Tim McIlrath
| Tim McIlrath | |
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Tim McIlrath, lead vocalist of Rise Against
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Timothy James McIlrath |
| Also known as | James Kaspar (pseudonym in The Killing Tree) |
| Born |
November 3, 1978 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | |
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| Notable instruments | |
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Gibson Les Paul Custom Taylor 814ce |
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Timothy James "Tim" McIlrath (born November 3, 1978) is an American punk rock musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the American punk rock band Rise Against. McIlrath is known to support animal rights and actively promotes PETA with his band. He is also straight edge.
McIlrath attended Rolling Meadows High School in Rolling Meadows, IL. This was also the set for the music video, "Make It Stop (September's Children)." In college (Northeastern Illinois University), McIlrath majored in English and Sociology. In his junior year, he met Joe Principe at a Sick of It All concert. Principe asked McIlrath to sing over a few tracks that he and Mr. Precision had recorded. It was at this time that Transistor Revolt was formed, and McIlrath left college.
McIlrath began his musical career in his early years; he was very active in the Chicago local punk rock scene. His first band was the post-hardcore band Baxter, formed in 1995 along with future The Lawrence Arms drummer Neil Hennessy and future Killing Tree and Holy Roman Empire bassist Geoff Reu. Their first release was a full length, self-released, cassette, Troy's Bucket, which was released in 1996. Troy's Bucket was met with warm reception from the scene, and Baxter became a popular band in the Chicago underground scene.
In 1997 they released a 7" EP Lost Voices on Static Station Records. After some local touring, the band split up.
McIlrath played bass and sang backup in the first incarnation of The Honor System. He sang on their demo and on some songs on their debut album Single File. He and drummer Neil Hennesy could also be found in a brief lineup of the grindcore band Yellow Road Priest, whose members went on to form Pelican. The band broke up in 1999.
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