Frequently Asked Questions

Commonly asked questions about the band We Are Scientists. If you have a question (make it an easy one please) that you'd like answered or featured on this page, drop us a line via email and we'll endeavour to answer it.

100% accuracy guaranteed.

Are the band really scientists?
How did the band meet?
How did the band form?
How did the band get their name?
How old are the members of We Are Scientists and when are their birthdays?
Where did the kittens on the album cover come from?
How can I get hold of their early self-released records?
What kind of guitar does Keith use?

Are the band really scientists?

No.

How did the band meet?

The band met whilst studying at the Claremont Colleges in California. Chris and Keith went to Pomona and Michael went to Harvey Mudd. Keith and Chris met at a screening of Dawson Creek in the latters room. It was episode 5, season 2, in which Joey and Dawson restore equilibrium to world affairs, and Pacey continues to battle cholera. The screenings are every Monday night at 8:30; anyone with a time machine is welcome to attend. As for where Michael fits in, we have no idea, but we suspect he was probably too cool for Dawsons Creek.

How did the band form?

The first incarnation of We Are Scientists involved a man by the name of Scott Lamb who sang roughly half of the songs and played guitar, Chris was the bassist and rapper (there was no rapping) and Keith, like a latter day Don Henley, crooned the other half from behind his kit..

Legend has it that Keith was a terrible terrible drummer, so a young man named Michael Tapper was employed to take Keiths place on the drums. Keith moved to guitar and then Scott left, leaving us with the line up we have today.

How did the band get their name?

Keith, Chris and Scott were moving from LA to San Francisco and as Keith explains, "The guy who was checking out the U-Haul truck that we’d rented to move all our stuff was examining it for damage and also, out of the corner of his eye, was regarding us and noting our physiques and the fact that we were bespectacled nerds. At first he asked if we were brothers, which we denied. Then he asked if we were scientists, which we stupidly also denied. But then later on we were brewing on that and decided that it was a good band name. And because of the band name, decided it would be a true refusal of destiny to not form a band named ‘We Are Scientists.’"[source]

How old are the members of We Are Scientists and when are their birthdays?

Whilst there doesn't appear to be an official answer to this question, we have serious intelligence to suggest they are all in their late 20s. At the time of going to press (Oct 2006) we believe that none of them have hit the 30 barrier and both Keith and Chris are 29 and Michael is 28. We think it goes as follows: Keith - May 10th, 1977, Michael - January 17, 1978, Chris - September 1, 1977.

Where did the kittens on the album cover come from?

The band kind-heartedly adopted a stray cat for the winter that they'd found meowing around their practise space. They called it Spats and it moved in with Keith and Michael. Soon after they found out it was pregnant and it had kittens under Michaels bed.

Only the cutest 3 kittens were chosen for the album cover, they are Tiger, The Bear & Baby Spats.

The current whereabouts of the kittens are unknown, rumours suggest that Tiger may be the only one still alive.

How can I get hold of their early self-released records?

The only place to get hold of the physical copies is by trying your luck on eBay. Luckily you can download mp3s of In Action, Bitching, Safety Fun and Learning (In That Order) all free of charge from the wonderful Nebulize My Mind.

What kind of guitar does Keith use?

This extract from NME magazine provides us with the information that Keith uses a '52 reissue Fender Telecaster on a Fender DeVille amp and a Boss 66-D pedal.