Punk rock group Rise Against is on the rise fast in America’s music scene. It started out as Transistor Revolt in Chicago in 1999, changing the name in 2000 shortly before striking a record deal with Fat Wreck Chords, headed by Fat Mike of NOFX. These days, the band continues to record under the Geffen label, which is part of Universal Music Group.

Bandmembers include Tim McIlrath on guitar and lead vocals, Brandon Barnes is the percussionist, Joe Principe is on bass and Zach Blair is also on guitar. Everyone but Brandon Barnes in Rise Against is involved in PETA and is a committed vegetarian. Early on, the band had some changes, but its central members are now cohesive and solid in both professional and personal partnerships.

The band won its first contract with Fat Wreck Chords; this is where many new top acts have gotten their start. The band toured hard and its work began to pay off. Music and merchandise from the band began to gain attention as the band played with groups such as NOFX, Strung Out, Sick of it All and AFI. In 2003’s Warped Tour, major recording companies began to sit up and take notice and came to call on this indie band. By 2004, the group had one of its biggest accomplishments to date, in that it made the first of its Geffen label albums. That same year, they released their album, titled Siren Song of the Counter Culture.

With this release, Billboard also gave them visibility, and they finally also got a gold record. In 2006, their album The Sufferer and the Witness was released. Taking right off, it sold almost 50,000 copies during the first week. From 2004 through 2006, some of the band’s top songs were, “Swing Life Away,” “The Good Left Undone,” “Give It All,” and “Prayer of the Refugee.” 2008 saw them release their album, Appeal to Ransom, with such hits as, “Reeducation through Labor,” and “Audience of One.”

Rise Against merch continues to sell extreamly well as the band work constantly on stage and in the studios, and continues to tour as well. Their efforts have brought them many more fans, but their punk sound has mellowed to some extent. Fans don’t really care about this, because the group continues, with its drive and talent, to be the force behind their great music, which is continually on show. In 2009, Rise Against will tour again in the United States and Canada with punk bands Billy Talent, the Riverboat Gamblers, and Rancid.

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