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Karl Alvarez | |
|---|---|
 Alvarez performing with the Descendents in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Karl Matthew Alvarez |
| Born | (1964-03-10)March 10, 1964 (age 61) |
| Genres | Punk rock |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | SST,Cruz,Interscope,Epitaph,Fat Wreck Chords |
Karl Matthew Alvarez (born March 10, 1964)[1] is an Americanbassist andsongwriter for boththe Descendents andAll, the band that resulted after the Descendents disbanded again in 1987. Alvarez joined the Descendents after theEnjoy! album from his previous bands The Massacre Guys and Bad Yodelers, and played on all of the All albums, and the Descendents albumsAll,Everything Sucks,Cool To Be You andHypercaffium Spazzinate. Unlike previous Descendents bassistsTony Lombardo andDoug Carrion, who both used a pick, Alvarez plays finger style bass, and he also provides backing vocals when live (and lead vocals as heard in "Cause" on the AllLive Plus One album). Since joining the band he has been a major songwriter contributing many songs to All (both the album and the band),Everything Sucks andCool To Be You. In the summer of 2006 he joined Gypsy Punk bandGogol Bordello for part of the Van'sWarped Tour and theReading and Leeds Festivals. Alvarez currently plays guitar and sings in Endless Monster and the Vultures.
Since 2004 Alvarez has played withThe Last along with Descendents/All drummerBill Stevenson.[2] He is currently a singer in a band called Endless Monster.[citation needed]
In 2006 Alvarez played onThe Lemonheads self-titled comeback album which was released on Los Angeles'Vagrant Records.
During their last two Canadian tours (in 2007 and 2009), Alvarez filled in on bass for Canadian Celtic-punk groupThe Real McKenzies.[citation needed]
Australian punk bandFrenzal Rhomb wrote a song about Karl, on their 2011 album,Smoko At The Pet Food Factory, called "Alvarez".
Alvarez suffered a mild heart attack on August 11, 2007.[3]
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