Editing Against Me! (section)

===1997–2002: The early years and ''Reinventing Axl Rose''===
Against Me! was formed in 1997 by singer/guitarist [[Laura Jane Grace]] as a solo act, amidst the breakup of her previous band(s).<ref name=":0" /> The first Against Me! release was an [[eponym]]ously titled [[Against Me! (demo)|demo tape]] in 1997. It was self-released in very limited numbers. With the addition of drummer Kevin Mahon, a second demo, ''[[Vivida Vis!]]'' (1998), was released in limited numbers by Misanthrope Records. The band started their first tour in March 1999, a month-long tour of the East coast, during which they met Jordan Kleeman in Baltimore, Maryland.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title = Episode 47 - Laura Jane Grace ( Against Me! )|url = https://audioboom.com/boos/3638556-episode-47-laura-jane-grace-against-me|website = audioBoom|access-date = January 22, 2016|archive-date = March 9, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160309130120/https://audioboom.com/boos/3638556-episode-47-laura-jane-grace-against-me|url-status = live}}</ref> The band's first EP, ''[[Against Me! (2000 EP)|Against Me!]]'', was released twice through Crasshole Records (once in 1999 and 2000). Grace's longtime friend [[James Bowman (musician)|James Bowman]] joined the band for a west coast tour in support of the EP, traveling in Grace's 1976 [[Buick LeSabre#Fourth generation (1971–1976)|Buick LeSabre]], the engine of which exploded at the end of the tour.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout|last=Grace|first=Laura Jane|publisher=Hachette|year=2016|pages=34–35}}</ref> Their first widely distributed release was the EP ''[[Crime as Forgiven by Against Me!]]'' (2001), released by [[Plan-It-X Records]] and Sabot Productions (run by longtime Against Me! tour manager Jordan Kleeman). While neither Bowman or Fridkin had part in the recording of ''[[Crime as Forgiven by Against Me!]]'', they both joined the band on tour to support it.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout|last=Grace|first=Laura Jane|year=2016|pages=42}}</ref> On April 23, 2001, while heading south on I-75, returning home from their first tour as a four-piece band, their van was struck by a semi truck. They landed upside-down in a ditch. No one was harmed, but the van and equipment were destroyed,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phawker.com/2014/09/11/about-a-girl-the-complete-magnet-magazine-qa-with-against-mes-laura-jane-grace/|title=ABOUT A GIRL: The Complete Magnet Magazine Q&A With Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace|date=September 11, 2014|website=PHAWKER.COM - Curated News, Gossip, Concert Reviews, Fearless Political Commentary, Interviews....Plus, the Usual Sex, Drugs and Rock n' Roll|access-date=April 27, 2016|archive-date=May 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531042858/http://www.phawker.com/2014/09/11/about-a-girl-the-complete-magnet-magazine-qa-with-against-mes-laura-jane-grace/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> after which Bowman and Mahon left the band. The band broke up for a few months that year.<ref name=":1">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/laura-jane-grace-on-her-delinquent-past-and-against-me-s-future-20140208|title=Laura Jane Grace on Her Delinquent Past and Against Me!'s Future|date=February 8, 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 14, 2016|archive-date=April 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423100736/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/laura-jane-grace-on-her-delinquent-past-and-against-me-s-future-20140208|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theriotroom.com/event/349889-against-me-kansas-city/|title=Against Me! - Tickets - The Riot Room - Kansas City, MO - September 20th, 2013|website=The Riot Room|access-date=March 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221185220/http://www.theriotroom.com/event/349889-against-me-kansas-city/|archive-date=December 21, 2016|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://r4nt.com/article/against-me-interview-with-tom-gabel/|title=Against Me! interview with Tom Gabel - Reading For New Times – Exposing Intellect, People and Esthetics.|website=r4nt.com|access-date=April 23, 2016|archive-date=January 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106183334/http://r4nt.com/article/against-me-interview-with-tom-gabel/|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[Against Me! (2001 EP)|third EP]], a self-titled acoustic recording by Grace and bassist Dustin Fridkin, was released in November 2001.

Mahon was eventually replaced by [[Warren Oakes]], and guitarist James Bowman returned in December 2001<ref>{{Cite book|title=Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout|last=Grace|first=Laura Jane|year=2016|pages=45}}</ref> during the recording of the band's first album, ''[[Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose]]'', released in March 2002 by [[No Idea Records]]. Fridkin left during the summer of 2002 to return to college and was replaced by Andrew Seward of the Tennessee band kill devil hills,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout|last=Grace|first=Laura Jane|year=2016|pages=51–52}}</ref> and this new lineup released the single "[[The Disco Before the Breakdown]]" (2002). This lineup remained intact until 2009.