Armor for Sleep

Armor for Sleep was an American rock band from New Jersey, from 2001 to 2009. Their final lineup consisted of lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Ben Jorgensen, lead guitarist PJ DeCicco, bassist Anthony DiIonno and drummer Nash Breen.

Armor for Sleep
L–R: Ben Jorgensen, Nash Breen and PJ DeCicco of Armor for Sleep
Background information
OriginNew Jersey, United States
Genres
Years active
Labels
WebsiteOfficial Facebook page
Past members

After initial demos had been distributed, New York-based independent label Equal Vision Records signed the band and went on to release the concept-based albums, Dream to Make Believe (2003) and What to Do When You Are Dead (2005).[1] The following year, the band signed to Sire Records and Warner Bros. and released their last album Smile for Them (2007).[4] The band announced their disbandment in October 2009.

During their recording career, the band were known for their blend of alternative rock to atmospheric emo and dream pop.[5][6][7]

History

Armor For Sleep was founded by Ben Jorgensen in 2001 in New Jersey. Nash Breen and Peter James "PJ" DeCicco later joined the band after leaving fellow New Jersey band Prevent Falls. Jorgensen stated the name of the band comes from his early experiences of writing music and not being able to sleep. As he recalls, "I guess when I started the band I was kind of, like, retreating in my room and I kind of couldn't really fall asleep, so I started playing music. I just thought of the name Armor for Sleep, because it was really, the music was keeping me from passing out! Which was something I was procrastinating on."[1]

Ben would go on to record a two-song demo containing the songs Dream to Make Believe and Slip Like Space, which would later be re-recorded and released on their first album Dream to Make Believe.

Armor For Sleep originally signed to Equal Vision Records, where they released their first two albums, Dream to Make Believe in 2003 and What to Do When You Are Dead in 2005. The band signed to Warner Brothers/Sire Records in 2006, explaining it was "time for a change".[8]

Bassist Anthony DiIonno in 2006

A Machine Shop remix of their track "Remember to Feel Real" was featured on the Snakes on a Plane soundtrack in August 2006. The next year, the band debuted a new track entitled "End of the World" on the soundtrack for the 2007 film Transformers. This song would later appear on their next record, but with various changes, including the reduction in vocal effects and keyboards.

Armor For Sleep released their third full-length album Smile for Them on October 30, 2007.

On August 20, 2008, the band announced an extended play (EP), entitled The Way Out Is Broken.[9]

Disbandments and reunions

On October 28, 2009 it was officially announced that the band would be parting ways. Frontman Ben Jorgensen released a statement informing fans of the inevitable, after the band had been inactive, not undertaking a tour for over a year.[10]

The band regrouped to play the 2012 Bamboozle Festival in New Jersey, releasing the following statement:

"We have no motivation for doing this other than to get up on stage and say goodbye properly to the people out there who never got the opportunity to see us one last time. Like Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap we will strive to "put right what once went wrong"...and then just like him we will poof out of existence. But for good this time- we promise."[11]

At the Bamboozle Festival, and on the band's Facebook page, Jorgensen announced that three more shows would be played: July 14, 2012 at Irving Plaza in New York City, July 20, 2012 at The Glass House in Pomona, California, and July 22, 2012 at the House of Blues in Chicago, Illinois.

On July 20, 2015, the band announced an eight city tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of What To Do When You Are Dead.[12]

On February 24, 2020, the band announced on Facebook that they would be reuniting for a summer tour including nineteen US cities to celebrate the 15th anniversary of What to Do When You Are Dead. The tour was later postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and on August 13, 2020, the band announced the new tour dates for 2021.

Post-Disbandment projects

After the group parted ways, Ben Jorgensen briefly started an electronic project called God Loves a Challenge alongside Sierra Shardae and also embarked on a brief solo career, releasing the EP There Is Nowhere Left to Go in 2010.[13]

PJ DeCicco moved on to playing in Love Automatic with former Senses Fail bassist Mike Glita. The band is no longer active.

Nash Breen was playing with New York Rivals, but now plays with The Cold Seas, who opened for Armor for Sleep on select dates of their What to Do When You Are Dead 10th anniversary tour in 2015, and will also tour with the band on the 15th anniversary tour of the aforementioned album in 2021.

Personnel

Final line-up

Discography

Studio albums
Year Album details Peak chart positions[5]
US US Indie US Heat.
2003 Dream to Make Believe — — —
2005 What to Do When You Are Dead 101 8 1
2007 Smile for Them
  • Released: October 30, 2007
  • Label: Sire
 93 — —
a "—" denotes an album did not chart

Extended plays
Year EP details
2008 The Way Out Is Broken
  • Released: September 5, 2008
  • Label: Sire

Compilations
Year Title Album
2005 "Very Invisible" Masters of Horror Soundtrack
2006 "Today" (Smashing Pumpkins cover) The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins

Unreleased Singles
Year Title
2009 "Chameleons"[14]
? "Pointless Forever"
2012? "Caught In A Daze"
2012 "Always A Wish"[15]
2012 "Who's Gonna Lie To You"[16]

Radio singles
Year Title Album
2003 "Dream to Make Believe" Dream to Make Believe
2004 "My Town"
2005 "Car Underwater"[17][18] What to Do When You Are Dead
"The Truth About Heaven"
2006 "Remember to Feel Real"
2007 "Williamsburg"[19] Smile for Them
2008 "Hold the Door"[18]

Music videos
Year Title Director
2003 "Dream to Make Believe" Christian Winters
2004 "My Town" Andrew Paul Bowser
2005 "Car Underwater" Shane Drake
"The Truth About Heaven" Alan Ferguson
2006 "Remember to Feel Real" Lex Halaby
2007 "Williamsburg" Tue Wallin Storm
2008 "Hold the Door"

DVDs
Year Title Details
2004 Homesick: DVD Compilation, Vol. 1[20] "Dream to Make Believe" is featured on the compilation DVD
2005 What to Do When You Are Dead Bonus DVD[21] Initial pressings of What to Do When You Are Dead included a bonus DVD documenting how the record was made
2005 A Comprehensive Guide To Touring[22] An in-depth view of the band while on-tour and off-tour.[23]

References
  1. Triggs, Marcus. "Alternative Vision - www.alternativevision.co.uk - Where Alternative Music Meets Your Vision". Alternativevision.co.uk. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  2. "Armor For Sleep". Facebook.com. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  3. "Armor For Sleep - We are very excited to announce that we..." Facebook.com. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved June 26, 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. James Christopher Monger. "Armor for Sleep | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link). Originally from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 4, 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "chorus.fm". chorus.fm. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  9. The Way Out Is Broken Archived September 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Karan, Tim. "Armor For Sleep break up". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
  11. "Facebook - Log In or Sign Up". Facebook. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  12. "Armor For Sleep". m.facebook.com. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  13. "There Is Nowhere Left To Go". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  14. "Un extraño enemigo: Armor For Sleep - Unreleased Song [Chameleons] (2009)". Unextranoenemigo.blogspot.com. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  15. "Armor For Sleep - Happy Monday! As a celebration of our..." Facebook.com. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  16. "Armor For Sleep - ...and for those of you who couldn't..." Facebook.com. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  17. Car Underwater (Booklet). Armor for Sleep. Equal Vision. 2005. none.CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Archived from the original on March 22, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  19. "Williamsburg - Single by Armor for Sleep on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. September 18, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  20. "Various - Homesick Vol. 1 DVD". Punknews.org. November 12, 2004. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  21. "Armor For Sleep - What To Do When You Are Dead CD Album". Cduniverse.com. February 22, 2005. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  22. "Armor For England". Alternative Press. October 20, 2005. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  23. "A Comprehensive Guide To trailer-watching". Alternative Press. October 25, 2005. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
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