eventually released in February 2008 as a CD/DVD set entitled ''[[R.I.P. (Rocket from the Crypt album)|R.I.P.]]''  A third installment in their rarities series, ''[[All Systems Go 3]]'', was released on August 28, 2008.  A fourth, and final, volume of the All Systems Go series is in the works, and will be a CD/DVD set.<ref>{{cite web|title = Rocket from the Crypt details All Systems Go 3|publisher = Punknews.org|date = 2008-08-18|url = http://www.punknews.org/article/30106|access-date = 2008-08-18}}</ref>

===Reunion===
Rocket from the Crypt reunited, with drummer Adam Willard, in October 2011 for an episode of the children's television show ''[[Yo Gabba Gabba!]]''<ref name="punknews 2011-11-02">{{cite web |title=Rocket from the Crypt Reunite for ''Yo Gabba Gabba'' Performance |date=2011-11-02 |publisher=Punknews.org |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/45039 |access-date=2011-11-07}}</ref> Reis, who plays a recurring role on the show as "The Swami", remarked that the band was "only interested in playing to audiences of 5 to 10 people between the ages of 3 to 6" and would "most likely never play as a band ever again".<ref name="punknews 2011-11-02"/> They performed an original song, "He's a Chef", which was released as a single exclusively through [[Volcom]] clothing stores.<ref name="Schild">{{cite web|last=Schild |first=Matt |title=Rocket from the Crypt Caters to the Coveted Preschool Demographic with ''Yo Gabba Gabba!'' Performance |publisher=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=2012-09-10 |url=https://www.avclub.com/rocket-from-the-crypt-caters-to-the-coveted-preschool-d-1798233300 |access-date=2012-09-10}}</ref> In December 2012 the band announced a full reunion, resulting in gigs in the US, Europe and Australia.<ref name="Coyle">{{cite web |last=Coyle |first=Chris |title=Rocket from the Crypt Makes Reunion Official with Europe Dates |publisher=CBS Seattle |date=2012-12-12 |url=http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2012/12/12/rocket-from-the-crypt-makes-reunion-official-with-europe-dates/ |access-date=2012-12-13}}</ref><ref name="Eakin">{{cite web |last=Eakin |first=Marah |title=Rocket from the Crypt Announces First Run of 2013 Tour Dates |publisher=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=2012-12-12 |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/rocket-from-the-crypt-announce-first-run-of-2013-t,89826/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214225459/http://www.avclub.com/articles/rocket-from-the-crypt-announce-first-run-of-2013-t%2C89826/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=2012-12-15}}</ref><ref name="groezrock">{{cite web |title=Lineup :: Groezrock 2013 |publisher=[[Groezrock|Groezrock.be]] |date=2012-12-12 |url=http://groezrock.be/lineup |access-date=2013-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205004554/http://www.groezrock.be/lineup |archive-date=2013-02-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.redeyechicago.com/2013-05-15/entertainment/39288015_1_riot-fest-white-mystery-lineup |title=Riot Fest 2013 line-up Chicago |publisher=Articles.redeyechicago.com |date=2013-05-15 |access-date=2014-04-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://soundwavefestival.com/ |title=Soundwave Festival 2014 |publisher=Soundwavefestival.com |access-date=2014-04-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412172017/http://www.soundwavefestival.com/ |archive-date=2014-04-12 }}</ref> In March 2015, ''Vintage Piss'' was released by [[Sonny Vincent]] and Rocket from the Crypt. The album was originally recorded with Vincent in 2003 following a tour with Rocket from the Crypt serving as his backing band however the album was left unmixed and unfinished until twelve years later following the reunion of Rocket from the Crypt when John Reis decided to go back and complete the album, which he also produced.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/vintage-piss-mw0002832948|title = Vintage Piss - Sonny Vincent, Rocket from the Crypt &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits &#124; AllMusic|website = [[AllMusic]]}}</ref>

The band continues to play sporadically, and regularly performs their annual Halloween show.