View source for The Aquabats

{{short description|American rock band}}
{{about|the band|the television series based on the band|The Aquabats! Super Show!}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = The Aquabats
| image             = The Aquabats 3.JPG
| caption           = The Aquabats performing in [[Anaheim, California]], in December 2012
| image_size        = 300px
| landscape         = yes
| background        = group_or_band
| origin            = [[Huntington Beach, California]], U.S.
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Comedy rock]]
* [[pop-punk]]
* [[ska punk]]
* [[New wave music|new wave]]
* [[power pop]]
}}
| discography       = [[The Aquabats discography]]
| years_active      = 1994–present
| label             = {{flatlist|
* [[Horchata Records|Horchata]]
* Goldenvoice
* [[Time Bomb Recordings|Time Bomb]]
* [[Fearless Records|Fearless]]
* [[Nitro Records|Nitro]]
* Gloopy
}}
| associated_acts   = {{flatlist|
* [[Bad Credit]]
* [[Bikeride]]
* [[Blink-182]]
* [[Digital Unicorn]]
* [[Lance Robertson|DJ Lance Rock]]
* [[GOGO13]]
* The Goodwin Club
* Moon Monkeys
* [[The Sandfleas]]
* [[Supernova (American band)|Supernova]]
* [[Gerard Way]]
}}
| website           = {{URL|theaquabats.com}}
| current_members   = * [[Christian Jacobs|The MC Bat Commander]]
* [[Chad Larson|Crash McLarson]]
* [[Ian Fowles|Eaglebones Falconhawk]]
* [[James Briggs (musician)|Jimmy the Robot]]
* [[Richard Falomir|Ricky Fitness]]
* For an exhaustive list of members please see the [[#Extended_lineup|extended lineup list]]
| past_members      = * See: [[#Former_members|The Aquabats former members]]
}}

'''The Aquabats''' are an American [[Rock music|rock]] band formed in [[Huntington Beach, California]], in 1994. Throughout many fluctuations in the group's lineup, singer [[Christian Jacobs|the MC Bat Commander]] and bassist [[Chad Larson|Crash McLarson]] have remained the band's two constant fixtures. As of 2025, the Aquabats' main lineup consists of saxophonist and keyboardist [[Jimmy the Robot]], drummer [[Richard Falomir|Ricky Fitness]], and guitarist [[Ian Fowles|Eaglebones Falconhawk]]. During live performances, the band frequently expands its roster, with regular contributors including guitarist [[Courtney Pollock|Chainsaw, the Prince of Karate]], trumpeter [[Boyd Terry|Cat Boy]], and keyboardist Gorney.

Easily identified by their masks and matching costumes, the Aquabats are perhaps most recognized for their comedic persona in which they claim to be crime-fighting [[superhero]]es. This theme serves as subject for much of the band's music and as part of their theatrical stage shows, which typically feature various stunts and fight scenes with costumed villains and monsters. Musically, the Aquabats have continuously evolved over the course of their career, initially starting as a [[ska]] band before reinventing themselves in the early 2000s as a [[New wave music|new wave]]–influenced rock band. The band's current musical style mixes rock and [[punk rock|punk]] with elements of new wave, ska and [[synth-pop]].

The Aquabats have released seven studio albums, three extended plays, two compilation albums and one soundtrack album, among [[The Aquabats discography|other recordings]]. To date, three of the Aquabats' albums have charted on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]: 1997's ''[[The Fury of The Aquabats!]]'', 2011's ''[[Hi-Five Soup!]]'' and 2019's ''[[The Aquabats! Super Show! Television Soundtrack: Volume One]]''. The Aquabats' seventh studio album, ''Finally!'', was released on June 21, 2024.

From 2012 to 2014, the Aquabats also created and starred in ''[[The Aquabats! Super Show!]]'', a live-action musical action-comedy television series which aired on American cable channel [[Discovery Family|The Hub]]. The series ran for three seasons, earning a total of eight [[Daytime Emmy Award]] nominations and ultimately winning one. Following a successful [[Kickstarter]] campaign, the series was independently revived as a [[YouTube]] series from 2019 to 2025.

==History==
===Formation===
[[File:13-04-27 Aquabats 17.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Singer [[Christian Jacobs]] and bassist [[Chad Larson]] (pictured above in 2013) formed the Aquabats with former trumpeter [[Boyd Terry]] as a joke band in 1994.]]

In the early 1990s, musicians [[Christian Jacobs]], [[Chad Larson]] and [[Boyd Terry]] met and befriended each other while living in [[Brea, California]].<ref name="Saturday Morning">{{cite web|title=The Aquabats' Saturday Morning Mission; Who Are Those Masked Men? A Brea Band With a New CD and Plans for Capturing a TV Audience|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-28-ca-47407-story.html|last=Boehm|first=Mike|work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=October 28, 1997}}</ref> Having all been active in various local punk and [[alternative rock]] bands, the three eventually conceived the idea of forming a joke band satirizing the Orange County punk scene, which Jacobs described at the time as being overwhelmed with "testosterone, beer and people fighting".<ref name="NerdReactorInt">{{cite web |url=http://nerdreactor.com/2012/04/03/nr-interview-the-aquabats-christian-jacobs-aka-the-mc-bat-commander/ |title=Interview: The Aquabats' Christian Jacobs, AKA The MC Bat Commander |work=Nerd Reactor |date=April 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405155935/http://nerdreactor.com/2012/04/03/nr-interview-the-aquabats-christian-jacobs-aka-the-mc-bat-commander/ |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |last1=Nguyen |first1=John }}</ref> The concept was to start an unabashedly silly punk band as a complete antithesis to the genre's more aggressive and humorless bands, with the intention of performing at punk shows to poke fun at the scene.<ref name="NerdReactorInt" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rocknworld.com/morley/06/Aquabats.shtml |publisher=Rocknworld.com |title=The Aquabats Interview |year=2006}}</ref> While later attending a [[ska]] show in Orange County, Jacobs was exposed to the area's burgeoning ska scene and was impressed by its ethos: as he recalled, "No one was fighting or pushing each other but having a good time".<ref name="Saturday Morning" /> It was then decided that they would start a ska band instead, "to be part of the fun".<ref name="Saturday Morning" />

With Jacobs assuming vocal duties, Larson on bass guitar and Terry on trumpet, the trio recruited several more musician friends from other local bands to piece together a full ensemble. Each member of the original line-up had musical backgrounds in various genres, including ska, punk, [[surf music|surf]] and [[New wave music|new wave]], all elements which were incorporated into the band's music and aesthetic:<ref name="TLCCrash">{{cite web |url=http://www.tlchicken.com/view_story.php?ARTid=2615 |title=The Aquabats' Crash McLarson |date=August 2004 |publisher=Tastes Like Chicken |access-date=May 12, 2012 |archive-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227135414/http://www.tlchicken.com/view_story.php?ARTid=2615 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="eNotesBats">{{cite web |url=http://www.enotes.com/aquabats-reference/aquabats |title=The Aquabats— eNotes |publisher=[[eNotes]] |year=1997 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> for example, the name "The Aquabats" was created to sound like a classic surf band, while a shared admiration of [[Devo]] inspired the idea of matching costumes.<ref name="Saturday Morning" /><ref name="CrashMcLinterview">{{cite web |url=http://www.splendidmagazine.com/departments/shorttalk/aquabats.html |title=A Short Talk with The Aquabats' Crash McLarsen |publisher=Splendid Magazine |year=2005 |author=Sullivan, Sean |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211224557/http://www.splendidmagazine.com/departments/shorttalk/aquabats.html |archive-date=February 11, 2008 }}</ref> Jacobs simply recalled in a 2013 interview, "We wanted to combine Devo with surf music and ska".<ref name="LATimesBat2013">{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-return-of-the-aquabats-interview-20130613,0,2302339.story |title=Return of the Aquabats, Interview II: The Q&A |date=June 15, 2013 |author=Lloyd, Robert |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Rehearsing only once in a house Jacobs and Larson shared at the time, The Aquabats played their first show a mere week after forming at a house party in August 1994.<ref name="Saturday Morning" /><ref name="NitroBio">{{cite web |url=http://www.nitrorecords.com/artist.php?artist_id=26 |publisher=[[Nitro Records]] |title=The Aquabats biography— Nitro Records}}</ref> Larson remembered this show as merely "a joke...we weren't trying to be a band. We were trying to have fun".<ref name="Saturday Morning" /> Nevertheless, encouraged by a positive audience reception, The Aquabats started performing more local shows, soon becoming familiar faces within the Orange County underground.

===1994–1996: early years===
With professionalism far from foremost concern, The Aquabats' earliest band line-ups changed with almost every concert, occasionally featuring as many as twelve to fourteen musicians at a time onstage, with the majority typically playing brass instruments.<ref name="NitroBio" /><ref name="MCBCheadExplode">{{cite news |url=http://www.ocweekly.com/2012-03-01/music/aquabats-super-show-mc-bat-commander-christian-jacobs/2/ |title=MC Bat Commander's Head Explodes! |newspaper=[[OC Weekly]] |date=March 1, 2012 |access-date=May 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506194409/http://www.ocweekly.com/2012-03-01/music/aquabats-super-show-mc-bat-commander-christian-jacobs/2/ |archive-date=May 6, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> As they gradually developed a steady following and began playing shows with more regularity, the band settled into a tighter and more manageable unit consisting of around eight to nine musicians, filled out by a [[horn section]], two guitarists and a keyboardist. It was with this type of line-up that The Aquabats began recording, independently producing the [[Demo (music)|demo tapes]] [[The Aquabats discography#Demos|''The Revenge of the Midget Punchers'']] in 1994 and [[The Aquabats discography#Demos|''Bat Boy'']] in 1995.

[[File:13-04-27 Aquabats 15.jpg|thumb|250px|left|As part of the band's [[superhero]] image, each member of The Aquabats adopted a [[stage name]] and backstory. Christian Jacobs' alter ego is "The MC Bat Commander", whose trademark look includes a drawn-on mustache and blacked-out tooth.]]
Initially, The Aquabats intended to make each of their performances unique by wearing a different set of matching costumes for every concert, ranging from [[chef's uniform]]s to [[grass skirt]]s and [[fez (hat)|fezzes]], all with an individual persona — during one show wearing chef outfits, for instance, the band hosted an actual onstage [[barbecue]].<ref name="LATimesBat2013" /><ref name="MCBCheadExplode" /> When the group's props and get-ups soon became more cumbersome to transport than their musical equipment, it was ultimately decided a singular costume was required.<ref name="MCBCheadExplode" /> Terry, a future apparel designer who was employed by the wetsuit manufacturing company Aleeda at the time, acquired a large amount of spare rubber and [[neoprene]] and fashioned together a set of helmets and [[rashguard]]s for the band members.<ref name="eNotesBats" /><ref name="NitroBio" /> The addition of customized vinyl belts, donated to the band by then-unknown artist [[Paul Frank]], effectively completed the style The Aquabats would maintain for the rest of their career.<ref name="TLCCrash" />

To accompany their distinct new uniforms, The Aquabats constructed a backstory which alleged they were actually [[superhero]]es hailing from the distant island of "Aquabania", though Larson admits the entire mythology was simply made up piece by piece as they went along from one interviewer to the next.<ref name="CrashMcLinterview" /> As their mythology grew, the members soon adopted superhero [[stage name]]s and identities, and began tailoring their live shows around a comic book aesthetic by incorporating onstage stunts and mock battles with costumed villains, antics which were originally ploys to get the band's friends into shows for free.<ref name="MCBCheadExplode" /><ref name="GetInspired">{{cite web |url=http://startupgrind.com/2012/04/get-inspired-aquabats-founder-turns-his-high-school-band-into-a-wacky-empire/ |title=Aquabats Founder Turns His High School Band Into a Wacky Empire |date=April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510124836/http://startupgrind.com/2012/04/get-inspired-aquabats-founder-turns-his-high-school-band-into-a-wacky-empire/ |archive-date=May 10, 2012 }}</ref> Jacobs' brothers [[Parker Jacobs|Parker]] and Tyler, a [[cartoonist]] and [[graphic designer|graphic artist]], respectively, were brought in to help develop the band's cartoon-influenced visual style, designing their logos and promotional material as well as playing characters in The Aquabats' stage shows and mythology.<ref name="MCBCheadExplode" />

In 1995, The Aquabats independently produced and recorded their debut album, ''[[The Return of The Aquabats]]'', pressing the CDs themselves. Having already amassed a sizable [[cult following]] for their increasingly eccentric live shows, the band managed to sell a respectable 20,000 copies of their album without any marketing or distribution.<ref name="GetInspired" /> With the growing mainstream popularity of ska music, The Aquabats quickly rose to prominence within Orange County's booming ska scene, regularly touring alongside the likes of such commercially successful bands as [[No Doubt]], [[Sublime (band)|Sublime]] and [[Reel Big Fish]] and bringing them to the brink of achieving mainstream recognition.<ref name="Saturday Morning" /><ref name="MCBCheadExplode" />

===1997–1998: ''The Fury of The Aquabats!'' and mainstream breakthrough===
[[File:TravisBarker 9.19.2008.JPG|thumb|right|125px|Drummer [[Travis Barker]] was a member of The Aquabats during their commercial peak in 1997 and 1998, before leaving to join pop punk band [[Blink-182]].]]

By late 1996, propelled by the multi-platinum success of No Doubt and Sublime, ska had broken through into the American mainstream to become one of the most popular forms of alternative music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/explore/style/third-wave-ska-revival-d2773 |title=Explore: Third Wave Ska Revival |publisher=[[allmusic]].com |access-date=May 8, 2012 |archive-date=April 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430232917/http://www.allmusic.com/explore/style/third-wave-ska-revival-d2773 |url-status=dead }}</ref> With record labels now turning their attention towards ska bands, The Aquabats were promptly signed to [[Goldenvoice]] Records and released their second album, ''[[The Fury of The Aquabats!]]'', in October 1997 through [[Time Bomb Recordings]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-28-ca-36945-story.html |title=Mining Gold |date=September 28, 1997 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> While still predominantly a ska album, ''The Fury'' showcased a more ambitious musical streak than ''The Return'', incorporating stronger elements of punk and surf, as well as featuring [[instrumental]]s, parodies of [[ragtime]] and [[tango music]], and a variety of unconventional instruments including [[sousaphone]]s and [[banjo]]s.<ref name="Saturday Morning" /><ref name="CrashMcLinterview"/> Released at the commercial height of the American ska revival, ''The Fury'' earned The Aquabats minor mainstream success, peaking at number 172 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and number 12 on its [[Top Heatseekers]], while lead single "[[Super Rad!]]" found regular airplay on [[MTV]] and Los Angeles' influential [[KROQ-FM]].<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p210908|pure_url=yes}}|title=allmusic ((( The Aquabats > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))|access-date=December 9, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Saturday Morning" /> On July 25, 1998, they fought the alien rock band [[Gwar]] during The Ska Parade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonska.net/news/gwar-vs-the-aquabats/1336/ |title=GWAR vs The Aquabats on The Ska Parade; RIP Dave Brockie {{pipe}} Boston Ska (dot) net |website=Bostonska.net |date=2014-03-24 |access-date=2020-03-30}}</ref>

The Aquabats spent 1997 and 1998 touring extensively behind ''The Fury'', carrying out both supporting and headlining tours of the United States and traveling internationally as part of the 1998 [[Warped Tour]].  By this time, the band had settled into a stable touring line-up of Jacobs (The Bat Commander), Larson (Crash McLarson), Terry (Catboy), drummer [[Travis Barker]] (The Baron Von Tito), guitarists [[Charles Gray (musician)|Charles Gray]] (Ultra Kyu) and [[Courtney Pollock]] (Chainsaw, the Prince of Karate), trumpeter [[Adam Deibert]] (Prince Adam) and keyboardist/saxophonist [[James Briggs (musician)|James Briggs]] (Jaime the Robot, later Jimmy the Robot).<ref name="AquabatsAllmusicBio">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-aquabats-p210908/biography |title=The Aquabats biography |publisher=[[allmusic]].com}}</ref> This line-up would last The Aquabats up until 1998, when, in the middle of a tour with [[pop punk]] trio [[Blink-182]], Blink unexpectedly fired their drummer [[Scott Raynor]] and recruited Barker as a last-minute replacement to sit in for the rest of the tour. By the tour's close, the band was so impressed with Barker's performance that they invited him to join Blink-182 as a full-time member, an offer which Barker accepted, amicably parting ways with The Aquabats.<ref name="Justice">{{cite news|title=The Aquabats fight for justice and good punk|last=Chun|first=Gary|date=May 10, 2002|newspaper=[[The Honolulu Star Bulletin]]|publisher=Oahu Publications Inc.}}</ref><ref name="mtv.com 1998">{{cite web | title=Blink-182, Aquabats Play Musical Drummers | website=mtv.com | date=1998-07-14 | url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1424999/19980714/aquabats.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325134641/https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1424999/19980714/aquabats.jhtml | archive-date=2010-03-25 | url-status=dead | access-date=2022-10-11}}</ref> Barker was succeeded by Gabe Palmer (Doctor Rock), solidifying a line-up which would last the remainder of the decade.

With the band now finding enough success to generate both an adequate income and media visibility, Jacobs — a former [[child actor]] with ties in the entertainment industry — began to conceive the idea of adapting The Aquabats' superhero mythology into a television series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nerdreactor.com/2012/04/03/nr-interview-the-aquabats-christian-jacobs-aka-the-mc-bat-commander/ |title=NR Interview: The Aquabats' Christian Jacobs, AKA The MC Bat Commander |publisher=Nerd Reactor |date=April 3, 2012 |author=Nguyen, John |access-date=May 8, 2012 |archive-date=December 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227200715/http://nerdreactor.com/2012/04/03/nr-interview-the-aquabats-christian-jacobs-aka-the-mc-bat-commander/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> After pitching the concept to several networks, [[Disney-ABC Domestic Television|Buena Vista Television]] eventually agreed to help produce a short live-action [[television pilot|pilot]] in 1998, directed by comedian [[Bobcat Goldthwait]].<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Bell, Carrie |date=May 16, 1998 |title=Still Skanking |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=110 |issue=20 |pages=78–79}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425000/aquabats-hook-up-with-bobcat-tv-pilot.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206211910/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425000/aquabats-hook-up-with-bobcat-tv-pilot.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2011 |title=Aquabats Hook Up With Bobcat For TV Pilot |publisher=[[MTV.com]] |date=July 8, 1998}}</ref> Titled simply ''The Aquabats!'', the pilot followed the fictional misadventures of the eight band members in an intentionally [[camp (style)|campy]] style similar to [[Saturday morning cartoon]] shows.<ref name="ComicConVideo">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur4AeawJSTw  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/ur4AeawJSTw |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=The Aquabats— Comic-Con 2011 |publisher=[[The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] |date=July 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The pilot, which has yet to be made available for public viewing, failed to attract any network interest and was later openly disowned by the band themselves.<ref name="ComicConVideo" />

===1999–2004: change in genre, career decline and semi-hiatus===

By the time The Aquabats began writing new material for their next studio album in 1998, the group had begun to feel [[pigeonholing|pigeonholed]] by their public status as a "cheesy ska band" and consciously decided to start exploring more diverse musical styles rather than merely returning to a ska-based sound.<ref name="CrashMcLinterview" /> As such, the band's third album, ''[[The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death!]]'', marked an abrupt stylistic shift, completely abandoning the ska rhythms which dominated their previous albums in favor of more punk and new wave-influenced textures, emphasizing guitar and [[synthesizer]]-driven melodies over brass and woodwinds. With the total absence of The Aquabats' formerly marketable ska sound, Goldenvoice expressed mixed feelings over ''Floating Eye'', reportedly telling the band that the album had no potential single material and would be difficult to promote.<ref name="CrashMcLinterview" /> In a 2005 interview, Larson retrospectively lamented upon ''Floating Eye''{{'}}s lack of a commercial sound, noting that while he and the band felt the material was strong, it "probably wasn't the record we should have put out at that time".<ref name="CrashMcLinterview" />

True to their predictions, ''Floating Eye'' failed to match the commercial success of its predecessor, charting only at a mere 35 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Top Heatseekers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allmusic.com/album/aquabats-vs-the-floating-eye-of-death-r442255/charts-awards |title=Aquabats Vs. the Floating Eye of Death! > Charts & Awards |publisher=[[allmusic]].com}}</ref> Despite the album's underwhelming performance, Goldenvoice nevertheless granted The Aquabats a small budget for a music video, which the band instead used to film a five-minute promotional video as another prospective television pilot, ''[[The Aquabats! Super Show!#History and previous attempts at a series|The Aquabats! In Color!]]'', an action-oriented series styled similarly to Japanese [[tokusatsu]] shows. Despite potential interest from the [[Freeform (TV channel)|Fox Family Channel]] prior to their acquisition by [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] which cancelled all development deals, the pilot again failed to generate any interest, bringing The Aquabats' career to a standstill.<ref name="ComicConVideo" /><ref name="LAtimesBats">{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-ca-aquabats-20120226,0,5306168.story |title=Fighting for truth, justice the silly way |date=February 26, 2012 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |author=Ito, Robert}}</ref>
[[File:13-04-27_Aquabats_13.jpg|left|thumb|250px|[[Richard Falomir]] (Ricky Fitness) joined the band during their career lull in 2002, eventually serving the longest tenure of any Aquabats drummer.]]
Following the huge financial losses Goldenvoice suffered from the inaugural [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]] in 1999, the company was eventually forced to cease operations, leaving The Aquabats without a record label.<ref name="Justice"/><ref name="MishMashBats">{{cite web |url=http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/2005/music/interviews/the-aquabats-interview/ |title=The Aquabats: Interview |publisher=Mish Mash Magazine |date=July 28, 2005 |access-date=May 8, 2012 |archive-date=January 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109105157/http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/2005/music/interviews/the-aquabats-interview/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref> After an unsuccessful search for a new label, the band eventually turned to the Internet to independently manage and promote themselves while the members resumed their day jobs to continue funding the band.<ref name="Justice"/><ref name="MishMashBats"/> Jacobs likened the experience to a superhero's [[alter ego]], working by day and fighting crime [read: being an Aquabat] by night.<ref name="Justice"/> While The Aquabats could not secure a proper recording contract, the band did negotiate a [[distribution deal]] with [[Fearless Records]], releasing a collection of outtakes and demos from the ''Floating Eye'' sessions entitled ''[[Myths, Legends, and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2]]'' before slipping back into a period of relative inactivity.

With a lack of label support leaving the band to finance themselves entirely out of pocket, The Aquabats indefinitely postponed all plans for future recording or extensive touring, limiting their activity primarily to sporadic shows in the southwest United States.<ref name="MishMashBats" /> The loss of touring income, coupled with the band members' return to their jobs and families, eventually contributed to the departure of several key members: in 2000, guitarist Gray left the band, followed by Palmer and co-founder Terry in 2002.<ref name="MishMashBats" /> To avoid the financial constraints of hiring two new members, Adam Deibert assumed a dual role as trumpeter and guitarist for the band's live shows, while Palmer was replaced by former Assorted Jelly Beans drummer [[Richard Falomir|Ricky Falomir]] (Ricky Fitness). With this more stable and compact line-up, The Aquabats returned to the studio to record original music for [[Evan Dorkin]]{{'}}s ''[[Welcome to Eltingville]]'', a 2002 animated television pilot which aired on [[Adult Swim]] but was ultimately not picked up as a series. The following year, the band would release their first DVD, ''[[Serious Awesomeness!]]'', featuring a full live performance filmed in [[Pomona, California]], and numerous clips spanning their entire career.

In 2004, with almost five years passed since having released any official studio material, The Aquabats independently recorded and released the five-track [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[Yo! Check Out This Ride! EP|Yo! Check Out This Ride!]]'' as an attempt to both satisfy the band's fanbase and serve as a potential demo to attract interest from record labels.<ref name="MishMashBats" /> As their first recording with only six members and no use of a horn section, ''Yo! Check Out This Ride!'' marked the most drastic shift yet in The Aquabats' sound, taking the band even further into keyboard-driven rock and new wave-influenced songwriting.<ref name="MishMashBats" /> This would also mark Deibert's final recording with the band, as he would officially retire from the group later in the year, reducing The Aquabats to a quintet.<ref name="MishMashBats" />

===2005–2009: ''Charge!!'' and renewed success===
[[File:The Aquabats 4.JPG|thumb|left|250px|The departure of [[Adam Deibert]] in 2004 left The Aquabats a five-piece, effectively changing the band's sound and setting the stage for their career rejuvenation with ''Charge!!''.]]

In the summer of 2004, The Aquabats were signed to independent label [[Nitro Records]] and began work on a new studio album in the fall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/9610 |title=Nitro Records signs The Aquabats |publisher=Punknews.org |date=July 4, 2004}}</ref> Despite this fortuitous turn of events, the group were still uncertain of their future following their semi-hiatus and radical shift in line-up; Jacobs later admitted that the band spent the recording sessions under the belief that it could possibly be their last album.<ref name="ComicConVideo" /> After several months of production and much online hype, The Aquabats released their fourth album, ''[[Charge!!]]'', on July 7, 2005. Continuing with the direction set by ''Yo! Check Out This Ride!'', ''Charge!!'' was a bold introduction to The Aquabats' new musical style of guitar-driven, new wave-influenced rock.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nitrorecords.com/news.php?id=39 |publisher=[[Nitro Records]] |date=April 1, 2005 |title=April 1, 2005— THE AQUABATS— CHARGE!! New album details}}</ref>

Released to a largely positive critical reception with many critics praising the band's shift in genre, ''Charge!!'' effectively revitalized The Aquabats' career as the band recommitted themselves to regular touring. Days after the album's release, The Aquabats headlined a successful 34-city tour of the United States with similarly theatrical bands [[The Epoxies]] and [[The Phenomenauts]], followed by tours of the United Kingdom and Japan, the latter supporting Nitro Records founders [[The Offspring]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theaquabats.com/news/072805.html |publisher=theaquabats.com |title=TheAquabats.com news update |date=July 28, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611021510/http://theaquabats.com/news/072805.html |archive-date=June 11, 2012 }}</ref> On September 23, 2005, The Aquabats made their national television debut on the [[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4]] program ''[[Attack of the Show]]'', performing ''Charge!!''{{'}}s lead single, "[[Fashion Zombies!]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/episodes/4500/ronald-d-moore-danica-mckellar-the-aquabats.html |publisher=[[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4]].com |title=Attack of the Show episode guide— September 23, 2005 |access-date=May 7, 2012 |archive-date=August 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808182700/http://www.g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/episodes/4500/ronald-d-moore-danica-mckellar-the-aquabats.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

While the following year would present even more lucrative touring opportunities for The Aquabats, the band's renewed success would also have its drawbacks. In May 2006, it was announced that guitarist Pollock had reluctantly departed the group after 12 years, claiming the band's increased touring activity was conflicting with his business schedule. Pollock was succeeded by former [[Death by Stereo]] member [[Ian Fowles]] (Eaglebones Falconhawk), though he would continue to contribute guitar tracks to The Aquabats' studio albums and perform with the band as a second guitarist for their southern California concerts and major festival shows.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ampmagazine.com/4839/the-aquabats-interview-with-the-mc-bat-commander-by-tyler-evans/ |work=[[AMP (magazine)|AMP]]|title=The Aquabats – Interview with the MC Bat Commander |date=October 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227024548/http://www.ampmagazine.com/4839/the-aquabats-interview-with-the-mc-bat-commander-by-tyler-evans/ |archive-date=December 27, 2010 }}</ref> After releasing a limited-print tongue-in-cheek "One Year Anniversary Edition" of ''Charge!!'', The Aquabats carried out another national tour before announcing a brief hiatus in January 2007 to focus on writing their next album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/16467/aquabats-to-re-release-charge-add-more-tour-dates |title=Aquabats to re-release "Charge!!," add more tour dates |date=March 26, 2006 |publisher=Punknews.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/21682 |title=Aquabats announce "last" show before they "go underground" |publisher=Punknews.org |date=January 10, 2007}}</ref>

[[File:TheAquabatsatLACMA.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Cobraman" crashes a show in 2008. Costumed characters are staples of The Aquabats' concerts, appearing as part of mock fights or comedic skits.]]
During this period, Jacobs had been pursuing a career in television production with his creative partner and longtime Aquabats collaborator [[Scott Schultz (producer)|Scott Schultz]], independently filming prospective pilots for family television shows. In 2007, Jacobs and Schultz successfully sold one of their pilots, a preschooler show called ''[[Yo Gabba Gabba!]]'', to [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]{{'}}s [[Nick Jr. Channel]]. As a musically oriented program, ''Yo Gabba Gabba!'' featured several guest appearances by The Aquabats, appearing onscreen performing both old and new songs and starring in various sketches. The series went on to become an award-winning international sensation, bringing a generous amount of media attention towards both Jacobs and The Aquabats, just enough to persuade ''Gabba''{{'}}s production company [[Wild Brain]] to help produce a new pilot again based on the band.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/aquabats-342894-jacobs-says.html |author=Larsen, Peter |title=O.C.'s Aquabats go from stage to screen |newspaper=[[The Orange County Register]] |date=March 2, 2012}}</ref><ref name=assemb>{{cite web |url=http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/03/01/interview-christian-jacobs-assembles-the-the-aquabats-super-show |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303215034/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/03/01/interview-christian-jacobs-assembles-the-the-aquabats-super-show |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 3, 2012 |title=MTV Geek— Interview: Christian Jacobs Assembles 'The Aquabats! Super Show!' |author=Webb, Charles |publisher=MTV.com |date=March 1, 2012}}</ref>

Shot on location throughout California in early 2008, The Aquabats' third television pilot, titled ''[[The Aquabats! Super Show!]]'', was a fully realized half-hour episode featuring both live-action and animated storylines starring and featuring original music by the band. The Aquabats spent the remainder of 2008 heavily promoting the ''Super Show!'' pilot through extensive [[viral marketing|viral advertising]] and further touring, including appearances at the 2008 [[San Diego Comic-Con]], where the pilot was publicly debuted for fans, high-profile festivals including the [[Bamboozle Left]] and [[Groezrock]] in April 2009, and opening for Blink-182 on two dates of their [[Blink-182 in Concert|2009 reunion tour]].

Though The Aquabats continued to be a popular touring draw, the band experienced a tumultuous period of pre-production on their proposed fifth studio album lasting for nearly two years. Though a July 2007 news update announced that preliminary recording had already begun, no new material ever surfaced from these sessions or was ever performed live.<ref>{{cite web |title=News Update July 26, 2007— The Aquabats Refuse to Quit! |publisher=www.theaquabats.com |date=July 26, 2007}}</ref> As the band resumed touring throughout the United States and Europe, fewer updates were reported on the album's progress until all plans were abruptly ceased in April 2009, when The Aquabats were dropped from Nitro Records due to "trying economic times and a struggling musical landscape", according to Jacobs.<ref name="aquabats leave nitro">{{cite web|title = The Aquabats! leave Nitro|publisher = Punknews.org|url = http://www.punknews.org/article/32948|date = April 3, 2009|access-date = April 10, 2009}}</ref> With a glum confirmation of "no record company, no record", The Aquabats' future seemed once again shadowed in doubt.<ref name="aquabats leave nitro" />

===2010–2013: ''Hi-Five Soup!'' and ''The Aquabats! Super Show!''===
{{Main|The Aquabats! Super Show!}}

Despite the lack of a record label, The Aquabats continued to tour internationally throughout 2010 and 2011, headlining tours of the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as appearing at the 2010 [[Soundwave (Australian music festival)|Soundwave]] festival in Australia — the band's first ever visit to the continent. In August 2010, The Aquabats suddenly announced on their website that they would be independently releasing their next studio album in November of that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theaquabats.com/news |title=The Aquabats news |publisher=theaquabats.com |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128071648/http://theaquabats.com/news/ |archive-date=November 28, 2010 }}</ref> However, following a last-minute distribution deal with [[Fearless Records]], the album's release date was postponed to 2011 to provide for proper marketing and promotion, and an EP containing its first single, ''[[Radio Down!]]'', was released in its place.<ref>{{cite web |title = The Aquabats Official Website— October 2010 Update |date = October 28, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = The Aquabats— Interview with the MC Bat Commander by Tyler Evans|work='[[AMP (magazine)|AMP]]|url = http://www.ampmagazine.com/4839/the-aquabats-interview-with-the-mc-bat-commander-by-tyler-evans/|date = October 11, 2010|access-date = October 11, 2010|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101227024548/http://www.ampmagazine.com/4839/the-aquabats-interview-with-the-mc-bat-commander-by-tyler-evans/|archive-date = December 27, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Hi-Five Soup!]]'', The Aquabats' fifth full-length album, was released on January 18, 2011, becoming the band's highest-charting album since ''The Fury'', debuting at number 181 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and number 5 on Top Heatseekers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allmusic.com/album/hi-five-soup-r2102455/charts-awards |title=Hi-Five Soup!— The Aquabats > Charts & Awards |website=[[allmusic]]}}</ref> In promotion of the album, the band embarked on a 21-city national tour supporting [[Reel Big Fish]], followed by a performance at the 2011 [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]].

On March 24, 2011, it was formally announced via [[press release]] that ''[[The Aquabats! Super Show!]]'' had been acquired as a series by family cable channel [[The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]], a joint venture between [[Hasbro Inc.|Hasbro]] and [[Discovery Communications|Discovery]] which launched in 2010 as a replacement for [[Discovery Kids]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-news/the-hub-television-network-unveils-robust-2011-12/ |title=The Hub Television Network Unveils Robust 2011–12 Program Schedule |publisher=[[Discovery Communications]] |date=March 24, 2011 |access-date=July 19, 2011 |archive-date=September 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925081236/http://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-news/the-hub-television-network-unveils-robust-2011-12/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Created and produced by Jacobs, Schultz and Jason deVilliers, the series followed the fictionalized adventures of The Aquabats in a deliberately [[camp (style)|campy]] style inspired by the 1960s ''[[Batman (TV series)|Batman]]'' TV series, mixing live-action storylines with cartoon shorts, parody commercials and musical interludes featuring new original music and songs written and performed by the band.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.getyourmovie.net/411mania-com-interviews-the-aquabats-super-shows-christian-jacobs/ |title=411mania.com Interviews: The Aquabats! Super Show's! Christian Jacobs |publisher=411mania |author=Harris, Jeffrey |date=March 5, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=assemb/>

After spending the majority of 2011 in production, the first season of ''The Aquabats! Super Show!'' ran for thirteen episodes from March 3, 2012, to June 16, 2012, meeting with a largely positive critical reception and consistently high ratings for the modestly sized channel, eventually earning a [[Daytime Emmy]] nomination for Outstanding Children's Series, which it ultimately lost to fellow Hub series ''[[The Haunting Hour: The Series|R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hubworld.com/hub-headlines-growth-momentum-continues |title=Audience Growth Momentum Continues For The Hub TV Powered By New Series 'The Aquabats! Super Show!' |publisher=[[The Hub (TV channel)|The Hub]] |date=March 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126222542/http://www.hubworld.com/hub-headlines-growth-momentum-continues |archive-date=January 26, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hubworld.com/hub-headlines-my-little-pony-royal-wedding-performance |title=Hub TV Network Scores Record High Audience: Strong Performance of Series Drives Network To Second Best-Ever Saturday in Network's History |date=April 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715032133/http://www.hubworld.com/hub-headlines-my-little-pony-royal-wedding-performance |archive-date=July 15, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="2013_Daytime_Emmy_Nomination">{{cite web |url=http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_40th_nominations.html |publisher=[[National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences|The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences]] |date=May 1, 2013 |title=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces the 40th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503114448/http://www.emmyonline.org/mediacenter/daytime_40th_nominations.html |archive-date=May 3, 2013 }}</ref> In October 2012, production began on the series' second season, which premiered on June 1, 2013, with a short run of five episodes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/TheAquabatsSuperShow/posts/497436370274158  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/290065127677951/497436370274158 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|publisher=[[Facebook]] |title=The Aquabats! Super Show! Facebook update |date=October 22, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="EWs2announcement">{{cite magazine |url=http://family-room.ew.com/2013/05/01/aquabats-super-show-season-2-premiere/ |title='The Aquabats! Super Show!' exclusive: Season 2 will begin on... |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |author=Busis, Hillary |date=May 1, 2013}}</ref> The following October, three additional episodes were filmed, though The Hub later explicitly referred to these episodes as "specials" rather than a continuation of season two.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/11/13/the-aquabats-super-show-to-air-three-specials-starting-december-21-on-the-hub/215516/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113203151/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/11/13/the-aquabats-super-show-to-air-three-specials-starting-december-21-on-the-hub/215516/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |title='The Aquabats! Super Show' to Air Three Specials Starting December 21 on The Hub |author=Bibel, Sara |date=November 13, 2013 |publisher=[[TV by the Numbers]]}}</ref> These three specials aired from December 21, 2013, to January 14, 2014.

In a ''[[The Huffington Post|Huffington Post]]'' feature on the band prior to the 2014 [[San Diego Comic-Con International|San Diego Comic-Con]], Jacobs revealed that The Hub had opted not to renew ''The Aquabats! Super Show!'' for another season following extensive network [[rebranding]] by Hasbro and Discovery, effectively canceling the series. Jacobs admitted he was surprised by this turn of events, noting "Everything we heard was that the show has been a real Cinderella story for the Hub and that it was rating really well with viewers. We just assumed that we'd eventually go back into production or at least get picked up for Season 3", but ultimately concluded "it is what it is" in regard to the network's decision.<ref name="HuffAqua">{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-hill/the-aquabats-celebrate-th_b_5615811.html |title=The Aquabats! Celebrate Their 20th Anniversary at Comic-Con as They Ponder the Group's Next Move |date=July 24, 2014 |author=Hill, Jim |work=[[The Huffington Post]]}}</ref>

===2014–2018: continued touring and anniversary shows===
Since the 2012 premiere of ''The Aquabats! Super Show!'', The Aquabats largely cut back on extensive touring in order to accommodate their television production schedule, once again limiting their live shows to occasional performances within the Southwestern United States. In April 2013, the band carried out a six-show tour of Europe and the United Kingdom, concluding with an appearance at the [[Groezrock]] punk rock festival in [[Belgium]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/51019/tours-the-aquabats-europe |title=Tours: The Aquabats (Europe) |publisher=Punknews.org |date=March 21, 2013}}</ref> The following June, The Aquabats were once again featured on the [[Warped Tour]], though only played eight shows in the Southwest region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://punkmusic.about.com/od/warpedtour2013/a/The-2013-Vans-Warped-Tour-Lineup.htm |title=The 2013 Vans Warped Tour Lineup |publisher=[[About.com]] |access-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-date=April 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424033313/http://punkmusic.about.com/od/warpedtour2013/a/The-2013-Vans-Warped-Tour-Lineup.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite playing a limited portion of the tour, the band were regularly featured on the second season of [[Fuse (TV channel)|Fuse]]{{'}}s ''[[Warped Roadies]]'', a reality series documenting the [[road crew]] of the Warped Tour, where they were most notably the subject of one episode in which they incur the wrath of a stage manager for repeatedly playing over their set times.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3409568/ |title="Warped Roadies" Terry Is An Idiot |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]}}</ref>

On March 17, 2014, in celebration of their 20th anniversary as a band, The Aquabats announced the first leg of their "20th Anniversary Tour" for May, their first extensive headlining United States tour in years, covering fifteen shows in nine states on the East Coast.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aquabatsblog.tumblr.com/post/79909769329/brand-new-tour-dates |title=Brand new tour dates! |publisher=[[Tumblr]] |author=The Aquabats |date=March 17, 2014 |access-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426234143/http://aquabatsblog.tumblr.com/post/79909769329/brand-new-tour-dates |url-status=dead }}</ref> The following July, the band carried out five more dates across California, Washington and Oregon, then announced eleven more dates covering six states across the western half of the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aquabatsblog.tumblr.com/post/90432545165/are-you-in-the-west-coast-and-feeling-a-little |title=Untitled blog entry |publisher=[[Tumblr]] |date=July 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2014 |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812101200/http://aquabatsblog.tumblr.com/post/90432545165/are-you-in-the-west-coast-and-feeling-a-little |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://aquabatsblog.tumblr.com/post/91089320660/new-the-aquabats-tour-dates-ca-az-ut-nv-co-tx |title=New Aquabats tour dates |date=July 2014 |publisher=[[Tumblr]] |access-date=August 1, 2014 |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812101202/http://aquabatsblog.tumblr.com/post/91089320660/new-the-aquabats-tour-dates-ca-az-ut-nv-co-tx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following another stretch of relative inactivity for most of 2015 and 2016, The Aquabats announced a 13-date tour of the American Midwest and East Coast in May 2017, supported by [[Reggie and the Full Effect]], [[C. J. Ramone]] and [[Kepi Ghoulie]], subsequently followed by a six-date tour of the West Coast in October with [[Dog Party (band)|Dog Party]]. Ticket options for these shows included "Super Rad Packages" with bonus exclusive merchandise, most notably a split [[single (music)|7" single]] of full-length versions of the ''Super Show!'' songs "[[Burger Rain]]" and "Beat Fishin'", The Aquabats' first new studio recordings since 2011's ''Hi-Five Soup''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/theaquabats/photos/a.272474334291.140927.13162339291/10155374482989292/?type=3  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/13162339291/10155374482989292 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=The Aquabats! - Posts |date=May 11, 2017 |publisher=[[Facebook]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In mid-February 2018, The Aquabats played nine dates in the [[United Kingdom]] with [[Army of Freshmen]] supporting [[Bowling for Soup]] on their "Get Happy!" tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/bowling-for-soup-announce-get-happy-tour-2018/ |title=Bowling For Soup announce 'Get Happy Tour 2018' |author=Weaver, James |date=September 25, 2017 |publisher=Distorted Sound}}</ref>

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of 1997's ''The Fury of The Aquabats!'', the band worked with veteran producer and engineer Cameron Webb on a complete [[remaster]] of the album which was independently released on vinyl and CD with bonus material on April 6, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musictap.com/2018/03/26/20th-anniversary-remastered-and-expanded-reissue-of-classic-aquabats-album-the-fury-of-the-aquabats/ |title=20th Anniversary Remastered and Expanded Reissue Of Classic Aquabats Album, The Fury Of The Aquabats! |date=March 26, 2018 |publisher=Music Tap |author=Marowe}}</ref> The following day, The Aquabats played two sold-out shows at Los Angeles' [[The Fonda Theatre|Fonda Theater]] where they performed ''The Fury of The Aquabats!'' in its entirety, joined by former members Pollock, Terry and Deibert. Notably, Travis Barker appeared during the evening show to play three songs as his Baron von Tito persona, marking the first time Barker had performed with the band since 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://x96.com/news/travis-barker-reunites-with-the-aquabats-for-one-night-only/ |title=Travis Barker Reunites With The AQUABATS for One Night Only! |publisher=[[X96]] |date=April 10, 2018 |author=Smith, Jon}}</ref> Three weeks later on April 28, this extended line-up performed as part of Barker and [[John Feldmann]]'s Back To The Beach ska festival in [[Huntington State Beach]], where Barker again joined the band for three songs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2018/04/19/4-reasons-you-should-go-to-the-back-to-the-beach-festival/ |title=4 reasons you should go to the Back to the Beach Festival |newspaper=[[The Orange County Register]] |date=April 19, 2018 |author=Fadroski, Kelli Skye}}</ref>

===2019–present: ''The Aquabats! RadVentures!'', ''Kooky Spooky...In Stereo'', and ''Finally!''===
On July 31, 2018, after several weeks of teasing a major band announcement, The Aquabats launched a high-profile [[Kickstarter]] campaign with the goal of raising a minimum of $1.1 million to help finance an entire return season of ''The Aquabats! Super Show!'', as well as the production and release of three albums: a new studio album, a ''Super Show!'' soundtrack and a re-recorded greatest hits compilation.<ref name="BillboardKickstarter">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/the-aquabats-kickstarter-campaign-video-8467965/ |title=The Aquabats Return With Kickstarter Campaign, Guest Star-Filled 'I Am the Aquabats' Video |author=Graff, Gary |date=July 31, 2018 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> The campaign video featured a slew of celebrity cameos voicing support for the band, though most prominently featured actor and musician [[Jack Black]], who was confirmed by ''Billboard'' to serve as executive producer for the series' return.<ref name="BillboardKickstarter" /> Along with the launch of the Kickstarter, The Aquabats began releasing a series of [[metafiction]]al ''Super Show!'' "mini-episodes" exclusively to their YouTube channel, depicting the MC Bat Commander's quest to reunite the estranged Aquabats following their show's cancellation.

By August 28, mere days before the campaign's end date of September 1, the Kickstarter had only raised $601,629 of the band's desired $1.1 million goal. The funding was voluntarily cancelled and the campaign was significantly restructured, resurrected the same day with a new goal of $100,000 for a new album and continuing production of ''Super Show!'' "mini-episodes". The $100,000 mark was met within minutes and the project ultimately raised over $600,000, which was stated to be used to independently produce "at least twelve" mini-episodes of ''Super Show!'', two new Aquabats studio albums, one live album, and  two ''Super Show!'' soundtrack albums.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theaquabats/bringbacktheaquabats |title=Bring Back THE AQUABATS!|date=June 18, 2024 }}</ref>

Throughout 2019, The Aquabats worked resolutely to fulfill their Kickstarter-funded projects. In March, the band simultaneously released ''[[The Aquabats! Super Show! Television Soundtrack: Volume One]]'', a soundtrack compilation of songs from ''Super Show!''{{'}}s first season, and ''The Fury of The Aquabats! Live at The Fonda!'', a live recording of a 2018 performance of ''The Fury of The Aquabats!'', as exclusive digital downloads for Kickstarter backers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theaquabats.com/kickstarter/shipping |title=SHIPPING! The Aquabats! |publisher=www.theaquabats.com}}</ref> In June, preceded by the release of the single "Cobraman Theme!", ''The Aquabats! Super Show! Television Soundtrack: Volume One'' was given a wide physical release on The Aquabats' self-operated label Gloopy Records, premiering at 165 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and number one on Top Heatseekers, the band's highest placement on each chart to date.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1NsN7Zs6TKTcKVWqfJ5Mkk |title=COBRAMAN THEME! |date=April 26, 2019 |publisher=[[Spotify]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Aquabats-Super-Show-Television-Soundtrack-Volume-One/master/1562671 |title=Super Show! Television Soundtrack: Volume One |year=2019 |publisher=[[Discogs]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-aquabats/chart-history/tlp/|title=The Aquabats! Super Show! Television Soundtrack: Volume One Chart History|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref> Starting September 28, 2019, ''The Aquabats! Super Show!'' was officially relaunched as a biweekly YouTube-exclusive [[web series]] entitled ''[[The Aquabats! RadVentures!]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetvdb.com/series/the-aquabats-radventures/ |title=The Aquabats! Radventures! |publisher=TheTVDB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnOf1daZXx4  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/YnOf1daZXx4 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Horsebeard Man! - The Aquabats! RadVentures! with Shay Carl Butler |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=September 28, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

"Skeleton Inside!", the first single from The Aquabats' sixth studio album, premiered on the band's YouTube channel on October 25, 2019, though did not make mention of an album title or a tentative release date beyond "later this year".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n16T5Udik5M  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/n16T5Udik5M |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Skeleton Inside! - The Aquabats! Lyrics Music Video! |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=October 25, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The album's official title, ''[[Kooky Spooky...In Stereo]]'', was revealed in February 2020, followed by the album's second single, the [[couch potato]]-themed "Pajamazon!", on April 10. Inspired by the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]], which necessitated mass self-[[quarantine|quarantining]] and [[social distancing]], "Pajamazon!" was promoted by a music video primarily made up of self-submitted videos of fans and friends of The Aquabats dancing to the song in their homes, marking The Aquabats' first music video since "Fashion Zombies!" in 2005. While ''Kooky Spooky...In Stereo'' was originally scheduled for a June 20 release date, manufacturing delays resulting from the [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]] as well as political tensions from the ongoing [[George Floyd protests]] which began in late May 2020 prompted the band to postpone the album's release; in an uncharacteristically serious public statement, The Aquabats acknowledged that "There will always be time for goofy, rowdy rock...but it doesn't feel right to us to be loud and self-promoting at this moment in time", encouraging open discussion about race and racism and linking to resources from the [[National Museum of African American History and Culture]] and confirming a new digital release date of August 21, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.readjunk.com/news/music/the-aquabats-releasing-new-album-kooky-spooky-in-stereo-on-june-20th/ |title=The Aquabats Releasing New Album "Kooky Spooky...In Stereo" on June 20th! |author=Kremkau, Bryan |date=April 10, 2020 |publisher=ReadJunk}}</ref>

On February 29, 2024, the band announced their seventh album, ''Finally!'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theaquabats.com|title=The Aquabats!}}</ref> as well as the return of Chainsaw, The Prince of Karate and Catboy and officially introduced Gorney.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://x.com/TheAquabats/status/1763232927628882226?s=20|title=THE AQUABATS! on X|website=Twitter}}</ref> Gorney has performed as a fill-in bassist, as Smash McLarson, prior to his official introduction. The album released on June 21st.

==Musical style==
Over the course of their career, The Aquabats have experienced several radical evolutions in their sound and musical style.
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Having originally formed as a part of Orange County's burgeoning [[third wave ska]] scene, much of the band's early material was rooted in the genre. Boasting an eight-piece line-up featuring two [[lead guitar]]ists, a [[keyboardist]] and a [[horn section]] consisting of two [[trumpet]]s and a [[saxophone]], The Aquabats' style of ska was primarily driven by brass and guitar, incorporating elements of [[surf rock]] and [[punk rock]].<ref name="Saturday Morning" /><ref name="eNotesBats" /> Their second album, 1997's ''[[The Fury of The Aquabats!]]'', while still predominantly ska-based, found the band starting to expand their sound into newer territory, featuring more pronounced punk and surf influences and [[Wikt:tongue-in-cheek|tongue-in-cheek]] experimentalism, including several [[instrumental]]s, pastiches of [[ragtime]] and [[tango music]] and the utilization of such unconventional instruments as [[clarinet]]s, [[electric sitar]]s and even [[Manualism (hand music)|manualism]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-fury-of-the-aquabats-r317730/credits |title=The Fury of The Aquabats > Credits |publisher=[[allmusic]].com}}</ref><ref name="CrashMcLinterview" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drumlessons.com/drummers/travis-barker/ |title=Travis Barker biography |publisher=DrumLessons.com |access-date=April 25, 2012 |archive-date=December 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204173622/http://www.drumlessons.com/drummers/travis-barker/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1999, The Aquabats underwent a significant shift in style for their third studio album, ''[[The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death!]]'', and its companion piece ''[[Myths, Legends, and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2]]'', further exploring the multi-genre eclecticism which had been hinted at with ''The Fury''. A conscious decision by the band to write more diverse material, these albums saw a near-complete forfeit of the brass-driven ska of their previous albums in favor of more guitar and [[synthesizer]]-structured songwriting, embracing a punk rock and new wave sound greatly influenced by [[Devo]] and [[Oingo Boingo]], two of The Aquabats' biggest inspirations.<ref name="Saturday Morning" /><ref name="CrashMcLinterview" /><ref name="NitroBio" /><ref name="PunkNewsBio">{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/bands/theaquabats |title=The Aquabats! biography |publisher=Punknews.org}}</ref> The band also began widening their genre experimentation to encompass such disparate styles as [[electronica]], [[synthpop]] and even [[hip-hop]], elements which persist in their sound to present day.

During The Aquabats' career lull in the early 2000s, several of the band's key members departed from the line-up, eventually reducing the former octet down to a mere quintet of vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, and drums.<ref name="AquabatsAllmusicBio" /> This inevitably had a profound impact on The Aquabats' sound, in particular the complete loss of their once characteristic horn section. 2005's ''[[Charge!!]]'', the first release featuring this reduced line-up, marked an abrupt shift from the eclecticism of their previous records, firmly establishing The Aquabats' current rock-based musical style, mixing elements of punk, new wave and ska, a style which has also been described as some publications as "[[geek rock|nerd rock]]" owing to the band's lyrical emphasis on pop culture.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/charge-r778331/review |title=Charge!!— The Aquabats > Review |publisher=[[allmusic.com]] |author=Loftus, Johnny}}</ref><ref name="NitroBio" /><ref name="Salgado">{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2014/03/the-greatest-nerd-rock-records-of-all-time/full-post/|title=The Greatest Nerd Rock Records of All Time|work=[[Consequence of Sound]]|first1=Nick|last1=Freed|first2=Christina|last2=Salgado|date=March 14, 2014|access-date=2015-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2008-12-11/music/the-aquabats/full/|title=The Aquabats|first=John|last=Linn|date=December 11, 2008|work=[[Phoenix New Times]]|access-date=October 28, 2019|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095358/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2008-12-11/music/the-aquabats/full/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In recent years, The Aquabats have introduced an increased presence of keyboards and synthesizers into this style, with critics noting their 2011 album ''[[Hi-Five Soup!]]'' as featuring more noticeable elements of synthpop and electronica.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/review/9926 |date=January 25, 2011 |publisher=Punknews.org |title=The Aquabats— Hi-Five Soup! review}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.altpress.com/reviews/entry/the_aquabats_-_hi-five_soup/ |date=January 18, 2011 |magazine=[[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]] |title=Reviews – The Aquabats— Hi-Five Soup!}}</ref>

===Departure from ska genre===
Although the band continues to incorporate occasional elements of ska into their music, The Aquabats have since distanced themselves from their association with the ska genre after having moved away from an overtly ska-based sound in the early 2000s, having since labeled themselves as simply a "rock band" in their official press biographies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/theaquabats |title=The Aquabats! Official Twitter Account |publisher=[[Twitter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://theaquabats.com/bio/ |title=The Aquabats! Bio |publisher=www.theaquabats.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128072511/http://theaquabats.com/bio/ |archive-date=November 28, 2010 }}</ref> In a 2012 interview, singer Christian Jacobs stated "I don't think we ever considered ourselves a ska band. We were just The Aquabats. And some of the songs we happened to play were ska", noting elsewhere, "It was never a deliberate thing [to stop playing ska], but I think it just naturally happened because there's a lot of different styles of music that we play. I've always been into bands like [[Ween]] and things like that, that can chameleon-like drift from genre to genre and play whatever music they want...there's no boundaries. If you set yourself up as a punk band, then you pretty much just have to play punk. Or if you're a ska band, you just play ska".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvweb.com/news/exclusive-christian-jacobs-talks-the-aquabats-super-show-series-premiere-on-the-hub |title=Christian Jacobs Talks 'The Aquabats! Super Show!' Series Premiere on The Hub |publisher=TVWeb.com |date=March 3, 2012 |access-date=April 25, 2012 |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222142437/http://www.tvweb.com/news/exclusive-christian-jacobs-talks-the-aquabats-super-show-series-premiere-on-the-hub |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.bullz-eye.com/2012/02/29/the-light-from-the-tv-shows-brace-yourself-for-the-aquabats-super-show/ |title=Brace yourself for..."The Aquabats! Super Show!" |date=February 29, 2012 |author=Harris, Will |publisher=Bullz-Eye Blog}}</ref> Chad Larson, speaking on the same matter, explained "Having the same guitar rhythm for every song gets kind of boring...even on the earlier albums that had ska rhythms we were focusing more on the 'adventure' songs than really 'ska' songs. So as we grew as musicians, we wanted to experiment with different rhythms", adding "we were never really a good ska band anyway".<ref name="CrashMcLinterview" />

==Live performances==
[[File:TheAquabatsatCoachella2011.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Aquabats performing at the 2011 [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella Festival]], featuring an elaborate set-up of large inflatable characters]]
Since the earliest days of the band, The Aquabats have earned a reputation for their theatrical live performances featuring a variety of comedic stunts and antics based around their superhero-themed persona.

During the 1990s, when their concerts were at their most elaborately staged, a typical Aquabats performance would often include choreographed [[stage combat|fight scene]]s with costumed villains, the use of numerous props, acrobatic stunts and varying degrees of [[pyrotechnics]], ranging from small [[firework]]s to The MC Bat Commander [[Fire breathing (circus act)|fire breathing]].<ref name="Saturday Morning" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/548664/Aquabats-and-Mealticket-to-return-for-Ska-Patricks-Day-fest-in-Provo.html?pg=all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023174658/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/548664/Aquabats-and-Mealticket-to-return-for-Ska-Patricks-Day-fest-in-Provo.html?pg=all |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |title=Aquabats and Mealticket to return for Ska Patrick's Day fest in Provo |newspaper=[[Deseret News]] |date=March 14, 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://joonbug.com/tag/aquabats |title=The Aquabats on joonbug.com |publisher=joonbug.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011138/http://joonbug.com/tag/aquabats |archive-date=May 13, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/579947/The-Aquabats.html?pg=all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011841/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/579947/The-Aquabats.html?pg=all |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |title=The Aquabats |newspaper=[[Deseret News]] |date=August 29, 1997}}</ref> While many of these elements were eventually phased out of the live shows in the early 2000s, the one consistent staple of every Aquabats concert has remained the band's onstage "battles" with villains and monsters.<ref name="MishMashConcertReview">{{cite web |url=http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/2007/music/live-reviews/the-aquabats-8-17-07/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129005155/http://www.mishmashmagazine.com/2007/music/live-reviews/the-aquabats-8-17-07/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |title=Live Reviews: The Aquabats— 8/17/07 |publisher=Mish Mash Magazine |date=August 19, 2007}}</ref> These villains, typically played by The Aquabats' [[road crew]], will crash the stage at one or two moments in the show and exchange humorous banter with the band before engaging each other in mock combat.<ref name="FilmJunkSA">{{cite web |url=http://www.filmjunk.com/2003/11/30/the-aquabats-serious-awesomeness-dvd/ |publisher=FilmJunk |title=The Aquabats – Serious Awesomeness (DVD) |date=November 30, 2003}}</ref> These fights have ranged from short, improvised fistfights to fully choreographed stage combat utilizing breakable props, maneuvers such as [[flying kick]]s and [[Flip (acrobatic)|back flips]], and sometimes spreading out into the audience, with The Aquabats ultimately winning most—but not all—encounters.<ref name="Justice" /><ref name="FilmJunkSA" /> For some performances, in place of a villain, The Aquabats will feature a sketch with one of their "allies": for example, to segue into their song "Magic Chicken", the titular character— a man in a [[chicken suit]]— will come onstage to hand out [[fried chicken]] to audience members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2008/12/the_aquabats_at_marquee_theate.php |title=The Aquabats at Marquee Theater on Dec. 13 |website=[[Phoenix New Times]] |date=December 14, 2008 |access-date=August 12, 2012 |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513011524/http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2008/12/the_aquabats_at_marquee_theate.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:AquabatsFloatieRaces.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Pool Floatie Races" is one of many ways The Aquabats incorporate audience participation into their shows.]]
[[Audience participation]] is a common element of The Aquabats' stage shows. Both the band and their onstage characters regularly interact with the crowd, including initiating mass games of [[beach ball]] [[volleyball]] or spraying them with substances like [[Silly String]] and fire extinguishers.<ref name="eNotesBats" /><ref name="NewTimesShowReview">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2007/12/skank_you_very_much_the_aquaba.php |website=[[Phoenix New Times]] |date=December 4, 2007 |title=The Aquabats @ Marquee Theatre on December 1 |access-date=August 12, 2012 |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513012320/http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2007/12/skank_you_very_much_the_aquaba.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> Additionally, a few of The Aquabats' enemies are known only to be "defeated" by fans by being pelted with projectiles supplied by the band, usually large quantities of [[ball pit|plastic balls]].<ref name="MishMashConcertReview" /> Acknowledging the younger members of their fanbase, The Aquabats often incorporate any children in the venue as part of their shows, inviting them to dance onstage with the band at the end of their sets. With parents' permission, children can also take part in onstage games and activities with the aid of the audience.<ref name="TampaBayBats">{{cite web |url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/soundcheck/content/review-aquabats-throw-all-ages-party-state-theatre |title=Review: The Aquabats throw an all ages party at the State Theatre |publisher=tampabay.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513012336/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/soundcheck/content/review-aquabats-throw-all-ages-party-state-theatre |archive-date=May 13, 2014 }}</ref> The most common of these have included "pool floatie races", where two selected children mount inflatable rafts or pool toys and race across the venue via [[crowd surfing]], and assisted [[stage diving]], in which between songs the MC Bat Commander will gently throw children into a waiting audience so they may experience their "first [[punk rock]] moment".<ref name="MishMashConcertReview" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bigwheelmagazine.com/show_reviews/the-aquabats-voodoo-glow-skulls-koo-koo-kangaroo-at-the-music-box-los-angeles-ca-february-11-2011/ |title=The Aquabats at The Music Box – Los Angeles, CA |publisher=Big Wheel Magazine |date=February 11, 2011}}</ref><ref name="RBFABSTL">{{cite web |url=http://www.playbackstl.com/backstage-pass/concert-reviews-backstage-pass/reel-big-fish-and-the-aquabats-111410/ |title=Reel Big Fish and The Aquabats – 11.14.10 |publisher=playbackstl.com |date=November 18, 2010 |access-date=April 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422190821/http://www.playbackstl.com/backstage-pass/concert-reviews-backstage-pass/reel-big-fish-and-the-aquabats-111410/ |archive-date=April 22, 2016 |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

On the visual end of these performances, keeping in line with their cartoon and [[popular culture|pop culture]]-inspired aesthetic, The Aquabats' stage shows are accompanied by a large video screen backdrop which plays montage clips of various cartoons, movies, TV shows, and [[stock footage]] specifically edited to match each song.<ref name="NewTimesShowReview" /><ref name="TampaBayBats" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmusic/2010/03/review_the_aquabats_mustard_plug_samuriot_firebird_st_louis_march_21_2010_photo_video.php |title=Review: The Aquabats, Mustard Plug and Samuriot at the Firebird, Sunday, March 21 |publisher=[[The Riverfront Times]] |date=March 22, 2010 |access-date=August 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513072838/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmusic/2010/03/review_the_aquabats_mustard_plug_samuriot_firebird_st_louis_march_21_2010_photo_video.php |archive-date=May 13, 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> This screen also plays prerecorded comedy videos starring the band which introduce and close each show, as well as [[parody advertisement|fake commercials]] for fictional Aquabats-brand products which serve as impromptu "[[television advertisement|commercial breaks]]" between songs.<ref name="NewTimesShowReview" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/2.10658/anti-pop-at-club-firestone-1.1419862 |title=Anti Pop at Club Firestone |date=November 20, 2008 |publisher=[[Central Florida Future]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513012658/http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/2.10658/anti-pop-at-club-firestone-1.1419862 |archive-date=May 13, 2014 }}</ref> These visuals, along with the band's props and costumes, are regularly changed to accommodate special seasonal performances, in particular The Aquabats' annual [[Christmas and holiday season|holiday]] shows.

==Superhero mythology==
[[File:TheAquabatsvillainfight.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The Aquabats fighting villains in [[San Francisco]] in 2012. Many of these onstage villains have been established in The Aquabats' fictional superhero mythology, with developed backstories of their own.]]
Perhaps even more so than for their music, The Aquabats are widely recognized for their eccentric [[superhero]] identity which adheres to a comprehensive [[mythology]] reflected in the band's music, stage shows and promotional material in which the members are in fact a team of musical crimefighters on a quest to save the world.

Detailed in their lyrics, [[liner notes]], website and [[The Aquabats! Super Show!|television series]], The Aquabats have developed a small but elaborate [[fictional universe]] surrounding this mythology, describing the band's fictitious history and outlandish adventures as well as conceiving an extensive roster of enemies and allies, many of whom are the subjects of specific songs and have appeared as part of The Aquabats' stage shows in mock [[Stage combat|fight scenes]] or comedic skits. Over the years, this mythology, and in particular the fictional backstory regarding their origins, has continually changed, evolved and occasionally been [[Retroactive continuity|retconned]] to explain changes in the band's line-up.

The Aquabats' [[origin story]] can be separated into two distinct eras. For the first half of their career, the band maintained a consistently canonical backstory established over the course of their first two albums, alleging the band members were actually humanoid bat creatures hailing from a distant tropical island called Aquabania. According to legend, Aquabania had been invaded by the villainous Space Monster "M", forcing the surviving inhabitants to flee into the ocean where they eventually washed ashore in California and were taken in by Professor Monty Corndog, a [[mad scientist]] who used "chemicals" to give them [[Superpower (ability)|superpowers]]. Donning costumes including such accessories as "radioactive [[rashguard]]s", "power belts", and "anti-negativity helmets", The Aquabats chose to channel their powers through music in order to "take over the world" by attracting legions of fans to aid them in combating Space Monster "M" and reclaiming their homeland, fighting the numerous villains and monsters who'd attempt to thwart their musical quest along the way.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaquabats.com/aquatale.html |title=The History of The Aquabats |year=1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990202162007/http://www.theaquabats.com/aquatale.html |archive-date=February 2, 1999 |publisher=Theaquabats.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |title=Liner notes for ''The Fury of The Aquabats!'' |year=1997}}</ref>

With the heavy line-up changes in the early-to-mid 2000s which left only two of the original members remaining, The Aquabats eventually dropped the Aquabania elements out of their backstory, reestablishing themselves as a group of freelance superheroes of indeterminate origin who travel the countryside, fighting evil and "destroying boredom".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaquabats.com/bio |title=The Aquabats' fictional biography as of 2008 |publisher=www.theaquabats.com |year=2008 |access-date=April 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414011452/http://theaquabats.com/bio/ |archive-date=April 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This loose framework would later serve as the basis for the band's television series, ''[[The Aquabats! Super Show!]]'', where each member's character was further developed to showcase their own individual powers and personalities, transitioning the Aquabats' mythology from a [[story arc]] to a character ensemble.<ref name="GeeklyEntertainment">{{cite web |url=http://www.entertainmentgeekly.com/2012/03/28/christian-jacobs-talks-the-aquabats-super-show/ |title=The Geekly Interview: Christian Jacobs— The MC Bat Commander Himself— Talks 'The Aquabats! Super Show!' |publisher=Entertainment Geekly |date=March 28, 2012}}</ref> While the series' first season left the band's origins intentionally vague, several episodes of the second season feature each member of The Aquabats recounting the band's history in animated [[flashback (narrative)|flashback]] sequences; while one of these sequences recalls the original Aquabania mythos, each member's flashbacks directly contradict one another, leaving it unknown which could be considered officially canonical.

==Aquacadets and The Aquabats Cadet Faction==
[[File:The Aquabats at The Glass house.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Aquabats' dedicated fanbase and members of their official fan club are referred to as "Aquacadets".]]
Fans of The Aquabats are referred to by the band as '''Aquacadets''' or the more casual "Cadets", a title which has held alternately official and unofficial status among their fanbase for most of the band's career.

Throughout the late 1990s and into the mid-2000s, The Aquabats operated an official [[fan club]] known as The Aquabats Cadet Faction, selling membership packages which typically offered a variety of exclusive merchandise, access to exclusive web content, a subscription to an official [[newsletter]] written by members of the band and entrance into occasional semi-private "secret shows" held at smaller venues. Most significantly, enrollment into The Aquabats Cadet Faction granted card-carrying members admission into official [[fan convention]]s known as Cadet Summits, where fans could meet and interact with The Aquabats through Q&A panels, games and award shows where fans received trophies in categories including "Cadet of the Year". The Aquabats held five such Cadet Summits throughout Southern California from 1997 to 2006:

* October 25, 1997, [[Fountain Valley, California|Fountain Valley]]: The Aquabats hosted a day for fans at [[Boomers! Parks|Bullwinkle's Family Fun'N'Food]] [[family entertainment center]], which featured the premiere screening of the "[[Super Rad!]]" music video.
* December 5, 1998, [[Pomona, California|Pomona]]: the band performed an exclusive show at The Glass House concert venue alongside screenings of various videos including the only public showing of ''The Aquabats!'' 1998 television pilot.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mycitypaper.com/articles/112599/mus.aqua.shtml |date=December 5, 1998 |publisher=My City Paper |author=Rea, Hillary |title=Fear Not the Eye}}</ref>
* April 6, 2000, [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]]: advertised as "The Third Sorta-Annual 1999/2000 Aquacadet Summit", The Aquabats performed an extended awards show-themed concert at The Galaxy Theatre, featuring additional performances by side projects The Moon Monkeys, [[Digital Unicorn]] and Le Pigbat.
* January 18, 2002, [[Huntington Beach, California|Huntington Beach]]: The Aquabats hosted a picnic gathering on the beach, highlighted by an acoustic singalong set made up entirely of fan requests. This performance was recorded and later released as an officially sanctioned [[The Aquabats discography#Bootlegs|bootleg cassette]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Aquabats-Cadet-Beach-Party/release/5779393 |title=The Aquabats - Cadet Beach Party |date=June 6, 2014 |publisher=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>
* June 6, 2006, in [[San Diego]]: hosted at the Concourse Meeting Hall during [[San Diego Comic-Con]] weekend, the band celebrated the 10th anniversary of ''The Return of The Aquabats'' by performing the album in its entirety with former member Prince Adam.

Following the 2006 Cadet Summit, The Aquabats Cadet Faction lapsed into an extended period of complete inactivity, upon which fans independently carried on unofficial fan club operations through [[social media]], most notably the formation of numerous splinter factions based around certain themes, shared interests or geographic location: while most of these groups were small sub-sections within online fan communities such as [[Tumblr]], some factions like "Piratebats" and "Ninjabats" cultivated a small real-world presence by attending The Aquabats' concerts in accordingly themed costume attire. In 2018, The Aquabats temporarily resurrected The Aquabats Cadet Faction as part of the ''Bring Back The Aquabats!'' Kickstarter campaign, again issuing personalized ID cards and exclusive merchandise and web content. On Dec. 7, 2024, a Cadet Summit was held in conjunction with the 30th anniversary shows at the Glass House in Pomona, Calif.

In 2019, independent record label Related Records, who had previously released the officially sanctioned 2014 bootleg of The Aquabats' acoustic performance at the 2002 Cadet Summit, compiled and released ''No Singles: A 20 Year Anniversary Tribute to The Aquabats vs. The Floating Eye of Death'', a fourteen-track [[tribute album]] covering the entirety of the band's 1999 ''Floating Eye of Death'' album by various underground punk, [[electronica]] and [[experimental music|experimental]] musicians.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://relatedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/no-singles-a-20-year-anniversary-tribute-to-the-aquabats-vs-the-floating-eye-of-death |title=No Singles: A 20 Year Anniversary Tribute to The Aquabats vs. The Floating Eye of Death |publisher=[[Bandcamp]] |author=Related Records |date=December 24, 1999}}</ref>

==Side bands and related projects==
[[File:2011-02-18b 14 GoGo13 at Bottom of the Hill.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Sharing "the same DNA, songs, band members and resources", [[GOGO13]] are credited for influencing the formation of The Aquabats, particularly in their use of humor and stage theatrics.<ref name="GOGO13OCWeekly">{{cite news |url=http://www.ocweekly.com/2013-03-21/music/gogo13-parker-jacobs-johnny-beutler/full/ |title=GOGO13 are right where they want to be...finally |newspaper=[[OC Weekly]] |date=March 21, 2013 |author=Bose, Lilledeshan |access-date=September 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114081036/http://www.ocweekly.com/2013-03-21/music/gogo13-parker-jacobs-johnny-beutler/full/ |archive-date=January 14, 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>]]
The roots of The Aquabats are usually traced back to [[GOGO13]], a ska band founded by [[Christian Jacobs]]' brothers [[Parker Jacobs|Parker]] and Tyler while they were living in [[St. George, Utah]], in 1993.<ref name="GOGO13OCWeekly" /> Following their abrupt disbandment in 1994, several of GOGO13's members moved on to play in The Aquabats' earliest line-ups, during which time the band's performances consisted of several GOGO13 songs, most notably "Idiot Box!", which was later recorded for The Aquabats' first two albums.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://musicaloccupation.blogspot.com/2007/08/interview-with-parker-jacobs.html |title=Interview with Parker Jacobs |publisher=Music is Our Occupation |date=August 14, 2007}}</ref><ref name="PJinterview">{{cite web |url=http://anthonysansone.com/posts/parker-jacobs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115035118/http://anthonysansone.com/posts/parker-jacobs/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |title=An Interview with Parker Jacobs |publisher=AnthonySansone.com |date=November 12, 2014 }}</ref> Parker Jacobs permanently reformed GOGO13 in 2001 and continues to tour with a rotating line-up of musicians which, among others, have included original Aquabats trumpeter [[Boyd Terry]] and guitarist Ben "The Brain" Bergeson.<ref name="PJinterview" />

From 1993 to 1995, [[Adam Deibert]], [[Charles Gray (musician)|Charles Gray]], [[Courtney Pollock|Corey Pollock]] and Pat "Patbat" McDonald were all members of the Huntington Beach ska band The Goodwin Club, recording only one full-length album before disbanding in April 1995, playing their final show opening for The Aquabats.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://instagram.com/p/3chaPjLPem/  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/3chaPjLPem |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=The last show ever... |author=thegoodwinclub |publisher=[[Instagram]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Goodwin Club reunited in 2015 with Deibert, Pollock and McDonald returning from the original line-up and continue to sporadically perform throughout Southern California, including as support for The Aquabats and GOGO13. Prior to forming The Aquabats, Christian Jacobs sang in a [[shoegazing]] duo called The Moon Men with future Aquabats and ''Yo Gabba Gabba!'' collaborator [[Scott Schultz (producer)|Scott Schultz]], while [[Chad Larson]] was the bass guitarist for the [[hardcore punk]] band B.H.R. until their break-up in 1997.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/21/go-gabba-gabba/ |title=Stage version of 'Gabba Gabba!' promises fun for parents, too |date=February 21, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |author=Lamberson, Carolyn}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/BHR-Breaking-In/release/5641697 |title=B.H.R. – Breaking In |year=1993 |publisher=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>

In 1997, Parker Jacobs formed [[The Sandfleas]] as a [[side project]] to perform as openers at The Aquabats' shows, based on the gang of masked villains who had become a staple of The Aquabats' mythology and onstage [[wikt:rogues' gallery|rogues' gallery]]. Consisting anonymously of Parker Jacobs on vocals and a rotating line-up of musicians including Christian and Tyler Jacobs, Larson and Pollock, The Sandfleas played deliberately sloppy punk rock songs which were humorously antagonistic and insulting towards their audience, intending to be the musical "bad guy" equivalent to The Aquabats' "good guys".<ref name="PJinterview" /> The Sandfleas released an EP entitled ''Four Songs Four Jerks'' on The Aquabats' [[Horchata Records]] label in 1999 before breaking up shortly afterwards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Sandfleas-Four-Songs-Four-Jerks/release/4264737 |title=Sandfleas, The – Four Songs Four Jerks |year=1999 |publisher=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>
[[File:DigitalUnicornLive.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Adam Deibert]] formed [[Digital Unicorn]] as an opening band for an Aquabats tour in 1999, which ultimately evolved into a full-fledged solo project.]]
During their time in The Aquabats, Deibert and Gray both joined the Long Beach [[indie pop]] band [[Bikeride]] in 1999 as bassist and guitarist, respectively, recording on three of the band's studio albums, all of which featured [[James Briggs (musician)|James Briggs]]{{'}} guest contributions on saxophone and clarinet. Gray left Bikeride in 2002, though Deibert remained a member until lead singer-songwriter Tony Carbone's death from cancer in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ocweekly.com/2007-03-01/music/locals-only/full/ |title=Locals Only: Strange New World |date=March 1, 2007 |newspaper=[[OC Weekly]] |author=Griley, Ellen |access-date=June 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620005707/http://www.ocweekly.com/2007-03-01/music/locals-only/full/ |archive-date=June 20, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shortly before Carbone's death, The Aquabats hosted a [[benefit show]] for Carbone in [[Pomona, California]], where Deibert joined the band onstage during their encores.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/technology/20080115/cancer-shadows-lb-teachers-future |title=Cancer Shadows LB Teacher's Future |date=January 15, 2008 |newspaper=[[Press-Telegram]] |author=Butler, Kevin}}</ref> From 1999 to 2010, Deibert was also active in the two-man [[electronic music|electronic]] project [[Digital Unicorn]], which he had originally created as a last-minute replacement for an opening band who had dropped off a tour with The Aquabats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thisispopmusic.blogspot.com/2007/11/adam-deibert.html |title=Adam Deibert |publisher=This is Pop Music |date=November 7, 2007}}</ref> Digital Unicorn eventually progressed into a solo endeavor, culminating in the studio album ''Theirs Travel Began and Loaded the Dream'', which was released on Horchata Records in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Digital-Unicorn-Theirs-Travel-Began-And-Loaded-The-Dream/release/4357604 |title=Theirs Travel Began and Loaded the Dream |year=2001 |publisher=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>

After leaving The Aquabats in 1996, Ben Bergeson founded the instrumental [[surf rock]] band The Moon Monkeys, playing numerous shows with The Aquabats and GOGO13 before releasing their sole studio EP ''So Far, Far Out!'' in 1999 on Horchata Records.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moonmonkeys.com/Moon_Monkeys/Oh,_those_Moon_Monkeys_are_sooo_elusive....html |title=The Moon Monkeys |publisher=moonmonkeys.com}}</ref> Corey Pollock, following his own departure from The Aquabats in 2006, joined the Costa Mesa [[pop punk]] trio and longtime Aquabats tourmates [[Supernova (American band)|Supernova]] in August 2008, playing with them under his Aquabat stage name of "Chainsaw" until their hiatus in January 2010.

As professional musicians, current guitarist [[Ian Fowles]] and drummer [[Richard Falomir|Ricky Falomir]] have performed and recorded with many bands and musicians of note, though are best known as original members of the punk rock bands [[Death by Stereo]] and [[Assorted Jelly Beans]], respectively. In relation to The Aquabats, Fowles was a guest bassist for [[Hunter Burgan]]{{'}}s Hunter Revenge and – in costume as EagleBones – [[Kepi Ghoulie]]{{'}}s band during both groups' tours with The Aquabats, and in 2014, became an official member of [[My Chemical Romance]] singer [[Gerard Way]]{{'}}s solo band after the two had become acquainted working together on ''The Aquabats! Super Show!'', recording and co-writing on Way's 2014 debut ''[[Hesitant Alien]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/gerard-way-keeps-going-thanks-to-other-peoples-art/Content?oid=2908916 |title=Gerard Way keeps going thanks to other people's art |author=Lanham, Tom |newspaper=[[The San Francisco Examiner]] |date=October 12, 2014 |access-date=June 19, 2015 |archive-date=June 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620004637/http://archives.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/gerard-way-keeps-going-thanks-to-other-peoples-art/Content?oid=2908916 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In June 2015, both Fowles and Falomir made up ex-[[Ramones]] bassist [[C. J. Ramone]]{{'}}s backing band for an East Coast tour with Japanese band [[Shonen Knife]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/ianwfowles/status/606847059514159104 |title=Ian Fowles on Twitter |publisher=[[Twitter]] |date=June 5, 2015}}</ref> Ricky also toured playing drums for LA reggae band [[The Aggrolites]] in 2009.

The band's original instrumental version of "Sequence Erase!", recorded with [[Parry Gripp]], was used as the title theme for the band's original television pilot, ''The Aquabats! In Color!''. From 2004 to 2010, this recording was used as the theme song to the main series of ''[[Mega64]]'', a video game-themed comedy series produced by a comedy troupe of the same name. As longtime friends and associates of The Aquabats, the main cast and crew of ''Mega64'' would later go on to produce interstitial sketches for ''The Aquabats! Super Show!'' television series.

==Members==
{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="float: right; width: 375px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;"
|+ <big>'''The Aquabats lineups'''</big>
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1994<br />{{small|''Revenge of the Midget Punchers''}}
|
* [[Christian Jacobs]]&nbsp;– vocals
* Ben Bergeson&nbsp;– guitar
* Matt Van Gundy&nbsp;– guitar
* [[Chad Larson]]&nbsp;– bass
* [[Boyd Terry]]&nbsp;– trumpet
* [[Adam Deibert]]&nbsp;– trumpet
* Jeffery McFerson&nbsp;– trombone
* Chad Parkin&nbsp;– keyboards
* Rod Arellano&nbsp;– drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1995'''–'''1997<br />{{small|''Bat Boy''<br>''[[The Return of The Aquabats]]''}}
|
* The Caped Commander&nbsp;– vocals
* The Brain&nbsp;– guitar
* [[Courtney Pollock|Chain Saw]]&nbsp;– guitar
* Crash McLarson&nbsp;– bass
* Catboy&nbsp;– trumpet
* Prince Adam&nbsp;– trumpet
* Nacho&nbsp;– keyboards
* Roddy B.&nbsp;– drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1997'''–'''1998<br />{{small|''[[The Fury of the Aquabats!]]''}}
| 
* The Bat Commander&nbsp;– vocals
* [[Charles Gray (musician)|Ultra Kyu]]&nbsp;– guitar
* Chainsaw the Prince of Karate&nbsp;– guitar
* Crash McLarson&nbsp;– bass
* Catboy&nbsp;– trumpet
* Prince Adam&nbsp;– trumpet, synthesizer
* [[James Briggs (musician)|Jaime the Robot]]&nbsp;– saxophone, keyboards
* [[Travis Barker|The Baron von Tito]]&nbsp;– drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 1998–2000<br />{{small|''[[The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death!]]''<br />''[[Myths, Legends, and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2]]''}}
| 
* The M.C. Bat Commander&nbsp;– vocals
* The Mysterious Kyu&nbsp;– guitar
* Chainsaw Karate&nbsp;– guitar
* Crash McLarson&nbsp;– bass
* Catboy&nbsp;– trumpet
* Prince Adam&nbsp;– trumpet, keyboards
* The Robot&nbsp;– saxophone, keyboards
* Doctor Rock&nbsp;– drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 2000–2002<br />{{small|''live shows only''}}
|
* The MC Bat Commander&nbsp;– vocals
* Chainsaw the Prince of Karate&nbsp;– guitar
* Crash McLarson&nbsp;– bass
* Catboy&nbsp;– trumpet
* Prince Adam&nbsp;– trumpet, guitar
* The Robot&nbsp;– saxophone, keyboards
* Doctor Rock&nbsp;– drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 2002–2004<br />{{small|''[[Serious Awesomeness!]]''<br />''[[Yo! Check Out This Ride! EP]]''}}
|
* MC Bat Commander&nbsp;– vocals
* Chainsaw, Prince of Karate&nbsp;– guitar
* Crash McLarson&nbsp;– bass
* Prince Adam&nbsp;– trumpet, guitar, keyboards
* The Robot&nbsp;– saxophone, keyboards
* [[Richard Falomir|Ricky Fitness]]&nbsp;– drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 2004–2006<br />{{small|''[[Charge!&excl;]]''}}
| 
* MC Bat Commander&nbsp;– vocals
* Chainsaw&nbsp;– guitar
* Crash McLarson&nbsp;– bass
* Jimmy the Robot&nbsp;– keyboards
* Ricky Fitness&nbsp;– drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 2006–2024<br />{{small|''[[Hi-Five Soup!]]''<br />''[[Kooky Spooky...In Stereo]]''}}
|
* MC Bat Commander – vocals
* [[Ian Fowles|Eaglebones Falconhawk]] – guitar
* Crash McLarson – bass
* Jimmy the Robot – keyboards, saxophone
* Ricky Fitness – drums
|-
! style="background:#e7ebee;"| 2024-present<br />{{small|''Finally!''}}
|
*MC Bat Commander –vocals
*Crash McLarson – bass
*Jimmy the Robot – saxophone, keyboards
*Ricky Fitness – drums
*Eaglebones Falconhawk – guitar
*Cat Boy – trumpet
*Chainsaw! The Prince of Karate – guitar
*Gorney – keyboards
|}

===Core members===
* The M.C. Bat Commander ([[Christian Jacobs]])&nbsp;– vocals (1994–present)
* Crash McLarson ([[Chad Larson]])&nbsp;– bass, backing vocals (1994–present)
* Jimmy the Robot ([[James Briggs (musician)|James Briggs]])&nbsp;– keyboards, saxophone and woodwinds, backing vocals (1997–present)
* Ricky Fitness ([[Richard Falomir]])&nbsp;– drums, percussion, backing vocals (2002–present)
* Eaglebones Falconhawk ([[Ian Fowles]])&nbsp;– guitar, backing vocals (2006–present)
===Extended lineup===
* Catboy ([[Boyd Terry]])&nbsp;– trumpet, various brass instruments, backing vocals (1994–2002, 2024–present)
* Chainsaw the Prince of Karate ([[Courtney Pollock]])&nbsp;– guitar (1995–2006, 2024–present)
* Gorney (Matthew Gorney)&nbsp;– piano, keyboards, bass (as Smash McLarson prior to 2024) (2019–present)<ref>https://www.vanswarpedtourdc.com/lineup/the-aquabats!</ref>
* Johnny Christmas ([[Reel Big Fish|John Christianson]])&nbsp;– trumpet (2022-present)
* Keymaster Minh (Minh Quan)&nbsp;– keyboards and piano (2023-present)
* El Hefe ([[Aaron Abeyta]])&nbsp;– trumpet (2025–present)

===Former members===
* Gumby (Matt Van Gundy)&nbsp;– guitar (1994–1995)
* Nacho (Chad Parkin)&nbsp;– keyboards (1994–1996)
* Roddy B. (Rod Arellano)&nbsp;– drums (1994–1996)
* Ben the Brain (Ben Bergeson)&nbsp;– guitar (1994–1996)
* Moose Nuckle&nbsp;– (1995–1996)
* Creedle (Wendall Creed)&nbsp;– guitar (1995)
* E. Hauser&nbsp;– (1995)
* Big Harold&nbsp;– saxophone (1995)
* Captain Croxall (Brian Croxall)&nbsp;– trombone (1996)
* The Pigbat&nbsp;– (1997)
* The Baron von Tito ([[Travis Barker]])&nbsp;– drums, percussion (1996–1998)
* Ultra Kyu/The Mysterious Kyu ([[Charles Gray (musician)|Charles Gray]])&nbsp;– guitar, various string instruments, synthesizer, backing vocals (1996–2000)
* Doctor Rock (Gabe Palmer)&nbsp;– drums, programming (1998–2002)
* Prince Adam ([[Adam Deibert]])&nbsp;– trumpet, synthesizer, guitar, backing vocals, hand accompaniment (1994–2004)
* Popeye (Michael Vogelsang)&nbsp;– guitar (2005)

[[File:CrashMcLarson2012.jpg|thumb|left|Bassist [[Chad Larson|Crash McLarson]] co-founded The Aquabats in 1994]]
[[File:13-04-27 Aquabats 19.jpg|thumb|left|[[James Briggs (musician)|Jimmy the Robot]] joined the band in 1996 primarily as a saxophonist and eventually as dual sax and keyboardist]]
[[File:13-04-27 Aquabats 09.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ian Fowles|Eaglebones Falconhawk]] replaced longtime guitarist [[Courtney Pollock|Chainsaw]] in mid-2006]]
{{clear}}

====Timeline====
{{#tag:timeline|
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PlotArea   = left:150 bottom:100 top:0 right:10
Alignbars  = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1994 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend     = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3
ScaleMajor = increment:4 start:1994
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1994

Colors =
 id:vocals    value:red       legend:Vocals
 id:guitar    value:green     legend:Guitar
 id:keys      value:purple    legend:Keyboards
 id:bass      value:blue      legend:Bass
 id:drums     value:orange    legend:Drums
 id:trombone  value:coral     legend:Trombone
 id:trumpet   value:skyblue   legend:Trumpet
 id:saxophone value:tan2      legend:Tenor_saxophone
 id:album     value:black     legend:Studio_album
 id:bars      value:gray(0.93)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =
 layer:back color:album
   at:12/08/1995
   at:10/28/1997
   at:10/26/1999
   at:06/07/2005
   at:01/18/2011 
   at:08/21/2020
   at:06/21/2024

BarData =
 bar:Jacobs   text:"M.C. Bat Commander"
 bar:Gundy    text:"Gumby"
 bar:Bergeson text:"Ben the Brain"
 bar:Pollock  text:"Chainsaw the Prince of Karate"
 bar:Creed    text:“Creedle”
 bar:Gray     text:"Mysterious Kyu"
 bar:Fowles   text:"EagleBones Falconhawk"
 bar:Larson   text:"Crash McLarson"
 bar:Parkin   text:"Nacho"
 bar:Briggs   text:"Jimmy the Robot"
 bar:Gorney   text:"Gorney"
 bar:Arellano text:"Roddy B."
 bar:Barker   text:"Baron von Tito"
 bar:Palmer   text:"Doctor Rock"
 bar:Falomir  text:"Ricky Fitness"
 bar:Terry    text:"Catboy"
 bar:Deibert  text:"Prince Adam"
 bar:McFerson text:"Jeffery McFerson"
 bar:Croxall  text:"Captain Croxall"

PlotData=
 width:11
 bar:Jacobs   from:01/01/1994 till:end        color:vocals
 bar:Larson   from:01/01/1994 till:end        color:bass
 bar:Briggs   from:06/01/1997 till:end        color:keys
 bar:Falomir  from:01/01/2002 till:end        color:drums
 bar:Fowles   from:01/01/2006 till:end        color:guitar
 bar:Gundy    from:01/01/1994 till:06/01/1995 color:guitar
 bar:Creed    from:09/01/1995 till:12/01/1995 color:guitar
 bar:Parkin   from:01/01/1994 till:06/01/1997 color:keys
 bar:Arellano from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/1997 color:drums
 bar:Bergeson from:03/01/1994 till:01/01/1997 color:guitar
 bar:McFerson from:03/01/1994 till:06/30/1994 color:trombone
 bar:Croxall  from:08/01/1996 till:12/31/1996 color:trombone
 bar:Barker   from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 color:drums
 bar:Gray     from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2000 color:guitar
 bar:Palmer   from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/2002 color:drums
 bar:Deibert  from:03/01/1994 till:01/01/2004 color:trumpet
 bar:Pollock  from:06/01/1995 till:01/01/2006 color:guitar
 bar:Terry    from:01/01/1994 till:01/01/2002 color:trumpet
 bar:Briggs   from:01/01/1997 till:06/01/1997 color:saxophone
 bar:Pollock  from:02/29/2024 till:end color:guitar
 bar:Terry    from:02/29/2024 till:end color:trumpet
 bar:Gorney   from:02/29/2024 till:end color:keys
 width:3
 bar:Deibert  from:06/01/1997 till:01/01/2004 color:keys
 bar:Briggs   from:06/01/1997 till:end        color:saxophone
 bar:Gray     from:06/01/1995 till:01/01/1997 color:guitar
 width:7
 bar:Deibert  from:01/01/2000 till:01/01/2004 color:guitar
}}

==Discography==
{{Main|The Aquabats discography}}
'''Studio albums'''
* ''[[The Return of The Aquabats]]'' (1995)
* ''[[The Fury of The Aquabats!]]'' (1997)
* ''[[The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death!]]'' (1999)
* [[Myths, Legends, and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2]] (2000)
* ''[[Charge!!]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Hi-Five Soup!]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Kooky Spooky...In Stereo]]'' (2020)
* ''Finally!'' (2024)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://www.theaquabats.com The Aquabats official website]
* [http://fearlessrecords.com/artist/16 The Aquabats] on [[Fearless Records]]
* [http://www.facebook.com/theaquabats The Aquabats] at [[Facebook]]

{{The Aquabats}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aquabats, The}}
[[Category:The Aquabats| ]]
[[Category:American comedy rock musical groups]]
[[Category:American ska punk musical groups]]
[[Category:Bands with fictional stage personas]]
[[Category:Fearless Records artists]]
[[Category:Geek rock groups]]
[[Category:Masked musicians]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1994]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Orange County, California]]
[[Category:Nitro Records artists]]
[[Category:Parody superheroes]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from California]]
[[Category:Third-wave ska groups]]
[[Category:Time Bomb Recordings artists]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in California]]