ASG

ASG
Background information
Also known as	All Systems Go (2001)
Origin	Wrightsville Beach, Wilmington, North Carolina
Genres	Stoner Rock, Stoner Metal
Years active	2001 - Present
Labels	Volcom Entertainment, Relapse Records
Associated acts	Wildlights, The Urethra Franklins
Website	ASG Nation

ASG are a stoner rock band originating from Wilmington, North Carolina. Originally known as All Systems Go in 2001, the band would shorten their name to the acronym ASG after a brief copyright issue with another band of the same name. Through the years the band has claimed in jest that 'ASG' has several alternate meanings, including "amplification of self gratification", "all systems gone", "anarchist school for girls" among others. ASG has credited influences such as Queens of the Stone Age, Jane's Addiction, Torche, Zeke, and Ween. In a review of the album Win Us Over, Allmusic wrote that the band's sound combines "the best qualities of Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age".

The band formed as a quartet in 2001 and has largely maintained the same consistent lineup for twenty years, with Andy Ellis (Bass), Scott Key (Drums), Jonah Citty (Guitar) and Jason Shi (Guitar, Vocals, Lead Songwriter). Signing to Volcom in 2002 and releasing three albums in quick succession, along with appearing on the Warped Tour for four consecutive years, ASG has attained an underground following, as a number of their songs have been featured in skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding videos. Tracks from ASG's albums have been played on MTV shows, including Viva La Bam, Rob & Big, Living Lahaina, Homewrecker, Bam's Unholy Union, Road Rules/Real World Challenge, Remaking Vince Neil and as background music in numerous surfing and snowboarding videos. Their song "The Dull Blade" from the album Win Us Over was included in the soundtrack of the popular skateboarding video game Skate 2 and "Dream Song" (also from the album Win Us Over), is included in the soundtrack for the video game Splatterhouse, that was released in the Fall 2010.

To date the band has released six studio albums, four of which with Volcom Entertainment and two of which with their current label Relapse Records, all the while touring all over the mainland United States, Canada, Hawaii and Europe.

History

ASG would be founded in 2001 initially as a trio, following the break-up of local Wrightsville Beach punk band the Urethra Franklins when Andy Ellis (bass) and Scott Key (drums) teamed up with guitarist Jason Shi. Jonah Citty would join sometime after as a second guitarist and the band began performing regularly in the North Carolina area. After self-releasing the eponymous ASG in 2002 they went on to win a Volcom east coast Battle of the bands where they were embraced by the surf community and soon after we’re added to the bill of bands on Volcom’s “We’ve got Bush” eastern surf tour, playing along side Volcom Entertainment bands Places to Park and Pepper. On 6 February 2003 ASG would sign with Volcom Entertainment, touring SXSW the next day.

The Amplification of Self Gratifaction would see release on 15 July 2003, produced by Tommy Brothers and ASG. ASG began touring regularly throughout North America, notably four consecutive years as part of the Warped Tour and tours of Hawaii sprinkled in. A third studio album would be produced by Matt Hyde and Phil Caivano (Monster Magnet) and Feeling Good is Good Enough would see release on 11 October 2005. The band would remain consistently touring while also establishing a working relationship with Italian artists Malleus Rock Art Lab.

Following participating in the Volcom Tourin 2007 alongside Valient Thorr, work would begin on a fourth studio album. Recording in Los Angeles with producer Matt Hyde, Win Us Over would see release on 22 January 2008 to positive reviews. To support the album, ASG would tour that Spring with Fu Manchu and then in the Fall supporting Motörhead and Valient Thorr.

ASG would record music for two split releases in 2009, the first being a split 7" with Karma To Burn and the second a split album with Black Tusk known as Low Country, with artwork by John Dyer Baizley (Baroness). ASG would tour frequently in 2009, supporting the likes of CKY, Graveyard and Fu Manchu. The next year would see the band touring that winter with High on Fire followed by a SXSW jaunt and the first of many tours with Weedeater. On 6 December 2011 ASG would sign with Relapse Records, beginning work on a fifth studio album with producer Matt Hyde. Building to the release of their fifth studio album, ASG would tour Europe for the first time in 2012 surrounding an appearance at Hellfest.

Working again with Matt Hyde and Malleus, details on a fifth album would surface. Blood Drive would see release on 28 May 2013 to critical acclaim. ASG would tour North America in 2013 to support Blood Drive, followed by a tour of Europe in 2014 surrounding marquee appearances at Roadburn Festival, Desertfest London and DesertFest Berlin.

A follow-up in Survive Sunrise would see release via Relapse Records on 15 June 2018 to positive reviews.

Discography

Studio Albums

• ASG (2002, Volcom Entertainment)
• The Amplification of Self Gratification (2003, Volcom Entertainment)
• Feeling Good is Good Enough (2005, Volcom Entertainment)
• Win Us Over (2008, Volcom Entertainment)
• Blood Drive (2013, Relapse)
• Survive Sunrise (2018, Relapse)

Splits

• Low Country (2009, Hyperrealist)
  with Black Tusk
• 20 In 2010 / All Over Creation (2009, Volcom Entertainment)
  with Karma To Burn
• Red Fang / ASG (2013, Relapse)
  with Red Fang
• ASG / From Beyond (2014, Scion Audio/Visual)
  with From Beyond

Members

Current Lineup

• Andy Ellis - Bass (2001 - Present)
• Scott Key - Drums (2001 - Present)
• Jonah Citty - Guitars (2001 - Present)
• Jason Shi - Guitars, Vocals (2001 - Present)

Past and Live Members

• Carlos Denogean - Drums (2017) (Died 2018)

List of Known Tours

• We've Got Bush (With Places to Park, Pepper) (2002)
• 2003 SXSW Tour (2003)
• Warped Tour (2003)
• Fall 2003 North American Tour (With Guttermouth) (2003)
• December 2003 Florida / Hawaii Tour (2003)
• January 2004 North American Tour (With Guttermouth, Pepper) (2004)
• Spring 2004 North American Tour (2004)
• Warped Tour (2004)
• Winter 2005 North American Tour (With A Faith Called Chaos) (2005)
• March 2005 North American Tour (2005)
• Warped Tour (2005)
• Winter 2005 North American Tour (Select dates with CKY) (2005)
• Winter 2006 North American Tour (Select dates with Valient Thorr, Guttermouth, Beautiful Creatures) (2006)
• Spring 2006 North American Tour (With The Sword, Torche, Tarantula AD) (2006)
• Warped Tour (2006)
• Fall 2006 North American Tour (2006)
• Winter 2007 North American Tour (2007)
• The Volcom Tour (With Valient Thorr, The Riverboat Gamblers, Totimoshi) (2007)
• Winter 2007 Hawaii Tour (With Year Long Disaster) (2007)
• Spring 2008 North American Tour (With Fu Manchu, Burning Brides) (2008)
• Motörizer North American Tour (With Motörhead, Valient Thorr, Year Long Disaster; Select dates with Kylesa) (2008)
• Winter 2009 North American Tour (2009)
• Summer 2009 North American Tour (With Graveyard, CKY, Fall From Grace) (2009)
• Signs of Infinite Power North American Tour (With Fu Manchu, It's Casual) (2009)
• Volcom's Blizzard Bizarre Tour (With High on Fire, Kandi Coded) (2010)
• SXSW Tour 2010 (With Weedeater, U.S. Christmas) (2010)
• Winter 2011 North American Tour (With Weedeater) (2011)
• Spring 2012 North American Tour (With Weedeater, Cough) (2012)
• Summer 2012 European Tour (2012)
• Fall 2012 North American Tour (With Corrosion of Conformity, Royal Thunder) (2012)
• April 2013 Mini-Tour (With Orange Goblin, KEN Mode) (2013)
• Summer 2013 North American Tour (With Weedeater) (2013)
• Blood Drive European Tour (With Anciients) (2014)
• Spring 2015 North American Tour (2015)
• Summer 2015 European Tour (With Lamb of God) (2015)
• Spring 2017 North American Tour (With Weedeater) (2017)
• Spring 2019 North American Tour (With Weedeater, Toke) (2019)
• Survive Sunrise Summer Tour (2019)

External Links

• Bandcamp
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• VEVO