Rise Against Biography

Chicago’s Rise Against began in 1999 when ex-88 Fingers Louie bassist Joe Principe tapped area vocalist Tim McIlrath for a new project rooted in the sound and social vision of traditionalist hardcore. Joined by fellow 88 Fingers vet Dan Precision on guitar and, eventually, drummer Brandon Barnes, Rise Against signed to Fat Wreck and issued THE UNRAVELING in 2001. Precision left the band that same year to be replaced by Todd Mohney. Extensive touring followed, leading to their sophomore outing, 2002’s REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE. After solid response from fans and critics alike, as well as a stint on the Warped Tour, Rise Against left the Fat Wreck fold for DreamWorks/Geffen. By this point, guitar duties were being handled by Chris Chasse (Reach the Sky).

Rise Against made their major-label debut in August 2004 with SIREN SONG OF THE COUNTER CULTURE. They toured steadily after the album’s release, received plenty of solid press, and even saw COUNTER CULTURE crack the Billboard Top 200. In 2005, Rise Against appeared in the skateboarding film ‘Lords of Dogtown’, playing an old-school Cali punk band. (They performed a rousing version of Black Flag’s ‘Nervous Breakdown’ for the
film’s soundtrack.) Rise Against continued to tour throughout that summer, including a spot at the U.K.’s Reading and Leeds festivals in August. Their fourth album, THE SUFFERER & THE WITNESS, appeared in July 2006 and its debut at number ten on the Billboard Top 200 was their highest yet. The band spent the summer tearing up Warped’s main stage before hooking up with Thursday and Billy Talent that fall. Rise Against continued playing shows into 2007, but their extensive tour schedule eventually proved to be too much for Chasse, who bowed out that February.

The band solidered on, enlisting Only Crime’s Zach Blair to temporarily take his place. The band’s latest 2009 release, APPEAL TO REASON, is the band’s biggest commercial success debuting at number 3 on Billboard. All the members of Rise Against embrace extremely liberal philosophies, and publicly endorse and are a part of PETA and Punk Voter - “Do I give a s**t about what happens in the world I have to live in? F**k yeah, I do! Don’t you? Does that mean I’m political? Does that make us ‘extremely political’? The only reason our band is viewed as being ‘extremely political’ is because of the lack of bands in the punk/hardcore scene today that are saying anything important…” - Tim McIlrath