Members of Operation Ivy, Rancid, Circle Jerks, TRASH TALK & Classics of Love Form New Band DOOM REgulator & Release Hellcat Singles Club Single "Raid" (Hellcat/Epitaph Records)

DOOM REgulator painting (ART CREDIT: Ryan Callisto @moonofjupiterart)

Operation Ivy—often, affectionately know as simply "Op Ivy"—were only active for two years in-between 1987-89, but have remined one of the most influential Ska Punk/Hardcore eevr since their all too brief tenture. Op Ivy's Lint AKA Tim Armstrong and Matt McCall AKA Matt Freeman would go on to play in Rancid together, who are still actively recording and touring some 32 years later. Armstrong and Op Ivy vocalist Jesse Michaels briefy reunited in 2013 on a song called "Living In A Dangerous Land" as part of his extensive Tim Timebomb & Friends singles series and again in 2022 to play a rendition of "Sound System" as backed by The Interrupters at Musack's Rock "N" Roll Carnival. Armstrong & Michaels additionally co-wrote a handful of songs together for UK Punks Grade 2, which appeared strewn across Graveyard Island, Graveyard Island: Acoustic Sessions, and Grade 2 released in 2019, 2021, and 2023, respectively.


Operation Ivy reunions have long been cryptically teased and begged for by fans world-wide for years, but the closest we've probaby ever gotten is when Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!, Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers) launched a Change.org petition to try to entice Op Ivy play Riot Fest in 2021, along with some Laura Jane Grace/Operation Ivy hybrid merch, of course. So, now to the elation of Grace and fans world-wide... Tim Armstrong (Rancid, The Silencers, Transplants,) Jesse Michaels (Big Rig, Classics of Love, Common Rider,) Joey Castillo (The Bronx, Circle Jerks, ex-TRASH TALK,) and bassist Spencer Pollard (Infest, Stop At Nothing, TRASH TALK) have unveiled their new project DOOM Regulator (formerly known as BAD OPTIX) with the release of their debut single, "Raid," today via Hellcat Records.


The new/quasi-reunion track kicks off The Hellcat Singles Club: a collection of new releases by a variety of bands curated by Tim Armstrong and the Hellcat/Epitaph team. Anti-authoritarian anthem "Raid" features breezy, classic Jamaican-influenced Ska contrasted with a vocal approach aligned with the brute force of Punk for a vibe that's updated but not completely disconnected from early Ska legacy. On the lyrical intent behind the song, Michaels explains, "'Raid" is about every person's spiritual autonomy from the powers that be, regardless of who they are or what their particular struggle is." Speaking to the creative process he continues, "like many of the tracks we have worked on, I heard the music and wrote the lyrics very quickly, almost on the spot. This was only the second song we did, but it felt hot immediately and just flowed, so we thought it would be a good way to introduce the new band to the world."


Officially forming in March of 2021, the Ska Punk pioneers have over 35 years of history together. Even with the gap between Operation Ivy to now, Michaels says, "our creative connection seems to be stronger than ever and all the music we loved back then, we still love." The idea to form a band came organically one day when Jesse & Tim met up purely with the intent to re-connect. Of course, the topic of music came up and when Armstrong started to play some of his new tracks, Michaels was immediately inspired and sparking ideas for vocals. He explains, "as soon as we started writing together, we found that we had the same collaborative energy that we had in the past, so it was natural and fun just to keep going." Tim, also, adds, "it came back, just like that. Like when we were kids. There is a special chemistry between us and I don't take it for granted."


Though it might seem like picking back up after all these years, DOOM Regulator are not just an iteration of their last band. Harnessing decades of Punk legend status for a fresh opportunity and a broader perspective, they make a subtle nod to their origins with their name as a playful acknowledgment of history. Embracing the concept of "substance over surface," sitting in the tradition of Punk band names like Bad Brains, Bad Religion, and The Bad Seeds, they find it a title worthy of their cause. BAD OPTIX's debut single, "Raid," is now available on streaming platforms as part of The Hellcat Singles Club on Hellcat/Epitaph. It seems like this is just our first taste of what's to come, as Tim Armstrong proclaims, "there are a ton more BAD OPTIX songs to come..." Check out Armstrong's full statement on BAD OPTIX's formation from an Instagram post below.

I've been friends with Jesse [Michaels] since the early 1980's when we were teenagers. We formed Operation Ivy in 1987 and two years later, we broke up. Jesse & I both continued down our own musical journeys through the years. I always felt a little sadness that Jesse & I stoped making music together. But we never lost touch. And, then, it happened. A few years ago, we started writing songs again! A couple of the songs ended up on Grade 2's record. Jesse & I just stared writing again a lot. It came back. Just like that. Like when we we were kids. There is a special chemistry between us and I don't take it for granted.

Joey [Castillo] & I have been friends for years and I have loved all the work he has done drumming for the likes of Circle Jerks, The Bronx, TRASH TALK, and Wasted Youth (just to name a few.) He is one of the best drummers in the world and a dear friend. I met and became quick friends with Spencer [Pollard] a few years back when Joey brought TRASH TALK over to record at my studio. I love the band TRASH TALK so much. An incredible band and phenomenal people. The rhythm section of Joey & Spencer is as good as it gets and their respected styles has added another element to the song-writing. So, this is our first single, "RAID," and there are a ton more DOOM Regulator songs to come.

- Tim Armstrong (@timtimebomb)

DOOM Regulator in black-and-white (CREDIT: Lisa Johnson @lisajohnsonrockphotographer)