He was the vocalist and the other band members were Ted Domurat (later of Gear) on guitar, Frank Ciampi (later of Tension Wire, Devastation, Mindfunk) on bass and Dave Juarez on drums.

Screeching Weasel disbanded when Schafer and Brian Vermin, the drummer, quit the band to concentrate on their side project, Sludgeworth.

Schafer spoke about his time with Screeching Weasel in a March 2011 interview with Jason Duarte for Squid Pro Quo.

[8] Sludgeworth was formed in 1989 as a side project from Screeching Weasel for Schafer (vocals) and Vermin (drums).

Just like with Screeching Weasel, Schafer played bass for the Riverdales but this time also shared lead vocals with Foster.

In 1999, Schafer re-launched the group, recruiting former Mopes B-Face and Dan Lumley to record an album, Ill at Ease.

[20][21] Following the demise of Screeching Weasel after the SXSW debacle, Schafer formed a new band called Dan Vapid and the Cheats featuring bassist Simon Lamb (from Screeching Weasel and the Riverdales), guitarist Mike Byrne and drummer Mike Soucy (both from the Methadones).

[22][23][24] Screeching Weasel Sludgeworth The Queers Riverdales The Mopes The Methadones Ben Weasel Noise by Numbers Dan Vapid and the Cheats Solo albums Schafer contributed a song on the charity album for Children's Memorial Hospital by the Chicago super group The Black Sheep Band, A Chicago Punk Rock Collaboration for the Kids, Vol 1.