Sock puppets and punk rock. The musical universe provides an infinity of strange bedfellows.

Liam Lynch grew up in Virginia, but in 1993 found himself in northern England, one of only a handful of applicants accepted by the newly opened Liverpool Institute of the Performing Arts. While in attendance, he came up with the idea for something called The Sifl and Olly Show based on recordings he and a friend made years before. He didn’t have any money for equipment in order to produce a show on the level he wanted, so late one night he turned on a video camera and grabbed whatever was nearest. Which turned out to be some socks.

Although the whole project started out as a joke, Lynch sold the idea to MTV Europe as video shorts and in 1998, back in the US once again, he produced longer episodes for MTV in his homeland. He also put his musical skills to use and in 1999 recorded a quick blast of a song in one take that bore the title “United States Of Whatever.” It appeared on The Sifl and Olly Show to a limited audience and in 2003 was released as the first single from Lynch’s debut album. Although not successful in America, “United States Of Whatever” surprisingly hit the UK Top 10, despite the song lasting less than 90 seconds.

Lynch would go on to work with Tenacious D and direct numerous videos and movies, but he will always be remembered for his sneering ode to teenage attitude and apathy.