AFI (A Fire Inside) formed in Ukiah, California in 1991 and evolved from hardcore punk into gothic-tinged alternative rock without losing the energy. Sing the Sorrow (2003) is the breakthrough and the place to start; The Art of Drowning (2000) captures the late-punk era, and Decemberunderground (2006) hit number one. Find AFI vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
AFI (an acronym for A Fire Inside) formed in Ukiah, California in 1991. The current lineup of Davey Havok (vocals), Jade Puget (guitar, since 1998), Hunter Burgan (bass, since 1997), and Adam Carson (drums, founding member) has been stable for most of the band's career. The band signed to Nitro Records in the mid-1990s, then to Dreamworks for Sing the Sorrow (2003) and Decemberunderground (2006), the latter of which reached number one on the Billboard 200.
AFI's early work was rooted in hardcore punk and skate punk. From The Art of Drowning (2000) onward, the band has developed a more melodic, gothic-influenced alternative rock sound with deathrock and post-punk influences, while retaining punk energy. Their later work has incorporated more electronic textures.
Original Nitro and Dreamworks pressings of the Sing the Sorrow-era catalog are widely collected. AFI's vinyl pressings have appeared in numerous color variants and limited editions across both major and independent labels.
Listeners new to AFI typically start with Sing the Sorrow (2003), the band's commercial breakthrough. The Art of Drowning (2000) is a common entry point for their late-punk era.
