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All Music Guide:
The underground punk band American Steel was founded in 1995 while making a name for themselves in the San Francisco punk district. The West Oakland crew comprised vocalist/guitarist Rory Henderson, guitarist Ryan Massey, bassist John Peck, and drummer Jamie Kissinger; Kissinger was replaced by Scott Healy in 1996 behind the kit, though he later returned around 2000. They independently released a 7" entitled "Hope Wanted" and the first pressing sold out almost immediately thanks to the heavy push on the first-ever U.S. tour in late 1996. A year later, American Steel hooked up with indie producer Kevin Army (the Mr. T Experience, Fuel, Operation Ivy) to create their eponymous debut, which was released on New Disorder in 1998. The following year, American Steel inked a deal with Lookout! and issued Rogue's March that October. The album was released to positive reviews, though its recording process had been sporadic due to Massey's (successful) fight with leukemia. Continuing with a sound that boasted influences like the Clash and Stiff Little Fingers, Jagged Thoughts appeared in June 2001. The next spring, the band announced it was breaking up, playing its last show together at Berkeley's Gilman Street in May 2002. By that December, however, most of the band had reappeared, playing together as Communiqué.
Wikipedia:
American Steel is an American punk rock band formed in 1995 in Oakland, California. When offered their first show, the group took their name from the block-long sign on the warehouse across the street. After playing at parties and smaller venues around the Bay Area for over a year, and undergoing several lineup changes, the band bought a van and embarked on their first tour of the US, lasting 32 days and covering 12,000 miles.
After returning from tour, American Steel record their eponymous first album for San Francisco's New Disorder Records.
In the spring of 1999, American Steel signed to Lookout! and released Rogue's March in October 1999. The recording process was intermittent, due to guitarist Ryan's initial diagnosis and early battle with leukemia. 2000 saw the band tour in both the U.S. and Canada, including appearances at South by Southwest and CMJ. Their third full-length, Jagged Thoughts followed in 2001.
Following this, American Steel changed their name and sound in 2002, becoming Communiqué.
The band reunited in 2007, and signed to Fat Wreck Chords. They released a new album entitled Destroy Their Future on October 2, 2007. They toured with Alkaline Trio in the summer of 2008 and with Donots in the fall of 2008 in europe. In March 2009 they announced recording had begun on a second album for Fat Wreck Chords, Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts, which was released July 21, 2009.
