AFI | |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | A Fire Inside[a] |
| Origin | Ukiah, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Works | AFI discography |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels |
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| Spinoffs | |
| Members | |
| Past members |
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| Website | afireinside |
AFI (A Fire Inside)[a] is an Americanrock band fromUkiah, California, formed in 1991. Since 1998, it consists of lead vocalistDavey Havok, drummer and backing vocalistAdam Carson, bassist, backing vocalist and keyboardistHunter Burgan, and guitarist, backing vocalist and keyboardistJade Puget.[5] Havok and Carson are the sole remaining original members. Originally ahardcore punk band, they have since delved into many genres, starting withhorror punk and following throughpost-hardcore andemo intoalternative rock andgothic rock.
AFI has released twelve studio albums, tenEPs, one live album and one DVD. The band first reached substantial commercial success with their fifth album,The Art of Drowning (2000), which peaked at number 174 on theBillboard 200.[6] They then broke into the mainstream with their sixth,Sing the Sorrow (2003), which peaked at number five on theBillboard 200 and remained on the chart for 51 weeks.[6] The album was supported by popular singles "Girl's Not Grey" and "Silver and Cold", both of which peaked at number seven on America'sHot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2003. "The Leaving Song Pt. II" was also released as a single, reaching number 16 on the chart.Sing the Sorrow was certifiedPlatinum by theRIAA in 2006[7] and is AFI's best-selling release, having sold over 1.26 million copies as of September 2009[update].[8]
AFI's seventh album,Decemberunderground (2006), debuted at number one on theBillboard 200[6][9] and featured the hit single "Miss Murder", which topped the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart, reached number 24 on theBillboard Hot 100[b] and appeared in the video gameGuitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA in 2013.[10] Their next three albums,Crash Love (2009),Burials (2013) andAFI (2017), were also successful, peaking at increasing positions on theBillboard 200.[c] An EP,The Missing Man, followed in December 2018.[11] The band released their eleventh album,Bodies, on June 11, 2021. Their twelfth,Silver Bleeds the Black Sun..., was released on October 3, 2025.
While still in high school inUkiah, California, lead vocalistDavey Havok formed a band called AFI in November 1991 with Mark Stopholese and Vic Chalker.[12] At the time, the band did not know how to play any instruments. Stopholese suggested that his friend, drummerAdam Carson, join the band.[13] Stopholese learnedguitar and Chalker learnedbass, but Chalker was soon replaced byGeoff Kresge. By the end of October 1992, the band had played their first three shows, generally as an opener for a few other punk bands, including Influence 13, which featured future AFI guitaristJade Puget and frequent collaboratorNick 13.[14] AFI recorded their first EP,Dork (1993), with the now defunct band Loose Change, which also featured Puget.
The band briefly broke up in 1993, when the members left Ukiah to attend different colleges. They decided to commit to AFI full-time after an extremely positive experience and enthusiastic crowd response at a reunion show they played atThe Phoenix Theater overChristmas break.[15][16]
AFI relocated toBerkeley, California and lived in asquat that was a decommissionedfraternity house.[17] Between 1993 and 1995, the band independently released vinyl EPs such asBehind the Times,Eddie Picnic's All Wet andFly in the Ointment, as well as the compilation EPsThis Is Berkeley, Not West Bay,AFI/Heckle, andBombing the Bay (withSwingin' Utters).
AFI's first full-length album,Answer That and Stay Fashionable was released July 4, 1995, on Wingnut Records. It wasco-produced by Doug Sangalang andRancid'sTim Armstrong andBrett Reed. The album featured fast and upbeat hardcore songs, with humorous lyrical themes, which are vocalized in songs such as "Nyquil", "Cereal Wars", and "I Wanna Get a Mohawk (But Mom Won't Let Me Get One)".[18] Around this time, they coined the term 'East Bay hardcore' to describe their genre.[19]
AFI signed on toNitro Records, a record label started byThe Offspring'sDexter Holland andGreg K.[20] AFI would remain with the label until the release of the336 EP (2002). In 1996, they released their second album,Very Proud of Ya. Two songs from their previous album, "Yurf Rendenmein" and "Two of A Kind", were re-recorded for this album. After several tours in support of the album, Kresge decided to leave the group. His spot was filled by current AFI bassistHunter Burgan for the remaining album tour dates.
Burgan went on to help AFI recordShut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes (1997) and was invited to become their full-time bassist.[21][d] Jade Puget, a former member of Influence 13 and Havok's close friend, also provided background vocals on the album, making it the first to feature the band's four current members. It is also the first album to be copyrighted to the band's official moniker, A Fire Inside.[a] Subsequently,A Fire Inside EP (1998) was released, straying into somedeath rock territory and featuring a cover ofthe Cure and of theMisfits. It was Stopholese's last outing with the band.[22]
Puget became the band's lead guitarist for its next album,Black Sails in the Sunset (1999).[23][22] The release maintains apunk rock[24] or hardcore sound, exploring bleak themes with traces ofRomanticism.[e] In 2003,The New York Times reflected on it as showcasing Havok's "develop[ment] into a singer and songwriter of substance".[25] The influence ofgothic rock is also apparent and Dexter Holland provides backing vocals on two tracks.
TheAll Hallow's E.P. (1999) explored thehorror punk genre with autumnal themes, including a cover of the Misfits song "Halloween". The song "The Boy Who Destroyed the World" was featured in the video gameTony Hawk's Pro Skater 3,[26] and the single "Totalimmortal" was later covered by The Offspring.[27]
On September 19, 2000, AFI releasedThe Art of Drowning, which debuted on the Billboard Charts at number 174, and peaked at number 9 on the Heatseekers chart.[28] It continued to touch base with the horror punk genre, but expanded into styles that were a departure from previous works.[29] The album featured slower, more melodic songs that were more reminiscent ofalternative rock, such as "Ever and a Day" and "6 to 8". Hardcore influences were present, more overtly on some tracks. The album sold over 100,000 copies.[30] "The Days of the Phoenix" was released as a single and video and had some moderate mainstream success, garnering the band more TV and radio airplay. The song reached theUK Singles Chart withits titular EP in 2001, peaking at number 152.[31] The success ofThe Art of Drowning helped to encourage the band to pursue higher mainstream notoriety.
In 2002, AFI left Nitro Records.DreamWorks Recordsartists and repertoire executiveLuke Wood signed them to the label following intense interest.[32][better source needed] Their first album for the label,Sing the Sorrow, was released in 2003. The album opened inBillboard's top ten and scored enthusiastic lead reviews in major music magazines.[33] The songs "Girl's Not Grey", "The Leaving Song Pt. II", and "Silver and Cold" had some Billboard chart success and exposed the band to even larger audiences. They were nominated in the 2003MTV Video Music Awards for theMTV2 award category for the "Girl's Not Grey" video, which came to be their first VMA.
In June 2006, AFI's seventh studio album,Decemberunderground, was released onInterscope Records. The album's first single, "Miss Murder", reached No. 1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Charts.[34] The release reflects the continually changing and growing fan base of the band, and the album debuted as No. 1 on theBillboard charts.[35] The album has been certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of over 500,000 copies of the album.[36] The album's second single, "Love Like Winter", was successful onMTV'sTotal Request Live and was retired after 40 days on the countdown.
On December 12, 2006, AFI released their first DVD,I Heard a Voice – Live from Long Beach Arena, featuring a live performance shot inLong Beach, California. The performance was later released on December 13, 2007, as a live album, and charted at number 133 on the Billboard 200, and number 16 on theHard Rock Albums chart.[37] The album was well-received, with punknews.org giving it a four-star rating and commenting that when hearing or seeing the performance "you begin to realize AFI are truly a great live band," and that at some points "Pantera would say turn the noise down."[38]
On July 7, 2007, AFI performed onthe American leg ofLive Earth. They performed "The Missing Frame", "Love Like Winter", "Miss Murder", and a cover ofDavid Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust".
In July 2009, Havok announced that after two years of writing and recording, a new album titledCrash Love would be released on September 29, 2009.[39] It was recorded with producer David Bottrill (who was later dismissed in favor of Joe McGrath andJacknife Lee).[40][41] The first single from the album, "Medicate", was released on August 25, 2009, and reached number 7 on the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart. Another single, "Beautiful Thieves", followed later in the year. Havok calledCrash Love "the album by which we'll be remembered".[42] It was the band's first release to make a significantly smaller impact than their previous effort,[43] but peaked at number 12 on theBillboard 200.[6]
From April to June 2013, several teaser videos were released on AFI's website.[44]The band was announced to playRiot Fest 2013, as well as being signed to Republic Records.[45] A single titled "I Hope You Suffer" was released on July 23,[46] and the title of the album,Burials, was announced.[47] Another single, "17 Crimes", was released on August 6.[48] The third single from the album, titled "The Conductor", was released on September 9. The album was released on October 22, produced byGil Norton. It peaked at number 9 on theBillboard 200.[6]
In a June 2016 interview with Aggressive Tendencies, Puget confirmed that AFI had begun working on new material for their tenth studio album.[49] On October 27, the band released two new songs viaSpotify, "Snow Cats" and "White Offerings".
The band's tenth album,AFI (also known asThe Blood Album), was released on January 20, 2017. Puget served as the main producer. The album peaked at number 5 on theBillboard 200.[6] Other singles were released, including "Aurelia" and "Hidden Knives".
On October 26, 2018, the band surprise-released a new single called "Get Dark" on Spotify and iTunes. This was followed byThe Missing Man EP on December 7, featuring five new songs.[11]
On March 25, 2020, AFI was announced as a headliner for theTwo Thousand Trees Festival on July 10 of the same year. Puget was interviewed byKerrang! to promote the festival appearance and said that "hopefully at least a couple of songs" from the band's eleventh album would be released by then.[50] On April 27, 2020, Puget said that the album was finished, but that its release date was being pushed back as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[51] The next day, it was announced that the Two Thousand Trees Festival was being pushed back to 2021, also due to the pandemic.[52]
On January 15, 2021, the band released the tracks "Twisted Tongues" and "Escape from Los Angeles".[53] On February 25, it was revealed that the album would be calledBodies, and be released on June 11. Along with the announcement, the band revealed two new songs as another joint single, "Looking Tragic / Begging for Trouble".[54] On April 9, "Dulceria / Far Too Near" were released,[55] followed by "Tied to a Tree" on May 25.[56]
On March 11, 2023, AFI playedSing the Sorrow in full for the first and last time at theKia Forum on the album's 20th anniversary, supported byJawbreaker,Chelsea Wolfe andChoir Boy.[57] Following a tour supportingGreen Day in March 2025, the band announced their twelfth studio albumSilver Bleeds the Black Sun..., which was released in October 2025 viaRun for Cover Records – marking their first release with the label.[58]
AFI's music has been classified under many genres of music, includingpunk rock,[59][60][61][62][63]hardcore punk,[59][25][60][64]emo,[65][66][67][68]gothic rock,[69][60][61][70]horror punk,[71][72][73]post-hardcore,[74][75]skate punk,[76]alternative rock,[77][78]screamo,[79]garage punk,[69] andpop-punk.[80]
AFI's sound has constantly changed.[81] AFI originally were a hardcore punk band.[82][83] AFI's first three albums,Answer That and Stay Fashionable (1995),[84]Very Proud of Ya (1996),[82] andShut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes (1997),[85] all have been described as hardcore punk. AFI's fourth albumBlack Sails in the Sunset and the band's fifth albumThe Art of Drowning both have been described as horror punk.[81] AFI's 2003 albumSing the Sorrow is considered post-hardcore[86] and emo.[87][86]Decemberunderground, which features elements of music genres likeelectronic, new wave,industrial, punk rock, hardcore punk, andsynthpop,[88][89][90] is considered alternative rock,[91] post-hardcore[81] and emo.[92] AFI's 2009 albumCrash Love is considered alternative rock[73] andpop rock.[81] AFI's 2013 albumBurials is considered alternative rock[93] and gothic rock.[81] AFI's 2017 self-titled album, also referred to asThe Blood Album, has been described as new wave,post-punk and gothic rock.[94][95] In 2021 AFI released their 11th albumBodies, which has been described as continuing their gothic rock sound and taking a greater influence from new wave.[96][97]
Louder wrote, "Long beforeMy Chemical Romance topped the charts with the anthemic ‘'Welcome to the Black Parade'’, California's AFI were already injecting their brand of punk withgothic imagery and a sense of theatricality. By the timeGerard Way’s band arrived, AFI had already built a devoted fan base incorporating punks, hardcore fans,goths,metallers and every other type of musical pariah imaginable. They were a band that couldn't help but stand out everywhere they went."[59]AllMusic described AFI as "Northern California hardcore punk revivalists" whose style "evolved to include alternative rock, post-punk, emo, and new wave flair".[60]The Chicago Tribune said that the band "morphed from a conventional garage-punk band into a gothic-rock arena act."[69]Loudwire said that the band "developed from more of a SoCal punk style into a somewhat gothic post-hardcore band".[98]The Encyclopedia of Popular Music said that "Although often described as a cross between goth rock and hardcore punk, by the time of their commercial breakthrough in 2003, [AFI] started out as a straight ahead skate/punk band."[99]PopMatters wrote, "To call California-based hardcore/screamo quartet A.F.I. a band without a flag in the current modern rock landscape is not an unfair assessment of their situation."[100]Rolling Stone categorized the band as pop-punk.[101] AFI has often been labeled as "gothic punk" due to the band's appearance, but AFI band members never considered the label accurate. Jade Puget has said, "Goth-punk isn't a style of music, it doesn't even exist."[102]
Puget, who has produced much of the band's music, stated in 2021:
Anyone who knows our catalog knows that no two records really sit together. Some sit a little closer, maybe. We do certain things, just by virtue of who we are, that are consistent, but those things come about organically. Every time we do something, I have to judge it on its own merits. Some fans are going to judge a new album, or a new song, based on what's come before. But as artists, we can't do that, because it would only hinder our creativity.[53]
AFI have drawn inspiration from a diverse range of artists. "We have many, many influences that span the musical spectrum", Havok toldthe Boston Globe. "Each of us grew up on everything from punk to hardcore to dark '80s UK stuff like the Cure,Bauhaus,Joy Division, and[the] Sisters of Mercy. And there were rock bands likeGuns N' Roses andMetallica and industrial bands likeSkinny Puppy,Ministry,Front 242 andAlien Sex Fiend. And we all lovethe Smiths."[103] Other groups that have inspired AFI includeEcho & the Bunnymen (particularlyHeaven Up Here),Malcolm McLaren (particularlySwamp Thing),Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, John McLear Kim,the Creatures,[104]Bad Religion,[105]Blatz,Deftones,Econochrist,Tom Waits,Jawbreaker,Samiam,Dead Kennedys,Sly & the Family Stone,Neurosis,Operation Ivy,Rancid, the Yah Mos,Crimpshrine,Death Angel,Exodus,Faith No More,Mr. Bungle,Primus,Green Day,Filth,[106]the Teen Idles,Dag Nasty,Government Issue,Negative Approach,Earth Crisis,Snapcase,Refused,Sick of it All, theCro-Mags,Minor Threat,Black Flag, theMisfits, theGerms, andState of Alert.[107][108] AFI have also been influenced byelectronic bandOMD, whom Havok said "have and will continue to musically and emotionally inspire" him.[109][110]
According to theSydney Morning Herald, AFI have been "hailed as being responsible for bringing back the big '80s rock chorus."[111] The band has received much praise in particular fromAlternative Press, which has supported the group since the mid-1990s. The publication rated the band's major-label debut,Sing the Sorrow, as the most anticipated album of 2003, and noted that it "blew the doors off goth-punk as we knew it".[112] AFI has also been granted responsibility for paving the way for the rise of the visual element of rock bands in the 2000s; in a December 2006 article,Revolver wrote that "AFI have increased the importance of a band's visual identity and the flair for the theatrical," adding that "when a group likePanic! at the Disco borrows imagery from a movie such asMoulin Rouge!, you have to consider the precedent AFI set when they borrowed cues fromTim Burton'sThe Nightmare Before Christmas."[113]Shoutmouth.com placed AFI at number 22 on its list of the 25 most influential punk bands, noting that the band "have evolved with each album, showing that a punk band can not only change, but stay true to their sound at the same time. AFI have been on a constant rise through their career, and as such, eeked [sic] out the honors".[114] AfterSing the Sorrow's release,Yorkshire Evening Post described Havok's voice as one of those "you'll love or hate, but one thing can't be denied, this guy has range beyond belief".[115] Recognized by his trademark flair and vocal style, Havok has been recognized as "a bona fide rock god" byAlternative Press.[112]
In 2003,The Pitch described the band's fan club as a "particularly excitable bunch", adding that "there's also the type of sentiments that put thecult back into cult success, such as links to something called 'the Church of Havok'."[33]
Current
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Timeline
Footnotes
Citations
The Misfits' influence spreads far and wide, from latter-day horror-punk bands like AFI, the Alkaline Trio and Japan's Balzac to heavy metal icons Metallica.
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.
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.
To be clear, the first conversation in the meeting werePorngraphy,Heaven Up Here,Swamp Thing, I think Red Lorry was addressed, yes John McLear Kim, yes Creatures... as we began it almost immediately turned to something more tense, something slightly more aggressive. .
Bad Religion... That's another band that we probably could have pulled out [to cover on the self-titled EP or during early sets]... We listened toHow Can Hell Be Any Worse over and over again, what a fucking record and then of courseSuffer had just come out not long before we formed
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