Biography
In New York City, bassist Matthew McAuley joined forces with synthesizer player Thomas Bullock, guitarist Ryan Noel, and vocalist Brain F. McPeck to establish A.R.E. Weapons. The group began attracting attention in underground scenes during 2001 through its aggressive, confrontational live performances and its buzzing, willfully ramshackle electro-rock sound. While visiting New York, Pulp's Jarvis Cocker caught one of their sets and urged Rough Trade's Geoff Travis to offer the band a deal. Travis followed through, resulting in the release of the debut single Street Gang by the close of July 2001. November brought a follow-up single titled New York Muscle, and the band also appeared on Electro Mogul's Electroclash compilation issued before the year ended. After Bullock departed, manager and third musician Paul Sevigny—brother of actress Chloe Sevigny—stepped in, allowing the self-titled debut album to reach stores in April 2003. The project encountered a tremendous setback the following year when Noel died of a heroin overdose. The remaining members pressed on with recording and issued 2005's Free in the Streets via the Defend Music label before delivering Modern Mayhem in 2007.