In 1987, they sold the Starbucks chain to Schultz’s Il Giornale, which rebranded the Il Giornale outlets as Starbucks and quickly began to expand. Starbucks opened its first locations outside Seattle at Waterfront Station in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Chicago, Illinois, that same year. At the time of its initial public offering on the stock market in 1992, Starbucks had grown to 165 outlets.

The Starbucks Center, Seattle. The company HQ, in the old Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog distribution center building

The original Starbucks was opened in Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington, in 1971 by three partners: English teacher Jerry Baldwin, history teacher Zev Siegel, and writer Gordon Bowker. The three were inspired by Alfred Peet, whom they knew personally, to open their first store in Pike Place Market to sell high-quality coffee beans and equipment. From 1971–1976, that first Starbucks was at 2000 Western Avenue; it then was relocated to 1912 Pike Place, where it remains to this day. During their first year of operation, they purchased green coffee beans from Peet’s, then began buying directly from growers.

Entrepreneur Howard Schultz joined the company in 1982 as Director of Marketing, and after a trip to Milan, Italy advised that the company should sell coffee and espresso drinks as well as beans. The owners rejected this idea, believing that getting into the beverage business would distract the company from its primary focus. To them, coffee was something to be prepared in the home. Certain that there was money to be made selling pre-made drinks, Schultz started the Il Giornale coffee bar chain in 1985.

In 1984, the original owners of Starbucks, led by Baldwin, took the opportunity to purchase Peet’s (Baldwin still works there).

From Starbucks’ founding in Seattle as a local coffee bean roaster and retailer, the company has expanded rapidly. In the 1990s, Starbucks was opening a new store every workday, a pace that continued into the 2000s. The first store outside the United States or Canada opened in the mid-’90s, and overseas stores now constitute almost one third of Starbucks’ stores.^[4] The company plans to open a net of 900 new stores outside of the United States in 2009,^[5] but has announced 900 store closures in the United States since 2008.

Starbucks has been a frequent target of protests on issues such as fair-trade policies, labor relations, environmental impact, perceived anti-competitive practices,* and rumors of support for the Israeli military.^

Early years

DeLonge was raised by his mother and father in Poway, California, who are of French, German and Irish descent. He has an older brother, Shon, and a younger sister, Kari. Tom was expelled from Poway High School during junior year after being caught drinking at a school basketball game. He then went to Rancho Bernardo High School, he loved his new high school and became fond of punk rock. Some of his influences have been U2, Descendents, Screeching Weasel and The Cure. When he returned to Poway High School during his senior year, the students voted him Homecoming King, despite the fact he wasn’t on the ballot. ^[1] Becoming a musician was not his first calling. “I was originally going to be a firefighter. I was in the San Diego Cadet Program,” says DeLonge.^[2]

Musical career

Blink-182 (1992-2005, 2009-present) and Box Car Racer (2002-2003)

{When DeLonge attended Rancho Bernardo High School, he was introduced to Mark Hoppus through Hoppus’ sister, Anne. In 1992, they met Scott Raynor at their school’s battle of the bands and decided to form a band together that would become Blink-182. Raynor was replaced with Travis Barker in 1998, just as Blink-182 released Enema of the State, which was met with a huge amount of mainstream success, spawning three hit singles. Follow-up Take Off Your Pants and Jacket went straight to No.1 on the Billboard 200. Afterwards DeLonge and Barker participated in the band Box Car Racer, a side project created by DeLonge with his high-school friend David Kennedy in 2002. In 2003, Blink-182 released their eponymous album. DeLonge then decided to leave the band, allegedly due to mounting tensions and communication difficulties, creating a rift between him and the other members of the band. Blink-182 announced an ‘indefinite hiatus’ in February 2005.^{[citation needed]}

Following Travis Barker’s Learjet crash, DeLonge’s former band mate, Mark Hoppus, posted on his blog (Himynameismark.com) on November 8, 2008, that all three band mates had communicated for the past couple of months after Barker’s plane crash, which killed 4 people and left Barker and DJ AM in critical condition. This post fueled rumors among fans that a reunion was imminent^{[citation needed]}. Adding to the speculation was an announcement made by MTV.com on February 5, 2009 that Blink-182 would reunite to present an award at the 51st Grammy Awards. This presentation marked the first time the trio had been together on stage since 2004.^[3]. Before presenting the award for Best Rock Album, the band announced that they were reuniting; this announcement was followed shortly by a message posted on the band’s website blink-182.com. Tom was quoted as saying “live life as if it was the last record played on the the juke box”.

On February 9, 2009, Tom opened up to “Extra” [1] about the Blink-182 reunion saying: “When you’re in a band, you have this unspoken bond. You’re kind of family with your boys. We took a break for a little bit. I think when Travis had the event happen to him it was something that pulled us back together… we always knew it was inevitable, we just needed something to break the ice.” [2]

Angels & Airwaves (2005-present)

DeLonge is the lead vocalist and one of two guitarists in the band Angels & Airwaves. He formed the band with high-school friend and former Hazen Street and Box Car Racer bandmate David Kennedy on guitar, as well as former Rocket from the Crypt drummer Atom Willard and former The Distillers bassist Ryan Sinn. They released their debut album We Don’t Need to Whisper on 20 May 2006. During the recording of their second album, I-Empire (November 6, 2007), Ryan Sinn left the band due to personal reasons and was replaced by former 30 Seconds to Mars bassist Matt Wachter. Tom DeLonge still covers Blink-182 songs, such as “Down“, “I Miss You“, “Not Now“, and “Reckless Abandon” with Angels & Airwaves, along with Box Car Racer songs “There Is” and “My First Punk Song”. In 2008, Angels and Airwaves were a part of the Vans Warped Tour.

In February of 2009 Delonge, along with Travis Barker and Mark Hoppus, announced at the Grammys that Blink-182 will be reuniting. In a video blog Delonge says that Angels & Airwaves is not over and that there are many plans with the band in the future, which may include a pay per view event with NASA. Blink-182 will be going on tour in the summer of 2009, then releasing their newest album in around early 2010.

Signature guitars

Fender Guitars worked with DeLonge to create the Tom DeLonge Stratocaster (signature guitar) which consisted of a solid alder body fitted with a single Seymour Duncan Invader Bridge pickup. It was controlled by a lone volume knob adding to its simple design. At first, the Stratocasters were fitted with an American 2-Point tremolo system and was later replaced by a hardtail bridge. Its neck was made of solid maple with a rosewood fretboard, although there have been some custom Stratocasters that were fitted with maple fretboards. The necks included a large 1970s “CBS” headstock.^[4]

Since 2003, with the recording of Blink-182, DeLonge also has a signature Gibson ES-333 guitar out available in brown with cream stripes. The Tom DeLonge Signature starts with Gibson’s classic semi-hollow body design and then extends it into punk rock with an overwound ‘Dirty Fingers’ humbucking pickup. Its thick, distorted tone is the signature sound of DeLonge’s band Blink-182.^[5]

On Angels & Airwaves albums, We Don’t Need to Whisper and I-Empire Tom uses his signature Gibson ES-333 which is custom made from the Gibson custom shop. Epiphone has since come out with a lower cost version of the Tom DeLonge signature guitar, manufactured overseas, but fitted with the same Dirty Fingers humbucker.

Personal life

DeLonge lives with his wife Jennifer, daughter Ava Elizabeth (born July 15, 2002), son Jonas Rocket (born on August 16, 2006), German Sheperd Grey, and Labrador Retriever Chloe in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He is the owner of Macbeth Footwear, which he founded together with Mark Hoppus and another friend, although he now runs the company without Hoppus. He has sold his share in Atticus Clothing, which he also started with Hoppus.

He has also been politically active during the 2004 and the 2008 presidential races. In 2004, he supported the Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. In 2008, he supported the Democratic nominee Barack Obama and called him “the John F. Kennedy of this generation.” He also called John McCain “a 71-year-old gun-touting Republican.”^[6] He is a vegetarian and created a vegan footwear line through his company Macbeth Footwear. ^[7][8]

[edit] Other accomplishments

Tom directed the video for Taking Back Sunday’s song “This Photograph is Proof” in 2004.^[9] Tom made a cameo appearance as the Burger Jungle drive thru clerk in the movie Idle Hands and in the music documentaries: Riding in Vans with Boys, The Urethra Chronicles and The Urethra Chronicles II: Harder Faster Faster Harder. Tom also made a cameo appearance in the blockbuster film American Pie with his fellow band-mates in Blink-182, acting in a scene while one of their songs, “Mutt”, played in the background. Tom made a cameo appearance in The Simpsons with fellow band-mates, while “All The Small Things” played in the background.

Tom has started up his own website called Modlife; the site allows bands and their fans can meet up and interact with each other. The artists can also choose whether to have payed subscriptions for certain items. He can also be found on Twitter.

Clothing Companies

In 2001, DeLonge started Atticus Clothing and Macbeth Footwear with fellow Blink-182 band member Mark Hoppus. However, he sold his share of Atticus Clothing after leaving Blink-182 and is currently the sole owner of Macbeth Footwear.

Recording of the band’s next record began in early 2003. On November 18, 2003, they released their eponymous fifth studio album, which spawned the hit singles “Feeling This“, “I Miss You“, “Down” and “Always“. According to Barker, the album was supposed to represent a “new” Blink-182.^[19] Robert Smith, whose band The Cure is often cited as a major influence, appeared on “All of This”.

From late 2003 through 2004, the band embarked on the “DollaBill” tour, named for the ticket cost of $1 each.^[20] Blink-182 toured with No Doubt in the summer of 2004.^[21]

Hiatus and new bands (2005–2009)

Tensions between the band members arose when DeLonge found the desire for a half-year respite from touring to spend time with his family, despite a planned spring U.S. tour, coupled with Hoppus’ feelings of betrayal after the formation of Box Car Racer. Further problems arose in discussions regarding the band’s future recording endeavors. In mid-February 2005 the band inexplicably canceled a performance at Music for Relief‘s Concert for South Asia (a show put on by Linkin Park to aid victims of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake). This made their previous show on December 16, 2004 at the Point Depot in Dublin, Ireland, their last live performance. The planned tour was canceled and on February 22, 2005, after much tension, their band manager called Hoppus and Barker to tell them that DeLonge had quit the band.^[22] This began an almost four year hiatus.

Geffen Records released a Greatest Hits compilation on November 1, 2005. It is essentially a collection of the band’s singles. After many criticisms about the track listing from disappointed fans, the song “Carousel” was added. A previously unreleased track was included on the CD, “Another Girl, Another Planet” (a cover song originally by The Only Ones). The song was also used as the theme song to Barker’s new reality TV show, Meet the Barkers. Included was the previously issued “I Miss You” B-side and Blink-182 UK bonus track “Not Now“. The album reached number 6 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.^[23]

DeLonge’s new band, Angels & Airwaves released their debut album We Don’t Need to Whisper on May 23, 2006, where it debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200. The band released their second album I-Empire on November 6, 2007. They also released a DVD, entitled Start the Machine, chronicalling the final days of Blink-182 and the genesis of Angels & Airwaves.

Hoppus and Barker’s new project +44 released their first album When Your Heart Stops Beating on November 14, 2006. It debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200. On May 25, 2008, Hoppus stated that the new +44 album was still in pre-production.

Blink-182 is one of the bands to be featured in a documentary about modern punk music. The film, entitled One Nine Nine Four, is due to be released in 2009. Professional skateboarder Tony Hawk will narrate the film, which will also feature other punk acts such as Rancid, Bad Religion, Green Day, NOFX, and The Offspring.^[24]

Blink-182 is an American rock band from Poway, California^[8] that predominantly plays pop punk music. The band was formed in 1992 as “Blink” with members Tom DeLonge (vocals, guitar), Mark Hoppus (vocals, bass) and Scott Raynor (drums).^[9] In 1998, midway through a U.S. tour, drummer Travis Barker replaced Raynor. DeLonge left the group in early 2005, initiating an indefinite hiatus. DeLonge went on to form Angels & Airwaves, while Hoppus and Barker continued playing music together in +44. On February 8, 2009, Blink-182 announced that they are continuing as a band, with the brief statement posted on their website saying “To put it simply, We’re back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album,” which followed minutes after the Grammy announcement.^[10]

DeLonge cites punk rock bands Descendents and Screeching Weasel as influences,^[11] although the band’s songwriting and production are driven by a pop sensibility. Blink-182 is known for their simple melodies, teen angst and lyrical toilet humor, as well as by their hit singles “Dammit“, “What’s My Age Again?“, “All the Small Things“, “Adam’s Song“, “The Rock Show“, “First Date“, “Stay Together for the Kids“, “Feeling This“, “Always” and “I Miss You“. When playing live, the band typically play their songs at a faster tempo and often replace certain lyrics with toilet humor and various gags. ^[12]

Musical career

As well as being the lead singer of Brand New, he also plays guitar and writes most of the band’s songs and lyrics. During a concert in St. Louis, Missouri, Lacey stated during his sophomore year in high school, he was persuaded to begin playing bass guitar for his high school talent show by friend John Nolan. Before Brand New, he played in The Rookie Lot, featuring fellow Brand New bassist Garrett Tierney and drummer Brian Lane, as well as future Movielife member Brandon Reilly. Previous to this, he had a short spell in Taking Back Sunday where he handled bass and backing vocals. Two notable songs he features on are: “Go On” and “Summer Stars” from the band’s self-titled EP.

Jesse Lacey has close ties with fellow Long Island musician John Nolan.^[2] Lacey attended South Shore Christian School, with Nolan, a former member of Taking Back Sunday and founding member of his current band Straylight Run. During the course of their friendship, the two had a brief falling out. In a later phone conversation, Lacey allegedly spoke the words “Is that what you call tact? You’re as subtle as a brick in the small of my back, so let’s end this call and end this conversation.” This line became the opening salvo (as it later ending up in the Brand New song “Seventy Times 7″) in a series of insults delivered at each other through songs by their respective bands. After another confrontation involving Taking Back Sunday frontman Adam Lazzara, the three were eventually able to mend their friendship. As a result TBS, Brand New and Straylight Run are often known to tour together and to combine each other’s songs to form a medley, and Lacey has previously appeared on stage during a Straylight Run tour.

Jesse Lacey has been featured in Kevin Devine‘s “Cotton Crush”, “After Party”, and “No One Else’s Problem” off the 2005 album Split the Country, Split the Street. In 2007, Lacey did a solo tour of thirteen shows with Kevin Devine and special guest Grace Read.^[3] During the summer of 2008 Jesse Lacey toured with Kevin Devine again, also featuring Brian Bonz.

In 2007, Lacey played bass on the song “Rocket” (featuring T.J. from Men, Women & Children) on the album This Is a Landslide by the band Intramural.

[edit] Musical influences

He is a well-known fan of The Smiths.^[4] He has referenced them in the song “Mix Tape” on Brand New’s debut album Your Favorite Weapon. Lacey’s lyrical style has been compared to Morrissey’s. Lacey had also taped the words “Hi Moz” to his guitar in a television appearance. He is also a fan of the band Neutral Milk Hotel. He has stated in various interviews that Neutral Milk Hotel’s second LP, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is the most beautiful record ever written. He has also stated in recent interviews that his friend , Kevin Devine, is his number one inspiration.

[edit] Equipment

Jesse has been known to play Fender Telecasters, a Rickenbacker 330, numerous Fender Jazzmasters, and more recently, a Fender Mustang and Squier Super-Sonic. His acoustic guitars include a Takamine TF450SMSB Pro Series NEX, a Gibson Hummingbird, and a Taylor 314ce. His effects pedal board consists of (or has consisted of) a Line6 DL4, Boss DD-2, Boss DD-5, Morley ABY Selector Switch, Digitech Whammy, Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, MXR Blue Box, Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail, among many others. He has used multiple amp and cab combinations including a Marshall 1959slx Plexi, Matchless Phoenix 35, Fender Deville, Fender Twin, and an Orange AD50 among others. He plays his amps through a THD Hot Plate.

In the late 1990s Jesse Lacey, Garrett Tierney, Brian Lane, Brandon Reilly and Alex Dunne were all members of The Rookie Lot, a post-hardcore band largely influenced by groups such as Lifetime. The Rookie Lot released a 5-track demo and a split 7″ with Yearly before breaking up in late 1999. After The Rookie Lot broke up, Brandon Reilly went on to be a guitarist in The Movielife and Alex Dunne played guitar in Crime In Stereo. Lacey and Lane continued to play together with Tierney joining them shortly thereafter. The three started writing new material, with the help of Brandon Reilly, for the new project. The members started looking for a second guitarist and eventually found the then 17 year-old Vincent Accardi. Accardi decided to join the band after hearing the trio play “The Shower Scene”, the first song they wrote together.^{[citation needed]} Between their formation in 2000 and Your Favorite Weapon‘s release in 2001, Brand New released two demo CDs, the first of which was originally available as a free MP3 download on their website. Both demos contained songs that were rerecorded for Your Favorite Weapon.

[edit] Your Favorite Weapon

After signing a single album deal on Triple Crown Records, the band set to work on their debut, Your Favorite Weapon. The album was to be a mix of rerecorded songs from their demos as well as several new ones. The album was produced by Mike Sapone^[6] and was a moderate success. The record deal gave the band the opportunity to tour, both nationally and internationally, supporting bands like Taking Back Sunday, Less Than Jake, Glassjaw, Incubus and Finch.^[7]

The only single released from Your Favorite Weapon was “Jude Law and a Semester Abroad”, which received airplay on both MTV2 and Fuse.

In August 2002, Iodine Recordings released Your Favorite Weapon on 12″ vinyl along with an extra track, “…My Nine Rides Shotgun”, a demo from the band’s early days. 500 copies were pressed on clear blue vinyl and 100 copies were pressed on white. Because of high demand, Iodine Recordings repressed Your Favorite Weapon in early 2003 on clear vinyl, limited to 300 copies.

Soon after the release of Your Favorite Weapon, the band released two songs on a split EP with Safety in Numbers, which contained the tracks “Moshi Moshi” and a cover of Love Spit Love‘s “Am I Wrong”. “Moshi Moshi” was also later available as a B-side on the UK “Jude Law and a Semester Abroad” single.

[edit] Deja Entendu

The band’s second album, Deja Entendu, was released in June 2003 to much acclaim. The album marks a move away from the pop punk genre of Your Favorite Weapon, with a more alternative rock and polished sound. The album was produced by Steven Haigler, who was the sound engineer on the Pixies‘ Trompe le Monde.^[8] The title is French, literally translating to “already heard,” which is said to be at critics who claimed that the band sounded like every other group in the genre. Jesse Lacey got the name for the album while watching an episode of Jeopardy!. The band has stated that most of the songs were not demoed and were “rushed”, and that eleven out of the twelve songs recorded for the album appeared on it – with only “Flying At Tree Level (Version 1.0)” left off, which later appeared on the Beer: The Movie soundtrack. “Play Crack the Sky”, whose title refers to Lacey’s friend, and former Taking Back Sunday guitarist, John Nolan, yelling out “play Crack the Sky!” during a Mylon LeFevre concert, was a late addition. The album debuted at number 63 on the Billboard 200.^[9]

Three singles were released from this album on Eat Sleep Records and Sorepoint Records. The first single released was “The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows“, which featured the bonus tracks “Moshi Moshi (Acoustic)”, which was recorded in their friend’s basement at a party. This track is now available on the bands Street Team, the original version being featured on their Safety in Numbers split EP, the other being the song “Car.” Their second single from the album, “Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades,” is a shortened version of the common Latin phrase sic transit gloria mundi (“Thus passes the glory of the world”) and is a reference to a line from the movie Rushmore. Both of these singles were top 40 hits within the UK, and their videos received relatively heavy rotation on MTV2 and Fuse TV.^[7] The band released a third single from this album, “I Will Play My Game Beneath the Spin Light,” (the title a reference to a line in the young adult book The Moves Make the Man by Bruce Brooks) solely for radio play.^[10]

During 2003, their debut album was also remastered and re-released, followed by its debut in Australia and Japan in early 2004. A limited edition EP, entitled The Holiday EP, was released soon after the album in late 2003, available only to the band’s Street Team members. It contained demos from Deja Entendu, album art by artist Brian Ewing, as well as a new song – “O Holy Night.” Available for only the price of postage, this EP sold out quickly, and has never been re-released. Consequently, it is extremely rare.

On December 28, 2003, New York Times music critic Kelefa Sanneh ranked Deja Entendu number 5 on his Top 10 albums of the year. Brand New were also named Alternative Press’ Artist of the Year in their annual Reader’s Poll.^[11] Deja Entendu was certified gold in the United States by the RIAA.^[12]

Between May 2004 and June 2005, no new material or information was publicly released to fans. During that time, however, the band signed to major label Dreamworks. Interscope Records bought out the label shortly after.^[7]

[edit] The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me

In late 2005, Brand New started recording their highly-anticipated third album in Oxford, Mississippi with producer Dennis Herring, but later dropped him in favor of Mike Sapone with whom they had worked on their first album.^[3]

On January 24, 2006, nine demos recorded in preparation of the new album were leaked onto the Internet. All nine tracks were untitled and were of unknown origin. It was stated by an unknown source that these demos “probably won’t be on Fight Off Your Demons“, the then-rumored title for the new album based on the band’s new website address. In the following months, with Brand New doing their first tour dates in over 18 months, a few songs from the demos were performed with a full band, some were fleshed out and had new lyrics. New songs had their debut as well during the summer tour dates. There was much speculation about the names of songs and the album name but very little solid information. Brand New began their first tour in years on June 20, 2006 at New Jersey’s famous Starland Ballroom, where Lacey stated that the album had been finished the previous day.

After much speculation and rumor regarding the final release date, and Alternative Press publishing a preliminary date of October 10, 2006, as the release date, the official website announced that the new album would finally be released on November 21, 2006 in North America, and the day before in Europe. Soon after, a track listing and cover art were revealed, as well as new information regarding the release of the first actual single – “Sowing Season” – one of the new tracks previewed during the summer tour. “Sowing Season” was revealed to be the final version of the song formerly known to fans as “Untitled 08″. The single finally got a public airing on radio on October 19, 2006, and appeared on their MySpace page a day later. According to Lacey in a radio interview from the UK (BBC Radio 1 with Zane Lowe), the title The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me is taken from a conversation he had with his friend about the musician Daniel Johnston, who has bipolar disorder.^[13]

In late December 2006, an unusual video was released for the instrumental track “Untitled”, also known as “-”, which mainly consists of a man spray painting a wall with “evil and good are raging Inside me” and correcting it to give the album title. On January 16, 2007, “Jesus Christ” was announced as being the “official” first single from the album. On January 19, the band performed the song on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. They performed it again on February 26 on the Late Show with David Letterman.^[14]

From January to June 2007, the band toured the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia, including a headline slot on the UK’s Give It A Name tour and playing the main stage at The Bamboozle festival. Despite the band’s reluctance towards the press around the time of the release of the album, they were featured in Alternative Press, a cover story for Rock Sound, Kerrang!, and NME. The band went tour for the fall of 2007, with openers Thrice and MewithoutYou. In early 2008, Brand New toured Australia and New Zealand on the Big Day Out festival.^[15]

On October 19, 2007, the band announced via their MySpace and their official website that a new song, entitled “(Fork and Knife)“, would be released online on October 23, 2007. “(Fork and Knife)”, a rerecorded version of the track formerly called “Untitled 7″ by fans from the leaked demos, was released as a single track download. The song has, thus far, been exclusively an Internet download and has yet to see a physical release. The song was released in Japan on October 31, 2007.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Recent activity

In early 2008, Brand New started their own record label, named Procrastinate! Music Traitors. The first act signed to the new label was longtime friend Kevin Devine.^[16] The first release from this label was a reissue of the 2006 Kevin Devine album Put Your Ghost to Rest.^[17]

On October 23, 2008, in an Alternative Press interview, Alex Dunne of Crime in Stereo stated that Brand New were in the studio winding down their new record and recording vocals.^[18] On December 22, 2008, an update on Brand New’s website revealed that the band had been in and out of the studio since about March, with roughly fifteen tracks to work with. On April 17, 2009, the band announced that they had started the mixing process with Dave Sardy and were hoping to release the album in summer.^[19] On May 4, 2009, AbsolutePunk.net reported that mixing of the album was almost complete.^[20]

The band is scheduled to play at the Southside Festival and Hurricane Festival on June 20 and 21, 2009, followed by a four-date tour of the UK, starting in Manchester on June 23.^[21] In August, the band will play at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in the UK.^[22]

They announced a U.S. tour of small club dates in May set to take place in July 2009. They were reported as the band’s only stateside shows of that summer.

Brand New is an American rock band from Levittown, New York, formed in 2000. The band currently consists of lead vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist Jesse Lacey; guitarist Vincent Accardi; bass guitarist Garrett Tierney; rhythm guitarist, keyboardist Derrick Sherman; and drummer Brian Lane.^[3] The band was formed in 2000 in Merrick, New York^[3] and partly consists of former members of the band The Rookie Lot. Brand New has toured with many bands including Thrice, Crime In Stereo, Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, and MewithoutYou.^[4][5]

The band has released three studio albums to date: Your Favorite Weapon (2001), Deja Entendu (2003), and The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me (2006).

Early life

Timothy J. McIlrath was born November 3, 1979 in Arlington Heights, IL. At a young age he read books such as 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, which would influence his later work. As a child he went to Our Lady of the Wayside, where he was taunted for having one brown eye and one blue eye^{[citation needed]}, known as heterochromia. As an early teenager, all of Tim’s friends were into snowboarding, so Tim saved up money until he had $400 to buy a snowboard. Instead of purchasing a snowboard, however, he purchased a Gibson SG, which changed his life forever.

[edit] Baxter

He began his musical career in his teenage years; he was very active in the Chicago local alternative rock/punk scene. His first band was the post hardcore band Baxter, formed in 1995 along with future The Lawrence Arms drummer Neil Hennessy and future Killing Tree and Holy Roman Empire bassist Geoff Reu. Their first release was a full length, self released, cassette, Troy’s Bucket, which was released in 1996. Troy’s Bucket was met with warm reception from the scene, and Baxter became a popular band in the Chicago underground scene.

Baxter was introduced to the greater Chicago scene as the local opening act for national touring acts like Good Riddance, Braid, Hot Water Music, Slapstick, Alkaline Trio, and Strife.

In 1997 they released a 7″ EP Lost Voices on Static Station Records. After some local touring, the band split up. Tim played bass and sang backup in the first incarnation of The Honor System. He sang on their demo and on some songs on their debut album Single File. He and drummer Neil Hennesy could also be found in a brief lineup of the grind band Yellow Road Priest, whose members went on to form Pelican.

[edit] Rise Against

In 1999 he formed Rise Against with former 88 Fingers Louie bassist, Joe Principe, guitarist Dan Precision (A.K.A. Mr. Precision), and drummer Brandon Barnes. They recorded their debut album The Unraveling on Fat Wreck Chords in 2001.

In 2003 guitarist Mr. Precison left, and Todd Mohney filled his role. Later that year they released their second album Revolutions Per Minute which was greeted with warm success and is considered by many to be their best work^{[citation needed]}. They toured the U.S. steadily that year, though by the end of it, Todd left. In order to replace him, former Reach the Sky guitarist Chris Chasse joined in 2004 and they released their Geffen debut Siren Song of the Counter Culture.

With the release of the singles “Give it All“, “Swing Life Away“, and “Life Less Frightening“, Rise Against became more popular with mainstream fans, but still kept their underground sensibility. After more touring (including a European tour and spots on the Vans Warped tour), the band went back to the studio and recorded their fourth album The Sufferer & the Witness, which included five singles (“Ready to Fall, “Prayer of the Refugee“, “The Good Left Undone“, “Behind Closed Doors” and “The Approaching Curve“).

They had ended their tour and were back in the studio in the process of making their next album, when Chris Chasse left the band to pursue family life. Tim is also active in a metallic-hardcore band called The Killing Tree along with former Rise Against guitarist Todd Mohney, though all members use pseudonyms in concern to the band.

Rise Against recorded their latest album Appeal to Reason with the help of guitarist Zach Blair, who is now a permanent member and has known the band for many years. Appeal to Reason was released on October 7, 2008. The band recorded it at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado with Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore, who produced Revolutions Per Minute and The Sufferer & the Witness.