Thursday (band)

Thursday

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1997 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Founder	Geoff Rickly, Tom Keeley, Bill Henderson, Tim Payne, Tucker Rule
Headquarters	New Brunswick , United States
Products	Albums: Waiting (1999), Full Collapse (2001), War All the Time (2003), A City by the Light Divided (2006), Common Existence (2009), No Devolución (2011)

Thursday is a post-hardcore group originating from New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1997. The lineup consists of lead vocalist Geoff Rickly, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Keeley, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Steve Pedulla, bassist Tim Payne, and drummer Tucker Rule.

Their first album, Waiting, released in 1999, featured original guitarist Bill Henderson, who departed in 2000 and was succeeded by Steve Pedulla. Thursday rose to prominence with their sophomore release, Full Collapse (2001). Their debut on a major label, War All the Time (2003), entered the US Billboard 200 chart at number seven. Later albums include A City by the Light Divided (2006), Common Existence (2009), and No Devolución (2011). Following an indefinite break announced after their 2012 tour in Australia, Rickly eventually confirmed the band's dissolution.

The group reunited for touring in 2016, disbanded again in 2019, and then revealed another reunion set for Chicago's Riot Fest in 2021. In 2024, they released "Application for Release From the Dream," marking their first new track in over a decade.

Widely regarded as a significant influence within the 2000s post-hardcore movement, Thursday is credited with advancing the darker emo aesthetic and integrating screaming vocals that became emblematic of that period.

Origins and Waiting (1997–2000)

Thursday was established in 1997 by vocalist Geoff Rickly, guitarists Tom Keeley and Bill Henderson, bassist Tim Payne, and drummer Tucker Rule. While attending Rutgers University, they performed basement shows around New Brunswick, debuting officially on December 31, 1998, alongside bands such as Midtown, Saves the Day, and Poison the Well.

The band created demo recordings to distribute at their performances and collaborated with MP3.com during summer 1999 to release their initial EP, the 1999 Summer Tour EP, which included demos later featured on their debut full-length album Waiting. This album was issued on November 8, 1999, through northern New Jersey’s Eyeball Records, without any singles or promotional campaigns.

Full Collapse era (2001–2002)

In 2001, Thursday signed with independent label Victory Records. Although initially hopeful about this partnership, the band soon recognized that their contract only permitted departure from Victory if moving to a major label. That year saw the release of their second album, Full Collapse, which peaked at number 178 on the Billboard 200. Prior to joining the Warped Tour, Thursday discovered that Victory planned to produce unauthorized whoopee cushions branded with their name. Vocalist Rickly confronted Tony Brummel, Victory’s founder, who dismissed these concerns by pointing to the company’s size.

Seeking improved dialogue about marketing efforts, Thursday encountered criticism from Brummel regarding sales targets. Although his attitude softened during a tour with Saves the Day, tensions persisted and revolved more around commercial metrics than artistic considerations. This strain nearly led to the band’s breakup and resulted in releasing the Five Stories Falling EP, fulfilling contractual obligations with Victory. The EP included one new studio song titled "Jet Black New Year," while the remainder consisted of live renditions from Full Collapse. The band encouraged fans to download rather than purchase this EP.

At the same time, major record labels began expressing interest. Despite limited knowledge of how major labels operate, Thursday explored other independent options but were restricted by their existing contract. Throughout 2001, representatives from major label Island Records attended several shows and soon indicated intentions to sign Thursday.

War All the Time (2003–2005)

In May 2002, following a competitive bidding process among major record companies, the band secured a contract with Island Records. Before this transition, their album Full Collapse had achieved sales of 111,000 units. As part of their departure agreement with Victory Records, Island/Def Jam was obligated to purchase Victory's contractual rights for the subsequent two albums, a transaction valued at $1.2 million that also required Victory's branding to appear on those releases.

Aiming to develop a more assertive and innovative sound, the band participated in the Plea for Peace Tour in late 2002 and commenced work on new material by November. After dedicating six months to writing and recording, they launched their third album and first under a major label, War All the Time, on September 16, 2003. This record marked the introduction of Andrew Everding on keyboards, who officially joined the lineup in December 2004. Despite its release shortly after 9/11, frontman Geoff Rickly emphasized that the album’s lyrical focus revolved around love portrayed as a form of conflict rather than political commentary. The album generated two singles: "Signals Over the Air" and "War All the Time," although MTV banned the video for the latter due to its contentious content.

To promote War All the Time, Thursday embarked on extensive tours alongside AFI, Thrice, and Coheed and Cambria, including intimate acoustic in-store appearances and a live session recorded for Philadelphia’s Y100 Sonic Sessions. Additionally, they issued two EPs: Live from the SoHo & Santa Monica Stores Split EP (available exclusively on iTunes) and Live in Detroit EP, which was distributed as a promotional item through Revolver magazine.

In 2004, facing pressures from their label, exhaustive touring schedules, and health complications, the band entered an indefinite hiatus. They reconvened briefly for a charitable concert at New York City’s CBGB on August 25, 2005, which was broadcast live online.

A City by the Light Divided and Envy split release (2006–2008)

During the autumn of 2005, five demo tracks by Thursday were illicitly taken from the iPod belonging to the tour manager of My American Heart, a group with whom Rickly had recently collaborated on "We Are the Fabrication." While disappointed by this unauthorized leak, the band appreciated the attention it garnered. They confirmed that one of these demos, "At This Velocity," would be included on their forthcoming album alongside other tracks such as "The Other Side of the Crash/Over and Out (Of Control)," "Telegraph Avenue Kiss," and "Autumn Leaves Revisited." Another demo from this period evolved into "Last Call," featured on their fifth studio release, Common Existence. Although Thursday contemplated releasing a double album as a successor to War All the Time, they ultimately abandoned this idea, noting that even The Beatles struggled to produce two discs filled entirely with quality material.

Their fourth studio album and second major label effort, A City by the Light Divided, was released on May 2, 2006, through Island Records in the United States and Hassle Records in the United Kingdom. Produced by Dave Fridmann, this marked their first full-length project not helmed by Sal Villanueva. The album’s title drew inspiration from verses in Octavio Paz's poem Sunstone. It was made available for streaming on MySpace two weeks ahead of release and received favorable critical reception. Two singles emerged from this album: "Counting 5-4-3-2-1" and "At This Velocity", although the latter did not achieve significant attention. In early 2007, Thursday parted ways with Island Records.

At their New Year's Eve performance in 2007 at Starland Ballroom, Thursday revealed intentions to write and record new material throughout 2008. During an exclusive show held in New York City on May 3, 2007, longtime manager David "Rev" Ciancio proposed marriage on stage. The band also performed at The Bamboozle festival on May 5 under the alias Bearfort. Subsequently, they canceled all touring plans until embarking on a fall tour supporting Circle Takes the Square and Portugal. The Man to promote Kill the House Lights, a DVD/CD compilation featuring demos, unreleased tracks, live recordings, and documentary footage. Released by Victory Records on October 30, 2007, this collection showcased Thursday’s evolving body of work.

On April 2, 2008, Thursday announced a collaborative split album with Japanese post-hardcore act Envy. They premiered one of its songs during a live show in Poughkeepsie on April 24, 2008; Thursday / Envy was officially released on November 4, 2008 through Temporary Residence Limited.

Common Existence (2009–2010)

On September 30, 2008, Thursday inked a deal with Epitaph Records, commending the label for fostering awareness of social issues and political activism. Their fifth studio album, Common Existence, was released on February 17, 2009. Lead vocalist Geoff Rickly described the album’s title as emblematic of humanity’s collective experience, with numerous tracks drawing inspiration from esteemed authors including Denis Johnson, Martin Amis, Roberto Bolano, and David Foster Wallace. Additionally, Cormac McCarthy influenced Rickly’s lyrical approach.

Thursday served as headliners for the 2009 Taste of Chaos Tour, sharing the bill with Bring Me the Horizon, Four Year Strong, Pierce The Veil, and Cancer Bats. Unfortunately, the band encountered lukewarm reception, as most attendees were primarily there to see Bring Me the Horizon. Guitarist Tom Keeley estimated that nearly 90% of the crowd departed before Thursday's performance, describing the tour as a "terrible experience." Rickly criticized the event as "foolish" and highlighted conflicts with Bring Me the Horizon, who reportedly used offensive language during their sets.

No Devolución and disbandment (2011–2015)

In July 2010, Thursday commenced recording their sixth album at Tarbox Road Studios in Fredonia, New York with producer Dave Fridmann, who had previously collaborated on their last two records. Their sophomore release under Epitaph Records, No Devolución, was unveiled on April 12, 2011. Geoff Rickly described this album as a bold stylistic shift while marking a meaningful return to form, emphasizing themes of vulnerability and an ambient atmosphere. The central lyrical focus revolved around commitment. The band premiered "Turnpike Divides" at their annual holiday concert on December 30, 2010.

On November 22, 2011, Thursday issued a message titled "Thanks & Love," indicating a pause in creating music together without explicitly declaring a breakup or hiatus. The announcement cited ongoing personal challenges as the reason for stepping away from Thursday "for now," while leaving open the possibility of future collaborations in other capacities.

Their final performance took place on March 5, 2012, at the Soundwave festival in Perth, Australia. In January 2013, Rickly confirmed that Thursday had officially disbanded, explaining that the term "hiatus" was initially used to allow for potential future shows but ruled out any new recordings.

Following the split, Rickly formed No Devotion in 2014 with former members of Lostprophets and continued working on his side project United Nations. Drummer Tucker Rule went on to tour as a session musician for British boy band The Wanted, pop-punk act Yellowcard, and pursued studio drumming opportunities.

Reunion and second breakup (2016–2019)

In January 2016, ex-members of Thursday shared a group photo online, sparking speculation about a reunion. Geoff Rickly clarified that communication among them had been sparse over the previous five years but they were in the process of "repairing relationships." Their former booking agent encouraged reuniting without pressure to create new material.

By March 2016, Thursday confirmed their comeback with a performance at Atlanta's Wrecking Ball festival in August, featuring the lineup from Full Collapse onward. This decision was made just two days prior to the public announcement and was driven by the festival’s strong roster and charitable mission.

Following this, Thursday announced appearances at Riot Fest events in Chicago and Denver in September along with a "homecoming" concert at Starland Ballroom in December. Early in 2017, they revealed plans for a 24-date spring tour—their first full-scale tour since 2012—and headlined Brooklyn’s Northside Festival in June.

In October 2018, the band announced that their reunion would conclude in 2019 with intentions to end on a high note. Their final show was scheduled for March 17, 2019, at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn.

Although no international dates were initially planned during this reunion period, growing fan interest led to a May 2019 appearance at Germany's Family First Festival in Cologne. The band expressed enthusiasm about returning to a supportive audience and sharing the stage with longtime contemporaries boysetsfire. Additional performances followed in Eindhoven and two UK shows at London’s Electric Ballroom in December 2019, where they played Full Collapse and War All the Time on back-to-back nights. They also opened for My Chemical Romance’s reunion concert at The Shrine in Los Angeles on December 20.

Second reunion (post-2020)

In June 2020, Thursday revealed plans for their first live appearance in almost two years, set for Riot Fest in September 2021. This reunion featured the lineup from the Full Collapse and War All the Time periods, excluding Everding. Between August 2020 and April 2021, the band delivered three virtual concerts under the title Signals. The initial edition (V1) included guest guitarist Frank Iero and showcased stripped-down renditions of their tracks. The subsequent show (V2) was a holiday-themed event with appearances by Iero, Jim Ward, Walter Schriefels, and Bartees Strange. The final installment (V3) presented complete performances of both Full Collapse and No Devolución.

In June 2021, Thursday contributed a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" as part of Two Minutes To Late Night's covers series. Additionally, they embarked on a US tour across the east coast and midwest alongside Taking Back Sunday and Piebald.

October 2021 saw Thursday featured in Dan Ozzi's book Sellout: The Major Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, And Hardcore 1994–2007, which included a dedicated chapter on War All the Time and showcased a live photo of the band on its cover. In July 2022, they served as headliners at Philadelphia's This is Hardcore Fest, performing the entirety of Full Collapse.

During September 2022, Thursday toured North America with My Chemical Romance for seven shows. On the final date, they joined Gerard Way on stage to perform "Jet Black New Year," a track originally featuring Way. Furthermore, Geoff Rickly appeared with My Chemical Romance to sing "This Is the Best Day Ever," a song he was originally part of.

On April 12, 2024, Thursday unveiled "Application for Release From the Dream," their first newly released song in thirteen years, also announcing forthcoming new material.

Later that year, on December 6, they released another fresh track titled "White Bikes." Geoff Rickly shared that its lyrics express the grief over losing a close friend who vanished while cycling. The song was recorded at Hansa studios in Berlin and features guitar contributions from Norman Brannon of Texas Is The Reason. The accompanying music video was created by Duran Levinson and Nick Scholey.

Logo

The dove emblem associated with Thursday was designed by guitarist Tom Keeley prior to recording Full Collapse. This symbol became a key branding element prominently displayed on album covers and merchandise from 2003's War All the Time through to 2011. The dove remained a central visual until it was excluded from their final studio album, No Devolución.

Alongside this primary logo, the band introduced a secondary mark—a red bullseye combined with a chevron—debuted on their 2006 release A City by the Light Divided. This design appeared on related merchandise and served as the background for the Kill the House Lights cover.

Notably, artist Shepard Fairey contributed alternate artwork incorporating a redesigned dove logo, broadening Thursday’s visual branding within their merchandise offerings.

Musical style and influences

Thursday’s musical identity is chiefly categorized as post-hardcore, integrating aspects of emo and screamo, though they prefer to describe their sound as melodic hardcore. Their early inspirations include influential groups such as the Smiths, the Cure, Joy Division, Fugazi, Drive Like Jehu, New Order, and Quicksand.

Emerging from the New Brunswick scene significantly influenced their style, merging diverse elements from local bands like Rainer Maria and Converge. As their sound evolved, Thursday incorporated ambient textures inspired by artists including Sigur Rós, My Bloody Valentine, Mogwai, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sunny Day Real Estate, the Appleseed Cast, At the Drive-In, and Jawbox. These influences enriched their intricate guitar arrangements and expanding sonic depth, solidifying their role within the post-hardcore genre niche.

Band members

Current lineup

• Tom Keeley – lead guitar, backing vocals (1997–2012, 2016–2019, 2020–present)
• Tim Payne – bass guitar (1997–2012, 2016–2019, 2020–present)
• Geoff Rickly – lead vocalist (1997–2012, 2016–2019, 2020–present)
• Tucker Rule – drums (1997–2012, 2016–2019, 2020–present)
• Steve Pedulla – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2000–2012, 2016–2019, 2020–present)

Current touring members

• Stuart Richardson – bass and backing vocals (2017, 2022–present; filling in for Tim Payne)
• Norman Brannon – lead guitar (2021–present; substitute for Tom Keeley)

Past members

• Bill Henderson – rhythm guitar (1997–2000)
• Andrew Everding – keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (2004–2011, 2016–2019; session/touring: 2003–2004)

Former touring musicians

• Lukas Previn – bass guitar (2011; temporary replacement for Tim Payne)
• Brooks Tipton – keyboards and synthesizer (2011–2012; stand-in for Andrew Everding)
• Wade MacNeil – rhythm guitar (2025; substitute for Norman Brannon)
• Kerry McCoy – rhythm guitar (2025; substitute for Norman Brannon)
• Jeff Gensterblum – drums (2025; replacement for Tucker Rule)
• Chris “Ghost” Macias – bass

Timeline

Discography

• Waiting (1999)
• Full Collapse (2001)
• War All the Time (2003)
• A City by the Light Divided (2006)
• Common Existence (2009)
• No Devolución (2011)