AFI (short for 'A Fire Inside') gained most of their popularity at the end of the 1990's, but the band has been around since 1991. Formed in Ukiah, California during high school, the early sound can roughly described as Misfits inspired Punk. After releasing their second EP, "Behind the Times", AFI decided to disband and go to college, but later dropped out and reunited to record "Behind the Times" and manage to get a deal with Nitro, the label of Offspring's Dexter Holland. 1995 "Answer That and Stay Fashionable" is released there, as well as the follow up "Very Proud of Ya".
After line-up changes and the EP "A Fire Inside" (which followed "Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Eyes") the band established their own musical profile with "Black Sails in the Sunset" (1999). The lyrics got darker, and Dexter Holland appeared on the song "Clove Smoke Catharsis" as guest vocalist.
After "All Hallows" and "The Art Of Drowning" the same Dexter Holland encouraged the band to leave Nitro and look for a bigger record label. Following this advice, AFI signed a contract wi...more
