Burning Airlines
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | J. Robbins, Bill Barbot, Peter Moffett |
| Defunct | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
| Products | Studio albums, singles |
Burning Airlines was a rock ensemble originating from Washington, D.C., established in 1997 by J. Robbins and Bill Barbot, both formerly of Jawbox, along with drummer Peter Moffett, who had previously been part of Government Issue and Wool. Their discography includes two studio albums, a self-titled 7-inch record, and collaborative split releases with At the Drive-In and Braid. The group ceased activities unexpectedly in 2002.
History
During the later phase of Jawbox, Robbins and Barbot worked alongside Moffett, who was briefly considered as a potential replacement for drummer Zach Barocas. In the 1980s, Moffett had also performed with Robbins in Government Issue. Following Jawbox’s breakup, the trio formed Burning Airlines, taking their name from Brian Eno’s track "Burning Airlines Give You So Much More" featured on his 1974 album Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy). Their initial 7-inch single debuted in 1998, succeeded by their first full-length album Mission: Control! in 1999 under the DeSoto Records label.
Barbot departed due to an inability to commit to full-time touring and was succeeded by Mike Harbin—Robbins’ longtime acquaintance and former Jawbox roadie, who had previously played with Jack Potential and Admiral. This configuration embarked on extensive tours and produced their sophomore album, Identikit, released through DeSoto Records in 2001. Additionally, Benjamin Pape, formerly of The Four Horsemen, joined as a second guitarist and keyboardist.
In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, during a significant North American tour that year, several venues were reluctant to advertise the band's name. Although the group contemplated altering it, they ultimately retained it due to its heightened significance but disbanded the following year.
Members
- J. Robbins – vocals, guitar, programming (1997–2002)
- Peter Moffett – drums, percussion, guitar (1997–2002)
- Bill Barbot – bass, keyboards, vocals (1997–1999)
- Mike Harbin – bass, programming (1999–2002)
- Benjamin Pape – guitar, keyboards (2001–2002)
Albums
- Mission: Control! (DeSoto Records, 1999)
- Identikit (DeSoto Records, 2001)
Singles
- "Carnival/Scissoring" (DeSoto Records, 1998)
- "Back of Love", split release with Braid (DeSoto Records, 1999)
- "The Deluxe War Baby", split with At the Drive-In (Thick Records, 2000)