Stick to Your Guns (band)

For other uses, see Stick to Your Guns (disambiguation).

Stick to Your Guns
Stick to Your Guns at Reload Festival 2016, Germany
Background information
Origin	Orange County, California, U.S.
Genres	Hardcore punk melodic hardcore metalcore
Years active	2003–present
Labels	This City Is Burning Century Media Sumerian Pure Noise End Hits SharpTone
Members	Jesse Barnett Andrew Rose Chris Rawson Josh James Adam Galindo
Past members	Reid Haymond Alex Barnett Darel McFayden Ryan Nelson Casey Lagos Justin Rutherford Curtis Pleshe Noah Calvin George Schmitz

Stick to Your Guns is an American hardcore punk band from Orange County, California. Members of the band include lead vocalist Jesse Barnett, bassist Andrew Rose, guitarists Chris Rawson and Josh James, and drummer Adam Galindo. They are currently signed with SharpTone Records. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

History

Early years, For What It's Worth, and Comes from the Heart (2003–2008)

Frontman Jesse Barnett formed the band by recruiting Casey Lagos (whom he knew from his days on the worship team for Saddleback Church) on drums. After composing a few songs together, the two enlisted Justin Rutherford and Curtis Pleshe on guitars and Noah Calvin on bass. Their style made an impression locally, leading to the release of their first EP, Compassion without Compromise, in 2004. The band travelled to Oakland, California to debut their first studio album For What It's Worth , later released on This City Is Burning Records. The album includes one of their best known songs, "This Is More", and its release launched them to wider prominence, while the members were still in high school. Upon graduation, they went on tour throughout the United States.

On 2007, Century Media Records signed the band and re-released their debut album with two bonus tracks. After several line-up changes, the band started recording their second full-length album with only two members, Jesse Barnett and Casey Lagos. Marking a significant change in Barnett's vocal style, Comes from the Heart was released in 2008 through Century Media. That year, the band was part of Warped Tour, Hell on Earth and numerous other tours. While they were supporting Every Time I Die's tour in November 2008, Casey Lagos decided to quit the band to pursue his own musical career.

Signing with Sumerian Records and The Hope Division (2008–2011)

Ash Avildsen of Sumerian Records signed the band after seeing them at the Anaheim House of Blues. ^[7] In 2010 the band began working on their third full-length with a stable line-up consisting of Jesse Barnett on vocals, George Schmitz on drums, Chris Rawson and Reid Haymond on guitars and Andrew Rose on bass. The Hope Division was released on June 1 meeting critical acclaim and leading them to mainstream success.

In November 2011, Stick to Your Guns posted a picture on their Facebook of a 20-year-old Arizona fan, Samuel Perkins, after several of his friends got tattoos of the heart which features on the cover of The Hope Division as a tribute to their friend. Along with the tattoo are the words "At least he died a lion." This was due to his long and painful battle with a brain tumor that he fought against; his friends called him the best person they have ever met. Stick to Your Guns saw the unity in their actions and decided to pay tribute to him by performing as the headliner at Sam's memorial show. ^[8]

Diamond and Disobedient (2011–2016)

Stick to Your Guns performing at Impericon Festival 2015

In 2011, a stand-alone single titled "Bringing You Down (A New World Overthrow)" and featuring guest vocals of Karl Schwartz from First Blood, was released in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement. This song was an early version of a single from their fourth album, Diamond , which was released in 2012 with Josh James (of Evergreen Terrace) replacing Reid Haymond on guitar. The genre-bending album debuted on the Billboard charts making it to #1 on the Heatseekers chart, #11 for Hard Rock Albums, #30 for Rock Albums and placed on the Billboard 200. ^[9] Later that year, Josh James confirmed that he left Evergreen Terrace to become a permanent member of the band.

The band released several single to promote the album. One of the singles, "We Still Believe", went on to gain consistent radio play. The album scored the band a spot on the 2013 Warped Tour. ^[10] While on the Warped Tour, it was announced that "Diamond" won an Independent Music Award for best Hardcore/Metal Album of the year. ^[11]

In 2013, Pure Noise Records released a split EP which contained two songs from the band and two from The Story So Far. The EP featured their single "We Still Believe" and a cover of Inside Out's "Burning Fight". On 2014, they released Diamond: Decade Edition, a vinyl re-release of Diamond which featured three bonus tracks. The band was also featured on Florence + The Sphinx: Sumerian Ceremonials, a tribute album to Florence + The Machine, covering "Dog Days Are Over".

On February 5, 2014, the band entered the studio with producer John Feldmann (The Used, Story of the Year) to record their fifth studio album. ^[12] Throughout the recording, the band released studio updates, confirming several guests to record vocals on the record, including: Scott Vogel of Terror, ^[13] Toby Morse of H₂O, ^[14] Walter Delgado of Rotting Out, ^[15] the members of Motionless in White ^[16] and producer John Feldmann himself. ^[17] Recording finished on March 12, 2014.

On September 16, 2014, the band released a teaser video for their new album on their Facebook page, announcing the album's title as being Disobedient , as well as the album's release date—February 10, 2015. ^[18] The band then premiered a new track from the album on October 21, titled "Nobody" through Alternative Press . ^[19]

Better Ash Than Dust and True View (2016–present)

Stick to Your Guns performing at Rock am Ring 2022

In July 2016 it was announced that Stick to Your Guns had left Sumerian Records and signed to Pure Noise Records. The band released their first song after label change called Universal Language on July 16, 2016. ^[20] It was announced that Stick to Your Guns would release an EP later that year. ^[21] In August more information about the EP was published. The name is Better Ash Than Dust and was set for release on September 23, 2016, via Pure Noise Records and End Hits Records for a European release.^{[ citation needed ]}

Between September 8 and October 2, 2016, the band toured throughout North America alongside Hardcore punk acts Stray from the Path and Knocked Loose. ^[22] Stick to Your Guns became the first American band to play a concert in East African country Kenya. ^[23] Shortly after their performance in Kenya the band went on European tour with Australian metalcore band Parkway Drive. ^[24] In June 2017 the band started working on their sixth studio record with producer Derek Hoffman. ^[25] The album, True View, was released on October 13, 2017. ^[26]

In November and December 2017, Stick to Your Guns played another European tour which was supported by Being as an Ocean and Silent Planet. ^[27] In the beginning of 2018 Stick to Your Guns toured North America with British band Architects and Canadian hardcore band Counterparts. ^[28] In the Spring of 2018, Stick to Your Guns supported Parkway Drive on their USA tour. ^[29] Stick to Your Guns co-headlined a North American tour in the fall of 2018 with Emmure. Wage War and Sanction joined the lineup as support. ^[30]

Stick to Your Guns headlined the "Pure Noise Tour" in the Summer of 2019 in North America. Counterparts, Terror, Year of the Knife and Sanction all joined up as support for the tour. ^[31] Stick to Your Guns also supported Knocked Loose on their Different Shade of Blue Tour. Rotting Out, Candy and SeeYouSpaceCowboy also joined up as support. ^[32]

On February 18, 2021, Stick to Your Guns released an EP titled The Meaning Remains. It contained acoustic versions of Amber, Nobody, Forgiveness of Self, and a cover of Take on Me.

Musical style and influences

Stick to Your Guns has been described as hardcore punk, ^[33] melodic hardcore ^{[ citation needed ]} and metalcore. ^[34] The mutual influences of its members include Propagandhi, Boysetsfire, Metallica, Trial, Hatebreed, ^[35] and Inside Out. ^[36]

The band's lyrics address subjects ranging from self-reflection to left-wing political and social statements. ^[37] The band's vocalist Jesse Barnett is a vocal Marxist, with the band commonly addressing themes like settler-colonial liberation ("Liberate", "More of Us Than Them"), mutual aid ("Empty Heads"), and Dialectical Materialism ("D[I Am]Mond", "No Way To Live"). Stick to Your Guns identifies with the straight edge subculture and George Schmitz once described it as "a secret straight edge band" because they have focused on several other topics throughout their career rather than only this movement. ^{[37] [38]}

Members

• Stick to Your Guns live at With Full Force 2018
• 
  Jesse Barnett
• 
  Andrew Rose
• 
  Chris Rawson
• 
  Josh James

Current members Jesse Barnett – lead vocals, additional guitars (2003–present), piano (2008–present), lead guitar (2010–2012) Andrew Rose – bass, backing vocals (2008–present) Chris Rawson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2009–present) Josh James – lead guitar, backing vocals (2012–present) Adam Galindo – drums (2022–present)

Former members Curtis Pleshe – lead guitar, backing vocals (2003–2006) Noah Calvin – bass, backing vocals (2003–2006) Justin Rutherford – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2003–2006) Ryan Nelson – lead guitar, backing vocals (2006–2008) Darel McFayden – bass, backing vocals (2007–2008) Casey Lagos – drums, piano, backing vocals (2003–2008), bass (2006–2007) Alex Barnett – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2006–2009) Reid Haymond – lead guitar, backing vocals (2008–2010) George Schmitz – drums (2008–2022)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• For What It's Worth (2005, This City Is Burning Records)
• Comes from the Heart (2008, Century Media Records)
• The Hope Division (2010, Sumerian Records)
• Diamond (2012, Sumerian Records)
• Disobedient (2015, Sumerian Records)
• True View(2017, Pure Noise Records) ^[39]
• Spectre(2022, Pure Noise Records) ^[40]
• Keep Planting Flowers(2025, SharpTone Records) ^[41]

Extended plays

• Compassion without Compromise(2004, self-released)
• The Story So Far vs. Stick to Your Guns (split CD) (2013, Pure Noise Records)
• Better Ash Than Dust (2016, Pure Noise Records/End Hits Records)
• The Meaning Remains(2021, Pure Noise Records)

Other songs

• "Laught Right Back" – 2008 version
• "Bringing You Down (A New World Overthrow)" – 2011 single, later re-recorded for Diamond
• "Dog Days Are Over" – from Florence + The Sphinx: Sumerian Ceremonials
• "Hasta La Victoria (Demo)" - Released in honor of Victor Jara, via Bandcamp only

References

1. "Stick To Your Guns Discography". Allmusic . Retrieved April 8, 2015.
2. "Positively ass-kicking; Stick to Your Guns - Comes From the Heart". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
3. "Comes from the Heart". Allmusic. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
5. "CoC : Stick to Your Guns - Comes From the Heart : Review". Chroniclesofchaos.com. January 9, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
6. "Comes from the Heart by Stick to Your Guns - A punk music review by Punkbands dot com". Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
7. "Stick To Your Guns". Sumerian Records. December 18, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
8. "At Least He Died A Lion". Mind Equals Blown. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
9. "Stick to Your Guns - Biography". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
10. "Warped Tour 2013: See the Full Final Lineup - News - Warped Roadies - Fuse". Fuse.tv. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
11. "Fans Select Winners In The 12th Independent Music Awards Vox Pop Poll". Independent Music Awards. August 6, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
12. "Stick To Your Guns will enter the studio... - Stick To Your Guns". Facebook.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
13. "Stick To Your Guns". Facebook.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
14. "Timeline Photos - Stick To Your Guns". Facebook.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
15. "Stick To Your Guns". Facebook.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
16. "Timeline Photos - Stick To Your Guns". Facebook.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
17. "Stick To Your Guns". Facebook.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
18. "Stick To Your Guns". Facebook.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
19. "Stick To Your Guns, "Nobody" video premiere - Alternative Press". Altpress.com. October 21, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
20. Peyton Bernhardt: Blunt Magazine : Stick to Your Guns sign to Pure Noise Records, Release New Song "Universal Language" Archived August 9, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
21. Caitlyn Ralph: Alternative Press : Stick To Your Guns leave Sumerian Records for Pure Noise Records
22. Tyler Sharp: Alternative Press: Stick To Your Guns, Stray From The Path, Expire, Knocked Loose tour announced
23. Will Cross: Rock Sound : WATCH STICK TO YOUR GUNS BECOME THE FIRST AMERICAN HARDCORE BAND TO PLAY KENYA Archived October 5, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
24. wookubus: The PRP: Stick To Your Guns Added To Parkway Drive, Asking Alexandria & Darkest Hour European/UK Tour
25. wookubus: The PRP: Stick To Your Guns Begin Recording New Album
26. Maggie Dickman: Alternative Press: Stick To Your Guns announce new album, debut electrifying new track—listen
27. Charles: Noisiv: Stick To Your Guns und Being As An Ocean: Ab November auf Tour in Deutschland (German)
28. Maggie Dickman: Alternative Press: Architects announce headlining tour with Stick To Your Guns, Counterparts
29. "STICK TO YOUR GUNS And BAD OMENS Added To PARKWAY DRIVE U.S. Tour Dates". Lambgoat.com. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
30. CasteelZ, Beth (August 8, 2018). "Emmure and Stick To Your Guns announce a co-headlining tour". Altpress.com.
31. "Pure Noise Tour Returns With Stick to Your Guns, Counterparts, Terror, More". Revolvermag.com. April 30, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
32. "Stick To Your Guns Have Been Added To Knocked Loose's Headlining Tour / the NOISE". Bringthenoise.com. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
33. Connors, Patrick (February 19, 2015). "Stick to Your Guns - Disobedient". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
34. Pasbani, Robert (March 27, 2017). "STICK TO YOUR GUNS Become The First Metal Band To Play Kenya; Kenyan Metal Fans Bring The Mosh". Metal Injection. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
35. "We are Stick to Your Guns. Ask us anything". /r/IAmA . Reddit. February 10, 2015. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
36. KUHLMAN, ALYSSA. "Stick To Your Guns Amplifies Hardcore In SoCal" . Retrieved April 11, 2020.
37. Manz, Kaori; Smith, Hannah. "INTERVIEW: Stick To Your Guns – GROEZROCK 2017". Ikeproductions.co.uk. Meerhout, Belgium. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
38. "We are Stick to Your Guns. Ask us anything". /r/IAmA . Reddit. February 10, 2015. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
39. Dickman, Maggie (July 27, 2017). "Stick To Your Guns announce new album, debut electrifying new track—listen – News". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
40. Taylor Linzinmeir (April 7, 2022). "Stick To Your Guns announce new album 'Spectre,' release "Weapon" video—watch". Alternative Press . Retrieved April 12, 2022.
41. "Stick To Your Guns zapowiadają nowy album "Keep Planting Flowers"". Post-Hardcore PL.

External links

• Stick to Your Guns at AllMusic