Give Up the Ghost
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Give Up the Ghost | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Hardcore Punk |
| Years active | 1998 – 2004 |
| Label(s) | Bridge Nine Equal Vision Records |
| Members | |
| Wes Eisold (vocals)[1] Tim Cossar (guitar) Brian Masek (guitar) Jarvis "Josh" Holden (bass) Alex Garcia-Rivera (drums) |
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| Former members | |
| Jesse "Standhard" Gustafson (bass) Jarod Alexander (drums) Jesse Van Diest (drums) Azy Relph (guitar) Zachary Wilson (bass) Frank Iero (guitar) |
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Give Up the Ghost was a short-lived and highly influential hardcore punk band from Boston, Massachusetts.
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[edit] History
Give Up the Ghost was formed when Tim Cossar and Wesley Eisold (who was then a roadie for Ten Yard Fight) met up with Azy Relph and Jesse Van Diest in 1998. They recorded a demo tape in 1999, followed by their debut release, a self-titled 7", on Bridge 9 Records under their original name American Nightmare in 2000. After extensive touring and line-up changes, the band recorded their second release 7", The Sun Isn't Getting Any Brighter. This was later combined with their self-titled effort to form Year One, which was released posthumously.
Their debut full-length, Background Music, was recorded for Equal Vision Records in 2001 and was released to much acclaim. In 2003, the band faced a legal battle with a similarly named band, a Misfits cover band, from Philadelphia. The band then changed their name briefly to the initials "A.N." then to American Nothing for a brief period. After the other American Nightmare threatened to press charges again, they changed their name to Give Up the Ghost (which was intended to be the name of their second album).[2] Their second full length, We're Down Til We're Underground released on Equal Vision Records, displayed the band experimenting with their sound, with longer songs that didn't follow the typical hardcore songwriting formula they had adhered to in their previous releases. The band toured the world with bands such as: Every Time I Die, My Chemical Romance and Avail.
[edit] Breakup and aftermath
The band broke up suddenly in June 2004, a day after announcing the cancellation of a European tour.[3] The band issued a statement which cited "health and personal reasons" for the split.[4] Give Up the Ghost's success, combined with the success of contemporary Boston bands like The Suicide File, cemented the position of the Boston scene as the bellwether for new trends during the early 2000s. Members went on to join/form other bands such as Some Girls[5], XO Skeletons, Ye Olde Maids, Head Automatica,[6] Bars and the Hope Conspiracy. Frank Iero of My Chemical Romance also used to play with the band as a guitarist. Give Up the Ghost came back into the headlines in 2007 under accusations that Fall Out Boy had taken lyrics from Wes Eisold, the band's lyricist, resulting in an out-of-court settlement and a credit in the liner notes of both the multi-platinum selling From Under the Cork Tree and Infinity on High.[7]
[edit] Discography
- 4 Song Demo Tape/7" (1999) - Self Released/Malfunction
- American Nightmare 7" (2000) - Bridge 9 Records
- The Sun Isn't Getting Any Brighter 7" (2001) - Bridge 9 Records
- Background Music CD/LP (2001) - Equal Vision Records[1]
- Black on Black: A Tribute to Black Flag (song: Depression) (2002) - Initial
- Love American CDep (2003) - Bridge 9 Records/Equal Vision Records
- We're Down Til We're Underground CD/LP (2003) - Equal Vision Records
- Live in London 7" (2003) - Bridge 9 Records
- Year One CD/2x7" (2004) - Reflections Records/Bridge 9 Records
[edit] References
- ^ a b Equal Vision Official Website - Give Up the Ghost. Equal Vision Records. Retrieved on 2007-04-04.
- ^ American Nightmare change their name (English). kerrang.com (2003-03-17). Retrieved on 2007-04-01.
- ^ Give Up The Ghost Cancel UK Dates. Rock Sound magazine. Retrieved on 2007-04-04.
- ^ Give Up The Ghost Give Up The Ghost!. Metal Hammer. Retrieved on 2007-04-04.
- ^ ARTISTdirect - Some Girls. ARTISTdirect. Retrieved on 2007-04-04.
- ^ Head Automatica biography. Yahoo Music. Retrieved on 2007-04-04.
- ^ Dan Goss (2007). Fall Out Boy's Local Lyricist. Fall Out Boy's local lyricist. Philly.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-04.
