The Witzard

DOOM REgulator painting (ART CREDIT: Ryan Callisto @moonofjupiterart) Operation Ivy—often, affectionately know as simply "Op Ivy" —were only active for two years in-between 1987-89, but have remined one of the most influential Ska Punk/Hardcore eevr since their all too brief tenture. Op Ivy's Lint AKA Tim Armstrong and Matt McCall AKA Matt Freeman would go on to play in Rancid together, who are still actively recording and touring some 32 years later. Armstrong and Op Ivy vocalist Jesse Michaels briefy reunited in 2013 on a song called "Living In A Dangerous Land" as part of his extensive Tim Timebomb & Friends singles series and again in 2022 to play a rendition of "Sound System" as backed by The Interrupters at Musack's Rock "N" Roll Carnival. Armstrong & Michaels additionally co-wrote a handful of songs together for UK Punks Grade 2, which appeared strewn across Graveyard Island , Graveyard Island: Acoustic Sessions, and Gr...

Jesse Michaels is most widely known as the frontman of seminal "East Bay" Ska Punk band, Operation Ivy, which featured both Tim "Lint" Armstrong & Matt "McCall" Freeman, who would later go on to form Rancid. Operation Ivy (or Op Ivy) were only active from about 1987-89, but their '89 debut, Energy—later, re-packaged as Operation Ivy in 1991 and 2007 with additional EP and compilation tracks—helped shape the 90's Ska Punk genre and is often cited as one of the most influential releases across the genre. Michaels would go on to expand his creative talents across art, painting, and literature, as well, and went on to form a number of bands, including Big Rig, Common Rider, and Classics of Love. Jesse Michaels, additionally, guested on a wide array of albums, EP's, and releases by other artists in recent years, including Screeching Weasel, The Bruce Lee Band, Leftöver Crack, One Time Angels, Rise Against, and one-time bandmate Tim Armstrong...