1991 - Ukiah, California.
Davey Havok and Adam Carson were high school friends in Ukiah, California. Havok, a member of the school's choir, and Carson decided to form a punk band with guitarist Markus Stopholese and bassist Vick. Within a few months Vick was replaced by Geoff Kresge. AFI (an acronym for A Fire Inside) released their first recordings in 1993 as part of a shared EP titled "Dork" with the band Loose Change.
- Davey Havok - Vocals
- Jade Puget - Guitar
- Hunter Burgan - Bass
- Adam Carson - Drums
An AFI-only EP titled "Behind the Times" also appeared in 1993. Soon after, the band broke up as the members left home to attend college. However, during a holiday break the band reunited for a local gig. The response was so positive that the group members decided to leave college and focus on their music. Over the next 2 years a series of vinyl EP's were released.
Guitarist Jade Puget in interview with PunkNews.org:
"We enjoy interacting with the people who listen to our music 'cause that’s really why we’re doing this."
AFI's first full-length album, Answer That and Stay Fashionable, was released in 1995 on Wingnut Records. The band signed with Nitro Records in 1996 and recorded their second album Very Proud of Ya. Bassist Geoff Kresge left the group in 1996 to eventually be replaced by Hunter Burgan. After 1997's album Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes, guitarist Markus Stopholese left to be replaced by Jade Puget.
AFI's devoted fan following is known as the Despair Faction.
With the albums Black Sails in the Sunset and The Art of Drowning, AFI continued to build their fanbase. The Art of Drowning is the first album by the group to make the national pop albums chart, peaking at #174 in 2000. AFI signed with major label DreamWorks Records for their next album. The result, 2003's Sing the Sorrow, was met with positive critical reviews and the band's first top 10 modern rock single, "Girl's Not Grey." The album peaked at #5.
In 2004 AFI's former label Nitro released a compilation titled simply AFI. It kept fans occupied until the appearance of the next album of new material. Decemberunderground appeared in June 2006 and it promptly topped the pop albums chart for the first time in the band's career. "Miss Murder," the first single, looked assured of reaching the pop top 40.
