AFI frontman Davey Havok has spilled the beans on some mind-boggling advice from their record label during the making of 'Decemberunderground', their game-changing seventh album that dropped in 2006. It was a period of soul-crushing pressure, Havok recalls, but also one that pushed him and his bandmates to their creative limits.
When they signed with Interscope after DreamWorks Records imploded, AFI found themselves at the mercy of label head Jimmy Iovine's unorthodox vision. His right-hand man was keen to team up with 50 Cent – a top artist in Iovine's eyes – but Havok just couldn't get on board. "I've got nothing against 50 Cent, it's just that what does that even mean?!" he exclaimed in an interview with Metal Hammer.
And if that wasn't enough to make your head spin, things took a bizarre turn when the label suggested they become the first band to release a ringtone album. Yes, you read that right – a full album designed specifically for mobile phone ringtones! It was a crazy time in music history, but AFI refused to play ball.
'Decemberunderground' went on to prove them right, storming the US Billboard 200 chart and spawning hits like 'Miss Murder' and 'Love Like Winter'. Critics at NME were wowed by its sound, hailing 'Miss Murder' as "sublime".
It's a fascinating glimpse into the cutthroat music industry of two decades ago – where labels pushed artists to their creative limits in pursuit of profit. And it just goes to show that AFI have always been more than just a band – they're survivors.
Fast-forward to 2024 and AFI are back on tour, gearing up for a series of UK shows next month that promise to be unmissable. They'll join the likes of Deftones and Interpol at All Points East’s Outbreak event in London's Victoria Park on August 23rd, before heading stateside for Día De Los Deftones festival in November.