Camper Van Beethoven
Explore Music Coast coverage featuring Camper Van Beethoven.
Who is Camper Van Beethoven?
Camper Van Beethoven is an American rock band formed in Redlands, California, in 1983, later based in Santa Cruz and San Francisco. Their style mixes elements of pop, ska, punk, folk, alternative, country, and world music, among other genres. The band initially polarized audiences within the hardcore punk scene of California's Inland Empire and then found wider acceptance and, eventually, an international audience. Their strong iconoclasm and emphasis on do-it-yourself values proved influential to the burgeoning indie rock movement. The band's first three independent records were released within an 18-month period. Their debut single was "Take the Skinheads Bowling", a song with nonsensical lyrics that became an unexpected hit.
