Against Me!

Against Me!

Against Me! lineup in 2011: Seward, Weinberg, Grace, Bowman
Background information
Origin Gainesville, Florida
Genres Punk rock, alternative rock, folk punk, anarcho-punk
Years active 1997–present
Labels Misanthrope, Crasshole, Plan-It-X, No Idea, Sabot, Fat Wreck Chords, Sire, Total Treble, Xtra Mile
Associated acts Hot Water Music, The Draft, Forgetters, Angels & Airwaves, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Rocket From The Crypt
Website againstme.net
Members Laura Jane Grace
James Bowman
Atom Willard
Inge Johansson
Past members Kevin Mahon
Dustin Fridkin
Warren Oakes
George Rebelo
Jay Weinberg
Andrew Seward

Against Me! is a punk rock band formed in Gainesville, Florida, in 1997 by singer and guitarist Laura Jane Grace. Since 2002 the band's lineup has also included guitarist James Bowman and bassist Andrew Seward. After releasing three studio albums through independent record labels, Against Me! moved to Sire Records for 2007's New Wave, which reached no. 57 on the Billboard 200. Their fifth album, 2010's White Crosses, was their most successful, reaching no. 34. In 2011 the band launched their own record label, Total Treble Music, through which they plan to release future albums. In 2012 Grace publicly came out as transgender, beginning a transition to living as a woman and dropping her birth name. The band finished recording their sixth studio album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, during the summer of 2013, and released it on the twenty-first of January, 2014.

Biography

1997–2002: Formation and Reinventing Axl Rose

Against Me! was formed in 1997 by singer/guitarist Laura Jane Grace as a solo act, occasionally performing with backing musicians. The first Against Me! release was an eponymously titled 1997 cassette demo. With the addition of drummer Kevin Mahon, a second demo, Vivida Vis! (1998), was released in limited numbers by Misanthrope Records. The band's first EP, Against Me!, was released in 2000 through Crasshole Records. Their first widely distributed release was the EP Crime as Forgiven by Against Me! (2001), released by Plan-It-X Records and Sabot Productions (run by longtime Against Me! tour manager Jordan Kleeman). A third EP, an eponymously titled acoustic recording by Grace and bassist Dustin Fridkin, was released later that year.

Mahon left the band and was replaced by Warren Oakes, and second guitarist James Bowman was added for the band's first album, 2002's Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose, released by No Idea Records. Fridkin left and was replaced by Andrew Seward of the Tennessee band kill devil hills, and this new lineup released the single "The Disco Before the Breakdown" (2002).

2003–05: As the Eternal Cowboy and Searching for a Former Clarity

Against Me! signed to Fat Wreck Chords and released their second album, 2003's Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy. It reached no. 36 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart and was supported by singles for "Cavalier Eternal" and "Sink, Florida, Sink".[1] The DVD We're Never Going Home followed, documenting their Spring 2004 tour. 2005's Searching for a Former Clarity was their first album to chart on the Billboard 200, reaching no. 114.[2] It spawned singles for "Don't Lose Touch" and "From Her Lips to God's Ears (The Energizer)", which also became the band's first music videos. The live album Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live in London!!! followed in 2006.

2005–10: New Wave and White Crosses

Against Me! on tour in support of New Wave

Against Me! moved to Sire Records for 2007's New Wave, produced by Butch Vig. It debuted at no. 57 on the Billboard 200 and featured their first charting single, "Thrash Unreal", which reached no. 11 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.[2][3] "White People for Peace", "Stop!", and "New Wave" were also released as singles, and New Wave was named as Spin's album of the year.[4] The DVD Live at the Key Club followed later that year. In 2008 Against Me! supported Foo Fighters on a North American tour, and Sire released the digital EP New Wave B-Sides.[5][6]

Oakes left the band in June 2009, in part to focus on running his Mexican food restaurant.[7][8] "I didn't want to play music with Warren anymore", said Grace, "it's been a long time coming. Warren's heart hasn't been in this for a while now."[7] Oakes was replaced by Hot Water Music drummer George Rebelo.[8] The following month Fat Wreck Chords released The Original Cowboy, an album of demo recordings from the Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy sessions.[9]

On August 17, 2009, Against Me! headed into the studio with New Wave producer Butch Vig.[10] Their fifth studio album, White Crosses, was later released on June 8, 2010.[11] Against Me! joined Billy Talent on tour in Canada in March 2010, and also supported the Silversun Pickups on a tour of the United States that summer, bringing along touring keyboardist Franz Nicolay.[12]

Against Me! released White Crosses, their second album with Sire, on June 4, 2010.[13] It was supported by singles for "I Was a Teenage Anarchist", "White Crosses", and "High Pressure Low" and was their highest-charting album to date, reaching no. 34 on the Billboard 200.[2] On the eve of a scheduled tour of Australia and New Zealand that September, the band suddenly cancelled all touring plans due to "a culmination of circumstances", expressing the need to "take some time off from touring to go home and sort things out."[14][15]

2010–present: Transgender Dysphoria Blues and recent activity

November 2010 saw Against Me!'s departure from Sire Records, their first (and only) major label. Following a two-month hiatus from touring, the band spoke for the first time since their tour cancellation, talking of their upcoming December 2010 shows, which saw Jay Weinberg cover for George Rebelo on drums, as he toured with Hot Water Music.[15]

Throughout December 2010, Grace spoke of George Rebelo's intentions to record an album with his primary band Hot Water Music.[16] In January 2011, Weinberg was officially confirmed as Against Me!'s new drummer.[17] Total Clarity, an album of demos and unreleased songs from the Searching for a Former Clarity sessions, was released on May 24, 2011, through Fat Wreck Chords.[18]

Grace had expressed the desire to release at least one album per year for the next decade[19] and that Grace hoped to record Against Me!'s sixth studio album in Winter 2011.[20] As well as this, she spoke of releasing a 7" on Sabot Productions before Summer 2011, featuring two original songs. This was announced as being Russian Spies / Occult Enemies, which was released on June 14, 2011. In the same studio session, the band recorded a cover of the theme song for a season 8 episode of One Tree Hill, which aired May 3.[21]

On June 3, 2011, the band announced that they started their own record label, Total Treble Music.[22] In September 2011, Grace built a recording studio in Elkton, Florida, for future Against Me! projects.[23] The studio has since been named Total Treble Studio.[24] The first band to record an album in the studio are Cheap Girls from Lansing, Michigan, with their album Giant Orange.[24][25]

In May 2012 Grace publicly came out as transgender, having dealt with gender dysphoria since childhood, and began a transition to living as a woman by taking hormones, undergoing electrolysis treatments, and taking the name Laura Jane Grace.[26][27] "I felt like I drop-kicked them in the face," she said of informing the other members of Against Me! "We had the most awkward hug ever, and then they left. And the second I shut the door, I was like, 'What the fuck did I just do?'"[27] Gender dysphoria is the theme of the band's sixth studio album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, a concept album about a transgender prostitute.[28] They began recording in February 2012 at Total Treble Studio and are working without Butch Vig, who produced New Wave and White Crosses.[29] Instead, Grace is acting as both recording engineer and record producer for the album.[29] Weinberg departed the group that December.[30] Drummer Adam Willard will be filling in with the band for their 2013 Australian tour dates.[31] In March 2013, the band canceled their US tour with Bad Religion. In May 2013, bassist Andrew Seward also announced his departure from the band. Grace has expressed that she felt the band could possibly in the future not continue under the name Against Me! but will, however, because she believes the new record has a message she wants to get out.[32] On June 24, 2013, Grace announced that recording for Transgender Dysphoria Blues was finished.[33] Grace went on a solo tour in August in a handful of east coast US cities in support of the record.[34]

On July 15, 2013, Against Me! released the "True Trans" single for free, featuring the new acoustic song "FuckMyLife666" and the namesake "True Trans Soul Rebel". Willard was confirmed as the band's new drummer on July 31, 2013,[35] and on August 29, 2013, Inge Johansson, formerly of The (International) Noise Conspiracy and Refused, was confirmed as the new bass player.[36] On November 12, 2013, the studio version of "FuckMyLife666" was released.[37] On December 19, 2013, "Black Me Out" was released. The band began touring for their new album on New Year's Eve, 2013 in Pittsburgh. Their new album has musical qualities reminiscent of their earlier work. [38]

On January 21, 2014, Against Me! released Transgender Dysphoria Blues, their sixth full length studio album.[39] This album is the first by the band since their lead vocalist, Laura Jane Grace, came out as a transgender woman.

A new live album has been recorded by the band, and is to release in early 2015.[40][41]

Band members

Against Me! lineups
1997
Against Me! (demo)
1998–2001
Vivida Vis!
Against Me! (EP)
Crime as Forgiven by Against Me!
  • Laura Jane Grace – guitar, vocals
  • Kevin Mahon – drums
2001
Against Me! (EP)
  • Laura Jane Grace – guitar, vocals
  • Dustin Fridkin – bass
2001–02
Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose
  • Laura Jane Grace – guitar, vocals
  • James Bowman – guitar
  • Dustin Fridkin – bass
  • Warren Oakes – drums
2002–09
"The Disco Before the Breakdown"
The Original Cowboy
Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy
Total Clarity
Searching for a Former Clarity
New Wave
Black Crosses
  • Laura Jane Grace – guitar, vocals
  • James Bowman – guitar
  • Andrew Seward – bass
  • Warren Oakes – drums
2009–10
White Crosses
  • Laura Jane Grace – guitar, vocals
  • James Bowman – guitar
  • Andrew Seward – bass
  • George Rebelo – drums
2010–12
"Russian Spies / Occult Enemies"
  • Laura Jane Grace – guitar, vocals
  • James Bowman – guitar
  • Andrew Seward – bass
  • Jay Weinberg – drums
2012–2013
  • Laura Jane Grace – guitar, vocals
  • James Bowman – guitar
  • Andrew Seward – bass
  • Atom Willard – drums (touring)
2013
Transgender Dysphoria Blues
  • Laura Jane Grace – guitar, vocals
  • James Bowman – guitar
  • Atom Willard – drums
2013–present
  • Laura Jane Grace – guitar, vocals
  • James Bowman – guitar
  • Inge Johansson - bass
  • Atom Willard – drums
Current members
Former members
Touring members
Recording members


Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

References

  1. ↑ "Against Me! Album & Song Chart History: Top Independent Albums". Billboard charts. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Against Me! Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard charts. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Against Me! Album & Song Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard charts. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  4. ↑ Kandell, Steve (January 1, 2008). "Album of the Year: Against Me!". Spin. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Tours: Foo Fighters / Against Me! (Canada)". Punknews.org. December 10, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Against Me! Release Digital EP of New Wave B-sides". Punknews.org. July 31, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Warren Oakes Leaves Against Me!". Punknews.org. June 9, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "George Rebelo (Hot Water Music) Joins Against Me!". Punknews.org. June 15, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Against Me! to release The Original Cowboy on Fat this summer". Punknews.org. April 23, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Against Me! title next album". Punknews.org. October 19, 2009. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
  11. ↑ Cizmar, Martin (April 5, 2010). "Against Me! Announces Tracklist, Release Date for White Crosses... Wait A Minute, Didn't I Already Hear That Record? – Phoenix Music – Up on the Sun". Blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Tour : Against Me". . June 13, 2010.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Tommy Gabel (November 28, 2010). "I Feel Sick To My Stomach: All Apologies". Ifeelsicktomystomach.blogspot.com. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  16. ↑ Ben Patashnik. "Tom Gabel On Against Me!’s Future – No Label, New Drummer | Features | Rock Sound". Rocksound.tv. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ "Total Clarity". Fat Wreck Chords. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  19. ↑ Gaston, Peter (December 7, 2010). "Tom Gabel Talks Future of Against Me! | SPIN | Newswire". SPIN. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Against Me! – interview with Tom Gabel « Melbourne Sound". Melbournesound.wordpress.com. April 16, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  21. ↑ Tommy Gabel (April 8, 2011). "I Feel Sick To My Stomach: Summer Tour 2011!". Ifeelsicktomystomach.blogspot.com. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Against Me! announce new record label Total Treble Music". Punknews.org. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  23. ↑ "The Ultimate Punk Music Store!". Interpunk.com. February 21, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Cheap Girls: "Ruby"". Punknews.org. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  25. ↑ "Against Me! Interview – Andrew Seward". ThePunkSite.com. August 31, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Tom Gabel of Against Me! Comes Out as Transgender". Rolling Stone. May 8, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Montgomery, James (May 10, 2012). "Tom Gabel Reveals Details of Transgender Life in Rolling Stone". mtv.com. MTV. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  28. ↑
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Russell, Ryan. "Against Me! Share Details of 'Killer' New Album". mtvhive.com date=2012-11-05. MTV. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  30. ↑ Strummer, Brittany (December 18, 2012). "Jay Weinberg Leaves Against Me!". Punknews.org. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Atom Willard to play Australian shows with Against Me!". Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Andrew Seward leaves Against Me!". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  33. ↑ "Twitter / LauraJaneGrace: At the cost of a lot of friends". Twitter.com. 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  34. ↑ "Laura Jane Grace – Solo East Coast Tour". Against Me!. 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  35. ↑ "Twitter / AtomWillard: Very excited about the next". Twitter.com. 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  36. ↑ "Against Me! recruit former (International) Noise Conspiracy bassist". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  37. ↑ "Against Me Release New Single, 'FkMyLife666' | Music News". Rolling Stone. 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  38. ↑ "Against Me! Rail Against Major Labels on 'Black Me Out' | SPIN | SPIN Mix | Songs". SPIN. 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  39. ↑ Hermes, Will. "Against Me!". Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  40. ↑ http://time.com/3653490/laura-jane-grace-against-me-interview/
  41. ↑ https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/552962787081990144

External links

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