27th
Florida Band #8
Against Me!
Starting the band at age 17 in Gainesville, Tom Gabel began as a solo act; with only his voice and his acustic guitar.
The first music to see the light of day under the name Against Me! was put out by Tom (still in his solo act) as a demo. Though the following year, Kevin Mahon was recruited as drummer and another demo was put out by them on Misanthrope records, only this time under the name of Vivida Vis!
The two put out two more records: Crime As Forgiven By and The Acustic EP under Plan-It-X Records and Sabot Productions.
After this is when the band line-up shifted. Mahon left the band, later to be replaced by Warren Oakes, and James Bowman joined as a second guitarist.
Reinventing Axl Rose was the band’s first full length and is a landmark point in their history because it introduced their first use of electric guitars and a full band. After the release of Axl Rose, their lineup changed once again, (but for the final time) when Andrew Seward joined as bassist. The band has held this current lineup since ‘02.
Against Me! released 5 more EP’s and full lengths throughout the years including: The Disco Before The Breakdown, As The Eternal Cowboy, Searching For A Former Clarity, (the live DVD) Americans Abroad!!! Against Me!!! Live In London!!!, and New Wave. All ranging from different labels including No Idea, Fat Wreck, and Sire.
Their most succesful album to date being New Wave, which peaked at #57 on the Billboard Top 200 and was named Spin Magazine’s best album of 2007.
