AFI Biography & Discography

Description

Hardcore revivalists-turned-goth-punks AFI ascended to a new level of stardom when they decided to slap on some eyeliner and embrace their inner Robert Smiths. After several independent releases, the Southern California-based outfit released their major-label debut, SING THE SORROW, in 2003 to much acclaim. That album's darker new-wave tendencies were taken one step further on 2006's DECEMBERUNDERGROUND. AFI's gloomier aesthetic was only given further validation by their legions of fans who dubbed themselves the Despair Faction.

Biography

Although often described as a cross between goth rock and hardcore punk, by the time of their commercial breakthrough in 2003, the Ukiah, California, USA-based quartet AFI (an acronym for A Fire Inside) started out as a straight ahead skate/punk band.

Formed in 1991, while its members were still attending Ukiah High School, the band has experienced several line-up changes since their inception, although members Davey Havok (vocals) and Adam Carson (drums) have been present since the beginning. With Geoff Kresge (bass) and Markus Stopholes (guitar) in tow, AFI issued Answer That And Stay Fashionable and Very Proud Of Ya, before the singularly named Hunter replaced Kresge as AFI's bass player.

By the end of 1997, AFI had issued their follow-up, Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Eyes. New guitarist Jade Puget assumed the role of main songwriter on 1999's Black Sails In The Sunset, adding a welcome melodic slant to the band's hardcore thrash. AFI received some unexpected added exposure when Offspring covered one of their songs, "Totalimmortal', for a movie soundtrack, and by the time of 2000"s The Art Of Drowning, the quartet had grabbed the attention of major labels.

AFI's much-hyped major label debut with DreamWorks Records, Sing The Sorrow, was issued in March 2003, and promptly went into the US Top 10.

DISCOGRAPHY: Answer That And Stay Fashionable (Wingnut 1995)***, Very Proud Of Ya (Nitro 1996)**, Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Eyes (Nitro 1997)**, Black Sails In The Sunset (Nitro 1999)***, The Art Of Drowning (Nitro 2000)***, Sing The Sorrow (DreamWorks 2003)***.

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