In celebration of their 25th anniversary as a band, Camper Van Beethoven are releasing a long-overdue greatest hits collection on CD and digital format tomorrow aptly entitled ‘Popular Songs’ (on Cooking Vinyl Records).

‘Popular Songs’ features eighteen of Camper Van Beethoven’s most beloved genre-mutating tracks that span from their groundbreaking 1985 debut Telephone Free Landslide Victory to their 1989 effort Key Lime Pie. These songs retrace the band’s broad, and often eclectic influences – from punk rock (“Club Med Sucks”) and ska (“Border Ska”) to Eastern European flavored instrumentals (“Skinhead Stomp”) and two-step country (“Sad Lover’s Waltz”) to their own whirling dervish of psychedelic pop (“Circles”).

Also included are the early college radio favorites “The Day Lassie Went To The Moon,” “Good Guys & Bad Guys” and, perhaps their most well known number, “Take The Skinheads Bowling,” which is still a staple at alternative, college and rock radio to this day. Fans of Michael Moore’s controversial 2002 film Bowling For Columbine are also surely familiar with this track as Teenage Fanclub’s version of it was featured as the movie’s title track.

This collection also features five songs from CVB’s critically acclaimed albums on Virgin Records – 1988’s Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart and 1989’s Key Lime Pie. However, after the band tried to buy back the rights to the original masters for inclusion on ‘Popular Songs’, Virgin refused. So CVB have faithfully re-recorded these five tracks for this collection and, in doing so, have not only reclaimed their own music but have given a stiff middle finger to their former label in the process.

In addition to the new CD the band will also be performing a handful of very special celebratory shows this week in California – Wednesday June 25th, 2008 in San Luis Obispo, Thursday June 26th at House of Blues (as part of the First Annual Sunset Strip Music Festival) and Saturday June 28th for their Silver Anniversary Show at The Fillmore in San Francisco.

CVB’s line-up for these shows will consist of original bandmembers David Lowery (lead vocals / guitar), Jonathan Segel (violin / keys / guitar / vocals), Victor Krummenacher (bass) and Greg Lisher (lead guitar), along with drummer Frank Funaro (Cracker / Joey Ramone / The Dictators).

The local CVB celebrations won’t be ending with their Fillmore show, however, as both Jonathan Segel and Victor Krummenacher from the band will be performing in their respective solo bands (also featuring longtime CVB guitarist Greg Lisher) at The Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco the following night on Sunday June 29th.

Camper Van Beethoven 2008 shows:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Camper Van Beethoven’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

June 25 – Downtown Brewing Co. – San Luis Obispo
June 26 – Los Angeles, CA – House of Blues (with Everclear and Soul Asylum)
June 28 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore / Silver Anniversary Show!
June 29 Jonathan Segel Band / Victor Krummenacher Band – San Francisco, CA – The Bottom of the Hill
Sep 11 – Pioneertown, CA – 4th Annual CAMPOUT / Pappy & Harriet’s
Sep 12 – Pioneertown, CA – 4th Annual CAMPOUT / Pappy & Harriet’s
Sep 13 – Pioneertown, CA – 4th Annual CAMPOUT / Pappy & Harriet’s

Camper Van Beethoven Official Website
Camper Van Beethoven Myspace