Buffalo-based metalcore quintet
Every Time I Die formed in the winter of 1998. Spearheaded by brothers
Keith (vocals) and
Jordan Buckley (guitar), the founding lineup also included guitarist
Andrew Williams, bassist
John McCarthy, and drummer Michael "Ratboy" Novak. During their first short tour of New York and Canada, the fledgling group befriended Goodfellow Records chief
Chris Logan, who released their debut EP,
The Burial Plot Bidding War, in 2000. Bassist
Aaron Radaczyk replaced
McCarthy prior to recording
Every Time I Die's first full-length effort,
Last Night in Town, issued via Ferret Records in the spring of 2001. The band supported the album on tour with
Killswitch Engage, and in the summer of 2002 joined the annual Warped Tour. Another bassist swap brought on
Steven Micciche, who joined
Every Time I Die in time for their 2003 sophomore effort,
Hot Damn!, as well as a U.S. tour in support of Jackass alum
Steve-O. In early 2005
Micciche resigned from the lineup, prompting the addition of ex-
Between the Buried and Me bassist Kevin Faulk, who was ousted just three months later following sessions for the band's third LP,
Gutter Phenomenon. Former
Nora bassist
Chris Byrnes was named his replacement. Phenomenon was released that August and touring commenced. The guys spent summer 2006 on the main stage at Warped, after which Byrnes announced he too would be exiting the group. Undeterred, the guys soon brought on bassist number six, ex-The Chariot's Keller Harbin, and continued touring through November alongside Atreyu and From First to Last before beginning work on their next album.
Every Time I Die also released the DVD Shit Happens in late October, and soon after, the band entered the studio with producer Steve Evetts (Dillinger Escape Plan, Saves The Day) and began work on 2007's The Big Dirty. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide