[2] This began largely in response to the band's rejection from a then insular East Bay punk scene centered on 924 Gilman.
[11] Redford then called Abbott, who he had met when they were both attending Pinole Valley High School, and asked him if he would like to start a band.
The band's name came from a conversation between Abbott and Redford in the parking lot of the Pinole Burger King minutes before their first show.
The band self-released its debut EP, Two Cats Running,[13] in 1996, taking its cue for DIY music production from the East Bay punk scene.
Records release was a compilation entitled "If You Can't Laugh at Yourself, We'll Do It For You", featuring Bobby Joe Ebola and several other bands from West Contra Costa County.
The band attempted to perform at 924 Gilman in nearby Berkeley, California, at that point the only all-ages venue in the East Bay.
("Smarmy Post Angst Musicians") Records was an underground collective of East Bay artists and musicians which began in 1996 with the release of Bobby Joe Ebola and the Children MacNuggits' "Two Cats Running EP" and a CD compilation of local bands entitled "If You Can't Laugh at Yourself We'll Do It For You".
Records collective beginning in 1997, largely in response to the difficulties of securing gigs for Bobby Joe Ebola and the Children MacNuggits and S.P.A.M.-affiliated bands.
Due to a scarcity of all-ages venues in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the East Bay punk scene's identity crisis in the wake of mainstream commercial success by several formerly underground acts like Green Day and Rancid, the band found itself without places to play shows.
Copying the tactics of the local underground rave scene, the first Geekfest events were held illegally at Point Molate Beach Park in Richmond, CA, part of a neglected Navy fuel depot beneath the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
[10] Shows were booked (and announced) via a voicemail connected to (510) BAD-SMUT on a first-come, first served basis, without regard to music genre or notoriety, or any official headlining bands.
Thus, Geekfest became known for featuring an unpredictable variety of entertainment, and the undisclosed schedules meant that attendees had no idea when any particular act would play.
collective met the Pyrate Punx, another group of show promoters, artists and musicians, who were primarily based out of the San Francisco Mission District's thriving punk scene.
In 1997, the band released "Advice For Young Lovers", a split 7-inch record with Geekfest alumni Your Mother, and the 18-track "At One with the Dumb" CD (S.P.A.M.).
The local blighted suburban surroundings and low-wage service-industry employment served as fodder for many of Bobby Joe Ebola's early songs.
[19] At around this time, the City of Richmond took notice of Geekfest and demanded that the events be covered by liability insurance which the collective members could not afford.
Dan and Corbett also starred together in the independent film, Neptune, directed by filmmaker Anthony Marchitiello,[31] alongside former back-up vocalist John Geek.
[35] In 2009, Abbott and Redford began developing a pilot for an animated version of their unreleased rock opera, A Sausage Named Clarence.
[42] Tinged with psychedelic rock, dark folk, and twee elements, F was heralded a bold, more mature direction for the group.
[45] One of the regional tours in particular saw Bobby Joe Ebola playing with Mike Dirnt of Green Day's reunited side-project band, The Frustrators.
The band has worked with several different directors including Jamie DeWolf, Christopher Poeschl, Janelle Hessig, Melissa Dale, Alex Koll and others to create music videos that involve short horror films, fake infomercials, Claymation, cartoon animation and more.
[52] An animated music video was created by artist Mike Foxall of XRAY Studios for the band's song Bone Dagger and was released on July 4, 2012.
[53] Bobby Joe Ebola is known for its social commentary, employing satirical lyrics touching on controversial subjects, and performances that combine elements of punk rock and comedy.