The Distillers

Forming as a hardcore punk band toward the end of 1998, the Distillers originated when Australian-born Brody Armstrong crossed paths with bassist Kim Chi on the job and the pair discovered their shared enthusiasm for performance. They soon recruited Detroit guitarist Rose Casper along with drummer Matt. After inking with Epitaph, the group delivered its self-titled debut in April 2000. Sing Sing Death House surfaced that same year yet received a fresh release in early 2002 once “Seneca Falls” gained sudden traction. Kim Chi had already exited by then to link up with Exene Cervenka in the Original Sinners, prompting Ryan Sinn’s arrival as replacement; Matt followed Chi out the door while Casper departed amid the track’s peak visibility. By summer 2002 the lineup had settled on Armstrong, Sinn, and incoming drummer Andy “Outbreak” Granelli, with joint U.S. shows alongside No Doubt and Garbage slated for later that autumn. Guitarist/vocalist Tony Bradley came aboard ahead of the third album and major-label debut Coral Fang, issued in 2003 via Sire. For the project Armstrong resumed performing as Brody Dalle after her widely publicized divorce from Rancid’s Tim Armstrong that year. Granelli departed in early 2005 to play with Darker My Love, and Sinn followed that summer before joining Angels and Airwaves. Although speculation circulated, the Distillers—now consisting solely of Dalle and Bradley—clarified they were not dissolving but merely pausing activities. In early 2006 Dalle welcomed her first child, daughter Camille, with new husband Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. Before the year closed the two remaining members formally declared the band’s end and subsequently launched Spinnerette.