Desperado

The Zoo Crew is thrilled to spin "Desperado" by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes from their 2006 album Love Their Country for all the Zoo Freaks out there. This punk rock cover of the classic Eagles song is a standout track, transformed with the band’s signature rapid-fire energy and playful edge. According to a 2006 interview with frontman Spike Slawson on Fat Wreck Chords, the band chose "Desperado" for its emotional depth, aiming to balance the album’s high-octane country covers with a slower, more heartfelt moment. Slawson noted that the song’s lyrics about loneliness and longing resonated with the band’s tongue-in-cheek yet sincere approach, making it a fan favorite at live shows where they’d often don cowboy outfits to match the album’s country theme.

Another tidbit comes from a 2023 91X San Diego radio interview with Slawson, where he shared a story about performing "Desperado" at a Las Vegas quinceañera in July 2023, an event recorded for their live album ¡Blow It…At Madison’s Quinceañera!. The crowd, unfamiliar with the band, initially reacted with confusion to their punk rendition, but by the song’s end, many were singing along, won over by the band’s infectious energy. On Instagram, the band posted a clip of this performance, captioning it, “Turning quinceañera guests into punk rockers, one cover at a time!” Fans in the comments raved about how the song’s raw emotion shines through, even in its sped-up, gritty form.

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes formed in 1995 in San Francisco as a punk rock supergroup and cover band, born from a shared love of reinterpreting classic songs with a punk twist. The original lineup included Spike Slawson (Swingin’ Utters), Fat Mike (NOFX), Joey Cape and Dave Raun (Lagwagon), and Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters, formerly No Use for a Name). According to their bio on Fat Wreck Chords, the band started as a side project for fun, with no initial plans to release full albums. They began by recording singles, like their 1995 Denver 7" featuring John Denver covers, released on Fat Mike’s label. Their chemistry and knack for punkifying diverse genres led to their debut album, Have a Ball, in 1997, which set the stage for their genre-themed discography, including country with Love Their Country.

The band’s official website is mefirstandthegimmegimmes.com, where fans can find tour dates, merch, and news. They’re active on social media, sharing updates and behind-the-scenes content on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans, or “Gimme Freaks,” connect through communities like the Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Fan Club on Facebook, where members share concert photos, discuss favorite covers, and organize meetups. Another fan hub is Punk Rock Guitar Tabs, which hosts tabs for songs like "Desperado," letting aspiring punks learn the band’s riffs. These platforms keep the Gimme spirit alive, celebrating their unique take on songs like "Desperado" and their ongoing mission to punk up the past.