Founded by future Rancid members Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, the Berkeley-based Operation Ivy had the distinction of being an incredibly influential band in the ska punk scene despite the short-lived nature of their existence. They only released one full length album during the course of their two-year career (Energy) and buoyed by their raucous live performance they were actually offered a major label record deal by EMI. But in a cruel twist of fate their album release show for this album was actually the final public live performance the band would ever have.
However Operation Ivy certainly lives on– they were part of the cohort of bands that built 924 Gilman Street into a legendary punk venue, and helped to kickstart the third wave ska movement that launched bands like Less Than Jake, Goldfinger, and No Doubt to commercial heights.
Standout Songs: “Sound System”, “Take Warning”, “Bombshell”, “Unity”, “Missionary”
