The Presidents of the United States of America is an alternative band which was formed in 1989.

They are a grunge pop group that had a sequence of hits in the mid 1990s, such as "Lump", "Kitty", and "Peaches". They were noted for their amusing lyrics and simple, catchy guitar riffs, usually with guitars from which they had removed strings.

They also perform the theme music for The Drew Carey Show.

Line-up

• Chris Ballew
• Dave Dederer
• Jason Finn (see also: Love Battery )

Instruments

The Presidents are credited with creating the instruments known as the 'basitar' and the 'guitbass'. Both instruments are modifications of traditional six string electric guitar bodies with specific strings removed and different tunings.

• The basitar was first created by Mark Sandman, good friend of lead singer Chris Ballew, and leader of the band Morphine. A basitar acts like a bass guitar. It consists of a normal (six string) guitar body fitted with two bass guitar strings on the two middle tuning pegs, tuned to C sharp and G Sharp (lowest to highest).
• The guitbass acts as an electric guitar and was created by band member Dave Dederer to compliment Ballew's basitar. It consists of a normal six string guitar with only three strings, tuned to C sharp, G sharp and C sharp (lowest to highest). The second C sharp is an octave higher.

Discography

Full-lengths:

• The Presidents of the United States of America (1995)
• II (1996)
• Pure Frosting (1998)
• Freaked Out And Small (2000)
• Love Everybody (2004)

Live/Greatest Hits:

• Rarities (1997) Greatest Hits
• Pure Frosting (1998) with, live features
• Lump (1999) Greatest Hits

Singles:

• Fuck California (1994)
• Lump (1995)
• Monkey River (1995)
• Kitty (1995)
• Naked And Famous (1995)
• Peaches (1996)
• Back Porch (1996)
• Dune Buggy (1996)
• Mach 5 (1996)
• "Cleveland Rocks (1996)
• Ça Plane Pour Moi (1996)
• Tiki God (1996)
• Bug City (1997)
• Supermodel (Oh Yeah) (1997)
• Volcano (1997)
• Supersonics (1997)
• Man (Opposable Thumb) (1997)
• Video Killed The Radio Star (1998)
• "George Of The Jungle Theme " (1999)
• Teenage Girl (1999)
• Tiny Explosions (2000)
• Nuthin' But Luv (2000)
• Jazz Guy (2000)
• Jupiter (2001)
• Last Girl On Earth (2001)
• "Some Postman " (2004)

For a more comprehensive discography see the Musicbrainz entry for this artist.

External links

• Presidentsrock.com - the band's website
• The Love Delicatessen - a fan site
• Freaked Out and Small - another fan site
• Chris.Ballew.net - another fan site
• Chrisballew.com - Chris Ballew's homepage
• Basitar & Guitbass Page - information on the instruments
• Presidents of the USA Lyrics - song lyrics

Trivia

Three-string guitar bassist Dave Dederer was a member of another quirky band in college at Brown University, The Big Heads of Pluturnus, in the mid 1980s.