Benjamin Foster, also known as Ben Weasel, is a songwriter, singer, and guitarist. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the punk rock bandScreeching Weasel.
After an initial break-up in 1989, Screeching Weasel reformed in 1991 and broke up for a second time in 1994. Following the second breakup, Foster formed a new band, The Riverdales, with Screeching Weasel members Dan Vapid, and Dan Panic. In the early 1990s, Foster founded The Gore Gore Girls with SW guitarist Jughead, Glynis Johnson and Russ Forester. The Gore Gore Girls lasted only three shows and made an appearance on a compilation EP, Mouthful of Monkey Bile. He also played 2nd guitar in The Vindictives, to be replaced by Billy Blastoff. Foster appeared on the first 4 EPs released by the band. In 1996, Lookout! Records released a 7" EP by The Shotdowns which included Foster, Jughead, and rock criticJim DeRogatis. Foster was credited as "Pappy Le Pew". Foster reunited with Screeching Weasel again in 1996. The band lasted until 2001 before breaking up again. On March 27, 2009, Foster announced he was reforming Screeching Weasel. He and Danny Vapid were the only returning members.
Solo albums
In 2002, Foster released his first solo album, Fidatevi. His second album, These Ones Are Bitter, was released in June 2007. A live album, titled "The Brain That Wouldn't Die", appeared in 2009 and featured Screeching Weasel member Danny Vapid. As well as Jon Phillip.
Foster formed Chicago-based record label, Panic Button Records, in 1997 with Pierson. The label was later purchased by Lookout! Records.
Writing
In the early 1990s, Foster published the fanzine Panic Button. He published two chapbooks through Oyster Publications, Brady Bunch Behemoth and Stab! Stab! Stab!. Weasel also wrote for other various zines, including Razorcake, Non-Stop Banter, Jersey Beat, Hit List and 10 Things Jesus Wants You To Know. He also had a long-running column in MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL, one of the most prominent punk rock fanzines. He wrote a novel in 2001 called Like Hell and put out a collection of his columns and articles in 2002 entitled Punk is a Four Letter Word. Both books were published by Hope and Nonthings, a small publishing house based in Chicago run by former bandmate John Jughead.
Weasel Radio
Foster co-hosted a weekly radio show with Owen Murphy called Weasel Radio which premiered on ESPN 1070. Weasel Radio eventually became a podcast and its last episode was released on May 5, 2016. Foster appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor Podcast on September 11, 2015. Foster was a guest host on Dying Scene Radio episode 017.
On Friday, March 18, 2011 at Austin, TX's SXSW Festival, Foster was involved in an altercation with two women during a Screeching Weasel performance. The first woman threw ice cubes at Foster. Upon being hit with more ice Foster found an unruly woman was the source of the ice. Foster originally stated he "can't kick a girl's ass" and offered money for another woman to handle the attacker. As the ice and spitting continued Foster threatened to beat the woman up himself. The woman then threw beer at Foster, who responded by attacking her. A club owner, also female, then came on stage and grabbed Foster. He pushed her and punched her before being pulled to the other side of the stage by a bouncer. On March 20, Foster posted an apology on his website BenWeasel.com stating Following the incident, several bands who were slated to appear at Weasel Fest in Chicago dropped out, including Chinese Telephones, Chixdiggit, The Soviettes, Teenage Bottlerocket and Kepi Ghoulie. On March 23, 2011 the other four members of Screeching Weasel all resigned from the band citing the SXSW incident as the reason. On March 31 it was announced that the entire Weasel Fest had been cancelled. In August, Weasel issued a full article on Screeching Weasel's website describing his whole point of view on the situation.
Personal life
On November 30, 2010, Foster appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly and revealed that he suffers from anxiety, panic attacks, and bouts of agoraphobia. Foster lives with his wife and 3 children in Madison, Wisconsin. He used to be a Buddhist but then became Catholic.
