Formed in 1995

Wheatus was formed in 1995 by Brendan Bernard Brown , who plays guitar and sings, on the Lower East Side of New York City. Brown began by writing a few songs and subsequently enlisted his brother Peter on drums, Rich Liegey on bass and backing vocals, and Philip A. Jimenez on various percussion instruments, keyboards, harmonica, samples, and special effects. The band derives its name from the nickname “wedus” given to the Brown brothers by their father when they were children. In 1999, they hired New York producer Ray Maiello, who booked them at New York’s Luna Lounge for regular appearances. Maiello distributed the group’s self-produced debut album, including to major record labels and to A&R executive Kevin Patrick from Columbia Records . Maiello then arranged for Patrick to see the band play at the Mercury Lounge , and Patrick subsequently signed Wheatus to a multi-album deal, with Maiello as the band’s manager. Their self-titled debut album was released on August 15, 2000, and spawned their first and most successful hit, “Teenage Dirtbag”, which charted at No. 1 in Australia and No. 2 in the United Kingdom, where it was later certified platinum . Their second single, a cover of Erasure ‘s ” A Little Respect “, peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart . The third single from the album, a double A-side of “Leroy” and “Wannabe Gangstar”, was less successful, reaching No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart. Another song from the album, “Punk Ass Bitch”, was bought by the creators of Jackie Chan Adventures and reworked as “Chan’s the Man”, the end credits theme for the program’s first season.