A Short History of At The Drive-In

The members of At The Drive-In grew up on the border of Texas and Mexico. As is the case with many such places they simply couldn't find the type of music they wanted to listen to. The radio was full of classic and traditional rock. There was no was a local band could release a record, and if they did they couldn't get any air time. The youngsters read about mid eighties punksters like Bad Religion and Operation Ivy in skateboarding magazines. The only was to hear the bands was to go and see them live. So they did.

The nucleus of At The Drive-In were all high-school buddies. Omar Rodriguez, Cedric Bixter and Jim Ward all hung with the skate-punks. By the age of eighteen they were touring and for the next five years they were away from home for months. They followed the usual alternative-band pattern of no money, no food, money for gas, play a gig, eat a little, money for gas, no food, play a gig etc etc etc . The band, just like so many other bands, played in front of very small crowds - the local scenesters.

They managed to release a couple of albums and some EPs which sold poorly and few heard. Then they released 'Relationship OF Command.' It was the album which set the standard for every nu-metal and emo release around at the time. The album didn't rely on retro rock, or hip-hop, or gangster rap which had become so popular amongst nu-metal and emo, non-confrontational corporate rock bands, playing in the name of punk for the hearts and minds of impressionable youngsters. In a similar way to the Deftones, At The Drive-In managed to talk about real problems that affected kids. They were a tonic to the post-ironic sexism that filled nu-metal videos and the Californian fun in the sun sham rap-rock that filled our many screens. 'Relationship Of Command' has a little grunge in it, a little Californian rock and some Fugazi like song construction. Each song changed speed and style and rhythm a number of times in as little as two or three minutes and the lyrics fit perfectly, whether they are spoken, as on 'Invalid Litter Dept.' or speed-shouted on 'One Armed Scissor.' The words are sometimes quirky and surreal like 'this gravity is a quadriplegic horse and carriage.' The use of Iggy Pop to sing 'temper, tampered, temperature' is inspired.

Then they recorded their breakthrough album in 1997. It was called 'In Casino Out' and it initiated a major label fight for the band's signature. They were seen my the majors as being an option to replace the grunge scene which was going down hill fast in terms of sales. The band had no hang-ups about signing for a major. They were after long-term security and support, something which fashionable indie labels simply couldn't offer at the time. And that was that. They split after the album's release.