Against Me!

Against Me!
Against Me! performing at the Trumbullplex on June 21, 2018
L-R: Seward, Grace, Bowman, Willard
Background information
Origin Gainesville, Florida
Genres
Years active 1997–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website againstme.net
Members Laura Jane Grace
James Bowman
Atom Willard
Andrew Seward
Past members Kevin Mahon
Dustin Fridkin
Warren Oakes
George Rebelo
Jay Weinberg
Inge Johansson
Against Me! on tour in support of New Wave

Against Me! is an American punk rock band formed in 1997 in Gainesville, Florida, by singer and guitarist Laura Jane Grace. Since 2001, the band's lineup has also included guitarist James Bowman. 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. In 2011, the band launched their own record label, Total Treble Music, through which to release future albums.

In 2012, Grace publicly came out as a transgender woman. After a long period of line-up changes and uncertainty surrounding the band's future, their sixth studio album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, was released independently in January 2014 to critical and commercial acclaim. The band's seventh full-length, Shape Shift with Me, was released September 16, 2016.[1]

History

1997–2002: The early years and Reinventing Axl Rose

Against Me! was formed in 1997 by singer/guitarist Laura Jane Grace as a solo act, amidst the breakup of her previous band(s).[2] The first Against Me! release was an eponymously titled demo tape in 1997. It was self-released in very limited numbers. With the addition of drummer Kevin Mahon, a second demo, Vivida Vis! (1998), was released in limited numbers by Misanthrope Records. The band started their first tour in March 1999, a month-long tour of the East coast, during which they met Jordan Kleeman in Baltimore, Maryland.[2] The band's first EP, Against Me!, was released twice through Crasshole Records, (once in 1999 and 2000). James Bowman joined the band in 2000 somewhere around this time. Grace, Bowman, and Mahon supported the EP on a month - and - a - half- long tour of the West coast that year. The band toured in Grace's 1976 Buick LeSabre, of which the engine blew up at the end of the tour.[3][2] 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). While neither Bowman or Fridkin had part in the recording of Crime as Forgiven by Against Me!, they both joined the band on tour to support it.[4] On April 23, 2001, while heading south on I-75, returning home from their first tour as a four-piece band, their van was struck by a semi truck. They landed upside-down in a ditch. No one was harmed, but the van and equipment were destroyed,[2][5][6] after which Bowman and Mahon left the band. The band broke up for a few months that year.[6][7][8] A third EP, a self-titled acoustic recording by Grace and bassist Dustin Fridkin, was released in November 2001.

Mahon was eventually replaced by Warren Oakes, and guitarist James Bowman returned in December 2001[9] during the recording of the band's first album, Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose, released in March 2002 by No Idea Records. Fridkin left during the summer of 2002 to return to college and was replaced by Andrew Seward of the Tennessee band kill devil hills, [10]and this new lineup released the single "The Disco Before the Breakdown" (2002). This lineup remained constant until 2009.

2003–06: 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".[11] 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. Against Me! supported the album with a tour of all 50 U.S. states.[12][13] 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.

2007–10: New Wave and White Crosses

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.[12][14] "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.[15] 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.[16][17] In October 2008, while traveling west on I-80, en route to Salt Lake City, their tour bus hit a patch of ice; causing it to spin and land on its side in a ditch. Also, their trailer broke free from the hitch and all of their equipment was strewn in the middle of the highway. Thankfully, no one was harmed.[18]

Oakes left the band in June 2009, in part to focus on running his Mexican food restaurant.[19][20] "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."[19] Oakes was replaced by Hot Water Music drummer George Rebelo.[20] The following month Fat Wreck Chords released The Original Cowboy, an album of demo recordings from the Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy sessions.[21]

On August 17, 2009, Against Me! headed into the studio with New Wave producer Butch Vig.[22][23] 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.[24]

Against Me! released White Crosses, their second album with Sire, on June 8, 2010 (although it was leaked about 3 months earlier).[25] 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.[12] 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."

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.[26]

Throughout December 2010, Grace spoke of George Rebelo's intentions to record an album with his primary band Hot Water Music. In January 2011, Weinberg was officially confirmed as Against Me!'s new drummer.[27] 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.[28]

2011–17: Transgender Dysphoria Blues and Shape Shift with Me

Grace had expressed the desire to release at least one album per year for the next decade[29] and that Grace hoped to record Against Me!'s sixth studio album in Winter 2011.[30] 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.[31]

On June 3, 2011, the band announced that they started their own record label, Total Treble Music.[32] In July 2011, the band released "Black Crosses" which were demos /alternate versions of songs from "White Crosses". In September 2011, Grace built a recording studio in Elkton, Florida, for future Against Me! projects.[33] The studio has since been named Total Treble Studio.[34] The first band to record an album in the studio were Cheap Girls from Lansing, Michigan, with their album Giant Orange.[34][35]

In May 2012 Grace publicly came out as transgender, having dealt with gender dysphoria since childhood, and began her transition.[36][37] "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?'"[37] Gender dysphoria is the theme of the band's sixth studio album, an autobiographical account of Laura Jane Grace's experience as a trans woman and of social and body dysphoria. They began recording in February 2012 at Total Treble Studio, working without Butch Vig, who produced New Wave and White Crosses.[38] Instead, Grace was acting as both recording engineer and record producer for the album.[38] Weinberg departed the group that December.[39] Drummer Atom Willard filled in with the band for their 2013 Australian tour dates,[40] and was confirmed as the band's new drummer on July 31, 2013.[41] 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 might not continue under the name Against Me!, but will, however, because she believes the new record has a message she wants to spread.[42] On June 24, 2013, Grace announced that recording for Transgender Dysphoria Blues was finished.[43] Grace went on a solo tour in August in a handful of east coast US cities in support of the record.[44]

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". On August 29, 2013, Inge Johansson, formerly of The (International) Noise Conspiracy and Refused, was confirmed as the new bass player.[45]

On January 21, 2014, Against Me! released Transgender Dysphoria Blues, their sixth full-length studio album.[46] The album was praised for its raw quality, reminiscent of Against Me!'s earlier music. It is their highest-charting album to date, reaching no. 23 on the Billboard 200.

A new live album, 23 Live Sex Acts was recorded on the subsequent tour by the band in 2014, and was released on September 4, 2015.[47]

In July 2016, the band announced their seventh studio album Shape Shift with Me would be released on September 16.[48] The band also immediately released a song from the album, "333". On August 10, 2016, a second song, "Haunting, Haunted, Haunts"[49][50] was released via the Adult Swim Singles Program 2016. A Star Wars-inspired music video for the song "Crash" was then released on August 22.[51] On September 8, the entire album was available for streaming.[52] Shape Shift with Me, was released September 16, 2016.[1]

In October 2017, Against Me! played a special show with former bassist Dustin Fridkin for the first time since his departure from the band in 2002. The band's first album Reinventing Axl Rose was played in full for the first time, as well as other tracks from the era. The show was part of FEST 16.[53] Grace revealed in August 2018 that she strongly considered disbanding Against Me! once this show had occurred.[54]

2018–present: Postponed eighth album

Against Me! most recently played a show with bassist Inge Johansson in May 2018. The following month, the band played an unannounced show at Trumbullplex in Detroit, MI. The show was notable for being the first show with Andrew Seward playing bass since 2013, although no songs were played from Shape Shift with Me.[55][56][57] Grace officially announced in July 2018 via Instagram that after performing these shows, Seward had indeed rejoined the band, explaining that replacing Inge is "probably not the last time this year [she is] going to have to ask that people be understanding of a choice made".[58]

It was announced that in October 2018, the band will play two special shows on the eve of their South American tour: one with As the Eternal Cowboy played front to back, and the other with New Wave.[59]

Laura Jane Grace announced in July 2018 that the band she had performed previous solo tours with since 2016[60], The Devouring Mothers, had recently completed Grace's second solo record together, Bought to Rot to be released on Bloodshot Records on November 9, 2018. The band's members since its inception have been Grace and Willard from Against Me!, as well as long-time producer and collaborator Marc Hudson.[61] The album is said to be heavily influenced by the works of Rowland S. Howard[62] and Tom Petty,[63] and includes collaborations with other artists.[64]

Grace confirmed that Against Me! is still continuing as a band, as a clean slate, and that an eighth Against Me! record is still planned for eventual release, but that it may be shelved and/or re-recorded following Seward's replacement of Johansson as bassist.[65][66][67][68]

The band recorded a cover of The Jim Carroll Band's "People Who Died" for a 2018 compilation album (Songs That Saved My Life) in aid of mental health charities. The track is the first recording with Seward back as bassist since the 2011 single "Russian Spies / Occult Enemies", and Grace used the announcement to further confirm that the band intend to record an eighth studio album together.[69]

Band members

Current members

  • Laura Jane Grace – guitar, lead vocals (1997–present)
  • James Bowman – guitar, vocals (2000–2001, 2001–present)
  • Andrew Seward – bass, vocals (2002–2013, 2018–present)
  • Atom Willard – drums, percussion (2012–present)

Former members

  • Kevin Mahon – drums, percussion, vocals (1998–2001)
  • Dustin Fridkin – bass, vocals (2000–2002)
  • Warren Oakes – drums, percussion (2001–2009)
  • George Rebelo – drums, percussion (2009–2010)
  • Jay Weinberg – drums, percussion (2010–2012)
  • Inge Johansson – bass, vocals (2013–2018)

Touring members

  • Franz Nicolay – piano, keyboards, accordion, vocals (2010)
  • Tyson Yerex – piano, keyboards, guitar (2009–2010)
  • Adam Trachsel – bass (2010)
  • Dustin Fridkin – bass, vocals (2017)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

References

  1. 1 2 "Laura Jane Grace on Twitter: "@Fr3derick82 September"". Twitter. 2016-05-11. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Episode 47 - Laura Jane Grace ( Against Me! )". audioBoom. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
  3. ↑ Grace, Laura Jane (2016). Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout. Hachette. pp. 34–35.
  4. ↑ Grace, Laura Jane (2016). Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout. p. 42.
  5. ↑ "ABOUT A GIRL: The Complete Magnet Magazine Q&A With Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace". PHAWKER.COM - Curated News, Gossip, Concert Reviews, Fearless Political Commentary, Interviews....Plus, the Usual Sex, Drugs and Rock n' Roll. 2014-09-11. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  6. 1 2 "Laura Jane Grace on Her Delinquent Past and Against Me!'s Future". Rolling Stone. 2014-02-08. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
  7. ↑ "Against Me! - Tickets - The Riot Room - Kansas City, MO - September 20th, 2013". The Riot Room. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  8. ↑ "Against Me! interview with Tom Gabel - Reading For New Times – Exposing Intellect, People and Esthetics". r4nt.com. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
  9. ↑ Grace, Laura Jane (2016). Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout. p. 45.
  10. ↑ Grace, Laura Jane (2016). Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout. pp. 51–52.
  11. ↑ "Against Me! Album & Song Chart History: Top Independent Albums". Billboard charts. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  12. 1 2 3 "Against Me! Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard charts. Archived from the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  13. ↑ Sunshine State. Spin. pp. 78–82.
  14. ↑ "Against Me! Album & Song Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard charts. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  15. ↑ Kandell, Steve (January 1, 2008). "Album of the Year: Against Me!". Spin. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Tours: Foo Fighters / Against Me! (Canada)". Punknews.org. December 10, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Against Me! Release Digital EP of New Wave B-sides". Punknews.org. July 31, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Tom Gabel details Against Me! bus accident; posts full stream of solo EP - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
  19. 1 2 "Warren Oakes Leaves Against Me!". Punknews.org. June 9, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  20. 1 2 "George Rebelo (Hot Water Music) Joins Against Me!". Punknews.org. June 15, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Against Me! to release The Original Cowboy on Fat this summer". Punknews.org. April 23, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Against Me! title next album". Punknews.org. October 19, 2009. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
  23. ↑ 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.
  24. ↑ "Tour : Against Me". againstme.net. June 13, 2010. Archived from the original on May 17, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Artwork And Tracklisting For Against Me!'s 'White Crosses' - Bloody Disgusting!". 2010-03-17. Retrieved 2016-09-28.
  26. ↑ Tommy Gabel (November 28, 2010). "I Feel Sick to My Stomach: All Apologies". Ifeelsicktomystomach.blogspot.com. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Plus: Jay Weinberg Joins Against Me!; New MJ Lawsuit". Retrieved 2016-09-28.
  28. ↑ "Total Clarity". Fat Wreck Chords. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  29. ↑ Gaston, Peter (December 7, 2010). "Tom Gabel Talks Future of Against Me! | SPIN | Newswire". SPIN. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Against Me! – interview with Tom Gabel " Melbourne Sound". Melbournesound.wordpress.com. April 16, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  31. ↑ Tommy Gabel (April 8, 2011). "I Feel Sick to mMy Stomach: Summer Tour 2011!". Ifeelsicktomystomach.blogspot.com. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Against Me! announce new record label Total Treble Music". Punknews.org. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  33. ↑ "The Ultimate Punk Music Store!". Interpunk.com. February 21, 2012. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  34. 1 2 "Cheap Girls: "Ruby"". Punknews.org. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Against Me! Interview – Andrew Seward". ThePunkSite.com. August 31, 2011. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  36. ↑ "Tom Gabel of Against Me! Comes Out as Transgender". Rolling Stone. May 8, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  37. 1 2 Montgomery, James (May 10, 2012). "Tom Gabel Reveals Details of Transgender Life in Rolling Stone". mtv.com. MTV. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  38. 1 2 Russell, Ryan (2012-11-05). "Against Me! Share Details of 'Killer' New Album". mtvhive.com. MTV. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  39. ↑ Strummer, Brittany (December 18, 2012). "Jay Weinberg Leaves Against Me!". Punknews.org. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  40. ↑ "Atom Willard to play Australian shows with Against Me!". Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Twitter / AtomWillard: Very excited about the next". Twitter.com. 2013-07-31. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  42. ↑ "Andrew Seward leaves Against Me!". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  43. ↑ "Twitter / LauraJaneGrace: At the cost of a lot of friends". Twitter.com. 2013-06-24. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  44. ↑ "Laura Jane Grace – Solo East Coast Tour". Against Me!. 2013-07-02. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  45. ↑ "Against Me! recruit former (International) Noise Conspiracy bassist". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  46. ↑ Hermes, Will. "Against Me!". Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  47. ↑ Kaye, Ben (2015-06-15). "Against Me! announces new live album, 23 Live Sex Acts". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2015-09-06.
  48. ↑ Strauss, Matthew. "Against Me! Announce New Album Shape Shift With Me, Share New Track: Listen | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  49. ↑ "Hear Against Me!'s New Stomper 'Haunting, Haunted, Haunts'". Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  50. ↑ "Against Me! unleash rambunctious new song "Haunting, Haunted, Haunts" – listen". 2016-08-10. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
  51. ↑ "Against Me! - "Crash"". YouTube. 2016-08-22. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  52. ↑ "Stream Against Me!'s Explosive New Record Shape Shift With Me | SPIN". 2016-09-08. Retrieved 2016-09-09.
  53. ↑ https://news.sfcollege.edu/2017/11/01/sf-professor-steps-back-into-spotlight-at-fest/
  54. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/laura-jane-grace-on-new-band-devouring-mothers-and-the-future-of-against-me-714581/
  55. ↑ https://twitter.com/SewardAndrew/status/1010026713806323712
  56. ↑ https://www.punknews.org/article/67190/against-me-play-detroit-show-with-former-bassist-andrew-seward
  57. ↑ https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/against-me/2018/trumbullplex-detroit-mi-13ea357d.html
  58. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/BkvIzRvAHeu/?taken-by=laurajanegrace
  59. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/AgainstMe/photos/a.425249015020.220833.8871710020/10157172169310021/?type=3&theater
  60. ↑ https://dailyslicemag.com/2016/02/24/live-review-laura-jane-grace-and-the-devouring-mothers-at-the-sinclair-in-boston/
  61. ↑ https://www.spin.com/2018/07/laura-jane-grace-devouring-mothers-announce-tour-dates-new-album/
  62. ↑ https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1024358221656535040
  63. ↑ https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1024357709234294785
  64. ↑ https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1024350141006991360
  65. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/laura-jane-grace-on-new-band-devouring-mothers-and-the-future-of-against-me-714581/
  66. ↑ https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1024330823300997120
  67. ↑ https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1024352756608450561
  68. ↑ https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1024327750348361729
  69. ↑ https://twitter.com/LauraJaneGrace/status/1049737876924035073
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