Measles Mumps Rubella Bio

Measles Mumps Rubella began playing together in a
Washington DC basement in late 2000. By February 2001
the quartet played their debut show, to a packed room
at local underground art gallery with fellow DC bands,
All Scars and ABCs.

The band played a series of shows in the following months, and by August, Ian Mackaye had invited them to work with him and Don Zientara at Inner Ear Studio. The session produced two songs, “Zusammen Mit Motown” and “Lighters Out,” which became the group’s debut record released as a 7-inch single on their own Malady’s label in February 2002. The self-titled record was received with enthusiasm as the initial pressing sold out within the first month of release.

After spending sometime playing locally and touring with bands such as Bratmobile, the Rah Bras and Trans Am, MMR settled into Trans Am’s National Recording Studios with engineer Jonathan Kreinik who has worked with such artists as !!!, Le Tigre and John Selway. In this session MMR expanded their sound into longer pieces and produced the three song “Fountain of Youth” 12-inch/CD single that was released on Troubleman Unlimited.
Measles Mumps Rubella toured extensively on this record and eventually returned to NRS to work with Jonathan Kreinik again, this time on a full-length album. They emerged with eight songs that ran the full spectrum of their sound.

2004 proved to be a landmark year for Measles Mumps Rubella. They went on several tours, on their own and with Le Tigre. Austin and Ropelewski relocated to New York, and vocalist Brett Lyman parted ways with the band. Looking to continue forward, MMR quickly joined up with solo artist and long time friend Chuck Bettis who before moving to New York had fronted many DC bands such as The Metamatics, All Scars and Trance and the Arcade. Bettis immediately clicked with the group going on penning new vocals and touring within weeks of joining. Bettis’s fresh vocal approach has expanded the group’s sound as well as infusing a new energy in to the bands live performances.

Measles Mumps Rubella is currently working on new songs, a new record, shows, and tours.