Armor for Sleep
{{short description|American rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Armor for Sleep
| image = Armor for Sleep Live.jpg
| caption = Armor for Sleep performing in 2008. From left to right: Ben Jorgensen, Nash Breen and PJ DeCicco.
| image_size =
| landscape = yes
| origin = Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = {{flatlist|
- 2001–2009
- 2012{{cite web|url=http://www.alternativevision.co.uk/interview7.html|title=Alternative Vision - www.alternativevision.co.uk - Where Alternative Music Meets Your Vision|first=Marcus|last=Triggs|website=Alternativevision.co.uk|access-date=January 18, 2018}}
- 2015{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ArmorForSleep/photos/a.469043520501.253639.5847955501/10153399495630502/?type=1 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/5847955501/10153399495630502 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Armor For Sleep|website=Facebook.com|access-date=January 18, 2018}}{{cbignore}}
- 2020–present{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ArmorForSleep/photos/a.469043520501/10157974106420502/?type=3&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/5847955501/10157974106420502 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Armor For Sleep - We are very excited to announce that we... |website=Facebook.com |access-date=March 30, 2020}}{{cbignore}}
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| website = [https://www.facebook.com/ArmorForSleep/ Official Facebook page]
| past_members =
| current_members = * Ben Jorgensen
- Chad Sabo
- Erik Rudic
- Nash Breen
}}
Armor for Sleep is an American rock band from Teaneck, New Jersey. Their original lineup consisted of lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Ben Jorgensen, lead guitarist PJ DeCicco, bassist Anthony DiIonno and drummer Nash Breen. Currently, the band consists of Jorgensen and Breen alongside lead guitarist Erik Rudic and bassist Chad Sabo, both members of the Cold Seas, in which Breen is also a member.
After initial demos had been distributed, New York–based independent label Equal Vision Records signed the band and went on to release the concept-based albums, Dream to Make Believe (2003) and What to Do When You Are Dead (2005). The following year, the band signed to Sire Records and Warner Bros. and released their last album Smile for Them (2007) before a yearslong hiatus.{{cite web|url=http://www.armorforsleep.com/info |title=Discography | Armor for Sleep |access-date=June 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210022408/http://www.armorforsleep.com/info |archive-date=February 10, 2009 }} The band announced their disbandment in October 2009, only reuniting briefly for tours in 2012 and 2015. They officially reunited in 2020 and released a new album in September 2022, The Rain Museum, on Equal Vision Records and Rude Records.[https://distortedsoundmag.com/armor-for-sleep-announce-new-album-the-rain-museum/ Armor For Sleep announce new album 'The Rain Museum']
During their recording career, the band has been known for their blend of alternative rock, atmospheric emo, and dream pop, as well as their "emotionally charged" lyrics.{{cite web|author=James Christopher Monger |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/armor-for-sleep-mn0000929659/biography |title=Armor for Sleep | Biography & History |website=AllMusic |access-date=March 30, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.popculturemadness.com/interview/Armor-For-Sleep.html |title=Ben Jorgensen of Armor for Sleep Interview |access-date=January 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615011041/http://www.popculturemadness.com/interview/Armor-For-Sleep.html |archive-date=June 15, 2009 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.armorforsleep.com/news/2008/01/28/interview-ben |title=Interview with Ben | Armor for Sleep |access-date=January 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121024156/http://www.armorforsleep.com/news/2008/01/28/interview-ben |archive-date=November 21, 2008 }}. Originally from {{cite web |url=http://media.www.dailytitan.com/media/storage/paper861/news/2008/01/28/TheBuzz/Armor.For.Sleep.50.New.Songs-3170331.shtml |title=Armor for Sleep: 50 new songs - the Buzz |access-date=January 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304104042/http://media.www.dailytitan.com/media/storage/paper861/news/2008/01/28/TheBuzz/Armor.For.Sleep.50.New.Songs-3170331.shtml |archive-date=March 4, 2008 }}
History
Armor For Sleep was founded by Ben Jorgensen in 2001 in Teaneck, New Jersey. Nash Breen and Peter James "PJ" DeCicco later joined the band after leaving fellow New Jersey band Prevent Falls. Jorgensen stated the name of the band comes from his early experiences of writing music and not being able to sleep. As he recalls, "I guess when I started the band I was kind of, like, retreating in my room and I kind of couldn't really fall asleep, so I started playing music. I just thought of the name Armor for Sleep, because it was really, the music was keeping me from passing out! Which was something I was procrastinating on."
Ben would go on to record a two-song demo containing the songs Dream to Make Believe and Slip Like Space, which would later be re-recorded and released on their first album Dream to Make Believe. Former guitarist Paul Abrahamian went on to form It's Called the Ghost Town Symphony in November 2002. Later that month, Armor for Sleep recorded a three-song demo with producer Dan Coutant; Mark Kenask of Blind Society played drums on the demo.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/4681/ex-armor-for-sleep-guitarist-starts-new-band|title=ex-Armor For Sleep guitarist starts new band|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=November 15, 2002|accessdate=March 1, 2021}}
Armor For Sleep originally signed to Equal Vision Records, where they released their first two albums, Dream to Make Believe in 2003 and What to Do When You Are Dead in 2005. The band signed to Warner Brothers/Sire Records in 2006, explaining it was "time for a change".{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=5393262|title=chorus.fm|website=chorus.fm|access-date=January 18, 2018}}
A Machine Shop remix of their track "Remember to Feel Real" was featured on the Snakes on a Plane soundtrack in August 2006.
The next year, the band debuted a new track entitled "End of the World" on the soundtrack for the 2007 film Transformers. This song would later appear on their next record, but with various changes, including the reduction in vocal effects and keyboards.
Armor For Sleep released their third full-length album Smile for Them on October 30, 2007.
On August 20, 2008, the band announced an extended play (EP), entitled The Way Out Is Broken.[http://armorforsleep.com/news/2008/08/20/way-out-broken The Way Out Is Broken] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902075100/http://armorforsleep.com/news/2008/08/20/way-out-broken |date=September 2, 2008 }}
=Disbandments and reunions=
On October 28, 2009, it was officially announced that the band would be parting ways. Frontman Ben Jorgensen released a statement informing fans of the inevitable, after the band had been inactive, not undertaking a tour for over a year.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/8108.htm|title=Armor For Sleep break up|work=Alternative Press|last=Karan|first=Tim|access-date=October 29, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091101163243/http://www.altpress.com/news/8108.htm| archive-date= November 1, 2009 | url-status= live}}
The band regrouped to play the 2012 Bamboozle Festival in New Jersey, releasing the following statement:
"We have no motivation for doing this other than to get up on stage and say goodbye properly to the people out there who never got the opportunity to see us one last time. Like Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap we will strive to "put right what once went wrong"...and then just like him we will poof out of existence. But for good this time- we promise."{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/the-bamboozle-festival/a-letter-from-ben-jorgensen-of-armor-for-sleep/10150790759558413|title=Facebook - Log In or Sign Up|website=Facebook|access-date=January 18, 2018}}
On July 20, 2015, the band announced an eight city tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of What To Do When You Are Dead.{{cite web|url=https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10153408851110502&substory_index=0&id=5847955501|title=Armor For Sleep|website=m.facebook.com|access-date=January 18, 2018}}
=Post-disbandment projects=
In January 2009, Abrahamian formed the band 1984.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/31798/newmusicroundup-1984-the-scare-suburban-vermin|title=1984, The Scare, Suburban Vermin|publisher=Punknews.org|author=August, Justin|date=January 5, 2009|access-date=October 2, 2022}}
After the group parted ways, Ben Jorgensen briefly started an electronic project called God Loves a Challenge alongside Sierra Shardae and also embarked on a brief solo career, releasing the EP There Is Nowhere Left to Go in 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/There-Nowhere-Left-Ben-Jorgensen/dp/B0045GNSZY/|title=There Is Nowhere Left To Go|access-date=January 18, 2018|website=Amazon.com}}
=Return and fourth studio album=
On February 24, 2020, the band announced on Facebook that they would be reuniting for a summer tour including nineteen US cities to celebrate the 15th anniversary of What to Do When You Are Dead. The tour was later postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and on August 13, 2020, the band announced the new tour dates for 2021. In July 2022, the band announced a new album, The Rain Museum, which was released on September 9, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/armor-for-sleep-announce-first-album-in-15-years-new-single-behind-the-scenes-video/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707171808/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/armor-for-sleep-announce-first-album-in-15-years-new-single-behind-the-scenes-video/|title=Armor For Sleep announce first album in 15 years (new single & behind-the-scenes video)|work=BrooklynVegan|author=Sacher, Andrew|date=July 7, 2022|archive-date=July 7, 2022|access-date=July 7, 2022}}
In the summer of 2022, Armor for Sleep performed on select dates of the Hello Gone Days tour, co-headlined by Dashboard Confessional and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness.[https://consequence.net/2022/04/dashboard-confessional-andrew-mcmahon-2022-tour/ Dashboard Confessional and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness Announce 2022 Co-Headlining Tour]
In the spring of 2023, the band co-headlined the Pitch Black Forever tour with Hawthorne Heights.
In the fall of 2023, the band went on tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album, Dream to Make Believe, with guests the Early November (who coincidentally were celebrating the 20th anniversary of their own debut album, The Room's Too Cold) and the Spill Canvas.
In February 2024 the band performed on the 2024 Emo's Not Dead Cruise, which was headlined by Yellowcard.
On July 18, 2024 the band released a new single, "In Another Dream".[https://lambgoat.com/news/43407/armor-for-sleep-share-new-single-in-another-dream-along-with-visualizer-lyric-video/ Armor for Sleep share new single "In Another Dream" along with visualizer lyric video] Then on October 11, 2024 they released another new single, "What a Beautiful World".[https://lambgoat.com/news/44324/armor-for-sleep-share-new-single-what-a-beautiful-world-and-lyric-video/ Armor For Sleep deliver new single "What a Beautiful World" and lyric video]
On November 12, 2024 the band announced a 20th anniversary tour for What to Do When You Are Dead which will begin in Boston on March 6, 2025 and feature supporting acts Boys Night Out and Hellogoodbye.[https://www.antimusic.com/p/24/1112armor_for_sleep_announce_what_to_do_when_you_are_dead_20th_anniversary_tour.shtml Armor For Sleep Announce What To Do When You Are Dead 20th Anniversary Tour]
Personnel
=Current members=
- Ben Jorgensen – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
- Erik Rudic – lead guitar
- Chad Sabo – bass, backing vocals
- Nash Breen – drums, percussion
=Former members=
- PJ DeCicco – lead guitar
- Anthony DiIonno – bass, backing vocals
- AJ Resnick – drums
- Paul Abrahamian – lead guitar
=Touring members=
- Nate Novarro (Cobra Starship) – drums, percussion
Discography
{{main|Armor for Sleep discography}}
Studio albums
- Dream to Make Believe (2003)
- What to Do When You Are Dead (2005)
- Smile for Them (2007)
- The Rain Museum (2022)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.facebook.com/ArmorForSleep/ Official Facebook Page]
{{Armor for Sleep}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Armor For Sleep}}
Category:Musical groups established in 2001
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2009
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2020
Category:Musical groups from Bergen County, New Jersey
Category:American musical quartets
Category:Alternative rock groups from New Jersey
Category:Emo musical groups from New Jersey
Category:Crush Management artists