Alternative Rock/Post Hardcore
About :
Hailing from rainy Seattle, Aiden combines post-hardcore and punk attitudes with gothic aesthetics and a love of all things horror (not to mention, of course, the Misfits) to create surging, darkly melodic music. The group formed in the spring of 2003 while its members were still in high school, taking their name from the young, ghost-seeing boy in the 2002 horror flick The Ring. A few lineup changes occurred early on; the quintet -- Nick Wiggins (bass), Jake Davison (drums), Angel Ibarra (guitar), Jake Wambold (guitar), and William "wiL" Francis (vocals) -- was solidified, however, before entering the studio in December 2004 to record their debut full-length, Our Gang's Dark Oath. Making two-song samplers of their album, Aiden managed to pass out a few thousand copies around town, sparking a word-of-mouth buzz all over Seattle. Their debut was released in June 2004 on Dead Teenager, and the band played countless shows throughout the year -- whenever school would allow. Their hard work paid off quickly, inking a deal with Victory Records by December. All members were finally done with high school by June 2005, and Aiden was free to tour, jumping on the road that summer with the Hurt Process, the Audition, and the Junior Varsity. Their first label effort, Nightmare Anatomy, appeared in October 2005, proving to be a slickly energetic record with undeniable hooks despite somewhat morose lyrical content. Touring with label mates Hawthorne Heights, Bayside, and Silverstein rounded out the year before Aiden headed back out to support 30 Seconds to Mars nationwide in the first half of 2006. Victory then re-released Our Gang's Dark Oath with new artwork in April 2006, the Rain in Hell EP arriving just in time for that year's Halloween.
History :
Aiden's first full-length album Our Gang's Dark Oath was released on Dead Teenager Records in 2004. It was recorded while Jake Davison and Angel Ibarra were still in high school, being released shortly after they had left.
Later in 2005, the band were signed to Victory Records. Their second album and debut for Victory Records titled Nightmare Anatomy was released October 4, 2005.
Aiden contributed a cover of Nirvana's "Drain You" to Higher Voltage, a CD given away free with Kerrang! magazine.
In March 2006, Aiden played an arena tour of the US supporting 30 Seconds to Mars with Emanuel and Keating.
In May and June 2006, Aiden toured the US supporting the Finnish band HIM.
In April 2007, Aiden played an arena tour of the UK supporting Lostprophets with Taking Back Sunday. They also played the 2007 Taste of Chaos North American Tour alongside The Used,30 Seconds to Mars, Senses Fail, Saosin, Chiodos, and Evaline. They recently played a West Coast tour, followed by a national tour, Confessions in the Dark Tour, with Drop Dead, Gorgeous, Still Remains, and 1997. They recently completed the International Taste of Chaos tour.
Aiden's song "One Love" appears in Resident Evil: Extinction, and their song "We Sleep Forever" is featured in the motion picture Dead Silence.
The band's third studio album entitled Conviction was released August 21, 2007. It marks a complete change of style in the band's musical direction.
On the 9th of October, 2007, through a MySpace bulletin the band announced that they were filming their next music video, for the song "Moment," thus confirming it as the next single.
The band played a show in Anchorage, Alaska in January 2008, introducing their U.S. tour with Madina Lake in February and March, 2008. This was the first part of their three-part "World by Storm Tour", the second part of which was a month-long Europe tour with Kill Hannah from late March to late April 2008. The third part, a tour from Massachusetts back to their home base in Seattle, was to occupy much of May 2008, but the band pulled out of the tour after two shows, according to their web site for "personal reasons." However, the band did reinstate the final two shows, in Spokane and Seattle, near their home base.
They also played the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey in May 2008. In addition, Aiden recorded their own version of Ashley Massaro's theme music "Let's Light a Fire Tonight" for the bonus edition of WWE The Music, Vol. 8.
On May 20, 2008, the band announced on their website that Jake Wambold was no longer a member of Aiden. They played their first live show as a four piece in Spokane, Washington on May 24, 2008.
Francis has started a website and a MySpace page for a side project called "William Control," details of which have not been announced. William Control is a sort of alter-ego to wiL, and the album will consist of dark content lyric-wise, which wiL stated in a Kerrang! interview did not suit Aiden. William Control has its debut album, Hate Culture, which hit stores on October 27, 2008 in the UK, and October 28 in the U.S. William Control did a UK tour from November 1-7th.
Aiden also appeared on the soundtrack to Lost Boys: The Tribe with a cover of the theme song "Cry Little Sister".
Aiden did a European tour in October 2008, followed by a U.S. tour in November, called The Suffer Little Children Tour, finishing December 7.
On December 14 Aiden posted a blog on their MySpace saying that they are in the studio writing and recording songs for their next album. The blog also said that there are about 25 songs that they are working with and wiL also mentioned he'd written 30 songs for the new record in an Alternative Press podcast. The next album is said to be "darker." In a recent interview with Kerrang! magazine, wiL told that he has written 23 songs so far, but is wanting to write about 30, as they are planning to release a double album. He describes the new songs as being "totally different to William Control [his Solo project] of course, but the attitude's the same." It will be recorded at the same studio wiL produced Hate Culture. "I think that a lot of people who hated Conviction will really like this one. But who knows and who really cares? We're just going to make the record we want to make."
Ibarra has also begun a self-named side project, which had its first performance in Metro Seattle in late January. He has also announced a new side project with Davison, called Rock 'n Roll Weekend. Wiggins has also announced a side project, Me vs Myself.
Aiden latest full length album entitled Knives was released on May 12, 2009 (May 11 in the UK). On March 31, 2009, a new single, "Scavengers of the Damned," was made available through iTunes, the second single being Let The Right One In.
In April Aiden announced a UK tour on their MySpace. They stated that they chose the smallest venues that were available, Tonight is Goodbye (But pulled out halfway through the tour Young guns replaced them for the rest the rest of the tour) were announced as support for the tour, with Lost On Landing providing support in their hometown of Southampton.
In May 2009 Aiden headlined the Music Saves Lives Summer Kickoff Party. While out on the 2009 Van's Warped Tour they did signings for the non-profit organization where they met with fans who gained special access to the band by donating blood.
The band toured on the 2009 Warped Tour, but has announced few shows for the fall, and both Francis and Wiggins have announced shows for their respective side projects. They played a Halloween show after Francis acoustic UK tour entitled Devils Night. On his Twitter Francis also said Aiden are in the progress of writing a new record. In January and February Aiden accompanied Anti-Flag on the 'Economy Sucks, Let's Party!' Tour, where in Chicago they filmed a live DVD and CD entitled 'From Hell... With Love', which will be released on March 16th, 2010, as stated in an interview with BareBonesMusic.com. Also in addition they stated on kerrang that they will be returning to the UK and Europe with Saosin. After Saosin pulled out, the tour has been postponed until December
Members :
Wil Francis : Lead Vocals, Piano (2003-Present), Guitar Ryhthm (2008-Present)
Angel Ibarra : Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals (2003-Present)
Nick Wiggins : Bass, Backing Vocals (2003-Present)
Jake Davison : Drums , Percussions (2003-Present)
Former Member :
Jake Wambold : Guitar Ryhthm, Backing Vocals (2003-2008)
