Tim McIlrath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tim McIlrath
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McIlrath performing in 2023
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| Birth name | Timothy James McIlrath |
| Also known as | James Kaspar |
| Born | November 3, 1978 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
Timothy James McIlrath, born on November 3, 1978, is an American rock musician. He is best known as the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and a songwriter for the punk rock band Rise Against. Tim is also a vegetarian and follows a lifestyle called straight edge.
Early Life and Education
Tim McIlrath was born in 1978 to Jim and Michelle McIlrath. He grew up in Illinois and went to Rolling Meadows High School. Later, he attended Northeastern Illinois University, where he studied English and Sociology.
During college, Tim met Joe Principe at a concert. Joe asked Tim to sing on some songs he had recorded, and that's how their first band, Transistor Revolt, started. Tim left college in 1999 when Transistor Revolt signed a record deal. He later returned to college in 2020 to finish his Sociology degree.
Tim has a unique eye condition called heterochromia. This means his left eye is blue, and his right eye is hazel.
Music Journey
Starting with Baxter (1995–1999)
Tim McIlrath began his music journey as a teenager in the Chicago punk rock scene. His first band was Baxter, formed in 1995. Other members included Neil Hennessy and Geoff Reu.
Baxter released their first cassette, Troy's Bucket, in 1996. The band became popular in the Chicago underground music scene. In 1997, they released an EP called Lost Voices. After touring locally, the band broke up.
Tim also played bass and sang backup for a short time in a band called the Honor System. He was also part of Yellow Road Priest, a band that later formed Pelican.
Arma Angelus (1998–1999)
Tim joined Arma Angelus, a metalcore band from Chicago. Pete Wentz, who later became famous with Fall Out Boy, was the lead singer. Tim played bass in Arma Angelus until 1999. He then left to form Transistor Revolt, which later became Rise Against, and also another band called The Killing Tree.
Rise Against (1999–Present)
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In 1999, Tim McIlrath started the band that would become Rise Against. He formed it with Joe Principe, Dan Precision, and Toni Tintari. They first called themselves Transistor Revolt. Drummer Brandon Barnes joined in 2001, and that's when the band changed its name to Rise Against.
Their first album, The Unraveling, was released in 2001. In 2002, guitarist Dan Precision left, and Todd Mohney joined. They released their second album, Revolutions per Minute, which was very successful.
In 2004, Chris Chasse joined as guitarist, and they released Siren Song of the Counter Culture. Songs like "Give It All" and "Swing Life Away" helped Rise Against become more popular.
The band continued to tour and released their fourth album, The Sufferer & the Witness. This album included popular songs like "Ready to Fall" and "Prayer of the Refugee".
As of 2025, Tim McIlrath has recorded nine studio albums with Rise Against. He is the main songwriter for the band.
The Killing Tree (1999–2006)
Tim McIlrath also played in a side project called the Killing Tree. This band included former Rise Against guitarist Todd Mohney and Geoff Reu from Baxter. For a while, the band members used fake names, with Tim using "James Kaspar."
The Killing Tree has not made new music or toured since 2004. However, they contributed a song called "Dressed to ..." to a 2006 compilation album.
Activism and Beliefs
When Rise Against first started, Tim McIlrath said they didn't aim to become super famous. They just wanted to make unique music. Over time, the band realized they shared strong beliefs about activism. Tim began to see music as a way to make a difference. He wanted to use their platform to talk about important issues.
Political Messages in Songs
Tim McIlrath didn't grow up in a political family. But when he started playing punk rock, he felt a strong connection to ideas about animal and human rights. While not all of Rise Against's songs are political, many address important topics.
Songs like "Swing Life Away" and "Make It Stop" encourage listeners to think about the world. The band often writes about current events. For example, the song "Help Is On The Way" supported victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
Working with PETA
Tim became a vegetarian at age eighteen after learning about the meat industry. He learned about PETA, an animal rights group, through the music scene. He realized how animals are often treated in meat processing.
These beliefs influenced his songwriting. The music video for Rise Against's song "Ready to Fall" shows footage of factory farming, rodeos, and sport hunting. It also shows deforestation and melting ice caps. The band considers this their most important video.
In 2012, the band released a cover of a Bob Dylan song to support Amnesty International. After watching the film Black Fish, Tim worked with PETA to create a video. In it, he spoke about releasing animals from captivity. He explained that he chooses to perform, but animals in captivity don't have that choice.
Straight Edge Lifestyle
Tim McIlrath, along with most of the members of Rise Against, follows the "straight edge" lifestyle. ..... It's a way of living that focuses on self-control and clear thinking.
Discography
With Rise Against
- Transistor Revolt (2000)
- The Unraveling (2001)
- Revolutions per Minute (2003)
- Siren Song of the Counter Culture (2004)
- The Sufferer & the Witness (2006)
- This Is Noise (2007)
- Appeal to Reason (2008)
- Endgame (2011)
- The Black Market (2014)
- Wolves (2017)
- The Ghost Note Symphonies, Vol. 1 (2018)
- Nowhere Generation (2021)
- Nowhere Generation II (2022)
With The Killing Tree
- Bury Me at Make-Out Creek (2000)
- The Romance of Helen Trent (2002)
- We Sing Sin (2003)
- Hair: Chicago Punk Cuts (compilation, "Dressed to ..." only) (2006)
With Baxter
- Troy's Bucket (1996)
- Lost Voices... (1997)
- Eastman & Evergreen (1999)
- Baxter (2003)
Other Collaborations
- With Arma Angelus: The Grave End of the Shovel (2001), Things We Don't Like We Destroy (2002)
- With The Honor System: Single File (demo)
- With Flobots: "White Flag Warrior" on Survival Story (2010)
- With Awolnation: "Beds Are Burning" on My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers, and Me (2022)
- With Alkaline Trio: "My Shame Is True" on I, Pessimist (2013)
- With Anti-Flag: "Lies They Tell Our Children" on The Fight of Our Lives (2023)
See also
In Spanish: Tim McIlrath para niños
