SWMRS

The band was formed by Cole Becker and Joey Armstrong after watching School of Rock together in school.{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/02/19/swmrs-interview-drive-north/ |title=How 'School of Rock' inspired SWMRS' garage-rock gems |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} Becker's brother, Max Becker, later joined the band to play bass. The band was originally named the Raining Souls, but they briefly changed to the Clocks.{{Cite web |url=http://www.leftyslivemusic.com/?cpt_event=all-ages-swmrs-the-frights-tba |title=ALL AGES - SWMRS / The Frights / TBA |website=Lefty's Live Music}}{{unreliable source?|date=October 2016|reason|I'm not sure that "Lefty's Live Music" is reliable as there does not seem to be any editorial process for the content}} After realizing there were already many bands with the same name, they changed it to Emily's Army in honor to Becker's cousin Emily, who suffers from cystic fibrosis and was diagnosed in 1998.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2298040/emilys-army/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209105557/http://www.mtv.com/news/2298040/emilys-army/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |title=The Buzz On: Emily's Army |publisher=MTV News}} Their goal was to raise money and create more awareness for cystic fibrosis.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} In 2008, they released a set of songs on their MySpace page under the album name This Kid.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} Although This Kid is not an official studio album, a few of these songs appeared throughout their career, including "Burn Apollo" that was re-recorded on their debut album, Queens being played live in 2012, and "I Need to Be Fixed" played live during Warped Tour 2012.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

The band played many small shows and festivals in California during this time. In 2009 the band added guitarist Travis Neumann whose first appearance was on the band's 2009 EP,{{Cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Emilys-Army-Goody-Two-Shoes/release/6507074 |title=Emily's Army - Goody Two Shoes (File, MP3) |publisher=discogs |access-date=December 6, 2015}} Goody Two Shoes. that was followed by the release of two more EPs, Broadcast This and Regan MacNeil.{{Cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Emilys-Army-Broadcast-This/release/6507134 |title=Emily's Army - Broadcast This (File, MP3) |date=February 25, 2010 |publisher=discogs |access-date=December 6, 2015}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Emilys-Army-Regan-Macneil/release/5890768 |title=Emily's Army - Regan Macneil (Vinyl) |date=April 23, 2010 |publisher=discogs |access-date=December 6, 2015}} The band spent all of 2010 working and recording their first studio album with Green Day frontman and Joey's father, Billie Joe Armstrong.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} In 2011, the band released their first full-length album, Don't Be a Dick, on June 14 through Adeline Records.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} The album featured six re-recorded songs from their earlier releases. The album was compared to Green Day's early work and had major punk influences.{{Cite web |url=http://www.altpress.com/reviews/entry/emilys_army_-_dont_be_a_dick/ |title=Emily's Army - Don't Be A Dick - Reviews |website=Alternative Press}} In support of the album the band went on an East and West Coast tour in 2011. In late 2011 and early 2012, the band resided in Tulsa OK, playing underground punk shows. In 2012 the band returned to touring, most notably on Warped Tour and a brief West Coast tour in late 2012.{{Cite web |url=http://adelinerecords.net/products/emilys-army-dont-be-a-dick |title=Emily's Army |website=Adelinerecords.net |access-date=December 6, 2015}}

In 2013, the band once again worked with producer Billie Joe Armstrong, on their second record.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2013/07/warped-tour-2013-emily-s-army-interview |title=Emily's Army Discuss Billie Joe Armstrong's Impact on 'Lost at Seventeen' |website=Fuse |access-date=October 16, 2016}} Lost at Seventeen, was released on June 11, 2013 via Adeline Records and Rise Records.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/emilys-army-carry-the-punk-torch-on-lost-at-seventeen-album-premiere-20130606 |title=Album Premiere: Emily's Army Carry the Punk Torch on 'Lost at Seventeen' |magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Emilys-Army-Lost-At-Seventeen/master/781746 |title=Emily's Army - Lost at Seventeen |publisher=discogs |access-date=December 6, 2015}} The band went on tour with Vans Warped Tour to support the album for the second time in their career.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fuse.tv/2013/06/2013-warped-tour-emily-s-army |title=Warped Tour 2013: Emily's Army Excels Past Family Ties |website=Fuse}} They also toured for the very first time in Great Britain.{{Cite web |url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/emilys_army_rise_records_announce_uk_tour_dates |title=Emily's Army (Rise Records) announce UK tour dates |website=Alternative Press}} They played their final shows as Emily's Army during the Soundwave Festival in 2015 in Australia.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sfmedia.com.au/interview-emilys-army/ |title=Emily's Army talk Soundwave Festival and name change. |website=SFmedia}} Since Soundwave 2015 the band has stopped playing material released before Swim in favor of playing new music.{{citation needed|date=April 2019|reason=Many bands stop playing earlier material so why mention it?}}

In early 2014 the band started writing and recording new material. Travis Neumann officially left the band shortly after the release of their EP Swim, on July 18, 2014, consequently, bassist Sebastian Mueller joined the band while Max switched to lead guitar. In September 2014 the band officially changed their name to "Swimmers".{{Cite web |url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3708701 |title=Emily's Army Change Name to Swimmers |website=AbsolutePunk.net}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.bandsintown.com/Emily'sArmy/past_events |title=Emily's Army |website=Bandsintown.com |access-date=December 6, 2015}} Before this change was made, Swimmers was the name that the band used as a low key name for a small UK tour with Matt Grocott & The Shrives and Wasters.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} The band released their first song as Swimmers, a cover of "Dancing on My Own", by Robyn in October 2014.{{Cite web |url=https://soundcloud.com/swimmersca/dancing-on-my-own |title=Dancing on My Own (Cover) by SWIMMERS, ca | Free Listening on SoundCloud |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711055555/https://soundcloud.com/swimmersca/dancing-on-my-own |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |access-date=February 5, 2016}}{{Cite web |url=http://restless-press.com/post/100676351417/emilys-army-swimmers-cover-robyns-dancing-on |title=Emily's Army (Swimmers) Cover Robyn's 'Dancing on My Own' |access-date=October 16, 2016 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304135221/http://restless-press.com/post/100676351417/emilys-army-swimmers-cover-robyns-dancing-on |url-status=usurped }} The band announced that they would be releasing an EP, Silver Bullets/Palm Trees on March 30, 2015.{{Cite web |url=http://www.listenherereviews.com/?p=8043 |title=- Swimmers announce new EP Palm Trees/Silver Bullet |website=listenherereviews.com |date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=October 3, 2015}} In March 2015, the band announced that Silver Bullets/Palm Trees{{'}} release would be delayed and that Jakob Armstrong, brother of drummer Joey, would be filling in for, and subsequently replacing, bassist Seb Mueller, who had to take college exams. On March 28, 2015 at Burgerama, bassist Seb Mueller returned to the band. The release of Silver Bullets/Palm Trees was eventually shelved.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

Their third studio album was produced by Fidlar lead vocalist Zac Carper.{{Cite web |url=http://restless-press.com/post/128576295502/swmrs-stream-new-song-miley |title=SWMRS Stream New Song 'Miley' – Restless Press |access-date=January 30, 2016 |archive-date=June 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630004029/http://restless-press.com/post/128576295502/swmrs-stream-new-song-miley |url-status=usurped }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/SWMRS-Announce-Debut-Album-Drive-North-New-Single-Figuring-It-Out-Out-Now-20151109 |title=SWMRS Announce Debut Album Drive North, New Single 'Figuring It Out' Out Now |author=BWW News Desk |access-date=October 16, 2016}} On June 22, the band announced a September Tour along with Wavves and Twin Peaks.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} The band released four songs via SoundCloud in July 2015, two of which were uploaded by themselves, the other two, "Stink Eye", by Frankenshark—an early side-project that the band uses in live sets—and a leaked song, "Like Harry Dean Stanton".{{Cite web |url=https://www.behance.net/gallery/29875993/Like-Harry-Dean-Stanton-SWMRS%7ctitle=Behance%7cpublisher= |title=Behance |publisher=Behance |access-date=December 6, 2015}}{{Cite web |url=https://soundcloud.com/yvessaintlaurent/like-harry-dean-stanton-by-swimmers |title="LIKE HARRY DEAN STANTON" BY SWIMMERS |website=SoundCloud}}{{Cite web |url=http://seilibrary.hatenablog.com/entry/2015/07/20/104016 |title=SWIMMERS & HEDI SLIMANE |website=Seilibrary.hatenablog.com |access-date=December 6, 2015 |archive-date=August 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822193815/http://seilibrary.hatenablog.com/entry/2015/07/20/104016 |url-status=dead }}

The band announced that they will be releasing two songs Miley/Uncool, on September 8, 2015 on their own indie label Uncool Records.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/swmrsca_/status/636018426817835009 |title=SWMRS |website=Twitter}}{{Primary source inline|date=April 2019}} The EP's first single, "Miley", was released as a single on September 7, 2015.{{Cite web |url=http://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/swmrs-wrote-the-most-punk-tribute-to-miley-cyrus-ever |title=swmrs wrote the most punk tribute to miley cyrus ever |website=i-D |access-date=October 3, 2015}} The band would also start stylizing their name as "SWMRS" (instead of "Swimmers") in August 2015. Physical copies of the EP were made available on the band's tour with Wavves. After the release of the EP, SWMRS received mainstream media coverage due to the song "Miley".{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2265230/swmrs-miley-cyrus-punk-rock-queen/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910011956/http://www.mtv.com/news/2265230/swmrs-miley-cyrus-punk-rock-queen/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |title=This Punk Band Loves Miley Cyrus So Much They Wrote A Song About Her |website=MTV |access-date=October 16, 2016}} The band announced their upcoming Drive North on November 6, 2015 and released single "Figuring It Out". The album released on February 12, 2016 via Uncool Records.{{Cite web |url=http://noisey.vice.com/blog/premiere-swmrs-figure-it-out |title=PREMIERE: Oakland's SWMRS Deal With Life Tomorrow on "Figuring It Out" |website=NOISEY |date=November 6, 2015 |access-date=November 7, 2015}}

As of October 13, 2016, SWMRS signed with pop punk label Fueled by Ramen. This announcement was made by Annie Mac on BBC1 Radio, along with the release of SWMRS' song, Palm Trees. The following day, Drive North was rereleased under Fueled by Ramen with two additional songs: "Palm Trees" and "Lose It".{{Cite web |url=http://swmrs.com/post/151801006336/remixed-remastered-rereleased-2-new-songs-out |title=remixed. remastered. rereleased. two new songs. out everywhere now. on @fueledby |website=Tumblr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018212020/http://swmrs.com/post/151801006336/remixed-remastered-rereleased-2-new-songs-out |archive-date=October 18, 2016 |access-date=October 16, 2016}}

On February 15, 2019, they released their second album under the SWMRS name, Berkeley's on Fire. The band were nominated for 'Best International Newcomer' at the 2019 Kerrang! Awards,{{Cite web |url=https://soundmouth.blogspot.com/2019/06/kerrang-awards-2019-preview-my-picks.html |title=Kerrang! Awards 2019 Preview |website=Sound Mouth |access-date=July 1, 2019}} ultimately going on to win the award.

On October 28, 2019, guitarist Max Becker along with two members of the road crew were involved in an accident while driving their van from Oakland to Denver, resulting in the cancellation of the rest of the band's 2019 shows.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/music/article/SWMRS-band-member-crew-ICU-van-crash-14572773.php |title=SWMRS band member, crew in ICU following van crash on tour |last1=Pereira |first1=Alyssa |last2=SFGATE |date=October 30, 2019 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=November 3, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NPrdIA48-/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B4NPrdIA48- |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=limited|title=Instagram post by SWMRS • Oct 29, 2019 at 3:21 pm UTC |website=Instagram |access-date=November 3, 2019}}{{cbignore}}

On October 7, 2022, SWMRS announced their return via social media posts. In the following weeks, they released a statement regarding their misconduct allegations stating "I wasn’t going to condemn my friend. Because we refused to condemn him, we got cancelled.". They confirmed that bassist Seb Mueller and drummer Joey Armstrong had left the band and that Max and Cole Becker intended to continue on as a band, stating "Joey and Seb have both stepped away from the band to grow their personal lives. Max and I are going to keep the band going.".{{Cite web |last=Skinner |first=Tom |date=2022-10-12 |title=SWMRS respond to sexual misconduct allegations against Joey Armstrong |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/swmrs-respond-to-sexual-misconduct-allegations-against-joey-armstrong-3327293 |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}

On November 4, 2022, they released the single "Dye Yer Hair" and played their first shows since 2020 in December 2022. On August 23, 2023, they released a new single "Little Miss Sunshine" and announced their third album under the SWMRS name Sonic Tonic which released on October 27, 2023, as well as announced a new lineup, featuring their brother Cade Becker on bass.{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Kelly |date=2023-08-23 |title=SWMRS Announce New Album 'Sonic Tonic' Due 10/27, Release Debut Track/Video "Little Miss Sunshine" |url=https://sropr.com/press-releases/swmrs-announce-new-album-sonic-tonic-due-10-27-release-debut-track-video-little-miss-sunshine/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=SRO PR |language=en-US}}

On August 14, 2024, they announced the release of their fourth album under the SWMRS name BECKER due for release October 11.{{cite web |last=Dunn |first =Matt |date=2024-09-30 |title=SWMRS Tease New "Becker" Album, As Band Continues To Establish Their Identity |url=https://guitarsforidiots.com/2024/09/30/swmrs-tease-new-becker-album-as-band-continues-to-establish-their-identity/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Wordpress}}

On July 20, 2020, Lydia Night of the Regrettes revealed she and drummer Joey Armstrong dated starting in 2017 when she was 16 and he was 22, accusing Armstrong of sexual assault, coercion, and other predatory behavior.{{Cite web|date=July 20, 2020|title=SWMRS' Joey Armstrong accused of sexual misconduct by The Regrettes' Lydia Night|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/07/swmrs-joey-armstrong-lydia-night/|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=Consequence of Sound}} In the post, Night claimed that Armstrong initiated the relationship by messaging her on Instagram that his band SWMRS would be sending her band "some offers for some tours that year". Night shared the allegations after reading SWMRS' statement condemning a wave of sexual assault allegations related to several Burger Records artists.{{Cite web|title=Burger Records Respond To Sexual Misconduct Allegations|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/burger-records-respond-to-sexual-misconduct-allegations|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=Clash Magazine|date=July 19, 2020 }}

The following day, Armstrong responded on the SWMRS Instagram account, saying that while he disagreed "with some of the things [Lydia] said about me", that he had privately apologized to Night and asked for forgiveness.{{Cite web|last=Minsker|first=Evan|title=SWMRS' Joey Armstrong, Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Regrettes' Lydia Night, Issues Statement|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/swmrs-joey-armstrong-accused-of-sexual-misconduct-by-regrettes-lydia-night-issues-statement/|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Pitchfork|date=July 21, 2020 |language=en-us}} Armstrong's six-sentence response was considerably shorter than the band's five-page statement regarding Burger Records made one day prior, a contrast noted upon by both some media outlets and Night herself,{{Cite web|title=Lydia Night Takes on SWMRS—And Starts a New Phase For #MeToo|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13883723/lydia-night-takes-on-swmrs-and-starts-a-new-phase-for-metoo|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=KQED|date=July 23, 2020 |language=en-us}}{{Cite web|last=Mahjouri|first=Shakiel|date=July 23, 2020|title=Joey Armstrong, Son Of Green Day Frontman, Issues Statement After Sexual Misconduct Allegations|url=https://etcanada.com/news/671839/joey-armstrong-son-of-green-day-frontman-issues-statement-after-sexual-misconduct-allegations/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726075534/https://etcanada.com/news/671839/joey-armstrong-son-of-green-day-frontman-issues-statement-after-sexual-misconduct-allegations/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2020|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=ET Canada}} who responded that the statement showed "everyone exactly who [Armstrong] and [his] band of imposters are".{{cite tweet|number=1286332317124816896|user=regrettesband|title=lol thank you joey. not for your 6 sentences but for showing everyone exactly who you and your band of imposters ar… |accessdate=July 26, 2020|date=July 23, 2020}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/joey-armstrong-lydia-night-apology-1032126/ |title=SWMRS' Joey Armstrong Responds to Claims of Sexual Misconduct |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 21, 2020}}

{{BLP sources section|date=December 2018}}

Current lineup

• Cole Becker – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar (2004–present); lead guitar (2004–2009)
• Max Becker – lead and backing vocals (2004–present); lead guitar (2014–present); bass guitar (2004–2014)
• Cade Becker – bass guitar, backing vocals (2022–present)
• Sam Benavidez – drums (2020–present)
• Wyatt Blair – drums (2022–present)

Former members

• Joey Armstrong – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2004–2020)
• Sebastian "Seb" Mueller –  bass guitar, backing vocals (2014–2020); saxophone (2013–2014; touring member)
• Travis Neumann  – lead guitar, backing vocals (2009–2014)

Touring musicians

• Henry Webb-Jenkins – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboard (2019–2020)
• Jakob Danger Armstrong – bass guitar, backing vocals (2015); rhythm guitar, backing vocals, keyboards (2018–2019); lead guitar (2020){{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/swmrs/status/1221644069048209409 |title=Not sharing the stage with our conductor will be a weird feeling. Max is working with us to make sure we are ready to go & came up with a FIRE setlist. Cole, Seb, Henry & Joey will be there as usual and Jakob will be stepping in for Max for all upcoming shows until he's healed up |last=SWMRS |date=January 26, 2020 |website=@swmrs |access-date=January 27, 2020}}
• Jamie Seiwert - drums, percussion, backing vocals (2022–present)

Timeline

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Studio albums

• Don't Be a Dick (2011) {{small|(As Emily's Army)}}
• Lost at Seventeen (2013) {{small|(As Emily's Army)}}
• Drive North (2016)
• Berkeley's on Fire (2019){{Cite web |url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/swmrs-announce-new-album-berkeleys-on-fire/ |title=SWMRS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM, BERKELEY'S ON FIRE |website=Kerrang! |date=November 29, 2018 |access-date=November 30, 2018}}
• Sonic Tonic (2023)
• BECKER (2024)

EPs

• Goody Two Shoes (2009) {{small|(As Emily's Army)}}
• Broadcast This (2010) {{small|(As Emily's Army)}}
• Regan MacNeil (2010) {{small|(As Emily's Army)}}
• Swim (2014) {{small|(As Emily's Army)}}
• Miley/Uncool (2015)

Demos

• This Kid. (2008) {{small|(As Emily's Army)}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2004 establishments in California

Category:Musical groups established in 2004

Category:Musical groups from Berkeley, California

Category:American musical quartets

Category:Pop punk groups from California

Category:Punk rock groups from California

Category:Fueled by Ramen artists

Category:Rise Records artists

Category:Adeline Records artists