The War On Drugs

Philadelphia's the War on Drugs fuse the expansive guitar assaults associated with Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine alongside melodic instincts and a lyrical viewpoint reminiscent of Bob Dylan careening along Highway 61, allowing the ensemble to evolve gradually from indie darlings into acts embraced by broader mainstream listeners. Their atmospheric yet direct guitar-driven rock channels some of the most magnetic qualities found in Tom Petty, Dire Straits, and multiple eras of Dylan's career, positioning the group increasingly as custodians of the American roots rock tradition across releases such as the 2017 Grammy-winning A Deeper Understanding and 2021's I Don't Live Here Anymore.

Adam Granduciel and Kurt Vile established the War on Drugs after crossing paths at a 2003 gathering. Several drinks later, the two realized their mutual admiration for the Bard of Minnesota and started collaborating on material. Sufficient songs had accumulated by 2005 for the launch of an actual band, at which point the War on Drugs came into being. With Granduciel and Vile leading the way, assorted supporting players rotated through until the lineup stabilized around Granduciel handling vocals, guitar, and keyboards, Vile on guitar and vocals, Charlie Hall on organ and drums, Dave Hartley on bass, and Kyle Lloyd on drums and percussion. Although the members initially resisted leaving day jobs to pursue full-time touring, the War on Drugs became regulars in the Philadelphia club circuit and earned notice from visitors during sporadic New York City appearances.

The ensemble finished its first EP in 2007, the five-track Barrel of Batteries, which appeared online as a free download. Favorable coverage of both that release and the group's potent live performances drew the interest of Secretly Canadian, which signed them and issued the debut full-length Wagonwheel Blues in June 2008. By year's end, however, Vile, Hall, and Lloyd had all exited, with Vile soon establishing himself as a solo artist.

Drummer Mike Zanghi subsequently came aboard alongside Granduciel and Hartley, forming the trio that recorded 2010's mini-album Future Weather. Hartley also put out the debut album from his Nightlands side project that year. Multi-instrumentalist Robbie Bennett entered the fold in time for the second proper album, 2011's Slave Ambient, which earned widespread critical praise. While promoting Slave Ambient on the road, Granduciel began composing and tracking the follow-up. After nearly two years of work, Lost in the Dream appeared on Secretly Canadian in early 2014, entering the American Top 40 and attracting further enthusiastic notices. The next two years found the band repeatedly crossing the U.S., Canada, and Europe before turning attention to the next record.

The War on Drugs resurfaced in April 2017 with the 11-minute single "Thinking of a Place," issued for Record Store Day; the track later surfaced on the fourth album, A Deeper Understanding, released later that year as their first project for Atlantic Records with final mixing handled by Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, Weezer). An extensive touring cycle supported the set, which received the Grammy for Best Rock Album in 2018. Recordings from those shows were assembled into the live album Live Drugs in 2020. Ahead of its November arrival, the band previewed their cover of Warren Zevon's "Accidentally Like a Martyr" and revealed plans for a four-episode podcast exploring touring life and the creative decisions behind Live Drugs. Early 2021 brought the single "Living Proof" ahead of the October arrival of the studio album I Don't Live Here Anymore.

In 2024 the War on Drugs supplied a cover of Tom Petty's "You Wreck Me" for the soundtrack to the television drama Bad Monkey. Later that year they released the LP Live Drugs Again, drawn from shows spanning February 2022 through December 2023 across America, the U.K., Europe, and Australia.