Biography

If credibility were currency, Fake Names’ wealth would be off the charts. Composed of Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Bad Religion, Dag Nasty), Michael Hampton (S.O.A., Embrace), Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, INVSN, The [International] Noise Conspiracy), Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside) and the newest member Brendan Canty (Fugazi, Rites of Spring), the band is a veritable post-hardcore dream team; but instead of rehashing the past, Expendables is a reinvention that sees the band dialing back the distortion and leaning into the melodies. The result pairs their unparalleled pedigree with a pop sensibility that’s slightly unexpected and wholly satisfying. “On our last record [2019’s Fake Names] the influences were 70’s U.K. punk and power-pop; but it wound up with a little classic rock vibe as well, like the Vibrators meets Aerosmith. We never saw that coming!” Baker explains. For Expendables the band enlisted producer Adam ‘Atom’ Greenspan (IDLES, Yeah Yeah Yeahs). “The pop influences are more out front on this one, and Atom’s production really helps it shine. It sounds more direct, more urgent.” Baker refers to the lineup of Fake Names as a “mutual admiration society” and says that “There is an intangible energy, a clairvoyance that comes from our shared experience.” That spark and this album could only be created by these five people at this moment in time, so listen to it loud while you can… because, ultimately, we’re all expendable.