Against Me! is an American
punk rock band formed in 1997 in
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the historical city (i.e. in the immediate vicinity of downtown Naples) was 19,115. Naples is a principal city of the Naples-Marco Island, Flori ...
, by singer and guitarist
Laura Jane Grace
Laura Jane Grace (born Thomas James Gabel; November 8, 1980) is an American musician best known as the founder, lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the punk rock band Against Me!. In addition to Against Me!, Grace fronts the band Laura ...
. That same year, Grace moved to
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the county seat of Alachua County, Florida, Alachua County, Florida, and the largest city in North Central Florida, with a population of 141,085 in 2020. It is the principal city of the Gainesville metropolitan area, Florida, Gaine ...
, which is considered the band's hometown. Since 2001, the band's lineup has also included guitarist
James Bowman. After releasing three studio albums through
independent record label
An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...
s, Against Me! moved to
Sire Records
Sire Records (formerly Sire Records Company) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Records.
History Beginnings
The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer ...
for 2007's ''
New Wave'', which reached no. 57 on the
''Billboard'' 200. In 2011, the band launched the record label Total Treble.
In 2012, Grace publicly
came out
Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity.
Framed and debated as a privacy issue, coming out of ...
as a
transgender
A transgender (often abbreviated as trans) person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. Many transgender people experience dysphoria, which they seek to alleviate through tr ...
woman. After a long period of line-up changes and uncertainty surrounding the band's future, their sixth studio album, ''
Transgender Dysphoria Blues
''Transgender Dysphoria Blues'' is the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band Against Me!. The album was released on January 21, 2014, by Total Treble Music and Xtra Mile Recordings. The album deals with gender dysphoria, following Lau ...
,'' was released independently in January 2014 to critical and commercial acclaim. The band's seventh full-length, ''
Shape Shift with Me
''Shape Shift with Me'' is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band Against Me!, released on September 16, 2016 on Total Treble Music and Xtra Mile. The title is a lyric from the song "Norse Truth", which appears as track 10. ''Shape S ...
'', was released September 16, 2016.
History
1997–2002: The early years and ''Reinventing Axl Rose''
Against Me! was formed in 1997 by singer/guitarist
Laura Jane Grace
Laura Jane Grace (born Thomas James Gabel; November 8, 1980) is an American musician best known as the founder, lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the punk rock band Against Me!. In addition to Against Me!, Grace fronts the band Laura ...
as a solo act, amidst the breakup of her previous band(s).
The first Against Me! release was an
eponym
An eponym is a person, a place, or a thing after whom or which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. The adjectives which are derived from the word eponym include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''.
Usage of the word
The term ''epon ...
ously titled
demo tape
A demo (shortened from "demonstration") is a song or group of songs typically recorded for limited circulation or for reference use, rather than for general public release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas in a fixed for ...
in 1997. It was self-released in very limited numbers. With the addition of drummer Kevin Mahon, a second demo, ''
Vivida Vis!
The discography of Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me! consists of seven studio albums, four EPs, two live albums, two DVDs, fifteen singles, five demos, and sixteen music videos.
Against Me! was formed in 1997 by singer/gui ...
'' (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.
The band's first EP, ''
Against Me!
Against Me! is an American punk rock band formed in 1997 in Naples, Florida, by singer and guitarist Laura Jane Grace. That same year, Grace moved to Gainesville, Florida, which is considered the band's hometown. Since 2001, the band's lineup ...
'', was released twice through Crasshole Records (once in 1999 and 2000). Grace's longtime friend
James Bowman joined the band for a west coast in support of the EP, traveling in Grace's 1976
Buick LeSabre
The Buick LeSabre is a full-size car made by the division Buick of General Motors from 1959 until 2005. Prior to 1959, this position had been retained by the full-size Buick Special model (1936–58). The "LeSabre", which is French for "the ...
, the engine of which exploded at the end of the tour.
Their first widely distributed release was the EP ''
Crime as Forgiven by Against Me!
''Crime as Forgiven by Against Me!'', or just ''Crime'', was the second EP released by punk band Against Me!. It was one of the first releases to achieve any level of circulation, due to their previous self-titled 12" only having sold 145 copies. ...
'' (2001), released by
Plan-It-X Records
Plan-It-X Records (PIX) was an independent record label. Originally based in Georgetown, Indiana, PIX was based out of Bloomington, Indiana following brief stints in Olympia, Washington, Gainesville, Florida, and Cairo, Illinois. The label re ...
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!
''Crime as Forgiven by Against Me!'', or just ''Crime'', was the second EP released by punk band Against Me!. It was one of the first releases to achieve any level of circulation, due to their previous self-titled 12" only having sold 145 copies. ...
'', they both joined the band on tour to support it. 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,
after which Bowman and Mahon left the band. The band broke up for a few months that year.
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
William Warren Oakes (born January 23, 1981) is an American drummer best known for his eight years spent as the drummer for the punk rock band Against Me!.
On June 8, 2009, Oakes announced that he was leaving the band to pursue a career as a re ...
, and guitarist James Bowman returned in December 2001 during the recording of the band's first album, ''
Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose
''Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose'' (often shortened to ''Reinventing Axl Rose'') is the debut album by the American punk rock band Against Me!, released on March 5, 2002 under No Idea Records. It was the group's first release as a full ban ...
'', released in March 2002 by
No Idea Records
No Idea Records is an American independent record label based in Gainesville, Florida which focuses on punk rock and its sub-styles and produces both vinyl records and compact discs. The label also organizes The Fest, an independently operated ...
. Fridkin left during the summer of 2002 to return to college and was replaced by Andrew Seward of the Tennessee band kill devil hills, and this new lineup released the single "
The Disco Before the Breakdown
"The Disco Before the Breakdown" is the first single by the Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me!, released in November 2002 by No Idea Records. It was the band's first release with bassist Andrew Seward, replacing original bas ...
" (2002). This lineup remained intact until 2009.
2003–2006: ''As the Eternal Cowboy'' and ''Searching for a Former Clarity''
Against Me! signed to
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is a San Francisco, California-based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) in 1990.
The label has released mater ...
and released their second album, 2003's ''
Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy
''Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy'' (sometimes referred to as just ''The Eternal Cowboy'') is the second studio album by the punk rock band Against Me!, released on November 3, 2003 by Fat Wreck Chords. It was the group's first release for th ...
''. It reached no. 36 on
''Billboard'''s Top Independent Albums chart and was supported by singles for "
Cavalier Eternal
"Cavalier Eternal" is a song by the Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me!, released as the first single from their 2003 album '' Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy''. While the album was released by Fat Wreck Chords, the 7-inch ...
" and "
Sink, Florida, Sink
"Sink, Florida, Sink" is a song by the Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me!, released as the second single from their 2003 album ''Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy''. While the album was released by Fat Wreck Chords, the 7-in ...
".
The DVD ''
We're Never Going Home
"We're Never Going Home" is the first DVD release of the Gainesville, Florida folk punk band Against Me!, produced by Jake Burghart and presented by Fat Wreck Chords. The feature presentation of the DVD follows the band on their United States ...
'' followed, documenting their Spring 2004 tour. 2005's ''
Searching for a Former Clarity
''Searching for a Former Clarity'' is the third album by the Gainesville, Florida punk rock band Against Me!, produced by J. Robbins and released on September 6, 2005, by Fat Wreck Chords. Supported by singles and music videos for the songs " ...
'' 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. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
s.
It spawned singles for "
Don't Lose Touch
"Don't Lose Touch" is a song by the Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me!, released as the first single from their 2005 album ''Searching for a Former Clarity''. Like the second single " From Her Lips to God's Ears (The Energizer ...
" and "
From Her Lips to God's Ears (The Energizer)
"From Her Lips to God's Ears (The Energizer)" is a song by the Gainesville, Florida-based punk rock band Against Me!, released as the second single from their 2005 album ''Searching for a Former Clarity''. Like the first single "Don't Lose Touch ...
", which also became the band's first music videos. The live album ''
Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live in London!!!
''Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live in London!!!'' is Against Me!'s first live album, released on Fat Wreck Chords even though the band was signed to Sire Records at the time. It was recorded on March 21, 2006, at the Mean Fiddler venue in L ...
'' followed in 2006.
2007–2010: ''New Wave'' and ''White Crosses''
Against Me! moved to
Sire Records
Sire Records (formerly Sire Records Company) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Records.
History Beginnings
The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer ...
for 2007's ''
New Wave'', produced by
Butch Vig
Bryan David "Butch" Vig (born August 2, 1955) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the drummer and co-producer of the alternative rock band Garbage and the producer of the diamond-selling Nirvana album ''Neve ...
. It debuted at no. 57 on the
''Billboard'' 200 and featured their first charting single, "
Thrash Unreal
"Thrash Unreal" is a single by punk group Against Me!. It is the second single from their album '' New Wave''. It was their first single to chart in the United States, hitting #11 on ''Billboards Alternative Songs chart,[] becoming their high ...
", which reached no. 11 on Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'''s Alternative Songs, Modern Rock Tracks chart.
"
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.
The DVD ''Live at the Key Club'' followed later that year. In 2008, Against Me! supported
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Foo Fighters was initially formed as a one-man project by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl. Following the success of the eponymous debut album, Grohl (lead vocals, guitar) re ...
on a North American tour, and Sire released the
digital
Digital usually refers to something using discrete digits, often binary digits.
Technology and computing Hardware
*Digital electronics, electronic circuits which operate using digital signals
**Digital camera, which captures and stores digital i ...
EP ''
New Wave B-Sides''. 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. No one was harmed.
For the 2008 presidential election, Against Me! partnered with
Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote is a non-profit progressive-aligned organization in the United States whose stated mission is "to engage and build the political power of young Americans."
The organization was founded in 1990 by Virgin Records America Co-Chairman ...
. The PSA features footage of Against Me! performing "Stop!" The new single from their current
Sire Records
Sire Records (formerly Sire Records Company) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Records.
History Beginnings
The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer ...
album New Wave. Directed by Directed by Mark Klasfeld (Foo Fighters, Gnarls Barkley, Jay-Z), it is centered on a red draped polling booth surrounded and inspired by a set of issues that come alive – everything from pro-choice/pro-life protestors defending their position to a soldier peaking through the curtain. The voting booth is a metaphor for all of the issues that are important to individuals that could be changed by voting; everything from health care to the environment. These issues intermix with the band's performance to a point where the voting booth sparks and explodes symbolizing the urgency and nature of this Presidential election. Rock the Vote's partnership with Against Me! is in keeping with the organization's 18-year-history of fusing celebrity, music, and politics in an effort to inspire, engage, and mobilize a generation to action. Rock the Vote taps into the entertainment community and youth culture to engage youth in the political process.
Oakes left the band in June 2009, in part to focus on running his Mexican food restaurant.
In an interview with MTV Oakes wanted it to be known that he wasn't fired, but rather, his leaving the band "was really a mutual decision … it was really amicable." He said he still considers the guys in the band to be "more than friends -- they're family," and added that Boca is already carrying Against Me! guitarist James Bowman's homemade hot sauce on the menu.
Oakes was replaced by
Hot Water Music
Hot Water Music is an American punk rock band formed in October 1994 and based in Gainesville, Florida. Since their formation, the group has consisted of Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard on shared lead vocals and guitars, bass guitarist Jason Bl ...
drummer George Rebelo.
The following month Fat Wreck Chords released ''
The Original Cowboy
''Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy'' (sometimes referred to as just ''The Eternal Cowboy'') is the second studio album by the punk rock band Against Me!, released on November 3, 2003 by Fat Wreck Chords. It was the group's first release for the ...
'', an album of
demo
Demo, usually short for demonstration, may refer to:
Music and film
*Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than release
* ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 recording by the band Behind Crimson Eyes
* ''Demo'' (Deafhea ...
recordings from the ''Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy'' sessions.
On August 17, 2009, Against Me! headed into the studio with ''New Wave'' producer
Butch Vig
Bryan David "Butch" Vig (born August 2, 1955) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the drummer and co-producer of the alternative rock band Garbage and the producer of the diamond-selling Nirvana album ''Neve ...
. Against Me! joined
Billy Talent
Billy Talent is a Canadian Rock music, rock band from Mississauga, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with lead vocalist Benjamin Kowalewicz, guitarist Ian D'Sa, bassist Jonathan Gallant, and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk. There have been no lineup change ...
on tour in Canada in March 2010, and also supported the
Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles that was formed in 2000. The band is composed of Brian Aubert, Nikki Monninger, Christopher Guanlao, and Joe Lester.
The band released their debut EP, '' Pikul'', in July 2 ...
on a tour of the United States that summer, bringing along touring keyboardist
Franz Nicolay
Franz Nicolay (born 1977) is an American musician and writer. He is best known for playing the accordion and piano in The World/Inferno Friendship Society and keyboards in The Hold Steady from 2005 to 2010 and again from 2016 onwards. He is also ...
.
Against Me! released ''
White Crosses
White Crosses (in German: ''Weiße Kreuze'') is a memorial for those who died during the Cold War at the Berlin Wall. It is located at the shore of the river Spree in Berlin next to the Reichstag building, which houses the German parliament. Es ...
'', their second album with Sire, on June 8, 2010 (although it was leaked about 3 months earlier). It was supported by singles for "
I Was a Teenage Anarchist", "
White Crosses
White Crosses (in German: ''Weiße Kreuze'') is a memorial for those who died during the Cold War at the Berlin Wall. It is located at the shore of the river Spree in Berlin next to the Reichstag building, which houses the German parliament. Es ...
", and "
High Pressure Low
"High Pressure Low" is the third single from Against Me!'s fifth studio album '' White Crosses'', released as a 7" vinyl single on December 21, 2010 on Sabot Productions.
Background
Following the recording their fifth studio album, White Crosse ...
" and was their highest-charting album to date, reaching no. 34 on the ''Billboard'' 200.
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."
Against Me! departed from Sire Records on the 29 November 2010. 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
Jay Weinberg is an American musician and the current drummer for the heavy metal band Slipknot. He is the son of drummer Max Weinberg. He has played with the punk rock band the Reveling and toured in 2009 as a drummer with Bruce Springsteen' ...
cover for George Rebelo on drums, as he toured with
Hot Water Music
Hot Water Music is an American punk rock band formed in October 1994 and based in Gainesville, Florida. Since their formation, the group has consisted of Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard on shared lead vocals and guitars, bass guitarist Jason Bl ...
.
Throughout December 2010, Grace spoke of George Rebelo's intentions to record an album with his primary band
Hot Water Music
Hot Water Music is an American punk rock band formed in October 1994 and based in Gainesville, Florida. Since their formation, the group has consisted of Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard on shared lead vocals and guitars, bass guitarist Jason Bl ...
. In January 2011, Weinberg was officially confirmed as Against Me!'s new drummer. ''
Total Clarity
''Searching for a Former Clarity'' is the third album by the Gainesville, Florida punk rock band Against Me!, produced by J. Robbins and released on September 6, 2005, by Fat Wreck Chords. Supported by singles and music videos for the songs "Don ...
'', 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
Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is a San Francisco, California-based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) in 1990.
The label has released mater ...
.
2011–2017: ''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 and that Grace hoped to record Against Me!'s sixth studio album in Winter 2011. 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 One Tree Hill may refer to:
* "One Tree Hill" (song), a 1987 song by U2 referencing One Tree Hill, New Zealand volcanic peak
* ''One Tree Hill'' (TV series), a 2003–2012 American drama series named for the U2 song
** ''One Tree Hill'' (soundtr ...
'', which aired May 3.
On June 3, 2011, the band announced that they started their own record label, Total Treble. In July 2011, the band released "
Black Crosses
''White Crosses'' is Against Me!'s fifth studio album, and their second to be released on Sire Records. As with its predecessor, 2007's '' New Wave'', the album was produced by Butch Vig. It is also the only Against Me! album to feature George R ...
" which were demos /alternate versions of songs from "White Crosses". In September 2011, Grace built a recording studio in
Elkton, Florida
Elkton is an unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most o ...
, for future Against Me! projects. The studio has since been named Total Treble Studio.
The first band to record an album in the studio were
Cheap Girls
Cheap Girls were an American rock band from Lansing, Michigan. The band consisted of brothers Ian Graham (guitar, lead vocals) and Ben Graham (drums, back-up vocals), Jason Draper (Bass) and Adam Aymor (guitar). Formed in 2007, the band quickly ...
from
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, making ...
, with their album ''
Giant Orange
''Giant Orange'' is the third studio album by rock group Cheap Girls, released on February 21, 2012. It was the first release for the band after signing with Rise Records and is available on CD, vinyl and as a digital download. The album was ...
''.
In May 2012 Grace publicly
came out
Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity.
Framed and debated as a privacy issue, coming out of ...
as
transgender
A transgender (often abbreviated as trans) person is someone whose gender identity or gender expression does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. Many transgender people experience dysphoria, which they seek to alleviate through tr ...
, having dealt with
gender dysphoria
Gender dysphoria (GD) is the distress a person experiences due to a mismatch between their gender identitytheir personal sense of their own genderand their sex assigned at birth. The diagnostic label gender identity disorder (GID) was used until ...
since childhood, and began her transition.
"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?
Gender dysphoria is the theme of the band's sixth studio album, an
autobiographical
An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life.
It is a form of biography.
Definition
The word "autobiography" was first used deprecatingly by William Taylor in 1797 in the English peri ...
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
Bryan David "Butch" Vig (born August 2, 1955) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the drummer and co-producer of the alternative rock band Garbage and the producer of the diamond-selling Nirvana album ''Neve ...
, who produced ''New Wave'' and ''White Crosses''.
Instead, Grace was acting as both
recording engineer
An audio engineer (also known as a sound engineer or recording engineer) helps to produce a recording or a live performance, balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization, dynamics processing and audio effects, mixing, reproduction, ...
and
record producer
A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure.Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...
for the album.
Weinberg departed the group that December.
Drummer
Atom Willard
Adam David "Atom" Willard (born August 15, 1973) is an American drummer who has been a member of several notable musical acts. Willard's drumming career began in 1990 when he joined Rocket from the Crypt, with whom he remained until 2000. Subseq ...
filled in with the band for their 2013 Australian tour dates, and was confirmed as the band's new drummer on July 31, 2013. 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 expressed that she felt the band wouldn't have continued under the name Against Me! were it not for the then-upcoming record having a message she wanted to spread. On June 24, 2013, Grace announced that recording for ''Transgender Dysphoria Blues'' was finished. Grace went on a solo tour in August in a handful of east coast US cities in support of the record.
In the first decade of their career, Against Me! had been consistently accused of
selling out
"Selling out", or "sold out" in the past tense, is a common expression for the compromising of a person's integrity, morality, authenticity, or principles by forgoing the long-term benefits of the collective or group in exchange for personal gai ...
, whether because of stylistic choices they made, the record label they chose or the venues they played. Recriminations came both from former fans, who at times attempted to disrupt shows and even threatened violence, and journalists who published accusations against the band and at times advocated action against them. Grace's coming out as transgender won plaudits from many in the punk community for her integrity and rehabilitated the band's reputation.
On July 15, 2013, Against Me! released the "
True Trans
''True Trans'' is an acoustic EP by American punk rock band Against Me!. The band released it as a digital single on July 12, 2013 through their label, Total Treble Music. The two songs on the EP were made available via an email download link to ...
" single for free, featuring the new acoustic song "FUCKMYLIFE666" and the namesake "True Trans Soul Rebel". On August 29, 2013,
Inge Johansson
Inge Rolf Johansson () (born May 10, 1977) is a Swedish musician. He is best known for his time playing bass in bands such as Against Me! and The (International) Noise Conspiracy, of which he was a founding member. Before forming The (Internatio ...
, formerly of
the (International) Noise Conspiracy
The (International) Noise Conspiracy (abbreviated T(I)NC) were a Swedish rock music, rock band formed in Sweden in the late months of 1998. The line-up consists of Dennis Lyxzén (vocals), Inge Johansson (bass), Lars Strömberg (guitar), and Lud ...
and
Refused
Refused (also known as the Refused) is a Swedish hardcore punk band originating from Umeå and formed in 1991. Refused is composed of vocalist Dennis Lyxzén, guitarist Kristofer Steen, drummer David Sandström, and bassist Magnus Flagge. Guit ...
, was confirmed as the new bass player.
On January 21, 2014, Against Me! released ''
Transgender Dysphoria Blues
''Transgender Dysphoria Blues'' is the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band Against Me!. The album was released on January 21, 2014, by Total Treble Music and Xtra Mile Recordings. The album deals with gender dysphoria, following Lau ...
'', their sixth full-length studio album. 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.
In July 2016, the band announced their seventh studio album ''
Shape Shift with Me
''Shape Shift with Me'' is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band Against Me!, released on September 16, 2016 on Total Treble Music and Xtra Mile. The title is a lyric from the song "Norse Truth", which appears as track 10. ''Shape S ...
'' would be released on September 16. The band also immediately released a song from the album, "
333
__NOTOC__
Year 333 ( CCCXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Dalmatius and Zenophilus (or, less frequently, year 108 ...
". On August 10, 2016, a second song, "
Haunting, Haunted, Haunts
"Haunting, Haunted, Haunts" is a song by the punk rock band Against Me!. It was the second song unveiled before the release of their seventh album ''Shape Shift With Me'' on August 10, 2016.
The song was released as part of the 2016 installment ...
" was released via the
Adult Swim Singles Program 2016
An adult is a human or other animal that has reached full growth. In human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings associated with social and legal concepts. In contrast to a "minor", a legal adult is a person who has attained the age of majori ...
. A ''
Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...
''-inspired music video for the song "Crash" was then released on August 22. On September 8, the entire album was available for streaming.
''
Shape Shift with Me
''Shape Shift with Me'' is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band Against Me!, released on September 16, 2016 on Total Treble Music and Xtra Mile. The title is a lyric from the song "Norse Truth", which appears as track 10. ''Shape S ...
'', was released September 16, 2016.
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. Grace revealed in August 2018 that she strongly considered disbanding Against Me! once this show had occurred.
2018–present: Seward's return, forthcoming LP and "2 Nights / 4 Records / 48 Songs" tour
Against Me! played their final 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''. Grace officially announced in July 2018 via Instagram that after performing these shows, Seward had rejoined the band.
In October 2018, the band played two 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''.
Laura Jane Grace announced in July 2018 that the band she had performed previous solo tours with since 2016, the Devouring Mothers, had recently completed a record together. ''
Bought to Rot
''Bought to Rot'' is the debut studio album by American rock band Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers. The group consists of Laura Jane Grace (lead singer of Against Me!), Atom Willard (drummer of Against Me!) and Marc Hudson (long-time ...
'' was released on
Bloodshot Records
Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, which specializes in alternative country.
History
Bloodshot Records was founded in 1994 by Nan Warshaw, Rob Miller, and Eric Babcock, who knew each other from jobs ...
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. The album is said to be heavily influenced by the works of
Rowland S. Howard
Rowland Stuart Howard (24 October 1959 – 30 December 2009) was an Australian rock musician, guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work with the post-punk group The Birthday Party and his subsequent solo career.
Early life
Rowland Stua ...
and
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl Petty (October 20, 1950October 2, 2017) was an American musician who was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch, was a member of the lat ...
, and includes collaborations with other artists.
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.
The band recorded a cover of The
Jim Carroll
James Dennis Carroll (August 1, 1949 – September 11, 2009) was an American author, poet, autobiographer, and punk musician. Carroll was best known for his 1978 autobiographical work '' The Basketball Diaries'', which inspired a 1995 film of ...
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. The band began work on their eighth studio album in February 2019.
In May 2019, the band announced their "2 Nights / 4 Records / 48 Songs" tour. On this North American run, the band performed two shows in each city: The first dedicated to ''Searching for a Former Clarity'' and ''New Wave'', the second dedicated to ''White Crosses'' and ''Transgender Dysphoria Blues''. Support for the shows came from
Chuck Ragan
Charles Allen Ragan (born October 30, 1974) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is the guitarist and vocalist of the band Hot Water Music. Ragan has also released a variety of solo material, including a series of 7-inches on ...
, Toy Guitar,
Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally is a Canadian grunge and alternative rock band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ,
Chris Cresswell
The Flatliners are a Canadian punk rock band from Richmond Hill, Ontario. Since their formation in 2002, the band has been a growing influence in the Toronto punk/ska movement, with consistently well-received albums and live shows.
History ...
, and
Cursive
Cursive (also known as script, among other names) is any style of penmanship in which characters are written joined in a flowing manner, generally for the purpose of making writing faster, in contrast to block letters. It varies in functionalit ...
.
In August 2022, Laura announced on her Patreon that Against Me! were currently in a hiatus and unsure of when they'd play together again.
Band members
Current members
*
Laura Jane Grace
Laura Jane Grace (born Thomas James Gabel; November 8, 1980) is an American musician best known as the founder, lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the punk rock band Against Me!. In addition to Against Me!, Grace fronts the band Laura ...
– lead vocals, rhythm guitar
(1997–present), bass
(1997–2000, 2002, 2013), lead guitar
(1997–2000, 2000, 2001)
*
James Bowman – lead guitar, backing vocals
(2000, 2000–2001, 2001–present)
* Andrew Seward – bass, backing vocals
(2002–2013, 2018–present)
*
Atom Willard
Adam David "Atom" Willard (born August 15, 1973) is an American drummer who has been a member of several notable musical acts. Willard's drumming career began in 1990 when he joined Rocket from the Crypt, with whom he remained until 2000. Subseq ...
– drums, percussion
(2013–present)
Former members
* Kevin Mahon – drums, percussion, backing vocals
(1998–2001)
* Dustin Fridkin – bass, backing vocals
(2000–2002)
*
Warren Oakes
William Warren Oakes (born January 23, 1981) is an American drummer best known for his eight years spent as the drummer for the punk rock band Against Me!.
On June 8, 2009, Oakes announced that he was leaving the band to pursue a career as a re ...
– drums, percussion
(2001–2009)
* George Rebelo – drums, percussion
(2009–2010)
*
Jay Weinberg
Jay Weinberg is an American musician and the current drummer for the heavy metal band Slipknot. He is the son of drummer Max Weinberg. He has played with the punk rock band the Reveling and toured in 2009 as a drummer with Bruce Springsteen' ...
– drums, percussion
(2010–2012)
*
Inge Johansson
Inge Rolf Johansson () (born May 10, 1977) is a Swedish musician. He is best known for his time playing bass in bands such as Against Me! and The (International) Noise Conspiracy, of which he was a founding member. Before forming The (Internatio ...
– bass, backing vocals
(2013–2018)
Touring musicians
*
Franz Nicolay
Franz Nicolay (born 1977) is an American musician and writer. He is best known for playing the accordion and piano in The World/Inferno Friendship Society and keyboards in The Hold Steady from 2005 to 2010 and again from 2016 onwards. He is also ...
– piano, keyboards, accordion, backing vocals
(2010)
* Tyson Yerex – piano, keyboards, guitar
(2009–2010)
* Adam Trachsel – bass
(2010)
* Dustin Fridkin – bass, backing vocals
(2017)
Timeline
Accolades
Discography
Studio albums
*''
Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose
''Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose'' (often shortened to ''Reinventing Axl Rose'') is the debut album by the American punk rock band Against Me!, released on March 5, 2002 under No Idea Records. It was the group's first release as a full ban ...
'' (2002)
*''
Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy
''Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy'' (sometimes referred to as just ''The Eternal Cowboy'') is the second studio album by the punk rock band Against Me!, released on November 3, 2003 by Fat Wreck Chords. It was the group's first release for th ...
'' (2003)
*''
Searching for a Former Clarity
''Searching for a Former Clarity'' is the third album by the Gainesville, Florida punk rock band Against Me!, produced by J. Robbins and released on September 6, 2005, by Fat Wreck Chords. Supported by singles and music videos for the songs " ...
'' (2005)
*''
New Wave'' (2007)
*''
White Crosses
White Crosses (in German: ''Weiße Kreuze'') is a memorial for those who died during the Cold War at the Berlin Wall. It is located at the shore of the river Spree in Berlin next to the Reichstag building, which houses the German parliament. Es ...
'' (2010)
*''
Transgender Dysphoria Blues
''Transgender Dysphoria Blues'' is the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band Against Me!. The album was released on January 21, 2014, by Total Treble Music and Xtra Mile Recordings. The album deals with gender dysphoria, following Lau ...
'' (2014)
*''
Shape Shift with Me
''Shape Shift with Me'' is the seventh studio album by American punk rock band Against Me!, released on September 16, 2016 on Total Treble Music and Xtra Mile. The title is a lyric from the song "Norse Truth", which appears as track 10. ''Shape S ...
'' (2016)
References
External links
*
Against Me!at
Xtra Mile Recordings
Xtra Mile Recordings are a British independent record label based in London, England. The label was founded in 2003 by Charlie Caplowe and they release an eclectic mix of genres with a focus on rock and folk.
History
The label first signed the ...
Against Me!at
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is a San Francisco, California-based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) in 1990.
The label has released mater ...
Against Me!at
No Idea Records
No Idea Records is an American independent record label based in Gainesville, Florida which focuses on punk rock and its sub-styles and produces both vinyl records and compact discs. The label also organizes The Fest, an independently operated ...
{{Authority control
1997 establishments in Florida
Articles which contain graphical timelines
Fat Wreck Chords artists
LGBT-themed musical groups
Musical groups established in 1997
People from Naples, Florida
Musical quartets
Punk rock groups from Florida
Folk punk groups
American alternative rock groups
Sire Records artists
Musical groups from Florida
Queercore groups
Female-fronted musical groups