{{Short description|American post-hardcore band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = BoySetsFire | image = Boyestsfire.jpg | image_upright = 1.2 | origin = Newark, Delaware, U.S. | genre = Post-hardcore, emo, melodic hardcore, punk rock | years_active = 1994–2007, 2010–present | label = Burning Heart, Wind-up, Equal Vision, Undecided, Bridge 9, Conquer the World, Cascade, End Hits | associated_acts = | current_members = Nat Gray<br />Chad Istvan<br />Josh Latshaw<br />Robert Ehrenbrand<br />Chris Rakus<br />Jared Shavelson | past_members = Rob Avery<br />Darrell Hyde<br />Matt Krupanski<br />Marc Krupanski<br />Dan Pelic<br />Lee Dickerson }} thumb|upright|Nat Gray on stage '''BoySetsFire''' is an American post-hardcore band from Newark, Delaware. Formed in October 1994, BoySetsFire is composed of guitarists Chad Istvan and Josh Latshaw, vocalist Nat Gray, drummer Jared Shavelson, and bassists Chris Rakus{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}} and Robert Ehrenbrand.<ref name="facebook.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=253231258066913&id=118834371506603|title=Hello everyone…A lot going on in the... - BOYSETSFIRE(official) |website=Facebook.com}}</ref> Their lyrical themes are politically driven.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stapel.home.xs4all.nl/sinapu/intvbsf.htm|title=Interview with Boy Sets Fire|website=Stapel.home.xs4all.nl|access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timmcmahan.com/boysetsfire.htm|title=Lazyeye Profile: Boy Sets Fire|website=Timmcmahan.com|access-date=March 18, 2020}}</ref>
==Biography== BoySetsFire released their first demo albums in late 1994 and early 1995. In 1996, the band released their first EP, ''This Crying, This Screaming, My Voice Is Being Born''. In 1997, they signed a contract with Initial Records and recorded their first album, ''The Day the Sun Went Out''.
In 1999, their second album, ''After the Eulogy'' was recorded, and BoySetsFire went on tour with Snapcase, as well as on Vans Warped tour. BoySetsFire then released a split-EP with Snapcase in 1999, as well as the ''Crush 'Em All Vol. 1'' Metallica tribute with Shai Hulud for Undecided Records, and another with Coalesce in 2000.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|last=Deller|first=Alex|date=June 13, 2007|title=Boy Sets Fire Shai Hulud - Crush 'Em All Vol. 1 Review|url=https://www.collective-zine.co.uk/reviews/?id=3283|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329044210/https://www.collective-zine.co.uk/reviews/?id=3283|archive-date=2021-03-29|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Collective Zine|language=en}}</ref> Their former bassist was replaced by Rob Avery. After being signed to Victory Records, the band moved to Wind-Up, an independent label distributed by Sony in the US. ''Tomorrow Come Today'' was then released in 2003.
Following a dispute with Wind-Up, in 2005 the band signed to the independent record label Burning Heart Records for worldwide distribution and Equal Vision Records for North American distribution. The album ''The Misery Index: Notes from the Plague Years'' was released in February 2006.
===Brief hiatus=== On July 31, 2006, the band informed the fans about its retirement through their official website.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boysetsfire.org/archives/2006/07/announcement.html |title=BSF |access-date=March 10, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222221447/http://www.boysetsfire.org/archives/2006/07/announcement.html |archive-date=February 22, 2007 }}</ref> There was a farewell European tour in late summer; however, guitarist Josh Latshaw severely injured himself prior to its start. As a result, the band played those shows with roadie Chris "The Reverend" Rakus at the guitar instead, but returned to Europe in May 2007 to give Latshaw the chance to say goodbye to the European fans.
The band's final performance took place on June 9, 2007, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Trocadero Theatre. A DVD has been released of this show in its entirety as well as parts of the final European tour.
On February 12, 2007, lead vocalist Nat Gray announced that they were forming a new band by the name of The Casting Out.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boysetsfire.org/archives/2007/02/the_casting_out.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928094338/http://www.boysetsfire.org/archives/2007/02/the_casting_out.html|url-status=dead|title=Official site news|archive-date=September 28, 2007}}</ref> While the band includes several former members of BoySetsFire, Gray informed fans that it would not be another political band.
Drummer Matt Krupanski went on to form new bands Bound and Buried and Young Lady,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myspace.com/youngladyyounglady|title=Young Lady {NEW SONGS!}|work=Myspace}}</ref> the latter which included future BoySetsFire bassist, Marc Krupanski (formerly of Dear Tonight, Midvale, Eldritch Anisette, Dorian Gray, and Network 34), as well as two other Delaware natives, including members from Joshua Fit for Battle.
===Reunion=== BoySetsFire announced their reunion on their website and official Facebook page on October 5, 2010. Tour venues were Berlin, the Groezrock Festival in Belgium, the Studio at Webster Hall and the Nova Rock Festival in Nickelsdorf, Austria. In August 2011, they played in the UK at the Reading & Leeds Festival. In November 2011, via the band's official Facebook page, the band announced Robert Ehrenbrand had left the band.<ref name="facebook.com"/> The band then announced that Marc Krupanski officially joined as the new bassist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/boysetsfireofficial/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121211095427/https://www.facebook.com/pages/BOYSETSFIREofficial/118834371506603|url-status=dead|title=BOYSETSFIRE(official)|website=Facebook.com|archive-date=December 11, 2012|access-date=October 2, 2020}}</ref>
The band recorded five new songs in the summer of 2012 with two of them scheduled to be released on Magic Bullet Records as a vinyl 7" record. In 2012, five shows were played in the U.S.: two in January 2012 (one in their hometown of Newark, Delaware and the other in West Chester, Pennsylvania), one in Boston, one in Providence, and one and at The Bamboozle Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey in May 2012. They then conducted a three-week tour in July–August 2012 in Europe. In December 2012 via the band's official Facebook page, it was announced that both Matt and Marc Krupanski had left the band. A few days later, it was announced that Chris Rakus and Robert Ehrenbrand would share bass player duties. Dan Pelic joined as drummer.
In June 2013, the band released a two-song EP featuring brothers Matt and Marc Krupanski, as well as a fifth album, ''While a Nation Sleeps...'', which featured new and previously unreleased songs re-recorded by Dan Pelic and Robert Ehrenbrand. It was well-received, especially in the German album charts, where it reached #22.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boysetsfire.org/news/%22while+a+nation+sleeps...%22+reached+no.+22+of+the+german+album+charts%21-31|title="WHILE A NATION SLEEPS..." REACHED NO. 22 OF THE GERMAN ALBUM CHARTS!|website=Boysetsfire.org|access-date=March 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012200318/http://boysetsfire.org/news/%22while+a+nation+sleeps...%22+reached+no.+22+of+the+german+album+charts%21-31|archive-date=October 12, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> A European Tour was carried out in June and July 2013,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boysetsfire.org/tour|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006122913/http://boysetsfire.org/tour|url-status=dead|title=Boysetsfire Tour Dates|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref> including concerts at Hurricane and Southside Festival, with additional shows being played in Dortmund, Stuttgart and Hamburg in October 2013. In November and December 2013, the band toured Australia and in April 2014 gave concerts in the UK. The band returned to Europe for summer and, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, announced shows in Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin and Vienna in October 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boysetsfire.org/news/20th+anniversary+european+tour+october+2014-35 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006071257/http://boysetsfire.org/news/20th+anniversary+european+tour+october+2014-35 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |title=20TH ANNIVERSARY EUROPEAN TOUR OCTOBER 2014 |publisher=boysetsfire.org |date=May 27, 2014 |access-date=October 5, 2014 }}</ref>
In September 2015, the band released their self-titled sixth album. This was followed by a European tour to support the album with Silverstein and Great Collapse. In Summer 2016, they went on a European tour with Polar and Wolf Down before taking a break in order to focus on other musical projects.
Drummer and co-founder Matt Krupanski died on March 28, 2026.<ref>{{cite news |title=Co-Founding BoySetsFire Drummer Matt Krupanski Has Died |url=https://metalinjection.net/this-is-just-a-tribute/co-founding-boysetsfire-drummer-matt-krupanski-has-died |access-date=29 March 2026 |publisher=Metal Injection |date=28 March 2026}}</ref>
==Personnel== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Current members=== *Nat Gray – lead vocals, keyboards (1994–2007, 2010–present) *Josh Latshaw – guitar, backing vocals (1994–2007, 2010–present) *Chad Istvan – guitar, backing vocals (1994–2007, 2010–present) *Robert Ehrenbrand – bass (2004–2007, 2010–2011, 2012–present) *Jared Shavelson – drums (2013–present) {{col-2}}
===Former members=== *Darrell Hyde – bass (1994–1999) *Rob Avery – bass (1999–2004) *Marc Krupanski – bass (2011–2012) *Matt Krupanski – drums (1994–2007, 2010–2012; died 2026) *Dan Pelic – drums (2012–2013) {{col-end}}
===Timeline=== {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1994 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1994 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1994
Colors = id:lv value:red legend:Lead_vocals,_keyboards id:g value:green legend:Guitar,_backing_vocals id:b value:blue legend:Bass id:d value:orange legend:Drums id:alb value:black legend:Studio_album
LineData = layer:back at:10/07/1997 color:alb at:04/25/2000 color:alb at:04/01/2003 color:alb at:02/24/2006 color:alb at:06/11/2013 color:alb at:09/25/2015 color:alb
BarData = bar:Nat text:Nat Gray bar:Josh text:Josh Latshaw bar:Chad text:Chad Istvan bar:Darrell text:Darrell Hyde bar:Rob text:Rob Avery bar:Robert text:Robert Ehrenbrand bar:Marc text:Marc Krupanski bar:Matt text:Matt Krupanski bar:Dan text:Dan Pelic bar:Jared text:Jared Shavelson
PlotData = width:11 bar:Nat from:start till:07/01/2007 color:lv bar:Nat from:10/01/2010 till:end color:lv bar:Josh from:start till:07/01/2007 color:g bar:Josh from:10/01/2010 till:end color:g bar:Chad from:start till:07/01/2007 color:g bar:Chad from:10/01/2010 till:end color:g bar:Darrell from:start till:07/01/1999 color:b bar:Rob from:07/01/1999 till:07/01/2004 color:b bar:Robert from:07/01/2004 till:07/01/2007 color:b bar:Robert from:10/01/2010 till:11/01/2011 color:b bar:Marc from:11/01/2011 till:12/01/2012 color:b bar:Robert from:12/01/2012 till:end color:b bar:Matt from:start till:07/01/2007 color:d bar:Matt from:10/01/2010 till:12/01/2012 color:d bar:Dan from:12/01/2012 till:07/01/2013 color:d bar:Jared from:07/01/2013 till:end color:d }}
==Discography== Over the years, Boysetsfire have released records through Magic Bullet, Conquer the World, Deathwish Inc, Initial, Hydra Head, Victory, Wind-Up, Equal Vision, and Burning Heart. They have released split-EPs with Coalesce, Shai Hulud, Snapcase, Funeral for a Friend, and KMPFSPRT.
===Studio albums=== *1997: ''The Day the Sun Went Out'' *2000: ''After the Eulogy'' *2003: ''Tomorrow Come Today'' *2006: ''The Misery Index: Notes from the Plague Years'' *2013: ''While a Nation Sleeps...'' *2015: ''Boysetsfire''
===EPs=== *1994: ''Boysetsfire'' *1995: ''Premonition, Change, Revolt'' *1996: ''Consider'' *1996: ''This Crying, this Screaming, my Voice is being born'' *1998: ''In Chrysalis'' *1999: ''Snapcase vs. Boysetsfire'' (split) *2000: ''Crush 'Em All Vol. 1'' (Boysetsfire/Shai Hulud split) *2000: ''Coalesce / Boysetsfire'' (split) *2001: ''Suckerpunch Training'' *2013: ''Bled dry'' *2013: ''The Casting-out'' *2014: ''Split 7"'' (Boysetsfire/Funeral For A Friend) *2015: ''Split 10"'' (Boysetsfire/KMPFSPRT) *2024: ''Digital Split'' (Boysetsfire/All Else Failed)
===Compilations and other appearances=== *1995: ''Dad, I Can't Breathe''<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.discogs.com/Various-Dad-I-Cant-Breathe/release/4504915|title=Various – Dad, I Can't Breathe |website=Discogs.com|access-date=March 18, 2020 }}</ref>(Creep Records compilation) *1997: ''For the Kids''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://history.louisvillehardcore.com/index.php?title=By_The_Grace_Of_God:For_The_Kids|title=By The Grace Of God:For The Kids|work=Louisville Punk/Hardcore History}}</ref> (7" benefit compilation, including an earlier version of BSF song "With Cold Eyes". Other bands include "The Weak Link Breaks", "By the Grace of God" and "Dorian Gray" which featured other Delaware natives including future members of Boysetsfire, Rob Avery and Marc Krupanski. Released by Diffusion Records) *2003: ''Daredevil: The Album'' (soundtrack to the original motion picture, LP) *2005: ''Before the Eulogy'' (B-sides and rarities CD)
One of their songs, "Handful of Redemption", is featured on the video games ''Tiger Woods '03'' and ''MVP Baseball '03'' by EA Sports. Their song "Rookie" from the After the Eulogy album was featured on the ''Legends of Wrestling'' video game. "Rookie" from After the Eulogy and "Handful of Redemption" from the ''Tomorrow Come Today'' album were also featured in the video games 1080° Avalanche, MVP Baseball 2003 and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003. Additionally, their song "High Wire Escape Artist" is featured on the soundtrack to ''The Daredevil'' motion picture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.daredevil-movies.com/soundtrack/|title=Daredevil Soundtrack|website=Daredevil-movies.com|access-date=March 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509072238/http://www.daredevil-movies.com/soundtrack/|archive-date=May 9, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> The soundtrack record, released by Wind-up Records, is the band's first and only gold record.
===Live recordings=== *2002: ''Live for Today'' (EP) *2009: ''Farewell Show'' (DVD)
===Music videos=== *2003: ''Last Year's Nest'' *2005: ''Dear George'' *2006: ''Requiem'' *2013: ''Bled dry'' *2013: ''Closure'' *2013: ''Never said'' *2015: ''One Match''
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.boysetsfire.net/}} * {{discogs artist}} * {{imdb name|5898192}} * [https://www.burningheart.com/bands/index.php?id=231 Burning Heart band information] * [https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/boy-sets-fire/id15234772 ITunes]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Boysetsfire}} Category:1994 establishments in Delaware Category:Post-hardcore musical groups from Delaware Category:Burning Heart Records artists Category:Conquer the World Records artists Category:Deathwish Inc. artists Category:Equal Vision Records artists Category:Musical groups established in 1994 Category:Rock music groups from Delaware Category:Undecided Records artists Category:Victory Records artists Category:End Hits Records artists Category:Sibling musical groups