The Ghost Inside (band)

The Ghost Inside
The Ghost Inside at 2014's Warped Tour
Background information
Also known as	A Dying Dream (2004–2006)
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Metalcore, melodic hardcore
Years active	2004–2015 (on hiatus)
Labels	Epitaph, Mediaskare
Website	www.theghostinside.com
Members	Jonathan Vigil Zach Johnson Jim Riley Andrew Tkaczyk
Past members	Ryan Romero Josh Navarro Anthony Rivera Tyler Watamanuk Soyer Cole Garrett Harer KC Stockbridge Aaron Brooks

The Ghost Inside, formerly known as A Dying Dream, is an American metalcore band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2004. The band currently consists of vocalist Jonathan Vigil, guitarist Zach Johnson, bassist Jim Riley and drummer Andrew Tkaczyk. They have released one EP and four studio albums, with their latest, Dear Youth, released in November 2014 though Epitaph Records and peaking at number 63 on the American Billboard 200 chart.

History

As A Dying Dream, they released an EP, Now or Never on Frontline Records. A year later, they signed to Mediaskare Records, where they re-recorded and re-released the EP with an additional track and bonus live footage. Not long after, they changed their name to The Ghost Inside, and released a full length studio album entitled Fury and the Fallen Ones.

Their second album, titled Returners, was released on June 8, 2010 via Mediaskare Records.

On February 24, 2011, it was announced that KC Stockbridge and The Ghost Inside mutually parted ways and that Andrew Tkaczyk had been filling in on drums. Andrew was formerly the drummer and main songwriter in the band For the Fallen Dreams. As of January 10, 2012, the band has been signed to Epitaph Records.

In 2012, the band headlined the Alternative Press Tour along with Miss May I.

Their first release for Epitaph Records Get What You Give was produced by A Day to Remember's vocalist Jeremy McKinnon and debuted at No. 88 on the Billboard Top 200.

In 2013, the band toured the world with their breakthrough album, Get What You Give.

On September 8, 2014 the band released a new song - "Avalanche". And on September 16, 2014 Spotify leaked details of their new album Dear Youth.

On November 17, 2014, their second release for Epitaph Records, Dear Youth, was released and debuted at No 63. on the Billboard Top 200.

On January 9, 2015, The Ghost Inside posted on their Facebook page that they are parting ways with founding member and lead guitarist Aaron Brooks, leaving Jonathan Vigil as the last original member in the current lineup.

On the morning of November 19, 2015, the band's tour bus collided head on with a tractor trailer while headed west to Mesa, Arizona on U.S. Highway 180, eight miles east of the border patrol checkpoint outside of El Paso, Texas. The drivers of both vehicles died, while the remaining eleven people on the bus survived. Jonathan Vigil, Zach Johnson, Andrew Tkaczyk and two others were hospitalized in critical condition. This has led to a hiatus announced on December 1, 2015.

Musical style, influences and songwriting

The Ghost Inside's music is usually classified as metalcore or melodic hardcore. They have self-identified as melodic hardcore, for example on their Facebook page. However, bassist and backing vocalist Jim Riley stated in a 2013 interview that "to [him] the band is a metalcore band" and that they're "similar to Unearth or As I Lay Dying or something like that, with a little bit less guitar solos and a little bit less singing". He said that they are influenced by "an older generation of bands" such as Throwdown, Bury Your Dead (especially Beauty and the Breakdown), Misery Signals, Killswitch Engage, Unearth (especially The Oncoming Storm) and Bleeding Through, some of which he considers "seminal to what metalcore is", as well as modern music that isn't necessarily heavy (such as pop punk), and that he himself listens "to a lot of emo". In a 2009 interview, vocalist Jonathan Vigil stated that he grew up listening to punk rock bands such as NOFX and Less Than Jake before getting into heavier bands such as Hatebreed and Slipknot, while guitarist Aaron Brooks said that he listened to bands like Bad Religion before getting into Poison the Well, that one of his favourite bands currently are Comeback Kid and that he also appreciates Hatebreed.

Riley stated that when writing a song, the band usually puts the instrumentation together first, before vocalist Jonathan Vigil and guitarist Aaron Brooks write lyrics for it. He also noted that the decision to use clean vocals in some songs of Get What You Give, such as "Engine 45", came from the band and wasn't forced by producer Jeremy McKinnon.

Members

Current

• Jonathan Vigil – lead vocals (2004–present)
• Zach Johnson – lead guitar (2015–present), rhythm guitar (2008–2015)
• Jim Riley – bass, backing vocals (2009–present)
• Andrew Tkaczyk – drums, percussion (2011–present)

Touring musicians

• Chris Davis (Texas in July) – rhythm guitar (2015–present)

Former

• Ryan Romero – guitar (2004–2006)
• Josh Navarro – guitar (2004–2006)
• Anthony Rivera – drums (2004–2006)
• Tyler Watamanuk – bass guitar (2004–2008)
• Soyer Cole – rhythm guitar (2006–2008)
• Garrett Harer – bass (2008–2009)
• KC Stockbridge – drums, percussion (2006–2011)
• Aaron Brooks – lead guitar, backing vocals (2004–2015)

Timeline

Discography

The Ghost Inside discography
The Ghost Inside live in 2013 at the Essigfabrik in Cologne during a co-headline European tour with Deez Nuts
Studio albums	4
Music videos	8
EPs	1

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US	US Indie.	AUS	AUT	BEL (FL)	GER	SWI
2008	Fury and the Fallen Ones Released: April 15, 2008 Label: Mediaskare	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2010	Returners Released: June 8, 2010 Label: Mediaskare	—	50	—	—	—	—	—
2012	Get What You Give Released: June 19, 2012 Label: Epitaph	88	19	—	—	—	—	—
2014	Dear Youth Released: November 17, 2014 Label: Epitaph	63	9	16	66	172	65	95
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

EPs

Year	Title	Label
2005	Now or Never	Frontline
2006	Now or Never (reissue)	Mediaskare

Music videos

• "Faith or Forgiveness" (2008)
• "Unspoken" (2010)
• "Chrono" (2010)
• "Engine 45" (2012)
• "The Great Unknown" (2013)
• "Dear Youth (Day 52)" (2014)
• "Out of Control" (2015)
• "Move Me" (2015)