American Steel
Encyclopedia
American Steel is an American punk rock
band formed in 1995 in Oakland, California
. When offered their first show, the group took their name from the block-long sign on the warehouse across the street. After playing at parties and smaller venues around the Bay Area for over a year, and undergoing several lineup changes, the band bought a van and embarked on their first tour of the US, lasting 32 days and covering 12,000 miles.
After returning from tour, American Steel record their eponymous first album for San Francisco's New Disorder Records
.
In the spring of 1999, American Steel signed to Lookout! and released Rogue's March in October 1999. The recording process was intermittent, due to guitarist Ryan's initial diagnosis and early battle with leukemia
. 2000 saw the band tour in both the U.S. and Canada, including appearances at South by Southwest
and CMJ
. Their third full-length, Jagged Thoughts followed in 2001.
Following this, American Steel changed their name and sound in 2002, becoming Communiqué
.
The band reunited in 2007, and signed to Fat Wreck Chords
. They released a new album entitled Destroy Their Future on October 2, 2007. They toured with Alkaline Trio
in the summer of 2008 and with Donots
in the fall of 2008 in europe. In March 2009 they announced recording had begun on a second album for Fat Wreck Chords, Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts
, which was released July 21, 2009.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band formed in 1995 in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. When offered their first show, the group took their name from the block-long sign on the warehouse across the street. After playing at parties and smaller venues around the Bay Area for over a year, and undergoing several lineup changes, the band bought a van and embarked on their first tour of the US, lasting 32 days and covering 12,000 miles.
After returning from tour, American Steel record their eponymous first album for San Francisco's New Disorder Records
New Disorder Records
New Disorder Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California.-History:Ernst Schoen-René formed the label in 1993 with the release of Skinhead Magnet's 10" EP...
.
In the spring of 1999, American Steel signed to Lookout! and released Rogue's March in October 1999. The recording process was intermittent, due to guitarist Ryan's initial diagnosis and early battle with leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. 2000 saw the band tour in both the U.S. and Canada, including appearances at South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
and CMJ
CMJ Music Marathon
CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival is put on by CMJ Network. CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival 2010 is scheduled for October 19–23 and will be headquartered at New York University and other downtown NYC venues.- History :...
. Their third full-length, Jagged Thoughts followed in 2001.
Following this, American Steel changed their name and sound in 2002, becoming Communiqué
Communiqué (band)
Communiqué is an indie rock band from the San Francisco Bay Area. The band originated as American Steel, but decided to record under the name Communiqué during the taping of A Crescent Honeymoon in 2002 because the synth-rock sound did not match the punk style of American Steel.-Band members:*Rory...
.
The band reunited in 2007, and signed to Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
. They released a new album entitled Destroy Their Future on October 2, 2007. They toured with Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
in the summer of 2008 and with Donots
Donots
-Albums:-Compilation albums:-Split albums:-Exclusive compilation tracks:-Singles:-Videography:-Music videos:-External links:***** with Truepunk.com * with Truepunk.com * with Truepunk.com...
in the fall of 2008 in europe. In March 2009 they announced recording had begun on a second album for Fat Wreck Chords, Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts
Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts
Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts is the fifth studio album by Oakland punk band American Steel, released on Fat Wreck Chords on July 21, 2009....
, which was released July 21, 2009.
Members
- Rory Henderson- Vocals, Guitar
- Ryan Massey- Guitar, Vocals
- John Peck- Bass, Vocals
- Scott Healy- Drums
7-inch singles and EPs
- Hope Wanted (1996)
- Every New Morning (Cheetah RecordsCheetah RecordsCheetah Records was started in Orlando, Florida by Tom Reich in 1988 and distributed music belonging primarily to the rap music subgenera Miami Bass. Cheetah started small with Reich selling tapes out of the trunk of his car. Cheetah’s growth accelerated after Orlando native DJ Magic Mike was...
, 1998) - Fat ClubFat ClubThe Fat Club is a series of twelve 7-inch singles released monthly by Fat Wreck Chords from February 2001 to January 2002. Limited numbers of each single were pressed; They were not available for sale individually, but were distributed by postal service to those who purchased a subscription to the...
7" (Fat Wreck ChordsFat Wreck ChordsFat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
, 2000)
Full-length albums
- American Steel (New Disorder, 1998)
- Rogue's MarchRogue's MarchRogue's March is the second album by Oakland punk band American Steel. It was released in 1999 by Lookout Records.-Track listing:# "Loaded Gun" - 1:59# "Every New Morning" - 3:04# "Graveyards" - 1:57# "Got a Backbeat" - 2:55# "Rogue's March" - 2:12...
(Lookout!, 1999) - Jagged ThoughtsJagged ThoughtsJagged Thoughts is the third album by Oakland punk band American Steel. It was released in 2001 by Lookout Records. The album is a departure from their earlier releases, focusing less on aggressive ska-punk and showing a larger Clash influence....
(Lookout, 2001) - Destroy Their Future (Fat Wreck, 2007)
- Dear Friends and Gentle HeartsDear Friends and Gentle HeartsDear Friends and Gentle Hearts is the fifth studio album by Oakland punk band American Steel, released on Fat Wreck Chords on July 21, 2009....
(Fat Wreck, 2009)
Compilation appearances
- "One Of These Days (demo)" from Worse Than Alternative: Its Another Punk Comp 1997
- "Latchkey Kid" (alternate), "Whos Counting?" from Ramencore 1997 [both exclusive]
- "Close Enough Away" from Live at KZSU 1998 [live]
- "Loaded Gun (demo)" from This Ain't Rocket Science 1999
- "Got A Backbeat" [taken from Rogue's March], from Lookout! Freakout (Lookout!, 2000)
- "Turn It Out" [taken from Jagged Thoughts] and "Shrapnel (demo version)" [exclusive track], from Lookout! Freakout episode 2 (Lookout!, 2001)
- "More Like A Dream", from Lookout! Freakout episode 3 (Lookout!, 2003) [exclusive track]
- "Maria" from Kitestringing: The Prison Literature Project [album version]
- "Trust" from A Little Something For Everyone (New Disorder) [album version]
- "Mean Streak" from Hanuk-Comp: From The Dreidel To The Grave (Fat Wreck Chords, 2008) [album version]
- "Dead And Broken" from Let Them Know: The Story Of Youth Brigade And BYO Records (BYO Records, 2009) [Alkaline Trio cover, exclusive]
Soundtrack/Movie appearances
- "New Religion Every Day" from The New GuyThe New GuyThe New Guy is a 2002 American teen comedy directed by Ed Decter. The film tells the story of high school loser Dizzy Gillespie Harrison. Dizzy is an unpopular, high school band geek going through a hellish senior year...
2002 (Courtesy of Lookout! Records) *Not included on feature soundtrack