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AFI (band)

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AFI
File:724128913 l.jpg
Left to right: Adam, Davey, Hunter, and Jade.
Background information
OriginUkiah, California
Years active1991–Present
MembersDavey Havok
Jade Puget
Hunter Burgan
Adam Carson
Past membersMark Stopholese
Geoff Kresge
Vic Chalker
Websitewww.afireinside.net
www.myspace.com/afi
File:Newafilogo.gif
The New AFI logo as of April 11th

AFI (A Fire Inside) is an alternative rock band from Ukiah, California, United States. AFI was formed in 1991 by Davey Havok (vocals), Mark Stopholese (guitar), Vic Chalker (bass) and Adam Carson (drums) in Ukiah, California as a four-piece Punk Rock outfit. Bassist Vic lost interest and was replaced by Geoff Kresge. Kresge left AFI eventually becoming part of the band Tiger Army (now plays for The Horrorpops) and the spot was filled by Hunter Burgan. Eventually, guitarist Mark Stopholese was replaced by Jade Puget, who at the time was in the band Loose Change.


Biography

AFI (A Fire Inside) formed in 1991 when the members were attending high school in Ukiah, California. Adam Carson (drums) and Davey Havok (Vocals) first became friends after playing school soccer together. Adam used his brother's drum kit, Davey (a member of the school choir) exhibited talent as a singer even this early, and they were joined by guitarist Mark Stopholese. A Fire Inside made their first foray in recording with the EP "Dork" (1993), split with the band "Loose Change" featuring future AFI guitarist Jade Puget. Soon after, AFI broke up while its members moved to different colleges, including the University of California, Berkeley where Havok began a double major of English and Psychology and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Geoff Kresge moved to New York where he played with the band "Blanks 77". After reuniting to perform a very successful live show, the members decided to drop out of college and play in the band full-time. Between 1993 and 1995 they released many independently made vinyl EP's ("Behind the Times", "Eddie's Picnic All Wet", "This is Berkeley, Not West Bay", "AFI/Heckle", and "Fly in the Ointment"), and eventually released their debut full-length album Answer That and Stay Fashionable in 1995 on Wingnut Records, later re-released in 1997 on Nitro Records. Their second album, Very Proud of Ya, was released in 1996 by the Nitro Label, after which their bassist Geoff Kresge decided to leave the group for personal reasons. The bassist, Hunter Burgan (formerly of The Force) filled in for Kresge for the tour in support of Very Proud of Ya. He went on to help AFI record Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes and was subsequently invited to become the full time bassist.

After the recording of the A Fire Inside EP in 1998, Mark left the band to be replaced by guitarist Jade Puget, formerly of Redemption 87 and Loose Change, who was critical in forming the band's new sound over the following albums. Following on from the new approach they had taken on the aforementioned A Fire Inside EP (released on Adeline Records) the band recorded their Black Sails in the Sunset (Nitro 1999), a musical turning point. On this album, and the following All Hallow's EP (Nitro 1999), other EPs and the seminal The Art of Drowning album (Nitro 2000) their original hardcore roots were still quite apparent in their musical approach, but more 80s horror punk seemed to appear in the lyrics. Their latest album, Sing the Sorrow was released on the much larger DreamWorks label on March 11, 2003. However, many fans feel this album displays a different musical approach, which has lost some of the punk aggression in favour of a more dance orientated approach to writing. The fans spent some time trying to work out the meaning of the album, and even some aspects remain under question. The seventh AFI album was released on May 29th, 2006 in the UK. Entitled Decemberunderground, the abum displays a turning point in the band. In its review, Kerrang said the album was "an identity crisis for AFI" and gave it 3/5 K's. Guests on the album include Nick 13, members of Throwdown, Day Of Contempt, Eighteen Visions and Bleeding Through, as well as some electronic programming from Ronan of VNV Nation, and vocals from fans. The album will be released on the 6th of June, 2006 (6/6/6). The new single "Miss Murder" premiered on KROQ on April 13th, 2006. Davey was also on the phone during the show. The full track list was announced on April 25th, 2006. The video for their song "Miss Murder" premiered on MTV's TRL on Monday, May 8, 2006. AFI recently announced that the second single from the album will be "Kill Caustic," and will be released sometime in July.

Other Notes

  • AFI was nominated in the MTV Video Music Awards 2003 in the MTV2 award category for the video Girl's Not Grey, which came to be the first VMA they won.
  • They are followed by a devoted fan base called the Despair Faction. Consisting of many fans, the Despair Faction are privy to many added band bonuses which include contacting the band on their website.
  • Some claim that the bands initials do not stand for A Fire Inside. Although Davey Havok claims that the meaning of AFI has always been A Fire Inside with Jade and Hunter, Answer That and Stay Fashionable is copyrighted to "Anthems For Insubordinates," and Very Proud of Ya lists contact information addressed to "Asking For It."
  • On October 7th, 2005, AFI went on KROQ for an interview on the radio. They released an unreleased song from the Sing the Sorrow sessions, entitled "Rabbits are Roadkill on Route 37". This can somewhat explain the picture of a rabbit on the second to last page of the Sing the Sorrow lyric booklet.

Discography

Full Length Albums

The Nitro Records and DreamWorks Records releases were all released in Cassette, 12" vinyl and CD formats.

EPs

Singles

Promotional releases

  • Totalimmortal Promo Single 1999
  • Totalimmortal 1999
  • Wester Promo Single 2000
  • The Art of Drowning Promo mid 2000
  • The Art of Drowning Promo Cassette July 14 2000
  • The Days of the Phoenix Radio Promo 2000
  • AFI: A History early 2003
  • Sing the Sorrow Advance CD early 2003
  • Girl's Not Grey Radio Promo January 2003
  • Sing the Sorrow 4-Track Sampler early 2003
  • Sing the Sorrow 6-Track Sampler early 2003
  • Sing the Sorrow Sampler (Australia) early 2003
  • Sing the Sorrow Test Pressing early 2003
  • Girl's Not Grey Advance Promotional Single January 6 2003
  • Girl's Not Grey March 2003
  • Girl's Not Grey March 2003
  • Girl's Not Grey Single Promo mid April 2003
  • Rockline Promotional Radio Interview CD Set April 21 2003
  • The Leaving Song Pt. II Radio Promo mid 2003
  • The Leaving Song Pt. II Australian Promo mid 2003
  • The Leaving Song Pt. II July 2003
  • Silver and Cold Promotional Single late November 2003
  • Live at the Hard Rock Cafe Promotional CD late November 2003
  • Head Like a Hole Radio Promo 2004
  • Head Like a Hole Australian Promo September 2004

Compilations

Videos

  • He Who Laughs Last... 1996 Video-Single (only)
  • Third Season 1997 Video-Single (only)
  • Totalimmortal 1999 Video-Single (only)
  • The Days of the Phoenix 2000 Video-Single (only)
  • Girl's Not Grey 2003 CD/Video Single
  • The Leaving Song Pt. 2 2003 CD/Video Single
  • Silver and Cold 2003 Video-Single (only)
  • Miss Murder Monday, May 8, 2006 Premiered On MTV During TRL

Footnotes

  1. ^ Also available in the special edition "Sing the Sorrow Special Edition" (Book, CD, and DVD- Clandestine)

See also

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