Quick Facts
Biography
Steven Ronald Jensen A.K.A.:"Stevo" (April 29, 1959—August 20, 2005) was an original founding member (along with Jan Nils Ackermann) of the Huntington Beach, California Punk Rock Band The Vandals. After Performing for some time in different bands in Southern California, Jan Nils Ackermann decided to form The Vandals, enlisting Steven Ronald "Stevo" Jensen as vocalist, and the band's comical character took shape. A love for surfing had prompted Jensen to move from Buena Park to Huntington Beach. He became a protege of T.S.O.L. founders Mike Roche and Ron Emory, a couple of surfers who had veered into punk.
"I admired the way Mike Roche and Ron and Bob Emory (Ron's older brother) dressed and acted, and I followed in their footsteps," Jensen recalled. But before long, he developed his own outrageous take on punk that was far from T.S.O.L.'s glowering style.
"I said, 'We're going to have a good time with it. We're going to make fun of everybody and we're going to have fun doing it,' " Jensen said. "That's what I wanted--fun."After performing with Steve Gonzalez and Vince Mesa, The Original Line-up of The Vandals performed at the now World-Famous Costa Mesa Club the Cuckoo's Nest owned by early Punk Rock club owner Jerry Roach. Stevo and the Vandals performed that night with China White and Shattered Faith before Gonzalez and Mesa left the initial group. Steve Soto from Adolescents and Agent Orange fame rehearsed with Jan Nils Ackermann on Bass Guitar previous to the Peace Thru' Vandalism line-up of The Vandals recording, constructing bass parts for many future songs along with early notables on bass who helped write songs such as Bob Emory, Steve Gonzalez and Steve "Human" Pfauter. Stevo died in 2005 in Maui, Hawaii.
Peace Thru Vandalism
In mid-1981, Steven Ronald "Stevo" Jensen and Jan Nils Ackermann sought a lineup for their band that could consistently both record and perform live shows for possible touring purposes. After many bassists came and went, The Vandals eventually recruited Steve "Human" Pfauter as their full-time permanent bassist before adding Joe Escalante (a former bandmate of Human's) on the drums. Escalante's presence completed the original Peace Thru' Vandalism era lineup of the band, which went on to perform and record for the remainder of 1981 throughout Southern California. Stevo then entered the studio with this Vandals' lineup in 1982 and recorded the Peace Thru Vandalism E.P. with Thom Wilson as producer. Released later that year on Epitaph Records, Peace Thru Vandalism is the only E.P. that The Vandals have recorded as of 2017.
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Peace thru Vandalism
|
- Personnel on E.P.
- Steven Ronald "Stevo" Jensen: vocals
- Jan Nils Ackermann: guitar
- Steve "Human" Pfauter: bass
- Joe Escalante: drums
Backing Vocals on "Anarchy Burger (Hold The Government): Brett Gurewitz
Produced by: Thom Wilson
Suburbia
In 1983, Stevo and The Vandals were approached to appear in Suburbia a film written and directed by Penelope Spheeris and produced by Roger Corman. It is a disturbing and prophetic story of rebellious, homeless kids squatting in abandoned houses, trying to make new families, and protecting one another. "Suburbia" won first place at the Chicago Film Festival. Stevo performs live singing in the band for the movie and subsequent soundtrack.
When in Rome, Do as the Vandals
After performing extensively in Southern California and playing out of town concerts in Arizona, Stevo recorded The Vandals' first full-length album, "When in Rome Do as The Vandals". The album was released on National Trust Records in 1984 after disagreements with The Vandals' previous label, Epitaph, resulted in withheld royalties for sales of the band's 1982 Peace Thru Vandalism E.P. By the time When in Rome was recorded in studio, bassist Steve Human had left the band and was replaced by Chalmer Lumary from the Huntington Beach punk rock band The Hated. However, Lumary soon broke his arm, preventing him from playing bass, so Brent Turner filled in to record the album's bass tracks using previously captured audio from live performances and rehearsals for guidance. Lumary was able to sing backup vocals on the album and later joined Stevo and the Vandals as the band's fulltime bassist following the album's release.
- Personnel
- Steven Ronald "Stevo" Jensen - vocals, scratch box on "Ladykiller"
- Jan Nils Ackermann - guitar, acoustic guitars on "Mohawk Town" and "Rico"
- Brent Turner - bass
- Joe Escalante - Drums, trumpet on "Rico"
- Chalmer Lumary - backing vocals
- Record label:
- original LP release: National Trust Records (1984)
- CD re-release: Restless Records (1989), Time Bomb Recordings (1995)
- Produced by Thom Wilson
- Art & design by Mike Doud
- Cover photos by Alan Newberg
- Sleeve photos by Mike Leczkowski
Leaving the Vandals
After providing lead vocals for The Vandals during the band's early years performing throughout Southern California and Arizona, Stevo left the Vandals in 1986. His departure followed a period of inactivity for the band caused by friction and personality conflicts regarding performance during live shows.
The Loyal Order Of The Water Buffalo
In 1982, Stevo joined a social club with fellow friends based on a fictional fraternity from the Cartoon the Flintstones called the "Loyal Order Of The Water Buffalo" In which he held the highest designation of "Elder" and was honored appropriately by his fellow Buffalos.
Ranking System
- Elder
- Lieutenant
- Sargent at Arms
- B.I.G.S. = Buffalo in Good Standing
- Buck = Buck Buffalo
- Pledge
Lodge Biography
The Lodge began in 1982 as a manly escape from our girlfriends, and grew into a way of life for many Hollywood musicians and friends. Since no women could pass the scrotum drill, it is a men-only organization. There was the women’s auxiliary, affectionately known as “The Muffalos”. The early Lodge meetings were mostly songs, cigars and martinis, but soon the Lodge offered members outings such as Dodger and Raider games, and camping trips to the mighty Kern River.
Not satisfied with providing fun and enrichment to its members, the Lodge soon spread the joy to the Hollywood public. The annual Miss Water Buffalo Beauty Pageants were held in such revered locations as the Music Machine, the Stardust Ballroom, and the FM Station, and the winners and runners-up went on to accomplish great things in life. The Lodge Caveman Parties, where the manly men commandeered such locales as the old zoo in Griffith Park and the Bat Caves in Bronson Canyon, brought them back to their pre-historic glory. The Annual Labor Day Picnic was an afternoon of fun and games that was looked forward to by all of Hollywood. Where else could you catch the hairspray-and-tattoo set participating in egg-tossing, 3-legged races, and of course, the pie eating contest which was always won by the late, great Mark Rude (Who was a B.I.G.S.) (RIP...moooooo). The Annual Awards Banquet rewarded the Lodge brothers for their hard work putting on these events. But, the greatest events the Lodge produced were the Watering Holes. Thrown at Sam Mann’s warehouse in Frogtown, these late night shindigs featured inspired performances from many of the Lodge bands and local L.A. bands tripping over themselves to play at a Lodge Event, as well as cold beverages served by the friendly Lodge brothers to a thirsty public.
The Loyal Order of the Water Buffalo, being a living and breathing beast, has had many homes. Starting at the legendary Who’s Who in Westwood (corner of Wilshire and Veteran), it migrated to the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Hall in Culver City, Nicky’s Love Palace in Frogtown, and the aforementioned Sam Mann’s warehouse. Along the way we held meetings in members back yards, living rooms, rumpus rooms, architecture offices, and a tattoo parlor. There was the memorable meeting at Human's T-Shirt Shop, with a special guest visit from the Long Beach PD. Many grand songs have been sung in these hallowed halls, due to the bounty of talented musicians and songwriters in the Lodge. Stevo was well known for his adaptations of popular songs, making them Lodge classics.
As the years go by, the Lodge members have wandered to the ends of the earth, which makes this site a fine way for them to keep in touch with other brothers.
- THE LODGE ANTHEM
"Bum Bum Ba Bum Bum Bum
- We stand for freedom, and justice for all
And in our hats, we look really tall All through the nation, our fame will surely grow We are the Loyal Order of the Water Buffalo
- With allegiance to Poobah, respect for all men
We stand strong together, until the bitter end We're a hearty bunch of fellows, and everybody knows We are the Loyal Order of the Water Buffalo
- We have a code for living, and it's our sacred law
The Buffalo that breaks it, will surely wear the bra...BRA! All through the nation, our fame will surely grow We are the Loyal Order of the Water Buffalo
- With allegiance to Poobah, respect for all men
We stand strong together, until the bitter end We're a hearty bunch of fellows, and everybody knows We are the Loyal Order of the Water Buffalo
Woop! Woop! Woop! Woop!"
Compilations
- "Rodney on the ROQ volume 3" ℗1982 (V/A) Posh Boy Records. Vocalist on "Urban Struggle"
- "When Men Were Men... And Sheep Were Scared" ℗1985 Bemisbrain Records. Vocalist on "Dachau Cabana" and "Frog Stomp"
- "Stage Diving to the Oldies" ℗1995 (V/A) Restless Records. Vocalist on "Lady Killer" and "Mohawk Town"