Knockout – Article

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Knockout was a pop-punk band from Chicago formed in 1998. The first known lineup was Jeff Warren on vocals and guitar, Steve Jeannides on lead guitar, Eric Wolfe on Bass, and Nick Scimeca, known by his nickname, Bonez, on drums. Soon after, De’Mar Hamilton replaced Nick on Drums, and T.J. Minich joined the band on bass in 2001.[5][10][11] Knockout played often with bands such as 504 Plan, Fall Out Boy, and Starstruck.[14]


Knockout’s first release as a band was the currently lost album, Nothing to Write Home About, released in 1998. Very few details are known about the release, other than the track titles.[1][15][16] Following this, the band released Driven To Distraction on CD in 2001.[12] Following minor success, the band signed with Fearless Records, which was impactful across the local scene, considering they were one of the first bands of their specific scene to get signed to a major label.[13] In 2002, the band released Searching for Solid Ground. After disagreements between the band and Fearless, Knockout eventually broke up sometime around 2003.[8]

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Knockout
Band NameKnockout
City of OriginLake Forest, IL
Years Active1998 – 2003
Current MembersN/A
Past MembersJeff Warren
Eric Wolfe
Nick Scimeca
Steve Jeannides
De’Mar Hamilton
T.J. Minich
Mark Rhoades
Jon Reagan
Chris Tag
Spencer Johnson
Genre(s)Pop-Punk
Label(s)Mr. Good Records, Fearless Records
Associated
Acts		Fall Out Boy
The New Jacks
The Plain White T’s
Project Rocket
Spitalfield
504 Plan
Starstruck
Shameless
Websitewww.angelfire.com/band/knockout/, www.knockoutrock.com

Formation

Knockout was formed in 1998 by Jeff Warren.[1][15] By this point, Jeff had been playing in other bands such as the New Jacks and Shameless. These bands, being ska and hardcore bands respectively, had a different sound from Knockout, as Jeff desired breaking out of those genres into something new. Knockout played their first show at a high school Battle of the Bands.[1]

Active Years

Nothing to Write Home About LP

Knockout recorded an 8-track CD with producer John Emerson titled Nothing To Write Home About. Not much other information about this CD is known.[1][15] While it is unknown what Knockout’s lineup was at inception, assuming the band’s earliest known lineup performed on this CD, it presumably would have had Jeff on vocals, Steve Jeannides on lead guitar, and Eric Wolfe on bass. The only other detail known for certain is that their original drummer played on this CD, but their name is unknown.[1] In Knockout’s Myspace bio, they cite Chris Tag as an original member.[1] Therefore, it is also unclear if Chris played on this recording or what instrument. When speaking about this 8-track CD in the Jstreetzine interview, Jeff implies that the rest of the lineup is the same.[1] The track listing can be found on a 2001 version of Knockout’s website.[16]

It is unknown if the band played shows or toured during these very early days, as very few remnants of this era of the band have survived. 

Driven To Distraction EP

In 2001, Knockout released their EP CD Driven To Distraction on the label Mr. Good Records. This featured a new lineup addition of De’Mar Hamilton, who is the current drummer for the Plain White T’s. He replaced Nick Scimeca as the drummer.[17] Sean O’Keefe produced this album, who is also known for producing Fall Out Boy’s Take This To Your Grave and “Hey There Delilah” by the Plain White T’s.[18]

With the success of this album, the label Drive Thru Records showed interest in signing Knockout. Although they were not signed to Drive-Thru Records, they were passed on to Fearless Records, which signed them in 2002.[3] In Where Are Your Boys Tonight, Sean O’Keefe explains that Knockout getting signed to Fearless was “big.”[13] They were one of the first bands in that scene to get signed to a bigger label. This meant a lot to the scene as a whole, as it was the first indication that bands in this Chicago suburb micro-scene could truly “make it” as bands and become majorly successful.

Searching For Solid Ground LP

In 2002, Knockout had another lineup change, adding T.J. Minich on bass, who currently plays for Spitafield, and was the lead singer for Project Rocket.[19] T.J. had been a guitar player for a few years by this point, but Jeff asked him to be the bass player for Knockout because they were best friends.[4] By this point, the band was extensively touring and performing across Chicago.[20][14]

On Fearless, Knockout released their album Searching For Solid Ground, which features bassist T.J. on the cover.[2] This album was also produced by Sean O’Keefe, like Driven To Distraction was. While in the studio recording, Jeff insisted that Patrick Stump sing background vocals on one of the album’s songs; however, Sean was skeptical of his ability. Once Patrick recorded background vocals for one track, with Sean having been thoroughly impressed, the band and Sean decided he should do background vocals on the rest of the album.[20][21] Jeff does most of the lead vocals on this album, though T.J. also sings lead vocals on a couple of songs.

Searching for Solid Ground was a hugely impactful record for the Chicago scene. Many people enjoyed this record and its catchy songwriting.[13] However, others were critical of the generic, repetitive pop-punk sound this record had.[32][33] Overall, many look back on this record fondly for the impact it had on the local scene. [13]
Knockout was also featured on the first-ever Pop Goes Punk record for their cover of Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor”. This song is now widely recognized for its usage in a viral shock video.

Breakup/Hiatus

By late 2002, the band started to dissolve due to growing tensions between the band and Fearless Records. Eventually, both T.J. and De’Mar left the band in 2002 and 2003, respectively.[13] T.J. joined Spitalfield in 2002, while De’Mar joined the Plain White T’s in 2003.[23][24] Mark Rhoades of the Chicago band Starstruck joined as the drummer for a brief period of time.[28] The band also went through three other bass players: Jon Reagan, Chris Tag (who returned to the band and quickly left thereafter), and Spencer Johnson.[28][5] The band formally ended by the summer of 2003.[27][31] Jeff went on to join pop-punk band The Point.[33]

Musical Style

Knockout describes themselves as a “4-piece quartet that likes to play fast, melodic, pop-punk with influences such as Humble Beginnings, NOFX, Blink-182, the Ataris, Strung Out, and Pulley.”[28]

Discography

Nothing To Write Home About (1998)

  1. Gonner
  2. Try Again
  3. Reason
  4. 25
  5. Shanker
  6. Think Twice
  7. Lost
  8. Long Distance

Driven To Distraction (2001)

  1. 24 Hours
  2. Wait
  3. Too Little, Too Late
  4. Staying Home
  5. Recharge
  6. Try Again
  7. Starecase
  8. Sleeping In
  9. Growing Apart

Driven To Distraction Sampler (2001)

  1. 24 Hours
  2. Wait
  3. Too Little, Too Late
  4. Sleeping In

Chicago’s Finest (A Chicago Area Compilation) (2001)

  1. Wait

Searching For Solid Ground (2002)

  1. Breakaway
  2. Sequel
  3. Regretta
  4. Hideout
  5. Artificial Pheromones
  6. 24 Hours
  7. Aftermath
  8. Solid Ground
  9. Last Week
  10. Far More
  11. So This Is Sorry
  12. Leaving Chicago

2002 And Beyond (2002)

  1. Hideout

Pop Goes Punk (2002)

  1. Survivor (Destiny’s Child Cover)

Don’t Be Scared Volume 2 (2002)

  1. Aftermath

What’s Across The Pond? Volume 1 (2003)

  1. Sequel

Less Talk, More Justrock (2003)

  1. Regretta

A Different Shade Of Green: A Green Day Tribute (2003)

  1. Burnout

2003 And Beyond (2003)

  1. Leaving Chicago

Touring

View setlists on Setlist.fm

Trivia

  • Jeff Warren enjoys buying exotic reptiles.[5][29]
  • Nick went by the nickname Bonez.[6]
  • T.J. taught Steve how to play guitar.[4]
  • Jeff Warren sings backup vocals on Fall Out Boy’s “Grenade Jumper”.[30]
  • Knockout’s cover of Survivor was featured in a viral internet shock video.[25]

Sources

  1. JstreetZine.com- Interviews- Knockout. (2001). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20030609145141/http://www.jstreetzine.com/interviews_knockout.htm 
  2. Anon. (2003). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20031228171426/http://members.tripod.com:80/~highwirepics/knockout.html 
  3. All Ages Zine. (2003). Angelfire.com. https://www.angelfire.com/zine2/allagesknockout/ 
  4. moosickzine.com – Knockout Interview. (2002). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20021211140603/http://www.moosickzine.com/knockoutinterview.htm 
  5. Knockout Members. (2002). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20011213205541/http://www.knockoutrock.com/members.html 
  6. ​​knockout. (2001). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20190805171340/http://www.angelfire.com/band/knockout/band.html 
  7. graynoise.net. (2002). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20030129020940/http://www.punkmusic.com:80/graynoise/features/Interviews/Knockout/Knockout_interview_2-02.htm 
  8. Weinstein, J., Personal Communication, November 2025.
  9. Minich, T., Personal Communication, November 5, 2025.
  10. VoyForums: Knockout Message Board. (2001). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20020202141402/http://www.voy.com/45082/ 
  11. Scimeca, N., Personal Communication, May 27, 2025.
  12. Knockout (4). (2026). Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/918788-Knockout-4 
  13.  Where Are Your Boys Tonight? (Book) Payne, C. (2023). Where Are Your Boys Tonight? HarperCollins.ap
  14. Knockout Shows. (2001). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20011211102232/http://www.knockoutrock.com/shows.html 
  15. Knockout Discography. (2002). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20021007225739fw_/http://www.knockoutrock.com/html/discography.html 
  16. Knockout. (2001). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20010811033053/http://www.knockoutrock.com/songs.html
  17. Knockout. (2001). Driven To Distraction [Album]. Mr Good Records.
  18. Sean O’Keefe. (2026). Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/577421-Sean-OKeefe
  19. TJ Minich. (2026). Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1334154-TJ-Minich 
  20. Levi, E. (2025, April 15). PATRICK STUMP: Fall Out Boy’s origin, making Take This to Your Grave, and surviving studio chaos. Unstoppable Recording Machine. https://urm.academy/ep-224-patrick-stump-s/
  21. O’Keefe, S., Personal Communication, September 21, 2024.
  22. xlesliex (2003, July 7).the Ts got a NEW drummer. hes awesome. [Online forum post]. EZBoard. https://web.archive.org/web/20030917170539/http://pub24.ezboard.com/fplainwhitetsfrm1.showMessageRange?topicID=116.topic&start=1&stop=20
  23. VanOsdol, J. (Host). (2023, September 15). Live Q&A with Spitalfield (No. 878) [Video podcast episode]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLbqxVVBcqA&t=449s
  24. BME Pain Olympics 3 (Audio only) YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FUiMPCw2hE Note: Listener discretion advised
  25. Knockout Concert Setlists. (2026). Setlist.fm. https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/knockout-73d65279.html
  26. confused not amused. (2003, August 18).knockout broke up. [Online forum post]. EZBoard. https://web.archive.org/web/20030917170539/http://pub24.ezboard.com/fplainwhitetsfrm1.showMessageRange?topicID=116.topic&start=1&stop=20
  27. Knockoutrockchicago (2011). Myspace. Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20110627060557/http://www.myspace.com/knockoutrockchicago
  28. Jeff Warren. (2015). Facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/jeff.warren.334
  29. Take This To Your Grave. (2003). Fall Out Boy. Fueled By Ramen. https://www.discogs.com/release/605074-Fall-Out-Boy-Take-This-To-Your-Grave 
  30. The Point Bio. (2004). Archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20040824201951/http://www.thepointrock.com/bio.php
  31. Scott. (2009) KNOCKOUT: Searching for Solid Ground: CD. Razorcake. https://razorcake.org/archive-knockout-searching-for-solid-ground/
  32.  Prindle, M. ’Zine Reviews. Markprindle. https://www.markprindle.com/zine.htmKnockout. (2002). Fearless Records. https://web.archive.org/web/20020804105726/http://www.fearlessrecords.com/knockout.htm