Only Crime
Encyclopedia
Only Crime is a melodic hardcore
group formed by Good Riddance
singer Russ Rankin
and Bane
guitarist Aaron Dalbec
in 2003. The band plays melodic but hard-hitting punk rock that borrows heavily from early-1980s hardcore bands such as Black Flag
.
found himself ill-at-ease with the situation of his other band Good Riddance
. The band did not play frequently, and Rankin wanted to tour more.
He set out to form another band that would be more active and that would pursue his drug/alcohol-free aesthetics and lifestyle.
While touring with Good Riddance, Russ became friends with Aaron Dalbec
from the band Bane
. When Russ asked him to play guitar in the new band, Aaron agreed.
Zach Blair
and his brother Doni Blair also joined because their bands, including Hagfish
, were less active than they wanted.
When Russ was in the Blasting Room
with Good Riddance to record Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection
, he asked producer Bill Stevenson - legendary drummer of seminal punk bands Black Flag
, Descendents
, and All
- to be the drummer in his new project.
The band was given the name Only Crime and they released their debut album on Fat Wreck Chords
in 2004, entitled To the Nines.
On January 23, 2007, Only Crime released their second album, Virulence
, on Fat Wreck Chords.
Guitarist Zach Blair had recently left due to commitments with Rise Against
. He was replaced by Matt Hoffman of Modern Life Is War.
Bassist Doni Blair left in summer of 2007, after touring extensively with Only Crime, to spend more time with his family and pursue his instrumental project, the Mag Seven (also with Bill Stevenson). He was temporarily replaced by Zack Busby (formerly of the Burden Brothers). Doni's last show was August 15, 2007, in Kansas City. Only Crime's current bassist is Dan Kelly.
In a message posted June 9, 2011 in their official website, Only Crime said that they were almost done writing the new record.
Melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on vocal melody. The genre is commonly defined with fast hardcore drum beats, complex guitar riffs and melodic singing with occasional screaming and shouting.-History:...
group formed by Good Riddance
Good Riddance
Good Riddance was a punk rock band from Santa Cruz, California. They released seven full-length studio albums on Fat Wreck Chords, and their final album was a live recording of their farewell concert in 2007. Led by vocalist Russ Rankin, the band's longtime lineup included guitarist Luke Pabich,...
singer Russ Rankin
Russ Rankin
Russ Rankin is an American singer from Santa Cruz, CA. He has recorded and played in such notable bands as Good Riddance and Only Crime.-Musical Biography:...
and Bane
Bane (band)
Bane, a hardcore punk band, began as a side project between Aaron Dalbec and Damon Bellardo. Aaron approached Matt Firestone to sing and they played under the moniker of Gateway for a few shows, before Firestone departed ways to focus on other projects...
guitarist Aaron Dalbec
Aaron Dalbec
Aaron Dalbec, of Marlborough, Massachusetts, is the guitarist for Bane and Only Crime.Dalbec, a vegan, is also a former member of Converge and Velocity Engine....
in 2003. The band plays melodic but hard-hitting punk rock that borrows heavily from early-1980s hardcore bands such as Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
.
History
In 2002, Russ RankinRuss Rankin
Russ Rankin is an American singer from Santa Cruz, CA. He has recorded and played in such notable bands as Good Riddance and Only Crime.-Musical Biography:...
found himself ill-at-ease with the situation of his other band Good Riddance
Good Riddance
Good Riddance was a punk rock band from Santa Cruz, California. They released seven full-length studio albums on Fat Wreck Chords, and their final album was a live recording of their farewell concert in 2007. Led by vocalist Russ Rankin, the band's longtime lineup included guitarist Luke Pabich,...
. The band did not play frequently, and Rankin wanted to tour more.
He set out to form another band that would be more active and that would pursue his drug/alcohol-free aesthetics and lifestyle.
While touring with Good Riddance, Russ became friends with Aaron Dalbec
Aaron Dalbec
Aaron Dalbec, of Marlborough, Massachusetts, is the guitarist for Bane and Only Crime.Dalbec, a vegan, is also a former member of Converge and Velocity Engine....
from the band Bane
Bane (band)
Bane, a hardcore punk band, began as a side project between Aaron Dalbec and Damon Bellardo. Aaron approached Matt Firestone to sing and they played under the moniker of Gateway for a few shows, before Firestone departed ways to focus on other projects...
. When Russ asked him to play guitar in the new band, Aaron agreed.
Zach Blair
Zach Blair
Zach Blair is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for Chicago-based hardcore punk band Rise Against. He is originally from Sherman, Texas.Before joining Rise Against in early 2007, Blair was a member of hardcore punk group Only Crime along with his brother, Doni Blair, who currently plays with...
and his brother Doni Blair also joined because their bands, including Hagfish
Hagfish (band)
Hagfish were a punk rock band from the Deep Ellum district of Dallas, TX that included George Reagan III, Zach Blair, Doni Blair and Tony Barsotti for the majority of the bands career, including all of their studio albums...
, were less active than they wanted.
When Russ was in the Blasting Room
Blasting Room
The Blasting Room is a recording studio in Fort Collins, Colorado, built by members of Descendents, ALL, and Black Flag, including punk drummer Bill Stevenson....
with Good Riddance to record Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection
Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection
Bound by Ties of Blood and Affection is the sixth studio album by the Santa Cruz, California-based hardcore punk band Good Riddance, released May 20, 2003 through Fat Wreck Chords. Like their previous two studio albums it was recorded at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado with the...
, he asked producer Bill Stevenson - legendary drummer of seminal punk bands Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
, Descendents
Descendents (band)
The Descendents are an American punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California. As of 2011, they have released six studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums and three EPs. The Descendents broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different musicians...
, and All
ALL (band)
All is an American punk band originally from Los Angeles, currently residing in Fort Collins, Colorado, formed by Descendents members Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton.-Formation and Cruz Records Years:...
- to be the drummer in his new project.
The band was given the name Only Crime and they released their debut album on Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords is a San Francisco, California based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by Fat Mike and his ex-wife, Erin, in 1990....
in 2004, entitled To the Nines.
On January 23, 2007, Only Crime released their second album, Virulence
Virulence (album)
Virulence is the second full-length studio album from melodic hardcore band, Only Crime. It was released on January 23, 2007 and features the same line-up as the previous album, To the Nines, including Russ Rankin from Good Riddance, Bill Stevenson from Black Flag, Descendents and ALL, Aaron Dalbec...
, on Fat Wreck Chords.
Guitarist Zach Blair had recently left due to commitments with Rise Against
Rise Against
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...
. He was replaced by Matt Hoffman of Modern Life Is War.
Bassist Doni Blair left in summer of 2007, after touring extensively with Only Crime, to spend more time with his family and pursue his instrumental project, the Mag Seven (also with Bill Stevenson). He was temporarily replaced by Zack Busby (formerly of the Burden Brothers). Doni's last show was August 15, 2007, in Kansas City. Only Crime's current bassist is Dan Kelly.
In a message posted June 9, 2011 in their official website, Only Crime said that they were almost done writing the new record.
Studio albums
- To the Nines (2004)
- VirulenceVirulence (album)Virulence is the second full-length studio album from melodic hardcore band, Only Crime. It was released on January 23, 2007 and features the same line-up as the previous album, To the Nines, including Russ Rankin from Good Riddance, Bill Stevenson from Black Flag, Descendents and ALL, Aaron Dalbec...
(2007)
Compilation album appearances
- Anti-Floyd - The Terrier State (2004)
- Includes "Tenebrae" from To the Nines
- Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2 is the second Rock Against Bush compilation album released on the Fat Wreck Chords record label. It contains a collection of songs by various punk rock artists, some of which were previously unreleased. It also includes a bonus DVD with political facts, commentary...
(2004)- Includes "Doomsday Breach" from To the Nines
- In Honor: A Compilation to Beat CancerIn Honor: A Compilation To Beat CancerIn Honor: A Compilation to Beat Cancer is a compilation album released by Vagrant Records in 2004. As the name implies, it is a benefit album with proceeds going to fight Cancer. In this case, the proceeds went...
(2004)- Includes the previously unreleased track "Hands of Failure"
- Thrasher Mag: Skate Rock, Vol. 12: Eat the Flag (2005)
- Includes the previously unreleased track "Another Lie"
- iFloyd (2006)
- Includes "Everything for You" from Virulence
- Fat Wreck Chords X-Mas Bonus (2006)
- Includes "Eyes of the World from Virulence
- Warped Tour 2007 Tour CompilationWarped Tour 2007 Tour CompilationThe Warped Tour 2007 Tour Compilation is the twelfth installment in the annual compilation series accompanying the Warped Tour. The compilation's cover is a photograph of Aiden singer WiL Francis playing on the 2006 Warped Tour.- Track listing :...
- Includes "Take Me" from Virulence
- Hanuk-Comp (2007)
- Includes the previously unreleased track "What We've Become"