Line #68 Music/AngelsAndAirwaves


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/angelsairwaves2020_1_1.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:The band's current lineup. Left to right: [[Music/NineInchNails Ilan Rubin]], [[Music/Blink182 Tom DeLonge]], David Kennedy. Not pictured: Matt Rubano.]]
3
4	->''My dearest friends,''\
5	''Even if your hope has burned with time,''\
6	''Anything that's dead shall be regrown,''\
7	''And your vicious pain, your warning sign,''\
8	''You will be fine.''\
9	''Hey-oh, here I am,''\
10	''And here we go, life's waiting to begin.''
11	-->--'''"The Adventure"'''
12
13
14	''Angels and Airwaves'' (a.k.a. "AVA"[[note]] Derived from the band's stylized logo, which features the letters "AAA" with the second "A" turned upside down--partially as a tribute to Tom's daughter Ava[[/note]]) is an American AlternativeRock {{Supergroup}} formed by Music/{{Blink 182}} singer/guitarist Tom [=De=]Longe in 2005. The band has also been described as an "art project," with a multimedia initiative that includes movies, books, art, and other media. For example, the two ''Love'' albums are part of what Tom considered a more far-reaching project which also includes the feature length ''Film/{{Love\|2011}}'' movie directed by Creator/WilliamEubank. The film, after [[ScheduleSlip several years of delays]] premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in February 2011, received a limited one night only release on August 10th, and eventually was released on DVD in November alongside ''Love Part 2.'' The film also received a graphic novel adaptation. Capping off the ''Love'' cycle is a double EP of remixes from both Love albums and the Love film score supervised by new drummer Ilan Rubin called ''Stomping the Phantom Break Pedal.'' The first ''Love'' album was released for free by the band, similar to what Music/{{Radiohead}} did with ''Music/InRainbows'' or what Music/NineInchNails did with ''Music/TheSlip.''
15
16	After the release of '''The Dream Walker'', Angels and Airwaves continued to release [=EPs=] to coincede with multimedia launches from Tom's company To The Stars but took a long break from live touring. This was in part due to the launch of the To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science, described as "an entertainment, science and aerospace consortium that engages with global citizens to investigate the outer edges of science and unconventional thinking in order to push human knowledge and ultimately, our collective capability forward". (More directly: Tom met a lot of interesting people when he got involved with government officials who were later revealed to be part of the Pentagon's UFO program and wants to give UFO disclosure and the creation of theoretical sci-fi style tech a go, using multimedia to help promote the company's ideals. TTSA is directly responsible for the reveal of the existence of said Pentagon UFO program ''and'' the Navy revealing that videos from an incident from the USS Nimitz were confirmed unidentified aerial phenomenon. [[https://dpo.tothestarsacademy.com/ Seriously]].)
17
18	In 2019, Angels and Airwaves returned in force with the singles "Rebel Girl" and "Kiss and Tell" and a well-received tour. A new full-length is on the way, along with a documentary shot by Peter Mckinnon.
19
20	[[AC:Angels and Airwaves Multimedia Franchises]]
21	* ''Poet Anderson'': The release of their album ''The Dream Walker'' coincided with the release of the animated sci-fi short film / bigger multimedia brand Poet Anderson, featuring a dream walking vigilante who fights off nightmares in a very nice suit. Said multimedia brand features said short film, a comic book miniseries, clothing, and two novels co-written by Suzanne Young of ''The Program'' series and Tom. Plans for a live action film, an animated film, and the release of a previously filmed live action short film featuring Series/TeenWolf's Tyler Posey have been up in the air for years. On top of "The Dream Walker" album, Poet also received a tie-in EP, "...Of Nightmares", for the release of the second book.
22	* ''Sekret Machines'': Arguably the breakout series of the lot due to Tom's UFO work with To The Stars Academy getting major press, focusing on a group of people from varying professional backgrounds uncovering the mystery surrounding a secret government UFO program. Features two fiction books co-written by A. J. Hartley and Tom, and two nonfiction books co-written by Peter Levenda and Tom. Recieved a tie-in EP "Chasing Shadows" for the release of the first fiction book.
23	* ''Strange Times'': The relaunch of the band-run strange news/ufology/conspiracy theory news site Strange Times has disappeared in favor of a cryptozoology/paranormal series focusing on Californian skate rats. Features a novel from Geoff Herbach, writer of ''Stupid Fast'', the [=DeLonge=] penned graphic novel "The Curse of Superstition Novel", and an upcoming series on TBS. Similar to the Poet live action short film that was completed but never released, there was a short standalone animation for Strange Times that suffered the same fate. Plans for a live action movie, even as far as announcing casting choices and planned filming dates, were in motion but largely fell to the wayside after the announcement of To The Stars Academy, but possibly lead to...
24	* ''Monsters Of California'': Little is known about this brand besides it being tied into the new Angels and Airwaves album release, the description of the movie is similar to that of ''Strange Times'' but without the comedic bent that the series eventually took.
25
26	[[AC:AVA Members:]]
27	* Tom [=DeLonge=] - lead vocals, guitar, songwriter
28	* David Kennedy - guitar, synths[[note]][[http://photos-f.ak.instagram.com/hphotos-ak-xap1/t51.2885-15/10731549_592860924174717_1725000386_n.jpg confirmed by Tom]] as still in the band, but mostly absent from ''The Dream Walker'' promotion cycle and the 2015-2017 EP releases, returned in 2018[[/note]]
29	* Ilan Rubin - drums, synths, piano, bass (studio)
30
31	[[AC:Touring Members:]]
32	* Matt Rubano - bass
33
34
35	[[AC: Former members:]]
36	* Ryan Sinn - bass guitar, backing vocals
37	* Atom Willard (Against Me!) - drums
38	* Eddie Breckenridge (Music/{{Thrice}}) - bass [[note]]mostly absent from ''The Dream Walker'' promotion cycle[[/note]]
39	* Matt Wachter - bass, synths, keyboards, backing vocals[[note]]Originally believed to have returned with David Kennedy in 2018 but is absent from promotion for the 2019 AVA singles and touring. [=YouTube=] metadata for "Rebel Girl" claimed by producer Aaron Rubin to be inaccurate, despite all other credits being legit, previously had Wachter listed.[[/note]]
40
41	[[AC: Discography:]]
42	* 2006 - ''We Don't Need To Whisper''
43	* 2007 - ''I-Empire''
44	* 2010 - ''LOVE''
45	* 2011 - ''LOVE Part 2''
46	* 2013 - ''Stomping the Phantom Brake Pedal'' [EP]
47	* 2014 - ''The Dream Walker''
48	* 2015 - ''...Of Nightmares'' [EP]
49	* 2016 - ''Chasing Shadows'' [EP]
50	* 2017 - ''We Don't Need To Whisper Acoustic'' [EP]
51	* 2021 - ''Lifeforms''
52
53	[[AC: Videography:]]
54	* 2006 - The Adventure, Do It For Me Now
55	* 2007 - Everything's Magic
56	* 2008 - Secret Crowds, Breathe
57	* 2010 - Hallucinations
58	* 2011 - Anxiety
59	* 2012 - Surrender
60	* 2013 - Diary, Surrender (Remix)
61	* 2014 - The Wolf Pack, Tunnels[[note]]Tunnels being the first appearance of David and Eddie in ''The Dream Walker'' promotional cycle[[/note]]
62	* 2019 - Rebel Girl, Kiss and Tell
63	* 2021 - Euphoria
64
65	[[AC: Filmography:]]
66	* 2006 - ''Start the Machine'
67	* 2011 - ''[[Film/Love2011 LOVE]]''
68	* 2014 - ''[[WesternAnimation/PoetAndersonTheDreamWalker Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker]]'' (animated short film)
69	* ???? - Future Angels and Airwaves documentary
70
71	----
72	!!Angels And Airwaves provides examples of:
73
74	[floatboxright:Related Acts:
75	+Music/{{Blink 182}} (Tom De Longe)
76	+Music/OverMyDeadBody (David Kennedy)
77	+Music/HazenStreet (Kennedy)
78	+Music/BoxCarRacer (Kennedy and De Longe)
79	+Music/TheNewRegime (Ilan Rubin)
80	+Music/NineInchNails (Rubin)
81	+Music/TheOffspring (Atom Willard)
82	+Music/{{Paramore}} (Rubin)
83	+Music/RocketFromTheCrypt (Atom)
84	+Music/SocialDistortion (Atom)
85	+Music/ThirtySecondsToMars (Matt Wachter)
86	+Music/TheDistillers (Ryan Sinn)
87	+Music/{{Thrice}} (Eddie Breckenridge)
88	+Music/TakingBackSunday (Matt Rubano)
89	]
90
91	* BreakupSong: "It Hurts"
92	** Also "Start the Machine", which is about Music/{{Blink 182}}'s breakup.
93	* ChristmasSongs: "Star of Bethlehem". In the album's final release, it was split into two songs: "Star of Bethlehem" and "True Love".
94	* ConceptAlbum: "Love" Parts I and I, of the thematic kind. More specifically, it's about the many kinds of love in an esoteric sense. Part II ties directly into the ''Love'' film, with dialogue from the movie showing up on the album and songs from the album showing up in the film's score in epic instrumental film score format.
95	** Averted for The Dream Walker, despite being mentioned as a concept album tied into the Poet Anderson project, there's barely anything in the musical content that ties it to the short film, besides perhaps Paralyzed[[note]]the song is about sleep paralysis and night terrors. The first doesn't show up in the short film, the second do show up, but not as ''actual'' night terrors, but as a monster to defeat[[/note]].
96	* DarkerAndEdgier[=/=]LighterAndSofter: Compared to Music/{{Blink 182}}, both labels arguably apply. DarkerAndEdgier, in that their music frequently deals with more mature subject matter (war, depression, social justice, etc.) than blink is known for, and generally treats subjects with more gravity than blink ever did. LighterAndSofter, in that their music generally has a much more optimistic tone than blink's, and is often about overcoming adversity through ThePowerOfLove and/or ThePowerOfFriendship.
97	* DoubleMeaningTitle: The band's abbreviated name, "[=AVA=]" counts as one. It was ostensibly chosen because it looks like "[=AAA=]" (for '''A'''ngels '''A'''nd '''A'''irwaves) with the second "A" turned upside down, but it's also a tribute to Tom's daughter, Ava [=DeLonge=]. And when said aloud, the name also sounds similar to the word "aviation". Considering the band's heavy use of space and aviation motifs in their lyrics and album artwork, this was probably intentional.
98	* EpicInstrumentalOpener: The beginning of "Valkyrie Missile", "Star of Bethlehem" and "Et Ducit Mundum Per Luce".
99	* FemmeFatale: The music video of "Euphoria" features one, who seduces an agent by stripping to her lingerie, before killing him in order to obtain his pass and pass it to a motorcyclist.
100	* {{Leitmotif}}: ''Love'' includes a recurring melody that can be heard in multiple songs, including the choruses of "Some Origins of Fire" and "Surrender".
101	* LighterAndSofter: I-Empire
102	* LoudnessWar: I-Empire
103	* LyricalDissonance:
104	** "Sirens" from "I-Empire". It has the same upbeat, uplifting sound of all of their music...but it's about a StalkerWithACrush.
105	** The chorus of "Young London" can make the song sound like a laid-back party anthem about dancing at a night club. But if you pay close attention to the opening verses, it's fairly clear that it's actually a song about death--and the night club is a metaphor for the afterlife.
106	* TheMovie: ''Love'' (originally titled ''I-Empire'') was scored by the band, and its plot is based on recurring themes in their music.
107	** ''Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker'' is a short film also scored by the band. While ''The Dream Walker'' is intended to tie into the Poet franchise as a while, the short film is inspired by the band's full discography. There was a planned live action film, but no new info has been released and there's some inkling of a planned animated feature film.
108	** ''Start The Machine'' was the band's documentary focused on their formation, a new one is focused on them fully returning after Tom got TTSA up and running.
109	* PrecisionFStrike: At least on one song per album (It Hurts on WDNTW, Rite of Spring on I-Empire, Flight of Apollo on LOVE, though it happens on four songs in LOVE: Part II, Euphoria on Lifeforms, which could also count as ClusterFBomb)
110	* PretentiousLatinMotto: Two of them, the most known one being "Et Ducit Mundum Per Luce" (also a song title, which loosely/inaccurately translates to "He/she leads the world by light".
111	* ProtestSong: "War" is the most obvious one. "Distraction", to a lesser extent [[note]]A live performance of it was broadcast on the Larry King Show on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. While introducing the song, Tom [[TakeThat made his views on the Iraq War pretty clear.]][[/note]] Understandable, since both were written when Tom's brother was pulling active duty in Iraq.
112	* RedOniBlueOni: An entire band example. [=AvA=] is very much the blue to [[Music/{{Blink 182}} blink's]] red.
113	* RealSoonNow: The release of the LOVE movie along with various other endeavors by the band, due to the other obligations and projects the members juggle on top of [=AvA=].
114	* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: ''Way'' on the idealist end. They're one of the most shamelessly optimistic bands on the alternative rock scene today.
115	* SpiritualSuccessor: to Box Car Racer. Tom has said in live shows in response to people asking if Box Car Racer would ever continue that Angels and Airwaves ''is'' Box Car Racer.
116	* {{Supergroup}}: Each of the members and their respective other bands are listed above.
117	* TrailersAlwaysLie: They released a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVsvdDeOQro trailer]] for a movie based on their music shortly before ''We Don't Need To Whisper'' first came out. The trailer gave the impression that it would be a feature film like ''WesternAnimation/YellowSubmarine'' or ''Film/TheWall'', but it eventually turned out to be a documentary about the band's formation. Granted, they ''did'' eventually come out with a feature film called ''Love'' in 2011.
118	* {{Unperson}}: Averted with Ryan Sinn, whose likeness has shown up in photobooks and most prominently on the disc for the vinyl release of We Don't Need To Whisper made available to Modlife members.
119	** Possibly the case for Matt Wachter, as despite his comeback being hyped by Tom prior, when the band came back with new singles and a tour in 2019, he was nowhere to be found with no explaination. [=YouTube=] metadata for "Rebel Girl" had him credited, but the producer claimed that it was an error and his credit was later removed...despite all other credits for the single being correct.

Context Music / AngelsAndAirwaves