Bim Skala Bim

Bim Skala Bim
OriginBoston, Massachusetts, United States
GenresThird wave ska
Ska punk
Years active1983–2002
2009–present
Members
  • Dan Vitale
  • Mark Ferranti
  • Jim Arhelger
  • Vinny Nobile
  • Jim Jones
  • Dave Butts
Past members
  • John Cameron
  • Ephraim Lessell
  • Rick Barry
  • Robin Ducot
  • Mark Paquin
  • Jackie Starr
  • Lauren Flesher
  • John Ferry
  • Chris Rhodes
  • Walt Bostian

Bim Skala Bim is a ska band formed in Boston that was influenced by the bands in England's two-tone movement as well as artists such as the Clash, UB40 and Bob Marley. Their "Boston Blue Beat" sound, a mix of upbeat two-tone ska, rock 'n' roll, and calypso with a noticeable reggae undertone, made them, along with The Toasters, some of the first bands in the third wave of ska in the 1980s. Shortly after, other bands became inspired, resulting in a lively scene in Boston and much of the United States.

In 1997, Bim Skala Bim, the Dropkick Murphys, and the Mighty Bosstones embarked on a 50-date nationwide "Boston on the Road" tour.

Since their formation in 1983, Bim Skala Bim has released twelve LPs, won ten Boston Music Awards, eight Boston Phoenix Reader's Poll awards, and Boston magazine's "Best of Boston" twice. In March 2013, Boston Business Journal rated Bim Skala Bim's album Bones #19 in their "Boston Top 40 Albums of All Time" list.

Bim Skala Bim went on hiatus in 2002, but they reformed to record a new album titled Chet's Last Call, released in late 2013.[1]

The song "Paraguayan Sun" is the outro music for the tabletop gaming podcast Cast Dice.

  1. ^ "Manchester 65 » Bim Skala Bim, King Hammond – Tickets – Manchester 65 – West Warwick, RI – August 17th, 2014". Manchester 65. Archived from the original on 2015-02-08. Retrieved 2015-02-07.