Angels and Airwaves

Angels and Airwaves, also known as AvA, are an alternative rock band from San Diego, United States, formed by Tom DeLonge after his work with blink-182 and Box Car Racer. The group begins in 2005 and remains active. Its core line-up centres on DeLonge and drummer Ilan Rubin, and its members have also included David Kennedy, Ryan Sinn, Matt Wachter, Eddie Breckenridge, Adam Willard and Atom.

Formation and name

DeLonge starts writing new material during blink-182’s final tour in 2004 and continues while the band is on hiatus in 2005. He works alone in a home studio before assembling musicians for the new project. The name is linked to the initials AVA, with the middle letter inverted from an initial AAA concept to create a more distinctive form and to reference his daughter Ava.

Releases

The band’s first single is The Adventure, followed by the debut album We Don’t Need to Whisper in 2006. That record is produced and recorded at DeLonge’s Never Pants Ranch. Later in 2007 the group releases I-Empire, which reaches number one on iTunes and enters the Billboard 200 at number nine.

Other songs and releases associated with the band include Everything’s Magic, Breathe, Valkyrie Missile, Do It for Me Now and It Hurts. The band also releases a documentary, Start The Machine.

Style and projects

Angels and Airwaves is described as an alternative rock group with a sound that also includes pop rock and space rock elements. The band’s early work includes music videos and short films, and several of these sci-fi-themed films are planned as part of a larger series. A separate film project built around the band’s music is also announced, using CGI and drawing on themes from DeLonge’s life and the blink-182 hiatus.

Live activity

The band tours in 2006, with a first full-length tour headlined by Taking Back Sunday and support from Head Automatica and The Subways. It also plays dates at Give It A Name 2006, appears on The Late Show with David Letterman, headlines a US tour with The Sounds, and performs in Japan, Australia, Hyde Park in London and Manchester in support of Foo Fighters.