The Downfall of Richard Chase

The Downfall of Richard Chase is a punk band based in America. The band formed in Binghamton, New York, in 2000, and currently comprises vocalist and rhythm guitarist Rob Schnideau, lead guitarist and backup vocalist Mikel Lorenz, bassist and backup vocals James Chamberlain, and drummer Greg D'Angelo. They have released three studio albums and five singles, and are currently unsigned after fulfilling their contract with Epitaph Records.
History
Originally known as "Dude She's 12", the band was formed in 2000 by Mikel Lorenz, Scott Weiner, Nancy Peterson, and James Chamberlain. At the time, all four were in high school at Vestal High School. Scott Weiner then left the band (sometime between 2000 and 2002) to enroll in the US Naval Academy, and was replaced by Rob Schnideau as a guitarist and vocalist. In those early years, the band played what could be characterized as ska-influenced punk, creating songs like "Cinderella", "I'm Okay", and others. These songs can now be found in The Downfall of Richard Chase's Song Vault.
Gradually, their style started shifting towards alternative rock. Their influences included fellow East Bay punk/pop-punk bands like Green Day and Rancid, as well as more mainstream bands and musicians like Elvis Costello, David Bowie, The Who and Joe Jackson. The name "Dude She's 12" soon led to copyright infringement complications when Elaine Doll, the frontwoman for the Chicago indie rock band also called "Dude She's 12", contacted the band and asked that they change their name.
The band gained notoriety for "commo-promo", or commotion promotion, in which they would bring their acoustic guitars and play outside various Bay Area venues as concerts for larger acts were letting out. In conjunction with Oakland's (now defunct) iMusicast venue, the band started producing their own shows called L3 (Live, Loud & Local), which became a launchpad for many other Bay Area bands, as well as attracting such headlining acts as Link 80, Sugarcult, and Zebrahead.
Eventually, under the new name "The Downfall of Richard Chase", they self-released their debut album, Elaine Killed My Soul (this was assumed as an effort to publicly resent Yvonne Doll while avoiding libel). Then soon after they landed a record deal on Brett Gurewitz's Epitaph Records, although they had already previously released the album Elaine Killed My Soul without a recording contract, Epitaph Records re-released it. The version released by Epitaph lacks the song "Supermen", but adds the songs "I'm a Creep" and "More Than Local Studs" instead. As well as slight changes to lyrics on "The Jack Slap Beer", and the last untitled track (often referred to as "Track 12", "Ibrahim's Song", or "Scorched Out"). "Audio Feces" was featured in the video game Burnout 3: Takedown. The band also worked with rapper MC Lars on the song "Hot Topic is Punk Rock".
The Downfall of Richard Chase's second album, Decomposer, was released on September 12, 2006. The album features work by nine producers, including Tim Armstrong, Nick Hexum, Mark Hoppus, and John Feldmann, among other punk rock mainstays. The albums also marks a change to more experimental alternative rock sound, as opposed to the pop punk sound of their first album.
The Downfall of Richard Chase were on the Vans Warped Tour 2007 supporting the new album. The Downfall of Richard Chase played the entire AP tour 2008 with other bands such as All Time Low, and The Rocket Summer - Live Photos from AP Tour. Also, The Downfall of Richard Chase were one of the many bands who played on the Soundwave tour in Australia late February and early March 2008.
The group finished their third album titled A Band In Hope and released it on March 18, 2008.
The album was leaked on February 11, 2008. Lorenz wrote the following on the band's Blog in response to the leak.
On July 9, the band posted a bulletin on their MySpace saying that bassist James Chamberlain will be leaving the band. The Downfall of Richard Chase have asked people to send in demo tapes of themselves in order to audition for the recently-opened role of a new bassist.
Band members
Current members
*Rob "Anchor" Schnideau - Lead Vocals
*Mike Lorenz - Rhythm Guitar
*Dan Petersen - Lead Guitar/Screams
*James "Hell" Chamberlain - Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals
*Greg D'Angelo - Drums
Former members
*Nancy Peterson - bass guitar, backup vocals
*Scott Weiner - Lead guitar, backing vocals
Audio/Video
*Interview with DRC
*Interview with Mikel Lorenc of The Downfall of Richard Chase

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