Also known as American Nightmare | ||
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Origin Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Genres Hardcore punk, post-hardcore Years active 1998 (1998)–2004 (2004), 2011–present Labels Bridge 9, Equal Vision, Burning Heart, Deathwish Associated acts Ten Yard Fight, Cold Cave, Panic, Some Girls, The Hope Conspiracy, XO Skeletons, Head Automatica, My Chemical Romance, Bars, Ye Olde Maids, Old Poets, Cross Builder, Get Down | ||
Give Up the Ghost is a hardcore punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. They have released two albums, one EP and a compilation of earlier released material under the name American Nightmare.
Contents
Formation (1998–2004)
Give Up the Ghost was formed when Tim Cossar and Wesley Eisold (who was then a roadie for Ten Yard Fight) met up with Azy Relph and Jesse Van Diest in 1998. They recorded a demo tape in 1999, followed by their debut release, a self-titled EP on Bridge 9 Records under their original name American Nightmare in 2000. After extensive touring and line-up changes, the band recorded their second EP, The Sun Isn't Getting Any Brighter. This was later combined with their self-titled effort to form Year One, which was released by Reflections Records in 2001 and reissued posthumously by Bridge 9.
Their debut full-length, Background Music, was recorded for Equal Vision Records in 2001 and was released to much acclaim. In 2003, the band faced a legal battle with a similarly named band from Philadelphia. The band then changed their name briefly to the initials "A.N." then to American Nothing for a brief period. After the other American Nightmare threatened to file suit again, they changed their name to Give Up the Ghost (which was intended to be the name of their second album). Their second full length, We're Down Til We're Underground released on Equal Vision, displayed the band experimenting with their sound, with longer songs that didn't follow the typical hardcore songwriting formula they had adhered to in their previous releases.
Breakup and aftermath (2004–2010)
The band broke up suddenly in June 2004, a day after announcing the cancellation of a European tour. The band issued a statement which cited "health and personal reasons" for the split. Members went on to join/form other bands such as Cold Cave, Some Girls, XO Skeletons, Ye Olde Maids, Head Automatica, Bars, and the Hope Conspiracy. Give Up the Ghost came back into the headlines in 2007 under accusations that Fall Out Boy had taken lyrics from Wes Eisold, the band's lyricist, resulting in an out-of-court settlement and a credit in the liner notes of both the multi-platinum selling From Under the Cork Tree and Infinity on High.
Reunion shows (2011–present)
After seven years of disbandment, Give Up the Ghost played two reunion shows in December 2011. The band performed in Revere, Massachusetts on December 29, and in Los Angeles on December 31. Deathwish Inc. reissued Give Up the Ghost's albums Background Music (2001) and We're Down Til We're Underground (2003) to coincide with the reunion dates. Since the original 2011 reunion shows, Give Up the Ghost have played a small handful of shows almost every year. In addition, Give Up The Ghost performed a number of shows under their original name American Nightmare.