Laura Jane Grace of the band Against Me! took to twitter to announce that she and guitarist James Bowman will be entering the studio this week with bassist Fat Mike of NOFX and drummer Atom Willard.

It has already been a long year for Against Me, losing both long-time bassist Andrew Seward and drummer Jay Weinberg within four months of each other, causing the cancellation of a tour supporting Bad Religion and slowing down the recording process of their album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues.

Following Seward’s departure, singer/guitarist Laura Jane Grace posted some cryptic messages on the band’s website alluding that the band might not continue on without their bassist of 10 years, “I realize that at this point there’s a possibility that it may look pretty ridiculous to carry on playing under the name Against Me!” Close to a month later however the band announced it’s involvement in this year’s Riot Fest in Chicago, giving fans hope that the band might continue.

The news of the band being joined by Fat Mike and Atom Willard should have most fans pleased. Grace announced the news on her twitter saying, “For at least the next week Against Me! Is gonna be myself, James Bowman, Atom Willard and Fat Mike.” Fat Mike has fronted the band NOFX since 1983 and the band has become one of the most influential punk bands. Willard has played in numerous bands spanning rock genres, from another punk rock juggernaut Social Distortion, to alternative rock band Angels and Airwaves, to hard rock band Danko Jones.

The band is not strangers to either Fat Mike or Willard. Willard played a string of shows with the band in Australia in January following Weinberg’s departure and the band was signed to Fat Mike’s record label, Fat Wreck Chords for the albums As the Eternal Cowboy and Searching for a Former Clarity.

There is no word yet whether or not this lineup will go on past the end of this week but fans can feel confident that with these two punk rock veterans, that the band might return to their raw, edgy punk rock sound heard on their early albums.

By: Daniel Sanchez

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