Ignite (band)

History

Brett Rasmussen and Joe D. Foster formed a band in 1992, with Joe Nelson and Gavin Oglesby joining in 1993. Gavin brought in Casey Jones as drummer. The band initially used the name Fuse, later Angerslave and Shade. After a demo tape featuring five songs, Joe Nelson temporarily worked as a roadie for Quicksand.

Lost & Found Records offered Ignite an LP release in Europe and a tour. They toured with Slapshot in summer 1994. Ignite convinced Foster to sing on their first album Scarred for Life, released that year, but lacked a singer for the tour. After months of searching, they found Zoltán "Zoli" Téglás.

Following the tour, Ignite recorded the EP In My Time in early 1995 with Téglás, Rasmussen, Foster, and Jones. Problems arose with Lost & Found when Ignite left the master tapes in Germany. Ignite had a new American label, Conversion Records, also represented in Europe. Lost & Found reacted angrily to a request for the tapes and threatened to boycott Conversion, so Ignite gave the rights to the LP Family to Lost & Found.

The album Call on My Brothers was released in America, compiling material from In My Time and Family plus bonus tracks. VISIONS magazine named Ignite the third best live band of 1996. In April 1997, drummer Casey Jones left unexpectedly; Scott Golley replaced him for a European tour, and Craig Anderson later joined as drummer.

Did You Know?

• Ignite has given proceeds to organizations such as Earth First, Doctors Without Borders, Sea Shepherd, and Pacific Wildlife.
• Allmusic describes their music as 'melodic hardcore with a social and political consciousness.'