From First to Last

Formed during 1999 in Los Angeles after originating from Florida, From First to Last launched with guitarists Travis Richter and Matt Good. Early membership rotated frequently as the post-hardcore and screamo group delivered the EP Aesthetic through New York’s Four Leaf Recordings in June 2003 and then secured a contract with Epitaph before the year closed. Phillip Reardon’s exit opened the door for fifteen-year-old Sonny Moore to become lead vocalist while the band tracked its first full-length effort. Completed in just two weeks, the 2004 album Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Bodycount also featured drummer Derek Bloom and bassist Jon Weisberger. Numerous tours alongside Story of the Year, Bad Religion, Halifax, and Emanuel preceded sessions for the 2006 follow-up. Weisberger departed shortly before recording began, prompting producer Ross Robinson—known for prior work with Glassjaw and Slipknot—to enlist Wes Borland of Limp Bizkit and Bigdumbface to handle bass parts, although Borland also performed several live shows with the group. Issued in March 2006, the more mature and ambitious Heroine earned favorable notices and reached the Top 40; afterward the band toured in support with Fall Out Boy, the All-American Rejects, and Hawthorne Heights. Capitol Records signed From First to Last that April. Vocal difficulties soon surfaced for Moore, necessitating minor surgery and forcing the cancellation of appearances that included the 2006 Warped Tour and an autumn support slot with Atreyu. Moore exited in early 2007 to focus on solo projects, most prominently under the name Skrillex, after which guitarist Matt Good assumed lead vocals; simultaneously the Capitol agreement dissolved. Bassist Matt Manning joined permanently as the remaining members resolved to continue. They subsequently aligned with the Suretone imprint, an Interscope partner, and entered the studio under producer Josh Abraham, resulting in the self-titled 2008 album From First to Last. Shortly after announcing a new deal with Rise Records in 2009, the band parted ways with founding guitarist and vocalist Travis Richter. Throne to the Wolves, their fourth album, appeared in early 2010, yet by July the members opted for an indefinite hiatus. After three years of inactivity, From First to Last regrouped in November 2013 and initiated a Kickstarter campaign to finance new material. Richter rejoined during subsequent lineup adjustments, and the expanded six-piece configuration released Dead Trees on Sumerian Records in November 2014. Moore returned unexpectedly in January 2017, yielding the single “Make War,” which was followed in 2018 by another track with Moore titled “Surrender.”