The Dismemberment Plan - Biography
The Dismemberment Plan are one of indie rock's defining bands. The Washington, D.C.-based four-piece formed in 1993, named after a phrase from the Bill Murray comedy Groundhog Day. In 1995, the band's debut album, !, was released on local D.C. independent label DeSoto Records and drummer Joe Easley joined founding members Eric Axelson (bass), Jason Caddell (guitar), and Travis Morrison (vocalist/guitar player) soon after. Two years later, the band released their sophomore album, The Dismemberment Plan Is Terrified, which attracted major label attention.
The Dismemberment Plan signed with Interscope between 1998 and 1999, during which time the band recorded the classic album Emergency & I. However, during this time Interscope only released the band's The Ice of Boston EP, and in the end, Emergency was released via DeSoto. In 2000, Pearl Jam invited the Dismemberment Plan to open for them on their European tour, further raising the band's profile. In 2001, the Dismemberment Plan released Change. In 2002, the band co-headlined the "Death and Dismemberment Tour" with Death Cab for Cutie. A People's History of the Dismemberment Plan followed in 2003. The band broke up later that year, reforming four years later to play a benefit for DeSoto Records labelmate J. Robbins' (Jawbox) son. The band reunited again in 2010, and released the album Uncanney Valley in 2013.