Ashleigh's Music Page~*~Welcome Home~*~
Good Charlotte
The East Coast post-grunge quartet Good Charlotte is just barely distinctive from the likes of corporate alternative rockers Blink-182 and Third Eye Blind , but the fresh five faces composing this quintet from Maryland first started off in 1996, practically shy of strumming a chord. Vocalist Joel Madden and his twin brother guitarist Benji , who never sang or played an instrument in their lives, were instantly inspired to form a band after seeing the Beastie Boys on their 1995 Ill Communication tour. They soon formed Good Charlotte with high school chums Paul (bass) and Aaron (drums), and Billy (guitar) was added later. They all had a passion for the energetic elements spawned from '70s punk rock, but also sentimental enough for killer ballads found in mainstream corporate rock. Quickly, the band made a name for themselves in and around the D.C. area, playing the WHFS annual rock show HFSFestival in 1998 and 1999. A year later, Good Charlotte issued their self-titled debut on Epic. The Madden brothers scored a gig as MTV VJ's and soon were all over the network's late night rock show All Things Rock. This promotion helped the band greatly, as they spent time behind the scenes writing songs for the new album. By the fall of 2002, Good Charlotte was ready to release The Young & the Hopeless .
Mest
Cousins Tony and Matt Lovato grew up across the street from each other in the Blue Island section of the south side of Chicago and began playing together at seven, borrowing instruments from Tony 's father, with Tony picking up guitar and singing and Matt playing bass. In high school, they hooked up with guitarist Jeremiah Rangel and drummer Nick Gigler . Tony came up with the band name MEST while looking at a case of Milwaukee's Best beer. Playing in local Chicago punk clubs, the group made its own self-released debut album, Mo' Money, Mo' '40s . The band got its first break when Tony wrote to Goldfinger lead singer John Feldmann and got a response. After listening to a demo tape, Feldmann agreed to let MEST open for Goldfinger , got them a record deal with Maverick, and produced their major label debut, Wasting Time , which was released in July 2000. A year later, Mest returned with a cameo-filled (Young MC , Save Ferris ' Monique Powell ) spiky-punk second album entitled Destination Unknown . A self-titled third album, which included a cameo from Good Charlotte 's Benji Madden , appeared in June 2003.
The All-American Rejects
Tyson Ritter (vocals/bass) and Nick Wheeler (guitar/programming) were in junior high when music started to influence them. Both were stuck in the ho-hum life of small-town America. Stillwater, OK, wasn't exactly the most exciting place in the world, so naturally the boys turned to music. While Ritter was staying up late, watching music videos, and rocking out to AC/DC , Wheeler was on the other side of town raiding his sister's music collection of Def Leppard , Poison , and Bon Jovi records. Wheeler soon picked up a guitar and later mastered the drums and piano. By high school, both were music freaks and in their own little cliques. At a party, Ritter spotted Wheeler ; it's safe to say that the spiky rock fun of the All-American Rejects was established right there. Mike Kennerty (guitar) and Chris Gaylor (drums) were added to Wheeler and Ritter 's rascal group by 2000 and the band was official. With production work from Tim O'Heir (Sebadoh , Juliana Hatfield , Superdrag ), the All-American Rejects independently released their self-titled debut on Doghouse in October 2002; several months later it was reissued by DreamWorks
Rancid
One of the cornerstone bands of the '90s punk revival, Rancid's unabashedly classicist sound drew heavily from the Clash 's early records, echoing their left-leaning politics and fascination with ska, while adding a bit of post-hardcore crunch. While some critics dismissed Rancid as derivative, others praised their political commitment, surging energy, and undeniable way with a hook. And, regardless of critical debate over their significance, the band's strengths made them perhaps the most popular neo-punk band after Green Day and the Offspring . Their third album, 1995's ...And Out Come the Wolves , made them a platinum-selling sensation and an inescapable presence on MTV and modern rock radio. While they never translated that success into an enormous blockbuster record (like the aforementioned bands who hit the mainstream first), that wasn't necessarily their ambition, choosing to stay with the independent punk label Epitaph and the creative freedom it allowed them. That decision helped them retain a large, devoted core audience as revivalist punk-pop began to slip off the mainstream's musical radar.
Rancid was formed in 1991 by San Francisco Bay Area punk scenesters Tim Armstrong (guitar/vocals) and Matt Freeman (bass). Lifelong friends and longtime punk fans, the two had grown up together in the small, working-class town of Albany, near Berkeley; they'd also played together in the legendary ska-punk band Operation Ivy , Armstrong as "Lint " and Freeman as Matt McCall . After Op Ivy disbanded in 1989, Armstrong and Freeman spent a few weeks in the ska-punk outfit Dance Hall Crashers , as well as Downfall ; Freeman later briefly joined the hardcore band MDC . Meanwhile, Armstrong was waging a battle with alcoholism (but, fortunately, winning), and to help keep his friend occupied, Freeman suggested they escape their day jobs by forming a new band, which became Rancid. The duo added drummer Brett Reed , Armstrong 's roommate and a familiar presence on the Gilman Street scene where Operation Ivy had cut their teeth. Just a couple of months later, Rancid was performing live around the area, and in 1992 they released a five-song debut EP on Lookout! Records.
The EP caught the attention of Brett Gurewitz and his well-respected Epitaph label, which signed Rancid to a highly favorable contract guaranteeing them a generous amount of creative control. The band's eponymously titled, first full-length album arrived in 1993, pursuing an up-tempo, hardcore/skatepunk style with few hints of early British punk. Rancid had been seeking a second guitarist, and Green Day 's Billie Joe Armstrong even played live with the group at one show. They pursued Lars Frederiksen , a Bay Area resident who'd joined a later incarnation of U.K. Subs and was performing with the band Slip ; Frederiksen initially declined Rancid's invitation to join, but when Slip disbanded, he quickly changed his mind and came along on Rancid's first tour. Frederiksen made his recording debut on the early-1994 EP Radio Radio Radio , a side dalliance on Fat Wreck Chords. Released later that year, Let's Go was the album that made Rancid's name in the punk underground. It marked the beginnings of their fascination with the 1977-era London punk scene, particularly the Clash , and it also provided their first widespread exposure when MTV picked up on the video for the single "Salvation." Let's Go quickly went gold, and with the breakout mainstream success of Green Day and the Offspring that year, major-label interest in Rancid quickly escalated into a full-fledged bidding war (even Madonna 's Maverick imprint got in on the action). Ultimately, Rancid decided that no major could offer them the level of decision-making power that Epitaph had given them, and stayed right where they were.
Rancid scored a major success with their next album, 1995's ...And Out Come the Wolves , whose title was a reference to the near-predatory interest in signing the band. The Clash fetish was even more pronounced, augmented with a greater interest in the original Two-Tone ska revival the Clash had helped influence (bands like the Specials ). "Ruby Soho" was a major MTV and radio hit, and "Time Bomb" and "Roots Radicals" were hits in their own right. The album went platinum and made Rancid one of the most visible punk bands around. They played the 1996 Lollapalooza Tour, and afterwards took a short break, their first since becoming a quartet. During that time, Freeman played with former singer Exene Cervenka in Auntie Christ , while Armstrong set up the Epitaph subsidiary Hellcat; he and Frederiksen both began doing production work for other bands they hoped to spotlight.
Rancid returned in 1998 with the even more ska-heavy Life Won't Wait , a guest-star-loaded affair that featured members of ska bands the Specials and Hepcat , Dicky Barrett of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones , dancehall reggae star Buju Banton , and Agnostic Front vocalist Roger Miret . While it didn't cross over on the level of ...And Out Come the Wolves , it demonstrated that Rancid retained a substantial fan base. For the 2000 follow-up, their second self-titled release, the group largely scrapped their ska-punk side, recording a visceral, hardcore-influenced album that blasted through 22 songs in under 40 minutes (in contrast to its two lengthy predecessors). Perhaps for that reason, Rancid received a highly positive response from the punk community.
A.F.I.
Hardcore punk revivalists A.F.I. (A Fire Inside) originally formed in 1991 when its members - vocalist Davey Havok, guitarist Markus Stopholese, bassist Vick, and drummer Adam Carson were attending high school in Ukiah, California. Vick was replaced by Geoff Kresge after several months, and the band played a few local gigs and released a split 7" with fellow Ukiah natives Loose Change, as well as an EP titled Behind the Times. The band members then split up to attend different colleges, with Kresge temporarily moving to New Jersey to join Blanks 77, and all assumed A.F.I. was defunct. However, the band reconvened during a holiday break from school to play a one-off reunion show, and audience response was so positive that the band members decided to quit school and concentrate on music full-time. A couple of singles preceded a record deal with the Nitro label, which issued the band's debut album, Very Proud of Ya, in 1996. Two LPs followed in 1997, Answer That & Stay Fashionable and Shut Your Mouth & Open Your Eyes, and personnel shifts ensued; Kresge was the first to leave, being replaced by Hunter, and Stopholese departed in favor of ex-Redemption 87 guitarist Jade Puget. The new lineup recorded an EP titled A Fire Inside in 1998, and issued a full-length album in 1999, Black Sails in the Sunset. Art of Drowning followed a year later. In the new millennium, A.F.I. hooked up with Garbage 's Butch Vig for some recording. The end result was Sing the Sorrow , released in March 2003, their major label debut for DreamWorks.
Casualties
The Casualties formed in 1990 out of a desire to return to the heyday of punk, an era that hung on into the early '80s and then started to fall by the wayside in favor of the very early grunge movement, as well as hair metal, synth pop, and new wave. But the band's lineup was far from stable in the early days. The initial lineup consisted of singers Colin and Jorge , drummer Yureesh , guitarist Hank , and bassist Mark . Even this inaugural lineup was shaky, with Colin stepping out for several months to finish his education, and Rivits singer Rachel stepping in to take his place. During this period, the Casualties put together a demo. The following year, the core lineup consisted of Colin , Jorge , Yureesh , and Mark . The band added guitarist Fred when Hank dropped out, and went on to make an appearance on the compilation Benefit for Beer . Soon more changes were in the works, with new guitarist Fred heading off to school. C Squat 's Scott temporarily filled Fred 's shoes until he returned a short time later. During this period, guitarist Hank came and went a second time. Another guitarist, Steve , also played briefly with the group. The Casualties stabilized long enough in the fall of 1991 to put together an EP, 40 Ounce Casualty . By the following year, the band was touring frequently and building up a fan base in its hometown of New York City. In 1993, however, more shakeups were in the works. Bassist Mark and guitarist Fred were out, and Mike and Jake were in to take their respective places. The following year, the band appeared on another compilation, Pogo Attack , and put together a second EP, Drinking Is Our Way of Life . The four-track EP was never issued, but later was incorporated into the band's 1999 release, Early Years 1990 - 1995 . Stability remained elusive, and drummer Yureesh and singer Colin dropped out. Shawn stepped in to take Yureesh 's place. The group put together a third EP, Fuckin' Way of Life , in 1995, the same year that Rivits drummer Meggers took Shawn 's place. Temporarily settled in terms of its lineup, the Casualties traveled to London in 1996 for a performance on the stage of the Holidays in the Sun Festival. The following year, the band put out its first full-length album, For the Punx , and embarked on a tour where it supported the Varukers . Unfortunately, the lineup evolved again the following year, when the Krays ' bassist, Jon , took over when Mike dropped out. Jon stayed long enough to help out on the Underground Army album, but jumped ship during the band's supporting tour across Europe in 1998. To take his place, the band recruited Dave Punk Core , who only stayed until 1999. With the addition of ex-Manix bassist Rick , the group started another tour. More tours of the U.S. and Europe followed in 2000 and 2001
NOFX
Formed in Berkeley, CA, in 1983 and relocating to Los Angeles not long afterwards, NOFX steered clear of major labels and commercial exposure over the course of their career, recording an impressive number of full-lengths albums plus an assortment of EPs and singles. The band started out as a trio comprising vocalist/bassist Fat Mike (Mike Burkett ), guitarist Eric Melvin , and drummer Erik Sandin (aka Erik Ghint /Erik Shun ). Sandin quit in 1985, and his place was taken by Scott Sellers ; that same year, NOFX also recorded two 7" EPs for the Mystic label, No F-X and So What If We're on Mystic? Sellers quit shortly thereafter and was replaced by Scott Aldahl for only two weeks, upon which point Sandin re-joined the band; vocalist Dave Allen also joined in 1986, but his tenure was tragically cut short by a fatal car accident. Dave Casillas joined as a second guitarist later in the year, by which point NOFX's touring schedule had become far-ranging and rigorous. The EP The P.M.R.C. Can Suck on This was released on Fat Mike 's own Fat Wreck Chords label in 1987. Casillas departed the group in 1989 and was replaced by Steve Kidwiller for NOFX's first full-length album, S&M Airlines , which was released on the legendary punk label Epitaph; the band remained there ever since, despite the release of several albums - such as 1995's I Heard They Suck Live - and EPs on Fat Wreck Chords, which gradually grew into a premier stable of punk revival artists.
Having appeared on 1990's Ribbed and 1991's Liberal Animation (which was actually recorded in 1988), Kidwiller left the band in 1991, and Aaron Abeyta became the permanent second guitarist (as well as trumpeter), adopting the nickname El Hefe . Dragged into the mainstream spotlight by the mid-'90s success of labelmates Bad Religion and the Offspring , NOFX compensated with albums like 1992's White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean that were even closer to the anti-commercial extreme; exemplified by White Trash 's accompanying single "Please Play This Song on the Radio," which lured un-alert radio programmers with a tight melody, but ends with a stream of obscenities. The El Hefe -anchored lineup continued to blossom with 1994's Punk in Drublic ; often regarded as the band's best, the album was eventually certified gold. Releases on Fat Wreck Chords continued throughout the '90s, as did the full-length Epitaph albums, like 1996's grungier, less up-tempo Heavy Petting Zoo , 1997's punkier So Long & Thanks for All the Shoes , and 2000's Pump Up the Valuum and Bottles to the Ground ; the latter album followed an experimental Fat Wreck Chords EP titled The Decline , which consisted entirely of the 18-minute title track. In 2002, NOFX sifted through countless tapes and recording sessions, eventually collecting 47 song for 45 or 46 Songs That Weren't Good Enough To Go On Our Other Records . "Pimps and Hookers", which was the only new song on the album, was recorded in one day. Later that year, BYO Records got the band to release the NOFX/Rancid split album BYO Split Series Vol. III . This particular album had Rancid covering six NOFX tracks while NOFX returned the favor by switching up six Rancid songs. The Surfer EP showcased select sloppy cuts in spring 2003, the first 500 copies on colored vinyl.
Unwritten Law
More of a power-pop band than anything else, though they're nestled in Southern California's skate/snowboard punk scene, Unwritten Law formed early in the 1990s, with drummer Wade Youman the only holdover from the band's early days. The group eventually coalesced around vocalist Scott Russo , guitarists Rob Brewer and Steve Morris , bassist John Bell and Youman .
After releasing their debut Blue Room on an independent label, Unwritten Law toured America several times but grew disgusted by the lack of distribution of their records. The quartet eventually signed to Epic, which re-released Blue Room and in 1996 issued their second album, Oz Factor . The group jumped labels yet again in 1997, to Interscope, and recorded their third album in 1998. Just before its release in June of that year, Bell left and was replaced by Sprung Monkey 's Pat Kim . Three years later, the band inked a deal with Interscope and issued their third full-length Elva in early 2002. Debut single "Seein' Red" was a hit among TRL and mainstream radio.
Before the year came to a close, Unwritten Law inked a major deal with Lava Records. The largely acoustic Music In High Places followed in early 2003. Recorded on location at Yellowstone National Park, the album was part of MTV's Music From High Places series, a sort of National Geographic Explorer for the Warped Tour set.
blink-182
The new-school punk trio blink-182 was formed near San Diego, California around guitarist/vocalist Tom Delonge , bassist Mark Hoppus , and drummer Scott Raynor . Originally known as simply Blink , the band debuted in 1993 with a self-released EP, Fly Swatter . After releasing the album Buddha in 1994, the trio signed to Grilled Cheese/Cargo and released Cheshire Cat the following year. The threat of a lawsuit from a similarly named Irish band forced them to change their name to blink-182, but the group earned a higher profile touring the world with Pennywise and NOFX on the 1996-1997 Warped Tour, plus appearing on innumerable skate/surf/snowboarding videos. The third blink-182 LP, Dude Ranch , was released in 1997. Dude Ranch expanded the group's audience and won the attention of major labels. blink-182 wound up signing with MCA, who released the band's fourth album, Enema of the State , in the summer of 1999. Travis Barker , formerly with the Aquabats , later replaced Raynor . After selling over four million copies of Enema of the State 
