AFI (band)
Encyclopedia
AFI is an American alternative rock
band from Ukiah
, California
that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok
, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson
, with bassist Hunter Burgan
and guitarist Jade Puget
, who both play keyboard and contribute backup vocals. Of the current lineup, Havok and Carson are original members.
During AFI's 20 years as a band, they have released eight studio albums, 11 EPs
, two live albums and one DVD. It was not until the band's fifth album The Art of Drowning that the band achieved measurable commercial success: the album peaked at number 174 on the Billboard 200
and it also peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums Chart.
The band enjoyed its first major commercial success 12 years after it formed, in 2003, with Sing the Sorrow
reaching number five on the Billboard 200, and remaining on the chart for 51 weeks. The album was supported by popular singles "Girl's Not Grey
" and "Silver and Cold
", both of which peaked at number seven on America's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2003. "The Leaving Song Pt. II" was also released as a single, reaching number 16 on the chart. It went onto receive Platinum certification
in the US, having sold over 1.2 million copies as of September 2009.
The band returned in 2006 with Decemberunderground
, which featured the hit single "Miss Murder
". Both achieved the top spot on the Billboard 200 and Hot Modern Rock Tracks, respectively. The album also featured "Love Like Winter
", which attained number four on the Modern Rock charts. It reached as far as Australia, where it grasped Gold certification, and also achieved this in the United States, where it has sold in excess of 993,000 copies. AFI's eighth studio album Crash Love
was released in 2009, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard 200, selling 52,000 copies in its first week of release.
(vocals), Mark Stopholese (guitar) and Vic Chalker (bass) formed an outfit called AFI in November 1991. AFI has been said to be abbreviated from the full title A Fire Inside. However, band members have stated that the name was formerly from the titles Asking for It and Anthems for Insubordinates. At the time, the band did not know how to play any instruments. Stopholese suggested his friend, Adam Carson
, who had a drum kit join the band. Stopholese learned guitar and Chalker learned bass
, but Chalker was soon replaced by Geoff Kresge
and AFI made its first EP in recording Dork
(1993) with the now defunct Loose Change, which included future AFI guitarist Jade Puget
. In regards to AFI's beginnings, Davey Havok laughed in a 1999 interview, "We were amazed that we even got our shit together enough to put out a split 7-inch with Jade's band at the time."
AFI disbanded when its members attended different colleges, including UC Berkeley
where members of the band lived and practiced for a time in the basement of the Delta Chi
fraternity house on Channing Way. Kresge moved to New York
where he played with Blanks 77
. Following reuniting to perform a live show at the Phoenix Theater
in Petaluma, California
, the other members decided to drop out of college to play full-time with AFI after the enjoyable performance and positive response from the audience of about 200. Between 1993 and 1995 the band released several vinyl EPs (Behind the Times
; Eddie Picnic's All Wet
; This Is Berkeley, Not West Bay
; AFI/Heckle
; Bombing the Bay
; Fly in the Ointment) independently.
Their first full-length, Answer That and Stay Fashionable
was released August 11, 1995 on Wingnut Records, and was produced by Tim Armstrong
. The album featured fast and upbeat hardcore songs, with humorous lyrical themes, which are well-vocalized in songs such as "Nyquil", "Cereal Wars", and "I Wanna Get a Mohawk (But Mom Won't Let Me Get One)". The album's cover is a parody of the film Reservoir Dogs
s promotional poster. The album title takes root from a quote spoken in British TV show The Comic Strip Presents. Audio samples from both films/shows and European Vacation are featured in several of the album's tracks, namely "Don't Make Me Ill" and "High School Football Hero".
AFI signed on to Nitro Records, Dexter Holland
of the Offspring
's label. They would remain with the label until the release of the 336 EP.
In 1996, AFI then released their second album, Very Proud of Ya
. The songs "Cruise Control" and "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" from Very Proud of Ya were used in the 1996 independent film Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore
, which was first screened in 1997 and also featured Havok in a small role. The album is longer than Answer That and Stay Fashionable. Two songs from their previous album, namely Yurf Rendenmein and Two of A Kind, were re-recorded for this album.
After several tours in support of the album Very Proud of Ya, Kresge decided to leave the group. His spot was filled by Hunter Burgan
for the remaining Very Proud of Ya tour dates. Burgan went on to help AFI record Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes
(1997) and was invited to become the full-time bassist. Future AFI guitarist Jade Puget also provided background vocals on Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes, making it the first album to feature all four current members of the band. The release of Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes is also notable because AFI started to gather a larger following.
Black Sails, All Hallow's EP and Art of Drowning (1999–2002) After recording the A Fire Inside EP
(1998), Stopholese left the band and was replaced by Jade Puget
, former member of Influence 13 and vocalist Havok's close friend. The band then recorded Black Sails in the Sunset
(1999), a musical turning point which introduced AFI fans to a much darker sound, mixing the band's original hardcore roots with dark romantic
influences (a poem by Charles Baudelaire
, "De profundis clamavi," is present in the hidden track "Midnight Sun") and an emphasis on a more somber atmosphere and lyrics. The influence of the Deathrock
and Goth rock scenes was also apparent. During this period their style was mostly referred to as horror punk
or "gothic punk." Offspring frontman Dexter Holland
was featured as a backing vocalist on two tracks: "Clove Smoke Catharsis" and "The Prayer Position".
The All Hallows EP (October 5, 1999) further explored the horror punk genre, featuring artwork and lyrics containing Halloween themes. The EP spawned the single "Totalimmortal", a track later covered by The Offspring
for the Me, Myself and Irene
soundtrack. It received a fair amount of radio play and exposed AFI to larger audiences. The Boy Who Destroyed The World from the All Hallows EP was featured in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
video game. All Hallow's also featured a cover of the Misfits song "Halloween".
On September 19, 2000, AFI released The Art of Drowning, which debuted on the Billboard Charts at number 174, and peaked at number 9 on the Heatseekers chart. It continued to touch base with the horror punk genre, but expanded into styles that were a departure from previous works. The album featured slower, more melodic songs that were more reminiscent of alternative rock
, such as "Ever and a Day" and "6 to 8". Still, the presence of hardcore influences was imminent in most of the album, flaunted most on tracks like "Smile", "The Lost Souls", and "Catch a Hot One". The album brought the band unprecedented success in the underground scene, selling in excess of 100,000 copies. "The Days of the Phoenix
" was released as a single and video and, like "Totalimmortal," had some moderate mainstream success, garnering the band more TV and radio airplay. The song even managed to reach the UK Singles Chart
with its titular EP in 2001, peaking at number 152. The Art of Drownings success helped to encourage the band to pursue higher mainstream notoriety.
. A&R Luke Wood signed them to DreamWorks Records
following intense record label interest. Their first album for the label, Sing the Sorrow
, was released in 2003. The songs "Girl's Not Grey
", "The Leaving Song Pt. II", and "Silver and Cold
" had some Billboard chart success and exposed the band to even larger audiences. They were nominated in the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards
for the MTV2
award category for the "Girl's Not Grey" video, which came to be their first VMA.
In June 2006, AFI's seventh studio album, Decemberunderground
, was released on Interscope Records
. The album's first single "Miss Murder
" reached #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Charts. The release reflects the continually changing and growing fan base of the band, and the album debuted as No. 1 on the Billboard charts
. The album has been certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of over 500,000 copies of the album. Also, the band's second single, "Love Like Winter
", enjoyed tremendous success on MTV
's Total Request Live
and was retired after 40 days on the countdown.
On December 12, 2006, AFI released their first DVD I Heard a Voice – Live from Long Beach Arena, featuring a live performance shot in Long Beach
, California
.
On January 20, 2007, AFI played "Miss Murder" and "Love Like Winter" on Saturday Night Live
. Although the band performed "Love Like Winter" according to plan, technical difficulties occurred during their set of "Miss Murder," in which Davey's microphone went out during various parts of the song.
Though "The Missing Frame
" was originally supposed to be the third single off Decemberunderground, Davey Havok confirmed in the "Ask AFI" section of the Despair Faction message boards that there would not be a video for the song. Havok also confirmed on the same boards that there would be no summer tour that year. Puget began writing some material for the next album.
On July 7, 2007 AFI performed at the American leg
of Live Earth
. They performed "The Missing Frame," "Love Like Winter," "Miss Murder," and a cover of David Bowie
's "Ziggy Stardust
".
AFI released a live album called I Heard a Voice – Live from Long Beach Arena. This was released on iTunes on November 13, 2007. It features all the songs from the 2006 DVD I Heard a Voice – Live from Long Beach Arena, including notable hits from past AFI records such as: "Miss Murder", "Girl's Not Grey," "The Leaving Song Pt. II," and "The Days of the Phoenix
".
" was made available as a downloadable song exclusively for the Xbox 360
version of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
by obtaining a code from purchasing the official soundtrack of the game. The song was later released as a digital single on December 4, 2007.
A new EP was set for a December release, however, Havok announced through the Despair Faction forums that it would not be available until early 2008. The EP was to contain previously unreleased songs from the Decemberunderground and Sing the Sorrow sessions. Adam later revealed more details, noting that some of the songs would be new and never before heard, some fans may have heard (like "Carcinogen Crush"), and some fans may know about but never have heard before. It was later announced that the EP would be released after Crash Love
, but then Havok said that due to political issues, it would not be released. The songs that were to be on the EP would instead be distributed on various versions of Crash Love.
In December 2008, the band released a video through YouTube
revealing a contest for the upcoming album called Begin Transmission. It invited fans to make videos, telling the band about themselves in two minutes or less. Lead singer Davey Havok
posted a video on December 19 that thanked the fans for their support and said he had watched every video up to that point (about 43 videos at the time). The contest ended on January 5, and fans were given the ability to score many of the videos themselves. The fans who won met the band and provided backing vocals for "I Am Trying Very Hard to Be Here", a song on the new album.
In late February it was confirmed via press release that AFI's eighth studio album would be titled Crash Love and that they would be embarking on a summer tour in support of it. In July 2009, Havok released a statement saying that after two years of writing and recording, the upcoming album would be released on September 29, 2009. It was recorded with producer David Bottrill (who was later dismissed in favor of Joe McGrath and Jacknife Lee
). AFI previewed Crash Love on their MySpace
page for two days starting September 22, 2009, seven days ahead of the official album release.
In a 2009 interview with theywillrockyou.com, Jade Puget stated that Crash Love was written in a hotel on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. In regards to the process of writing with Davey, Puget said "I’ve got my guitar and he’s got his tape recorder ... anything can happen. We don’t know what kind of song we’re going to write; it could be the best song you’ve ever written or nothing, just the amount of possibilities is exciting to me."
The first single from the album, "Medicate
", was released on August 25, 2009 and reached number 7 on the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart. A music video directed by Paul Minor premiered October 2. In January 2010, AFI released a teaser for the video of their new single "Beautiful Thieves
". The full video officially premiered on February 4, 2010 on MTV television networks and websites.
AFI toured the UK
with Sick of It All
and The Dear & Departed
in April 2010, and supported Green Day
on their summer 2010 U.S. tour.
On September 8, 2011, a post was made to the band's official forum, DespairFaction.com, from frontman Davey Havok's forum account, which said that the band had split up. This was shortly confirmed by the management to be a hoax, and the thread in question was deleted.
Former
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Ukiah
Ukiah, California
The average high temperature is 73.5 °F . Average low temperature is 46.1 °F . Temperatures reach 90 °F on an average of 65.6 days annually and 100 °F on an average of 14.4 days annually. Due to frequent low humidity, summer temperatures normally drop into the fifties at night. Freezing...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok
Davey Havok
David Paden Marchand , more commonly known by the stage name Davey Havok, is the lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI and the electronic music band Blaqk Audio....
, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson
Adam Carson
Adam Alexander Carson is the drummer of the rock band AFI. He and Davey Havok are the two original members left in the lineup. Carson also filled in as drummer for the band Tiger Army. His drumming can be found on Tiger Army's Early Years EP as well as their debut album Tiger Army...
, with bassist Hunter Burgan
Hunter Burgan
Hunter Lawrence Burgan is an American multi-instrumentalist. He is the third and current bass guitarist of AFI.-Biography:Burgan grew up in Grass Valley, California. He is vegan.-Career:...
and guitarist Jade Puget
Jade Puget
Jade Errol Puget is the guitarist for the alternative rock band AFI , and the keyboardist/synthesizer operator for the electronic duo Blaqk Audio. Puget is vegetarian and straight edge....
, who both play keyboard and contribute backup vocals. Of the current lineup, Havok and Carson are original members.
During AFI's 20 years as a band, they have released eight studio albums, 11 EPs
EPS
-Computers and technology:* External Power Supply, an external AC adapter * common External Power Supply, EU standard for mobile phone chargers...
, two live albums and one DVD. It was not until the band's fifth album The Art of Drowning that the band achieved measurable commercial success: the album peaked at number 174 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and it also peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums Chart.
The band enjoyed its first major commercial success 12 years after it formed, in 2003, with Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow is the sixth studio album by American rock band AFI. It was released on March 11, 2003 through DreamWorks Records. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Platinum in December 2004 by the RIAA. The album was supported by three singles, "Girl's Not Grey", "The Leaving...
reaching number five on the Billboard 200, and remaining on the chart for 51 weeks. The album was supported by popular singles "Girl's Not Grey
Girl's Not Grey
"Girl's Not Grey" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released as the debut single from their sixth studio album Sing the Sorrow in 2003. It is the band's third most successful single, peaking at #7 on the Alternative Songs Chart and #14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart...
" and "Silver and Cold
Silver and Cold
"Silver and Cold" is a power ballad by American rock band AFI. It was the third single released from their sixth studio album Sing The Sorrow in 2003. A music video directed by John Hillcoat was made for the song...
", both of which peaked at number seven on America's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2003. "The Leaving Song Pt. II" was also released as a single, reaching number 16 on the chart. It went onto receive Platinum certification
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
in the US, having sold over 1.2 million copies as of September 2009.
The band returned in 2006 with Decemberunderground
Decemberunderground
Decemberunderground is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band AFI. The album was released on June 6, 2006 through Interscope Records. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 182,000 in its first week. The album certified Gold by the RIAA on August 30, 2006 and has sold...
, which featured the hit single "Miss Murder
Miss Murder
"Miss Murder" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released on April 3, 2006 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground. It was initially scheduled to premiere on LIVE 105 on April 13, 2006, however, it was released early due to overwhelming fan reaction. It was...
". Both achieved the top spot on the Billboard 200 and Hot Modern Rock Tracks, respectively. The album also featured "Love Like Winter
Love Like Winter
"Love Like Winter" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released as the second single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground on September 26, 2006. A music video for the song premiered on TRL on September 26, 2006 and was directed by Marc Webb, who has also directed previous...
", which attained number four on the Modern Rock charts. It reached as far as Australia, where it grasped Gold certification, and also achieved this in the United States, where it has sold in excess of 993,000 copies. AFI's eighth studio album Crash Love
Crash Love
Crash Love is the eighth studio album by the rock band AFI. Produced by Joe McGrath and Jacknife Lee, it was released on September 29, 2009 through Interscope Records.- Background and recording :...
was released in 2009, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard 200, selling 52,000 copies in its first week of release.
Early years, Answer That, Very Proud of Ya, and Shut Your Mouth (1991–1998)
While still in high school in Ukiah, California, Davey HavokDavey Havok
David Paden Marchand , more commonly known by the stage name Davey Havok, is the lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI and the electronic music band Blaqk Audio....
(vocals), Mark Stopholese (guitar) and Vic Chalker (bass) formed an outfit called AFI in November 1991. AFI has been said to be abbreviated from the full title A Fire Inside. However, band members have stated that the name was formerly from the titles Asking for It and Anthems for Insubordinates. At the time, the band did not know how to play any instruments. Stopholese suggested his friend, Adam Carson
Adam Carson
Adam Alexander Carson is the drummer of the rock band AFI. He and Davey Havok are the two original members left in the lineup. Carson also filled in as drummer for the band Tiger Army. His drumming can be found on Tiger Army's Early Years EP as well as their debut album Tiger Army...
, who had a drum kit join the band. Stopholese learned guitar and Chalker learned bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, but Chalker was soon replaced by Geoff Kresge
Geoff Kresge
Geoff Kresge is a songwriter, guitarist, bassist, who played with AFI for most of their early career, from 1992 through 1997, and co-wrote the majority of their early material alongside frontman Davey Havok. During an AFI hiatus in 1993, he briefly moved to New York to join Blanks 77...
and AFI made its first EP in recording Dork
Dork (EP)
Dork is an EP by American alternative rock band AFI, released on March 2, 1993 on Key Lime Pie Records. It is a split 7" with Loose Change , with AFI's Dork on one side and Loose Change's Stick Around on the other side.This was AFI's first release, put out within a year of forming, and was limited...
(1993) with the now defunct Loose Change, which included future AFI guitarist Jade Puget
Jade Puget
Jade Errol Puget is the guitarist for the alternative rock band AFI , and the keyboardist/synthesizer operator for the electronic duo Blaqk Audio. Puget is vegetarian and straight edge....
. In regards to AFI's beginnings, Davey Havok laughed in a 1999 interview, "We were amazed that we even got our shit together enough to put out a split 7-inch with Jade's band at the time."
AFI disbanded when its members attended different colleges, including UC Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
where members of the band lived and practiced for a time in the basement of the Delta Chi
Delta Chi
Delta Chi or D-Chi is an international Greek letter college social fraternity formed on October 13, 1890,at Cornell University, initially as a professional fraternity for law students. On April 29, 1922, Delta Chi became a general membership social fraternity, eliminating the requirement for men...
fraternity house on Channing Way. Kresge moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where he played with Blanks 77
Blanks 77
Blanks 77 is an American street punk band active from 1990–2001, and again from 2004 onward. Originally based in Hillside, New Jersey, they are currently located in Denville....
. Following reuniting to perform a live show at the Phoenix Theater
Phoenix Theater
The Phoenix Theater is an all-ages club located in Petaluma, California which has been in existence since 1905, and has been subject to many changes in both structure and purpose, mostly due to severe damage caused by multiple fires. - History :...
in Petaluma, California
Petaluma, California
Petaluma is a city in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. In the 2010 Census the population was 57,941.Located in Petaluma is the Rancho Petaluma Adobe, a National Historic Landmark. It was built beginning in 1836 by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then Commandant of the San...
, the other members decided to drop out of college to play full-time with AFI after the enjoyable performance and positive response from the audience of about 200. Between 1993 and 1995 the band released several vinyl EPs (Behind the Times
Behind the Times
Behind the Times is an EP by AFI released on 11 June 1993 on Key Lime Pie Records. This release was limited to 500 copies, in addition to test pressings. The 1st pressing of 400 and a 2nd pressing of 100 all on black vinyl. They can be distinguished, as the first pressing of the vinyl is...
; Eddie Picnic's All Wet
Eddie Picnic's All Wet
Eddie Picnic's All Wet is a live EP by American rock band AFI. It was released on March 18, 1994 through Key Lime Pie Records. The 7" only pressed 200 copies on pink vinyl. The second pressing was limited to 100. It is currently out of print....
; This Is Berkeley, Not West Bay
This Is Berkeley, Not West Bay
This Is Berkeley, Not West Bay is a 7" EP released in 1994 on Zafio Records, and featuring AFI, Screw 32, Dead and Gone, and Black Fork. There were 2 identical pressings in 1994 and 1995, both on black vinyl. The first was 2,000, the 2nd was 1,000....
; AFI/Heckle
AFI/Heckle Split
The AFI / Heckle split single was released in late 1995 by Wingnut Records. AFI's tracks were later re-recorded for their second full-length release, Very Proud of Ya.-Track listing:Side 1 – AFI# "Aspirin Free" – 2:40...
; Bombing the Bay
Bombing the Bay
"Bombing the Bay!" is a split 7" single by Californian punk rock bands AFI and Swingin' Utters.Originally released in 1995 on Sessions Records, it was later re-released with the label's new logo.-Track listing:# "Values Here" – 2:17...
; Fly in the Ointment) independently.
Their first full-length, Answer That and Stay Fashionable
Answer That and Stay Fashionable
Answer That and Stay Fashionable is the debut studio album by American rock band AFI. It was originally released on August 1, 1995 through Wingnut Records. It was re-released on April 22, 1997 through Nitro Records.-Background:...
was released August 11, 1995 on Wingnut Records, and was produced by Tim Armstrong
Tim Armstrong
Timothy Lockwood Armstrong is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with punk rock bands Rancid, Operation Ivy, Downfall, and the Transplants. He is also the owner and operator of Hellcat Records.-Personal life:Armstrong was born November 25, 1965 and was...
. The album featured fast and upbeat hardcore songs, with humorous lyrical themes, which are well-vocalized in songs such as "Nyquil", "Cereal Wars", and "I Wanna Get a Mohawk (But Mom Won't Let Me Get One)". The album's cover is a parody of the film Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs is an American crime film marking debut of director and writer Quentin Tarantino. It depicts the events before and after a botched diamond heist, but not the heist itself. Reservoir Dogs stars an ensemble cast: Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, and...
s promotional poster. The album title takes root from a quote spoken in British TV show The Comic Strip Presents. Audio samples from both films/shows and European Vacation are featured in several of the album's tracks, namely "Don't Make Me Ill" and "High School Football Hero".
AFI signed on to Nitro Records, Dexter Holland
Dexter Holland
Bryan Keith "Dexter" Holland is the singer and rhythm guitarist for the California punk rock band The Offspring...
of the Offspring
Offspring
In biology, offspring is the product of reproduction, of a new organism produced by one or more parents.Collective offspring may be known as a brood or progeny in a more general way...
's label. They would remain with the label until the release of the 336 EP.
In 1996, AFI then released their second album, Very Proud of Ya
Very Proud of Ya
On iTunes, two songs were misspelled. "Fishbowl" was misspelled "Fishbool" and "Modern Epic" was mistakenly "Modern Epidemic" but those were later corrected.-Personnel:*Producer: Michael Rosen, AFI*Engineer: Michael Rosen*Recorded At: TML Studios, Hayward, CA...
. The songs "Cruise Control" and "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" from Very Proud of Ya were used in the 1996 independent film Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore
Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore
Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore is an independent film written, directed and produced by the self anointed "Queen of Underground Film", Sarah Jacobson. It's a film about a teenage girl named Mary Jane who is curious about sex and thinks that by having sex she will become "cool". It focuses on the...
, which was first screened in 1997 and also featured Havok in a small role. The album is longer than Answer That and Stay Fashionable. Two songs from their previous album, namely Yurf Rendenmein and Two of A Kind, were re-recorded for this album.
After several tours in support of the album Very Proud of Ya, Kresge decided to leave the group. His spot was filled by Hunter Burgan
Hunter Burgan
Hunter Lawrence Burgan is an American multi-instrumentalist. He is the third and current bass guitarist of AFI.-Biography:Burgan grew up in Grass Valley, California. He is vegan.-Career:...
for the remaining Very Proud of Ya tour dates. Burgan went on to help AFI record Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes
Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes
Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes is the third studio album by American rock band AFI. It was released on November 11, 1997 through Nitro Records.-Background:...
(1997) and was invited to become the full-time bassist. Future AFI guitarist Jade Puget also provided background vocals on Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes, making it the first album to feature all four current members of the band. The release of Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes is also notable because AFI started to gather a larger following.
Black Sails, All Hallow's EP and Art of Drowning (1999–2002) After recording the A Fire Inside EP
A Fire Inside EP
A Fire Inside is an EP by American rock band AFI. It was released on September 29, 1998 through Nitro Records. The EP title is a quote from the introductory track on their previous album Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes, as well as the band name's permanent abbreviation. The EP includes two...
(1998), Stopholese left the band and was replaced by Jade Puget
Jade Puget
Jade Errol Puget is the guitarist for the alternative rock band AFI , and the keyboardist/synthesizer operator for the electronic duo Blaqk Audio. Puget is vegetarian and straight edge....
, former member of Influence 13 and vocalist Havok's close friend. The band then recorded Black Sails in the Sunset
Black Sails in the Sunset
Black Sails in the Sunset is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band AFI. It was released on May 18, 1999 through Nitro Records.-Release:Black Sails in the Sunset was released on May 18, 1999 through Nitro Records...
(1999), a musical turning point which introduced AFI fans to a much darker sound, mixing the band's original hardcore roots with dark romantic
Dark romanticism
Dark Romanticism is a literary subgenre. It has been suggested that Dark Romantics present individuals as prone to sin and self-destruction, not as inherently possessing divinity and wisdom. G. R...
influences (a poem by Charles Baudelaire
Charles Baudelaire
Charles Baudelaire was a French poet who produced notable work as an essayist, art critic, and pioneering translator of Edgar Allan Poe. His most famous work, Les Fleurs du mal expresses the changing nature of beauty in modern, industrializing Paris during the nineteenth century...
, "De profundis clamavi," is present in the hidden track "Midnight Sun") and an emphasis on a more somber atmosphere and lyrics. The influence of the Deathrock
Deathrock
Deathrock is a term used to identify a sub-genre of punk rock incorporating horror elements and spooky atmospherics, that emerged on the West Coast of the United States in 1979.-Characteristics:...
and Goth rock scenes was also apparent. During this period their style was mostly referred to as horror punk
Horror punk
Horror punk is a music genre that mixes Gothic and punk rock sounds with morbid imagery and lyrics, which are often influenced by horror films...
or "gothic punk." Offspring frontman Dexter Holland
Dexter Holland
Bryan Keith "Dexter" Holland is the singer and rhythm guitarist for the California punk rock band The Offspring...
was featured as a backing vocalist on two tracks: "Clove Smoke Catharsis" and "The Prayer Position".
The All Hallows EP (October 5, 1999) further explored the horror punk genre, featuring artwork and lyrics containing Halloween themes. The EP spawned the single "Totalimmortal", a track later covered by The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
for the Me, Myself and Irene
Me, Myself and Irene
Me, Myself & Irene is a 2000 American comedy film directed by the Farrelly Brothers, and starring Jim Carrey and Renée Zellweger. Chris Cooper, Robert Forster, Richard Jenkins, Daniel Greene, Anthony Anderson, Jerod Mixon, and Mongo Brownlee co-star...
soundtrack. It received a fair amount of radio play and exposed AFI to larger audiences. The Boy Who Destroyed The World from the All Hallows EP was featured in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, often abbreviated to THPS3, is a skateboarding video game in the Tony Hawk's series. It was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision in 2001 for the Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation. In 2002, it was published for the...
video game. All Hallow's also featured a cover of the Misfits song "Halloween".
On September 19, 2000, AFI released The Art of Drowning, which debuted on the Billboard Charts at number 174, and peaked at number 9 on the Heatseekers chart. It continued to touch base with the horror punk genre, but expanded into styles that were a departure from previous works. The album featured slower, more melodic songs that were more reminiscent of alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, such as "Ever and a Day" and "6 to 8". Still, the presence of hardcore influences was imminent in most of the album, flaunted most on tracks like "Smile", "The Lost Souls", and "Catch a Hot One". The album brought the band unprecedented success in the underground scene, selling in excess of 100,000 copies. "The Days of the Phoenix
The Days of the Phoenix
"The Days of the Phoenix" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was the only single released from their fifth studio album The Art of Drowning in 2000.-Background:...
" was released as a single and video and, like "Totalimmortal," had some moderate mainstream success, garnering the band more TV and radio airplay. The song even managed to reach the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
with its titular EP in 2001, peaking at number 152. The Art of Drownings success helped to encourage the band to pursue higher mainstream notoriety.
Mainstream success, Sing the Sorrow and Decemberunderground (2003–2007)
In 2002, AFI left Nitro RecordsNitro Records
Nitro Records is an independent record label created and owned by Dexter Holland and Greg Kriesel . They started the label in 1994. The label is famous for being an incubator for punk rock artists who have subsequently become successful, most notably AFI...
. A&R Luke Wood signed them to DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
following intense record label interest. Their first album for the label, Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow
Sing the Sorrow is the sixth studio album by American rock band AFI. It was released on March 11, 2003 through DreamWorks Records. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Platinum in December 2004 by the RIAA. The album was supported by three singles, "Girl's Not Grey", "The Leaving...
, was released in 2003. The songs "Girl's Not Grey
Girl's Not Grey
"Girl's Not Grey" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released as the debut single from their sixth studio album Sing the Sorrow in 2003. It is the band's third most successful single, peaking at #7 on the Alternative Songs Chart and #14 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Chart...
", "The Leaving Song Pt. II", and "Silver and Cold
Silver and Cold
"Silver and Cold" is a power ballad by American rock band AFI. It was the third single released from their sixth studio album Sing The Sorrow in 2003. A music video directed by John Hillcoat was made for the song...
" had some Billboard chart success and exposed the band to even larger audiences. They were nominated in the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
for the MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
award category for the "Girl's Not Grey" video, which came to be their first VMA.
In June 2006, AFI's seventh studio album, Decemberunderground
Decemberunderground
Decemberunderground is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band AFI. The album was released on June 6, 2006 through Interscope Records. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 182,000 in its first week. The album certified Gold by the RIAA on August 30, 2006 and has sold...
, was released on Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. The album's first single "Miss Murder
Miss Murder
"Miss Murder" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released on April 3, 2006 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground. It was initially scheduled to premiere on LIVE 105 on April 13, 2006, however, it was released early due to overwhelming fan reaction. It was...
" reached #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Charts. The release reflects the continually changing and growing fan base of the band, and the album debuted as No. 1 on the Billboard charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
. The album has been certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of over 500,000 copies of the album. Also, the band's second single, "Love Like Winter
Love Like Winter
"Love Like Winter" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released as the second single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground on September 26, 2006. A music video for the song premiered on TRL on September 26, 2006 and was directed by Marc Webb, who has also directed previous...
", enjoyed tremendous success on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
and was retired after 40 days on the countdown.
On December 12, 2006, AFI released their first DVD I Heard a Voice – Live from Long Beach Arena, featuring a live performance shot in Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
On January 20, 2007, AFI played "Miss Murder" and "Love Like Winter" on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
. Although the band performed "Love Like Winter" according to plan, technical difficulties occurred during their set of "Miss Murder," in which Davey's microphone went out during various parts of the song.
Though "The Missing Frame
The Missing Frame
"The Missing Frame" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released as the third single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground on February 27, 2007...
" was originally supposed to be the third single off Decemberunderground, Davey Havok confirmed in the "Ask AFI" section of the Despair Faction message boards that there would not be a video for the song. Havok also confirmed on the same boards that there would be no summer tour that year. Puget began writing some material for the next album.
On July 7, 2007 AFI performed at the American leg
Live Earth concert, New York City
The Live Earth concert for North America was held at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA on July 7, 2007.-Running order:In order of appearance:*Kenna - "Out Of Control", "Face The Gun", "Sun Red Sky Blue"...
of Live Earth
Live Earth
-Background:Founded by Emmy-winning producer Kevin Wall, in partnership with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action...
. They performed "The Missing Frame," "Love Like Winter," "Miss Murder," and a cover of David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's "Ziggy Stardust
Ziggy Stardust (song)
"Ziggy Stardust" is a song written by David Bowie in 1972 for the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The name Stardust was inspired by the Legendary Stardust Cowboy...
".
AFI released a live album called I Heard a Voice – Live from Long Beach Arena. This was released on iTunes on November 13, 2007. It features all the songs from the 2006 DVD I Heard a Voice – Live from Long Beach Arena, including notable hits from past AFI records such as: "Miss Murder", "Girl's Not Grey," "The Leaving Song Pt. II," and "The Days of the Phoenix
The Days of the Phoenix
"The Days of the Phoenix" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was the only single released from their fifth studio album The Art of Drowning in 2000.-Background:...
".
Begin Transmission and Crash Love (2007–present)
"Carcinogen CrushCarcinogen Crush
"Carcinogen Crush" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was originally written for their sixth studio album Sing The Sorrow, but the band felt that it did not fit on the album. It was re-recorded during the recording sessions of their seventh studio album Decemberunderground, but was not...
" was made available as a downloadable song exclusively for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game, the third main installment in the Guitar Hero series, and the fourth title overall...
by obtaining a code from purchasing the official soundtrack of the game. The song was later released as a digital single on December 4, 2007.
A new EP was set for a December release, however, Havok announced through the Despair Faction forums that it would not be available until early 2008. The EP was to contain previously unreleased songs from the Decemberunderground and Sing the Sorrow sessions. Adam later revealed more details, noting that some of the songs would be new and never before heard, some fans may have heard (like "Carcinogen Crush"), and some fans may know about but never have heard before. It was later announced that the EP would be released after Crash Love
Crash Love
Crash Love is the eighth studio album by the rock band AFI. Produced by Joe McGrath and Jacknife Lee, it was released on September 29, 2009 through Interscope Records.- Background and recording :...
, but then Havok said that due to political issues, it would not be released. The songs that were to be on the EP would instead be distributed on various versions of Crash Love.
In December 2008, the band released a video through YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
revealing a contest for the upcoming album called Begin Transmission. It invited fans to make videos, telling the band about themselves in two minutes or less. Lead singer Davey Havok
Davey Havok
David Paden Marchand , more commonly known by the stage name Davey Havok, is the lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI and the electronic music band Blaqk Audio....
posted a video on December 19 that thanked the fans for their support and said he had watched every video up to that point (about 43 videos at the time). The contest ended on January 5, and fans were given the ability to score many of the videos themselves. The fans who won met the band and provided backing vocals for "I Am Trying Very Hard to Be Here", a song on the new album.
In late February it was confirmed via press release that AFI's eighth studio album would be titled Crash Love and that they would be embarking on a summer tour in support of it. In July 2009, Havok released a statement saying that after two years of writing and recording, the upcoming album would be released on September 29, 2009. It was recorded with producer David Bottrill (who was later dismissed in favor of Joe McGrath and Jacknife Lee
Jacknife Lee
Garret "Jacknife" Lee is an Irish music producer and mixer. He has worked with a variety of artists, including The Cars, U2, R.E.M., Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, AFI, The Hives, Weezer, Vega4 and Editors.-Biography:...
). AFI previewed Crash Love on their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page for two days starting September 22, 2009, seven days ahead of the official album release.
In a 2009 interview with theywillrockyou.com, Jade Puget stated that Crash Love was written in a hotel on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. In regards to the process of writing with Davey, Puget said "I’ve got my guitar and he’s got his tape recorder ... anything can happen. We don’t know what kind of song we’re going to write; it could be the best song you’ve ever written or nothing, just the amount of possibilities is exciting to me."
The first single from the album, "Medicate
Medicate
"Medicate" is a song by the American rock band AFI, released as the first single from their 2009 album Crash Love. It was released as a music download through iTunes on August 25, 2009, and made its radio airplay premiere on September 1. It reached #7 on Billboards Alternative Songs chart and #16...
", was released on August 25, 2009 and reached number 7 on the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart. A music video directed by Paul Minor premiered October 2. In January 2010, AFI released a teaser for the video of their new single "Beautiful Thieves
Beautiful Thieves
"Beautiful Thieves" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released as a single from their eighth studio album Crash Love and was released to radio on November 23, 2009. It peaked at #23 on the Alternative Songs chart and #48 on the Rock Songs chart....
". The full video officially premiered on February 4, 2010 on MTV television networks and websites.
AFI toured the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with Sick of It All
Sick of It All
Sick of It All is an American hardcore punk band from Queens, New York. Formed in 1986, the band consisted of brothers Lou Koller on vocals and Pete Koller on lead guitar, Rich Cipriano on bass, and Armand Majidi on drums. There have been only two member changes since their inception, with Max...
and The Dear & Departed
The Dear & Departed
The Dear & Departed is a rock band from Orange County and Los Angeles, California, founded by Dan Smith. Founded in 2006, the band went on the Vans Warped Tour and released their debut album the same year. In 2007 the band again played on the tour, and some other tours followed...
in April 2010, and supported Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
on their summer 2010 U.S. tour.
On September 8, 2011, a post was made to the band's official forum, DespairFaction.com, from frontman Davey Havok's forum account, which said that the band had split up. This was shortly confirmed by the management to be a hoax, and the thread in question was deleted.
Band members
Current- Davey HavokDavey HavokDavid Paden Marchand , more commonly known by the stage name Davey Havok, is the lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI and the electronic music band Blaqk Audio....
– lead vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
(1991–present) - Adam CarsonAdam CarsonAdam Alexander Carson is the drummer of the rock band AFI. He and Davey Havok are the two original members left in the lineup. Carson also filled in as drummer for the band Tiger Army. His drumming can be found on Tiger Army's Early Years EP as well as their debut album Tiger Army...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, backing vocals (1991–present) - Hunter BurganHunter BurganHunter Lawrence Burgan is an American multi-instrumentalist. He is the third and current bass guitarist of AFI.-Biography:Burgan grew up in Grass Valley, California. He is vegan.-Career:...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(1997–present) - Jade PugetJade PugetJade Errol Puget is the guitarist for the alternative rock band AFI , and the keyboardist/synthesizer operator for the electronic duo Blaqk Audio. Puget is vegetarian and straight edge....
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
, backing vocals (1998–present)
Former
- Vic Chalker – bass, backing vocals (1991–1992)
- Geoff KresgeGeoff KresgeGeoff Kresge is a songwriter, guitarist, bassist, who played with AFI for most of their early career, from 1992 through 1997, and co-wrote the majority of their early material alongside frontman Davey Havok. During an AFI hiatus in 1993, he briefly moved to New York to join Blanks 77...
– bass, backing vocals (1992–1997) - Mark Stopholese – guitars, backing vocals (1991–1998)
Discography
Studio albums- Answer That and Stay FashionableAnswer That and Stay FashionableAnswer That and Stay Fashionable is the debut studio album by American rock band AFI. It was originally released on August 1, 1995 through Wingnut Records. It was re-released on April 22, 1997 through Nitro Records.-Background:...
(1995) - Very Proud of YaVery Proud of YaOn iTunes, two songs were misspelled. "Fishbowl" was misspelled "Fishbool" and "Modern Epic" was mistakenly "Modern Epidemic" but those were later corrected.-Personnel:*Producer: Michael Rosen, AFI*Engineer: Michael Rosen*Recorded At: TML Studios, Hayward, CA...
(1996) - Shut Your Mouth and Open Your EyesShut Your Mouth and Open Your EyesShut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes is the third studio album by American rock band AFI. It was released on November 11, 1997 through Nitro Records.-Background:...
(1997) - Black Sails in the SunsetBlack Sails in the SunsetBlack Sails in the Sunset is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band AFI. It was released on May 18, 1999 through Nitro Records.-Release:Black Sails in the Sunset was released on May 18, 1999 through Nitro Records...
(1999) - The Art of Drowning (2000)
- Sing the SorrowSing the SorrowSing the Sorrow is the sixth studio album by American rock band AFI. It was released on March 11, 2003 through DreamWorks Records. It debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Platinum in December 2004 by the RIAA. The album was supported by three singles, "Girl's Not Grey", "The Leaving...
(2003) - DecemberundergroundDecemberundergroundDecemberunderground is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band AFI. The album was released on June 6, 2006 through Interscope Records. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 182,000 in its first week. The album certified Gold by the RIAA on August 30, 2006 and has sold...
(2006) - Crash LoveCrash LoveCrash Love is the eighth studio album by the rock band AFI. Produced by Joe McGrath and Jacknife Lee, it was released on September 29, 2009 through Interscope Records.- Background and recording :...
(2009)