Tim Armstrong of Rancid and Jesse Michaels reunited as Operation Saturday (Oct. 14) to perform “Take Warning” during Musacks’s all-star celebration in Los Angeles. It was the second Musack reunion for the East Bay punk group that broke up in 1989, with fans hoping that a full scale reunion might materialize in 2024.
Musack is a 501c3 that supports kid’s music programs across North America, founded by TV writer Donick Cary, whose credits include The Simpsons, Parks and Recreation and Have a Good Trip. Musack raises money through private concerts and silent auctions, including Saturday’s event, which paid tribute to the late Terry Hall of The Specials.
Specials members Horace Panter, Lynval Golding, Hannah Hu, Nikolaj Torp Larsen and Kenrick Rowe joined Armstrong and Michaels for the all-star performance, which also included Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites, Nate Albert with Mighty Mighty Bosstones, JG Goetchius with Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Eitan Avineri from Western Standard and Rob Verdugo from Western Standard Ska Orchestra. The video provided by Josh Roush of AntiCurrent Productions.
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Guests were treated to beer from Musack’s sponsor, Fall Brewing Company, including their limited edition Enjoy Yourself IPA.
Oct. 14 featured live performances, including sets from Bite Me Bambi and Fishbone before an all-star set with surprise guest artist Tom Morello, who performed “The Ghost of Tom Joad.” A rotating all-star backing band led by JG (Mighty Mighty Bosstones) featured songs from The Specials, Fun Boy Three, and The Colourfield as well as the surprise Operation Ivy song.
Surprise performances have become a Musack tradition. A surprise Operation Ivy reunion from the 2022 Musack Rock n’ Roll Carnival saw the band performing “Sound System.”
The Specials’ last U.S. performance was at Musack’s 2022 event. Video of “Gangsters” from that show can be found here. Learn more at Musack.org.