After As Friends Rust dissolved in early 2002, guitarist Joe Simmons and ba**ist Tom Rankine formed Salem with drummer David Miller, guitarist Jeremy Robertson, and vocalist Adam D'Zurilla. At first, the Gainesville, FL-based combo was simply a retooled version of AFR, since that unit still had tour responsibilities to fulfill. But with the official name change to Salem, the group began to gel around a batch of new songs and the emotive vocals of D'Zurilla. Tours throughout the ... Show more...

After As Friends Rust dissolved in early 2002, guitarist Joe Simmons and ba**ist Tom Rankine formed Salem with drummer David Miller, guitarist Jeremy Robertson, and vocalist Adam D'Zurilla. At first, the Gainesville, FL-based combo was simply a retooled version of AFR, since that unit still had tour responsibilities to fulfill. But with the official name change to Salem, the group began to gel around a batch of new songs and the emotive vocals of D'Zurilla. Tours throughout the emo/punk revivalist axis followed, and gigs with types like Further Seems Forever, A New Found Glory, and Finch furthered the Salem buzz. The group signed with the Geffen imprint Fiddler, and the Love It or Leave Me EP dropped in late October 2003. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide