Time Flies

Time Flies is a hardcore punk band from Virginia, United States, active from 1996 to 2002. The group forms during the Youth Crew revival and identifies as straight edge throughout its existence. It is one of two punk bands using the name Time Flies, with this entry referring to the US group.

Formation and early lineup

The band begins in 1996 after a period of changing names and lineups. Before settling, it includes a rotating cast of players, among them former members of Converge, Merauder, Mayday and Dillinger Escape Plan. By spring 1997 the group has four stable members, a set of songs, and a demo recorded in July of that year. Cen Penn joins after Brian leaves to join Dillinger Escape Plan.

First shows and recordings

Time Flies plays its first show on 2 August 1997 in Norfolk, Virginia, alongside Battery, Ten Yard Fight, Stretch Armstrong, Blade Crasher and For The Living. After that it plays in the Virginia/Washington, DC area with bands including Battery, Good Riddance and Ensign. A little over a month after the first show, the band makes its first long road trip, playing in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Hartford, Connecticut, then two same-day shows in Washington, DC and Richmond, Virginia with 97A.

Chris Kelly of 97A offers to release the band’s seven-inch on his Teamwork label. The group records in March 1998 at Salad Days in Boston with Brian McTernan. The seven-inch Can’t Change the Past appears in late August 1998. Around the same time, InVAsion, later called Malfunction, releases a seven-inch with extra songs from the same Salad Days session.

Indecision Records and On Our Way

After those releases, Time Flies signs to Indecision Records and begins work on its first LP, later titled On Our Way. Recording takes place in March 1999 over about two weeks with Brian McTernan at Salad Days, which has moved to Washington, DC. The band records there as a four-piece, and shortly after that Curtis begins playing guitar while Charlie from Count Me Out joins on bass. On Our Way is released in late August 1999.

Tours, lineup changes and later years

The group tours with Death By Stereo and Count Me Out in 1999, playing a run of dates across the United States and a few shows in California. Over the next period it shares bass players and drummers with Count Me Out, then takes a break and returns with new material that is more melodic and pop-influenced than earlier songs. It also considers changing its name at one stage.

Time Flies plays the Mouthpiece reunion in New Jersey and the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Posi Numbers Festival in 2001, then tours the West Coast with Count Me Out in July 2001. Later, Colin leaves to drum for American Nightmare. The band tries to continue with another drummer, but decides to end when it no longer feels like the same group without its original four members.

Final shows and style

Time Flies ends with two final shows: on 16 June 2002 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the following year’s Posi Numbers Festival, and on 22 June 2002 in Richmond, Virginia at Twisters. The band begins and ends as a straight edge act, and its core purpose remains to play shows, release a seven-inch, and make music for the people who support it. It is associated with youth crew, hardcore, hardcore punk and positive hardcore.