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Lemon Demon

{{Short description|American geek rock band}}

{{Use mdy dates|date = April 2020}}

{{Use American English|date=April 2020}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Lemon Demon

| image = Lemon Demon.jpg

| caption = Lemon Demon performing in 2006

| landscape = yes

| alias = {{flatlist|

  • Trapezoid
  • Deporitaz

}}

| origin = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| years_active = 2003–present

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| website = {{URL|lemondemon.com}}

| associated_acts =

| current_members = * Neil Cicierega

}}

Lemon Demon is a musical project and band created by American comedian and musician Neil Cicierega in 2003 in Boston, Massachusetts. Lemon Demon's studio work is performed solely by Cicierega, who is the project's sole official member. Live performances also include a backing band, with previous performances consisting of Alora Lanzillotta, Charles Sergio, Anthony Wry, Dave Kitsberg, and Greg Lanzillotta. {{As of|2025|post=,}} Lemon Demon has released seven studio albums and five EPs.

History

File:Neil Cicierega 2006-07-30.jpg over a Lemon Demon shirt in 2006]]Neil Cicierega began releasing instrumental music and several remixes of video game music under the moniker Trapezoid in the late 90s and early 2000s, creating 3 albums whilst frequently active on Adventure Game Studio.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB7fqT1uAII|title=Neil Cicierega, Internet Person – XOXO Festival (2016)|medium=YouTube video|publisher=XOXO Festival|date=November 17, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206172904/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB7fqT1uAII|archive-date=February 6, 2017|access-date=February 17, 2024}} The artist name was retroactively anagrammed to "Deporitaz" as an existing band called Trapezoid demanded that he change it, despite Neil having moved on from releasing music under Trapezoid.{{cite web |last=Becker|first=Sarah|url=https://audiophix.com/posts/timeline-lemon-demon-nature-tapes-01hvcqsc2bq4|title=Timeline of Lemon Demon's 'Nature Tapes'|website=AudioPhix|language=en|date=April 16, 2024|accessdate=April 16, 2024}} On January 21, 2003, Cicierega released Lemon Demon's first song, "Don't Be Like the Sun", later saying "eventually I started experimenting with singing, and once I felt ready to do that full time, I christened myself Lemon Demon and went into it head on".{{cite web |last=Sweeney|first=Emily|url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/media/articles/2006/06/22/hes_a_hit_with_internet_set/|title=He's a hit with Internet set|website=The Boston Globe|date=June 22, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626051314/http://www.boston.com:80/ae/media/articles/2006/06/22/hes_a_hit_with_internet_set/|archive-date=June 26, 2006|accessdate=November 12, 2023}} He then released his first four albums: Clown Circus (2003), Live from the Haunted Candle Shop (2003), Hip to the Javabean (2004), and Damn Skippy (2005).

In late 2005, Cicierega and animator Shawn Vulliez released a Flash animated music video for Lemon Demon's "The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny".{{cite web |last=Rini|first=Carol|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/56572956/dayton-daily-news/|title="Good guys, bad guys and explosions..."|website=Dayton Daily News|date=April 11, 2006 |accessdate=November 12, 2023}} The video amassed over 6.5 million views in 6 months on Newgrounds and topped the "Funny Five" on The Dr. Demento Show for several weeks, becoming the No. 1 Request for 2006.{{cite web |last=Hansen|first=Barret|url=https://drdemento.com/online.html?i=DDS0627|title="The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny" (the show's #1 song of 2006 thus far)|website=Dr. Demento|date=July 2, 2006|accessdate=November 12, 2023}} The song was later included in Lemon Demon's fifth album Dinosaurchestra (2006).{{cite web |last=Cohen|first=Max|url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/lemon-demon-dinosaurchestra-feature|title=Lemon Demon: The Man, The Meme, The Legend|website=Bandcamp|date=February 16, 2022|accessdate=November 12, 2023}} An updated recording of it was released to the Rock Band Network in 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.rockband.com/songs/artists/Lemon+Demon |title=Lemon Demon on Rock Band Network |access-date=2011-05-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715194151/http://www.rockband.com/songs/artists/Lemon+Demon |archive-date=2011-07-15 |url-status=dead }} Lemon Demon's sixth studio album, View-Monster (2008),{{cite web |author=The Collegian|url=https://tucollegian.org/spirit-phone-shows-lemon-demons-growth/|title="Spirit Phone" shows Lemon Demon's growth|website=The Collegian|language=en|date=March 7, 2016|accessdate=January 30, 2024}} features "Modify" as a bonus track, which later became a popular song on TikTok.{{cite web |last=Gray|first=Laura|url=https://www.gamepur.com/guides/roblox-music-codes-for-tiktok-songs|title=Roblox music codes for TikTok songs (November 2022)|website=Gamepur|language=en|date=October 31, 2022|accessdate=April 6, 2024}} A remix of the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is additionally included as a bonus track on the album.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LDUuIm74pdMC|title=The Beatles|publisher=Pedia Press|language=en}} p. 1334. Another notable track from View-Monster is Bill Watterson,{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3500065-Lemon-Demon-View-Monster | title=Lemon Demon - View-Monster | website=Discogs | date=August 2008 }} about a fan obsessing over comic artist Bill Watterson. {{cite web|url=https://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/watterson.htm|title=Bill Watterson|website=lambiek.net|access-date=December 3, 2024}}

Cicierega released Spirit Phone as Lemon Demon's seventh studio album on February 29, 2016. The album was the No. 1 best-selling album on Bandcamp for the first week of its release.{{Cite web|url=http://bandcamp.com/|title=Bandcamp|date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306042944/http://bandcamp.com/|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=December 9, 2023}} On July 10, 2018, it was announced that copies of the album on CD, cassette, and vinyl would be sold through Needlejuice Records, who would later physically distribute remastered versions of all of Lemon Demon's studio work dating back to 2005. "Touch-Tone Telephone" later became Lemon Demon's most-streamed song, surpassing "The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny" in September 2020. This was then surpassed by "Fine" in July 2024, which had garnered over 75 million streams on Spotify at the time.{{Cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/4llAOeA6kEF4ytaB2fsmcW|title=Lemon Demon {{!}} Spotify|website=Spotify|access-date=July 27, 2024}}

Cicierega uploaded the song "Funkytown" to his Patreon page in 2017, later contributing it to the 2020 charity compilation album Needlejustice, which benefits the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.{{Cite web |url=https://needlejuice.bandcamp.com/album/needlejustice|title=Needlejustice {{!}} Various Artists|publisher=Needlejuice Records|website=Bandcamp|access-date=March 7, 2024}} It would later be released as an official single alongside "One Weird Tip" on January 21, 2023.

Viral successes

="The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny"=

{{main|The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny}}

On December 22, 2005, Lemon Demon and animator Shawn Vulliez released the Flash music video "The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny" on Newgrounds. The video features cartoon versions of dozens of real-life celebrities and fictional characters, largely from 1980s and 1990s pop culture, in a large century-long brawl.{{cite web |last=Rempel|first=Shauna|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20060826/283510791421587|title=Copy, paste, animate|website=Toronto Star|date=August 26, 2006|accessdate=January 30, 2024}} It gained a cult following among web enthusiasts and became the "user's choice" on December 28, 2005, accumulating 6.5 million views within 6 months. It appeared on several other websites including Albino Blacksheep.

="Brodyquest"=

On June 1, 2010, Cicierega released a video and single titled "Brodyquest" on his main YouTube channel, picturing famous actor Adrien Brody going about his daily life in a comedic manner.{{cite web |last=Holliday|first=Laura|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/youtubes-comments-are-an-internet-treasure-we-must-protect|title=YouTube's Comments Are an Internet Treasure We Must Protect|website=The Daily Beast|date=June 26, 2023|accessdate=January 30, 2024}} The video became a viral meme, later receiving placement on the EP Nature Tapes (2014). It would be brought up by Stephen Colbert during his interview with Adrien Brody in a 2016 episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.{{cite AV media |last=Colbert|first=Stephen|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndcXS7hFnpw|title=Adrien Brody Appreciates "Brodyquest," Among Other Fine Art|publisher=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert|medium=YouTube video|language=en|date=February 25, 2016|access-date=January 30, 2024}} The video was also featured on Polygon's list of the greatest achievements in dumb internet video.{{cite web |last1=Broderick|first1=Ryan|last2=Davis|first2=Sarah|last3=Kesvani|first3=Hussein|url=https://www.polygon.com/22417321/viral-videos-flash-youtube-all-time|title=The Greatest Achievements In Dumb Internet Video|website=Polygon|date=June 1, 2021|access-date=October 7, 2023}}

Members

Official members

  • Neil Cicierega – vocals, keyboards, guitar, programming, percussion, songwriting, production {{small|(2003–present)}}

Live members

  • Alora Lanzillotta – bass guitar, vocals {{small|(2004–2012)}}
  • Charles "Chooch" Sergio – guitar {{small|(2006–2012)}}
  • Anthony Wry – drums {{small|(2007–2008)}}, guitar, vocals {{small|(2012)}}
  • Dave Kitsberg – guitar, vocals {{small|(2008–2012, 2016)}}
  • Greg Lanzillotta – drums {{small|(2009–2012)}}

Timeline

{{#tag:timeline|

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ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2003

Colors =

id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals

id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar

id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass

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at:04/05/2003

at:07/23/2003

at:03/23/2004

at:03/21/2005

at:07/20/2006

at:08/01/2008

at:02/29/2016

color:EP

at:04/28/2011

at:12/21/2012

at:03/24/2014

at:09/04/2020

at:01/01/2022

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bar:Neil text:Neil Cicierega

bar:Charles text:Charles Sergio

bar:Dave text:Dave Kitsberg

bar:Alora text:Alora Lanzillotta

bar:Anthony text:Anthony Wry

bar:Greg text:Greg Lanzillotta

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bar:Dave from:03/22/2008 till:11/02/2012 color:guitar

bar:Dave from:02/15/2016 till:03/15/2016 color:guitar

bar:Dave from:03/22/2008 till:11/02/2012 color:vocals width:3

bar:Alora from:01/01/2004 till:11/02/2012 color:bass

bar:Alora from:01/01/2004 till:11/02/2012 color:vocals width:3

bar:Anthony from:04/21/2007 till:10/31/2008 color:drums

bar:Anthony from:08/02/2012 till:11/02/2012 color:guitar

bar:Anthony from:08/02/2012 till:11/02/2012 color:vocals width:3

bar:Greg from:10/31/2009 till:11/02/2012 color:drums

}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! style="width:13em;" scope="col" |Title

! style="width:26em;" scope="col" |Details

scope="row"| Clown Circus

|

scope="row"| Live From the Haunted Candle Shop{{efn|Despite its title, it is not actually a live album.}}

|

  • Release date: 23 July 2003
  • Label: MP3.com, self-released
  • Format: CD, DL
scope="row"| Hip to the Javabean

|

  • Release date: 23 March 2004
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, DL, streaming
scope="row"| Damn Skippy

|

  • Release date: 21 March 2005
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, DL
scope="row"| Dinosaurchestra

|

scope="row"| View-Monster

|

  • Release date: 1 August 2008
  • Label: Self-released, Needlejuice Records
  • Format: CD, DL, cassette, MD, streaming, 12", 8-track
scope="row"| Spirit Phone

|

  • Release date: 29 February 2016
  • Label: Self-released, Needlejuice Records
  • Format: CD, DL, cassette, MD, streaming, 12", 8-track

=Compilation albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! style="width:13em;" scope="col" |Title

! style="width:26em;" scope="col" |Details

scope="row"| Almanac 2009

|

  • Release date: 31 October 2009
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD

=Extended plays=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! style="width:13em;" scope="col" |Title

! style="width:26em;" scope="col" |Details

scope="row"| Live (Only Not){{efn|An EP of studio-recorded versions of previous Lemon Demon songs with the live band.}}

|

  • Release date: 28 April 2011
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: DL, streaming
scope="row"| I Am Become Christmas

|

  • Release date: 21 December 2012
  • Label: Self-released, Needlejuice Records
  • Format: CD, DL, cassette, MD, streaming, 10", 12"
scope="row"| Nature Tapes

|

  • Release date: 24 March 2014
  • Label: Self-released, Needlejuice Records
  • Format: CD, DL, cassette, MD, streaming, 10", 12"
scope="row"| Something Glowing{{efn|group=lower-alpha|Compilation of songs previously released on View-Monster (2008) on 7-inch vinyl, mainly bonus tracks}}

|

  • Release date: 17 December 2020
  • Label: Needlejuice Records
  • Format: DL, 7"
scope="row"| Acrobat Unstable Record{{efn|group=lower-alpha|Compilation of bonus tracks previously released on Dinosaurchestra (2006) on 7-inch vinyl}}

|

  • Release date: 1 September 2022
  • Label: Needlejuice Records
  • Format: DL, 7"

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! style="width:15em;"|Title

! style="width:2em;"|Year

! rowspan="1" style="width:12em;"| Album

scope="row"| "Lemon Demon"

|rowspan="1"|2003

|rowspan="1"| Clown Circus

scope="row"| "The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny"

|rowspan="2"|2005

|rowspan="1"| Dinosaurchestra

scope="row"| "Stick Stickly"

|rowspan="5" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na"| Non-album singles{{Efn|Later included on Dinosaurchestra as bonus tracks.|group=upper-alpha}}

scope="row"| "Every Time You Stifle a Sneeze"

|rowspan="4"|2006

scope="row"| "Being Alone on Valentine's Day"
scope="row"| "White Bread Boyfriend"
scope="row"| "Snakes on a Plane"
scope="row"| "Amnesia Was Her Name"

|rowspan="4"|2007

|rowspan="2"| View-Monster

scope="row"| "Knife Fight"
scope="row"| "Everyday French"

|rowspan="6" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na"| Non-album singles{{Efn|Later included on View-Monster as bonus tracks.|group=upper-alpha}}

scope="row"| "Super Hey Ya"
scope="row"| "123456 Pokemon"

|rowspan="3"|2008

scope="row"| "While My Keytar Gently Weeps"
scope="row"| "Ben Bernanke"
scope="row"| "Toy Food"

|rowspan="2"|2009

scope="row"| "Eighth Wonder"

|rowspan="1"| Almanac 2009{{Efn|A different version of the song was later released on Spirit Phone.|group=upper-alpha}}

scope="row"| "Brodyquest"

|rowspan="1"|2010

|rowspan="3"| Nature Tapes

scope="row"| "Goosebumps"

|rowspan="2"|2011

scope="row"| "Really Cool Wig"
scope="row"| "Money Dollar Bills"

|rowspan="2"|2012

|{{N/A|Non-album single}}

scope="row"| "A Mask of my Own Face"

|rowspan="5"| Nature Tapes

scope="row"| "My Trains"

|rowspan="4"|2013

scope="row"| "Jaws"
scope="row"| "Everybody Loves Raymond"
scope="row"| "Two Trucks"
scope="row"| "When He Died"

| 2014

|rowspan="2"| Spirit Phone{{Efn|"Kubrick and the Beast" was included on Spirit Phone as a bonus track on release.|group=upper-alpha}}

scope="row"| "Kubrick and the Beast"

| 2015

scope="row"| "One Weird Tip"/"Funkytown"

|rowspan="3"| 2023

|{{N/A|Non-album single}}

scope="row"| "Touch-Tone Telephone"{{Efn|Wax cylinder single.|group=upper-alpha}}

|rowspan="1"| Spirit Phone

scope="row"| "The Oldest Man on MySpace"

|rowspan="1" data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na"| Non-album single{{Efn|Wax cylinder single, song included on Dinosaurchestra as a bonus track.|group=upper-alpha}}

{{notelist}}

{{notelist-ua}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

  • {{Official website|http://www.lemondemon.com/}}
  • [https://lemondemon.bandcamp.com/ Lemon Demon on Bandcamp]
  • [https://needlejuicerecords.com/pages/lemon-demon Lemon Demon on Needlejuice Records]
  • [http://wiki.mumbergo.net/index.php/Main_Page WikiLemon]

{{Neil Cicierega}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Musical groups established in 2000

Category:American pop rock music groups

Category:American electronic rock musical groups

Category:Musical groups from Massachusetts

Category:American synth-pop groups

Category:Newgrounds people