Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it released two studio albums, The Unraveling (2001) and Revolutions per Minute (2003). Both the albums met with considerable underground success, and in 2003 the band signed with the major label Geffen.
Rise Against is also known for their advocacy of progressive organizations such as Amnesty International and It Gets Better Project. The band actively promotes animal rights and all members are straight edge (excluding Barnes), PETA supporters, and vegans.
All of the group's members are vegetarians, with lead vocalist Tim leaning into vegan, and active supporters of PETA, an animal rights organization. Their video for the single "Ready to Fall" contains footage of factory farming, rodeos, and sport hunting, as well as deforestation, melting ice caps, and forest fires. The group has called the video the most important video they have ever made. The Director's Cut of the video was first made available to a PETA website. In 2009, the band was voted Best Animal-Friendly Band by PETA. In addition to being vegetarians, all the members of Rise Against, except drummer Brandon Barnes, are straight edge; that is, they refrain from consuming alcohol or using recreational drugs.
In addition to their support of animal rights, the band has voiced their support for other progressive causes. During the 2004 United States presidential election, the band was part of Punkvoter, a political activist group, and appeared on the Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1 compilation. The Rock Against Bush project raised over $1 million for then presidential candidate John Kerry. During the 2008 presidential election, the band members endorsed Barack Obama. In a news bulletin in early 2009, the band stated: "Few things are more exciting than watching Bush finally release America as his eight year hostage."
This guild was created for the acceptance and the equality of all people. We are humanitarians, who believe in more than just pleasing ourselves. Everyone deserves happiness in this dark world, and sadly that's not something that can be obtained without a fight. Nobody wants to fight, but where there are those who are too weak to fight, we'll be there to defend them. All we want is a happy home where our children can be raised, we can walk outside and smile, and realize that life is good. We can look to another and realize they are no different. We're all here for a reason, so learn to accept them. This guild is strongly supportive of our rights as not just Americans, but as inhabitants of earth, and the equal rights of those around us.
If you simply enjoy the band, then you are more to welcome to join as well. Just don't cause any trouble if you feel differently on a subject.
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Alliances
