Tim McIlrath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tim McIlrath
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McIlrath performing in 2015
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| Background information | |
| 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 November 3, 1978) is an American rock musician. He is best known as the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the punk rock band Rise Against. Tim is also a vegan, meaning he chooses not to eat any animal products.
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Tim's Early Life and Education
Tim McIlrath was born in 1978. He grew up in the Chicago area. He went to Rolling Meadows High School in Rolling Meadows, IL. A music video for the song "Make It Stop (September's Children)" was even filmed there later on.
After high school, Tim went to Northeastern Illinois University. He studied English and Sociology. During his time in college, he met Joe Principe at a concert. Joe asked Tim to sing for some songs he had recorded. This led to them forming a band called Transistor Revolt. Tim then decided to leave college to focus on his music.
Tim has a unique eye condition called heterochromia. This means his eyes are two different colors. His left eye is blue, and his right eye is hazel.
Tim's Music Journey
Tim McIlrath started playing music when he was a teenager. He quickly became a part of the local punk rock music scene in Chicago.
Starting with Baxter (1995–1999)
Tim's first band was called Baxter. He formed it in 1995 with friends like Neil Hennessy and Geoff Reu. Baxter was a post-hardcore band.
In 1996, Baxter released their first music, a cassette tape called Troy's Bucket. People in the Chicago music scene really liked it. Baxter became a popular band in the underground music world. They released another recording, Lost Voices, in 1997. 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 briefly in a band called Yellow Road Priest. Baxter broke up in 1999.
Playing Bass in Arma Angelus (1998–1999)
After Baxter, Tim joined a metalcore band called Arma Angelus. This band was led by Pete Wentz, who later became famous with the band Fall Out Boy. Tim played bass in Arma Angelus.
He left Arma Angelus in 1999. He wanted to start a new band called Transistor Revolt, which would later become Rise Against. He also started another band called The Killing Tree around this time.
Leading Rise Against (1999–Present)
In 1999, Tim McIlrath, along with Joe Principe, Dan Precision, and Toni Tintari, formed Transistor Revolt. In 2001, Brandon Barnes joined as the drummer, and the band changed its name to Rise Against.
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Rise Against recorded their first album, The Unraveling, in 2001. In 2002, Dan Precision left the band. Todd Mohney took his place as guitarist. They released their second album, Revolutions per Minute, that same year. It was very successful.
After touring, Todd Mohney left. Chris Chasse joined as the new guitarist in 2004. They then released their album 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 record. Their fourth album, The Sufferer & the Witness, came out next. It featured popular songs such as "Ready to Fall" and "Prayer of the Refugee".
As of 2021, Tim has recorded nine studio albums with Rise Against. He has written most of the lyrics for the band. Some of their albums include Appeal to Reason, Endgame, and Nowhere Generation.
Side Project: The Killing Tree (1999–2006)
Tim also had a side project band called The Killing Tree. He played with former Rise Against guitarist Todd Mohney and Baxter bassist Geoff Reu. For a while, the band members used fake names. Tim's fake name was James Kaspar.
Tim's Activism and Beliefs
When Rise Against first started, Tim McIlrath said they weren't trying to become super famous. They wanted to be original and focus on social justice. This made them stand out in the punk rock scene.
Tim believes music can be a way to make a difference. He started to include his beliefs in the band's music, especially after the album The Sufferer & The Witness. He wanted to inspire people to care about the world.
Songs with Important Messages
Tim didn't grow up in a very political family. But when he started playing punk rock, he felt a strong connection to important causes. He cares a lot about animal rights and human rights.
Many of Rise Against's songs have strong messages. Songs like "Swing Life Away" and "Make It Stop" encourage listeners to think about their 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 when he was eighteen. He learned about the meat industry and decided it wasn't for him. He later learned about PETA, a group that supports animal rights.
Tim's beliefs about animal welfare are often in Rise Against's music. The music video for their song "Ready to Fall" shows images of factory farming and animal cruelty. It also shows environmental issues like deforestation. The band has said this video is one of the most important they have ever made.
In 2012, the band covered a Bob Dylan song, "Ballad of Hollis Brown". This was to help raise money for Amnesty International, a group that works for human rights. After watching the film Blackfish, Tim worked with PETA again. He made a video to support releasing animals from captivity. He explained that he chooses to perform, but animals in captivity don't get to choose.
Tim McIlrath's Music Albums
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Images for kids
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McIlrath performing in 2015
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McIlrath playing at Sziget Festival in Budapest in 2011
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McIlrath performing in Philadelphia in 2021
See also
In Spanish: Tim McIlrath para niños
