LISTEN: Tim Armstrong and Jesse Michaels of Operation Ivy Reunite for First Time in 24 Years Over New Track “Living in a Dangerous Land”

Sound system be damned: a new track from the two core members of influential bay-area ska outfit Operation Ivy is the thing that we here at mxdwn can depend on to bring us back up.

The high-energy ensemble succumbed to wanderlust just before the turn of the 90s, producing only one (albeit legendary) studio album, Energy, in their three-year romp which would send shockwaves through the entire genre for over a decade. Subsequently, guitarist Tim Armstrong alongside Matt Freeman formed Rancid whereas Lead singer Jesse Michaels pursued painting. But lo! Yesterday, the old band’s two core members hit YouTube with a new collaboration “Living In A Dangerous Land.”

Still, as part of Armstrong’s series of singles Tim Timebomb and Friends, the nostalgic track is unlikely to signify a true reunion, the idea of which has been shot down on numerous occasions by both colleagues. Back in 2009, Armstrong told the LA Times: “I love what we did back then, but what we do now is move forward…To go back 20 years wouldn’t feel right. I’m super proud of what we did then, a big part of me is in that band. But it’s always about the future for me.”