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AFI (band)

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The New AFI logo as of April 11th
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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 hardcore punk 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.

Contents

Biography

AFI formed in 1991 while the members were attending high school in Ukiah, California. Adam Carson and Davey Havok became friends through mutual friends. Adam used his father's drum kit, Davey (a member of the school choir) exhibited talent as a singer, and they were joined by guitarist Mark Stopholese. A Fire Inside made their first foray in recording with the EP Dork (1993) with the band Loose Change, which included future AFI guitarist Jade Puget.

AFI disbanded when its members attended different colleges, including the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Santa Barbara. The original bassist Geoff Kresge moved to New York where he played with the band Blanks 77. After reuniting to perform a live show, the members decided to drop out of college and play in the band full-time. Between 1993 and 1995 they released many vinyl EPs (Behind the Times; Eddie's Picnic All Wet; This is Berkeley, Not West Bay; AFI/Heckle, and Fly in the Ointment) independently. They released their debut full-length album Answer That and Stay Fashionable in 1995 with Wingnut Records; it was re-released in 1997 by Nitro Records. Their second album, Very Proud of Ya, was released in 1996 on the Nitro label, after which bassist Geoff Kresge decided to leave the group. Bassist Hunter Burgan (formerly of The Force) filled in for Kresge for the Very Proud of Ya tour. He went on to help AFI record Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes and was invited to become the new bassist.

After recording the A Fire Inside EP for Adeline Records in 1998, Mark left the band and was replaced by Jade Puget. Following the new approach they had taken on the A Fire Inside EP, the band recorded Black Sails in the Sunset (Nitro 1999), a musical turning point. On this album as well as All Hallow's (Nitro 1999), other EPs, and The Art of Drowning (Nitro 2000), their original hardcore roots are still apparent, but more gothic influences were apparent.[[Citing sources citation needed]] The Offspring covered AFI's Totalimmortal (All Hallow's EP) for the soundtrack of Me, Myself & Irene (2000). It got a fair amount of radio play, and helped in exposing AFI to larger audiences. The lead singer of The Offspring, Dexter Holland, at the time owned the label AFI was signed to (Nitro Records), and was featured as a backing vocalist on a number of Black Sails in the Sunset tracks.

Their next album, Sing the Sorrow, was released on the DreamWorks label on March 11, 2003. This album displays a different musical approach and has lost some of the aggressive punk sound of previous albums.[[Citing sources citation needed]] AFI's seventh album, Decemberunderground, was released on May 29, 2006 in the UK and June 6, 2006 (06/06/06) in the U.S. The album displays an even larger change in sound for AFI, featuring many more electronic, pop and New Wave [Allmusic.com] elements and (on some tracks) even emo elements. The release reflects the continually changing and growing fan base of the band, and the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts.

Other Notes

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

Compilations

Videos

Footnotes

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External links

 

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