"When you're playing a style of music that doesn't really fit anywhere, you run a risk.
You're challenging people to leave their niche, to leave their predetermined ideas of
what they're supposed to like. Luckily, we have a lot of people who just focus on the
music and appreciate us for what we are. So we get fans from all different genres of music,
the jocks, the spooky kids, skaters, college kids, punk rockers, hardcore kids, metal kids, all that." -Davey Havoc
AFI (an acronym for A Fire Inside) was formed in 1991 by a group of High School friends
in Ukiah, California. The original group consisted of Davey Havok (vocals),
Markus Stopholese (guitar), and Vick (bass).Vick left the group shortly after joining
and was replaced by Geoff Kresge, and then AFI recorded their first EP, Behind The Times.
After this, the group split up for a while to focus on their studies. They soon reunited for a show
and were so inspired by their connection with the audience, they decided to forget college and focus on their music. They released
their debut album Very Proud Of Ya in 1996 by Nitra Records, folowed by Answer That And Stay Fashionable
and Shut Your Mouthin 1997.
Both Kresge and Stopholese left the band that year. Hunter joined on bass,
while Jade Puget (Redemption 87) took over on guitar.
Three more records followed in the next three years – 1998’s A Fire Inside, 1999’s
Black Sails in the Sunset and 2000’s The Art of Drowning.
After the success of this album, AFI were signed by DreamWorks.
In March 2003, AFI released their most recent and arguably their best record yet Sing The Sorrow,
co-produced by Jerry Finn (Rancid, Green Day, Jawbreaker) and Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins).