The Ataris

History

Kung Fu Records (1996–2001)

Formed on November 1, 1996, and with the band's name a reference to the large collection of Atari video game cartridges of Roe, the band originally consisted of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Kristopher Roe and guitarist Jasin Thomason. Using a 4-track, Roe wrote and recorded demos in his bedroom, using a drum machine while he searched for a full-time drummer. The band's first big break came in 1996 when Roe attended a show at the club Bogart's in Cincinnati, where Thomason passed one of the band's demo tapes to a roadie from the band. The roadie gave the tape to Joe Escalante, bassist from the band the Vandals who owned their own label, Kung Fu Records. A few weeks later, Roe received a call from Kung Fu Records, who told him they were interested in putting out their record, even though he was really only searching for a drummer. The Ataris signed to Kung Fu and the label passed the tape along to various drummers. Eventually, Roe decided upon ex-Lagwagon drummer Derrick Plourde. The band then proceeded to record their debut album Anywhere but Here, tracking the whole thing in less than a week. The album was released on April 29, 1997, and the band held a release show party at Missing Link Records in Indianapolis on May 2.

In June 1997, Roe moved from Anderson, Indiana to Santa Barbara, California. Shortly afterward, Marko Desantis joined the band on bass for a short time. Thomason decided to leave the band to stay in Indiana, and the group toured as a three-piece for a short while. After a brief tour in October 1997, this lineup disbanded. Roe, out of money and living in a van, contemplated moving back to Indiana. But the band still had an upcoming tour booked with Dance Hall Crashers and Unwritten Law, so Roe decided to give the band one more shot. He got his friend from Santa Barbara, Mike Davenport, to play bass. Davenport shared a small rehearsal space on East Haley Street with his friend Marco Peña, who was in a different band. One day at the rehearsal space, Roe and Davenport heard the drummer of Peña's band, Chris Knapp, playing and immediately asked him to join the Ataris. While Roe and Davenport joked that Peña would be upset over them "stealing" his band's drummer, Peña surprised them by showing up at their practice the next day, strapping on his guitar, and playing along. It turned out Peña had learned all the songs from Anywhere But Here. He joined the band as a second guitarist and the foursome went on their scheduled tour. However, Peña soon left the band for personal reasons and was replaced by Patrick Riley.

From there, the band gradually increased in popularity in the underground rock scene due to their consistent touring and personal, DIY approach to the band. They then found more success with their 1998 EP Look Forward to Failure, released on San Francisco punk label Fat Wreck Chords. However, it wasn't until the release of Blue Skies, Broken Hearts...Next 12 Exits in 1999 that they started to gain widespread acclaim. The album's name comes from the name of a mobile home park along Highway 101 in Santa Barbara. Also, "...next 12 exits" refers to a nearby sign on Highway 101 North that reads "Santa Barbara, Next 12 Exits". The album contained personal, storytelling lyrics. After this album, Riley left the band to go back to school, and Marco Peña re-joined the band. In 2001 the band took part in the Vans Warped Tour. The band's third full-length studio album, End Is Forever, was also released in 2001.

''So Long, Astoria'' (2002–2004)

In 2002, the lineup changed again, with John Collura replacing Peña on guitar. Prior to this, Collura had played in his own band Beefcake who'd toured with the Ataris. He'd also done time on tour as a guitar tech for the Ataris just prior to Peña's departure.

During this same period, the Ataris' contract with Kung Fu Records expired, and the band chose to sign with Columbia Records. Later that year, they began recording their fourth full-length album and major label debut, So Long, Astoria, released on March 4, 2003. Produced by Lou Giordano, the album's production served as a stark contrast to any of the band's past releases, as previous efforts were recorded in short time spans between tours.

So Long, Astoria was widely credited for introducing the Ataris to a larger mainstream audience and generating several successful singles, including "In This Diary" and "The Saddest Song". Musically, the album showcased very personal, encrypted and slightly more optimistic songwriting with a more refined, straightforward rock sound, not unlike Jimmy Eat World. This album also included their hit cover song, originally recorded by Don Henley, "The Boys of Summer", which much to the dismay of the band became their "accidental" second single after the radio station KROQ in Los Angeles started playing it, even though the band had already chosen the song "My Reply" as their second single. The single is their highest-charting single to date, reaching No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The band toured behind this record for most of 2003 and into early 2004 adding another guitarist (Joseph A. Farriella) to the band. That year also saw the release of a low-key live album, Live At The Metro, along with a track on the Spider-Man 2 soundtrack. So Long, Astoria sold well in excess of 700,000 copies and was certified gold. After a number of personal, financial and artistic differences, this line-up decided to go its separate ways over the summer and fall of 2004.

Davenport, interested in playing heavier music, became a founding member of the band Versus the World, while Knapp stopped playing music altogether and stayed in Santa Barbara. Details regarding the departures of Knapp and Davenport have been kept quiet for sometime, and neither camp has appeared interested in fueling any public debate or ill-will. Looking for some time off, Roe headed back to Indiana while Collura and Farriella moved back to New York, though they would later regroup to begin the recordings of the band's next album.

''Welcome the Night'' (2005–2007)

After some time off, Roe and Collura later moved forward and began writing songs that would become part of the follow-up to So Long, Astoria titled Welcome the Night. They held some informal practices with some friends from New York, who played in the band Park Ranger. These sessions led to three members of Park Ranger joining the Ataris: Sean Hansen on bass, Shane Chickeles on drums, and Paul Carabello on third guitar. To round out the lineup they added longtime friends Bob Hoag, formerly of Pollen and the Go Reflex (which was managed by Roe), on piano and keyboards, and Angus Cooke on cello. Cooke played cello on past Ataris records, and helped with production as well. Starting in 2005, the band began recording Welcome the Night at Seedy Underbelly in California, with producer Nick Launay. Writing and recording eventually took the better part of two years and was extended to multiple studios. The album was routinely delayed by Columbia.

On June 10, 2006, the band announced that it had left Columbia Records due to the label's internal disintegration. In November 2006, the Ataris started their own imprint, Isola Recordings, through Sanctuary Records and RED Distribution, and simultaneously announced the official release date of their fifth album Welcome the Night as February 20, 2007. Welcome the Night debuted at number 85 on the Billboard charts with over 12,000 copies sold. Following the album's release, the band embarked on a tour of the United States and Europe.

Upcoming sixth studio album (2008–present)

In June 2008, the band began demoing at The Gallows Recording Studio in Muncie, Indiana in preparation for recording in late summer, with the aim of releasing a new album in 2009. In November, the band posted a clip of a demo online. The following month, the band entered the studio to record their next album. On December 29, it was mentioned that drums had been completed and that guitars were next. In January 2009, the band went on a tour of the UK. On April 12, a demo titled "All Souls' Day" was posted on the group's Myspace. In addition, it was mentioned that their next album would be released in the summer. Between April and June 2009, the band toured the US, with shows in South Africa in the middle of this trek. After this, they appeared on the 2009 Warped Tour. The finished version of "All Souls' Day" was posted online in June 2009. On August 17, 2009, the band announced they had nearly finished recording their next album, tentatively titled Graveyard of the Atlantic. They went on a short Midwest tour in November 2009.

Between February and April 2010, the Ataris went on a cross-country US tour with Don't Panic, and then performed at the Windy City Sound Clash festival. Following this, they went on another US tour between July and September 2010. That same year, a two track songs, All Souls' Day & the Graveyard of the Atlantic containing just its title tracks was released under the Paper + Plastick label. In 2012, the band released a four track EP entitled The Graveyard of the Atlantic. From 2013, the Ataris began a North American tour with Kris Roe as singer and the former members John Collura, Mike Davenport and Chris Knapp to celebrate the 10 years of their most successful album So Long, Astoria. In 2015, the band release an acoustic album, titled Hang Your Head in Hope. In 2016, the band released a six-song EP entitled October in This Railroad Earth through Bandcamp.

In 2017, Warped Tour announced that the Ataris was going to play on the 2017 tour. On June 18, 2017, the band released a compilation titled Silver Turns to Rust on Bandcamp. This compilation featured four previously released tracks from The Graveyard of the Atlantic and six from the previously released EP October in this Railroad Earth.

In 2024, Kris Roe posted via the Ataris' Facebook page that the band is currently in the studio with producer and former drummer Bob Hoag to record the next album. Roe also confirmed that the band will most likely not use The Graveyard of the Atlantic as the album title. Roe also confirmed Bob Hoag recorded drums on the upcoming record. On February 9, 2025, Roe confirmed bass and drums for the new record are officially recorded and is currently in the process of recording remaining guitars and vocals. On February 14, 2025, Roe confirmed Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams as one of the songs confirmed for the new album.

On May 2, 2025, the Ataris released a new single, "Car Song". The song was previously available as a demo via the band's bandcamp profile. In January 2026, the band announced that their new album will be released in March or April.

Musical style and influences

The Ataris has been described as pop-punk, emo, punk rock and alternative rock. Terry Bezer of Screen Rant stated that the band retained its sound "as trends began to change in the early 2000s." Their lyrics are said to be optimistic in tone.

The band's influences include Descendents, Jawbreaker, All, Fugazi, Avail, the Ramones, and the Replacements.

Controversy

While performing in Asbury Park, New Jersey on October 7, 2012, frontman Kris Roe acted hostile towards then-drummer Rob Felicetti on stage - throwing his guitar at him, then breaking the drum kit apart throwing various drum stands and the kick drum at Rob. Kris said he had "had enough" and "could not take it anymore" as the drummer was performing "off-time" throughout their set (a claim refuted by various professional drummers). A fan had captured the incident on camera, and was subsequently uploaded to social media. Roe claimed in a follow-up video regarding the incident that Felicetti was drunk during the performance, a claim Felicetti later denied. This incident led Felicetti to exit the band.

Band members

Current

• Kristopher Roe – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1996–present), bass guitar (1996–1997, 2005–2007)
• Mike Davenport – bass guitar (1998–2005, 2013–2014, 2023-present)
• Chris Knapp – drums (1998–2005, 2013–2014, 2023-present)
• John Collura – lead guitar, backing vocals, piano (2001–2008), (2013–2014, So Long Astoria reunion shows only), occasional appearances (2023-2024), (2025-present)

Former

• Jasin Thomason – lead guitar, backing vocals (1996–1998)
• Marko DeSantis – bass guitar (1997-1998)
• Derrick Plourde – drums (1997–1998; died 2005)
• Marco Peña – lead guitar (1998–2001)
• Patrick Riley – lead guitar (1998)
• Joseph A. Farriella – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2003–2005)
• Paul Carabello – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead guitar (2005–2008)
• Sean Hansen – bass guitar, backing vocals, drums (2005–2008)
• Angus Cooke – cello (2005–2008)
• Shane Chikeles – drums, percussion (2005–2008)
• Bob Hoag – keyboards, percussion (2005–2013), drums (2012–2013)
• Christopher Swinney – lead guitar, backing vocals (2007–2010)
• Bryan Nelson – bass guitar (2007–2016)
• Jacob Dwiggins – drums (2008–2011)
• Aaron Glass – guitar (2010)
• Rob Felicetti – lead guitar (2010–2012), drums (2011–2012)
• Thomas Holst – lead guitar (2011–2016), rhythm guitar (2011–2012)
• Erik Perkins – drums (2013–2016)
• Mike Woods – bass guitar (2016–2018)
• Dustin Phillips – drums (2016–2023)
• Dale Nixon – lead guitar (2018-2023)
• Danny Duke – bass guitar (2018-2023)
• Brian Bonsall – lead guitar, bass guitar (2016-2018, 2023-2025)

Timeline

ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:90 top:5 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:11/01/1996 till: TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:cello value:darkblue legend:Cello id:lguitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar id:rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:perc value:claret legend:Percussion id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:Live value:gray(0.75) legend:Other_release id:bars value:gray(0.9)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:2 start:1997 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1997

BarData = bar:Kris text:Kristopher Roe bar:Angus text:Angus Cooke bar:Jasin text:Jasin Thomason bar:Marco text:Marco Peña bar:Patrick text:Patrick Riley bar:John text:John Collura bar:Joseph text:Joseph A. Farriella bar:Paul text:Paul Carabello bar:Christopher text:Christopher Swinney bar:Aaron text:Aaron Glass bar:Rob text:Rob Felicetti bar:Thomas text:Thomas Holst bar:Brian text:Brian Bonsall bar:Nixon text:Dale Nixon bar:Bob text:Bob Hoag bar:Marko text:Marko DeSantis bar:Mike text:Mike Davenport bar:Sean text:Sean Hansen bar:Bryan text:Bryan Nelson bar:Woods text:Mike Woods bar:Duke text:Danny Duke bar:Derrick text:Derrick Plourde bar:Chris text:Chris Knapp bar:Shane text:Shane Chikles bar:Jacob text:Jacob Dwiggins bar:Erik text:Erick Perkins bar:Phillips text:Dustin Phillips

PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4) bar:Kris from:11/01/1996 till:end color:vocals bar:Kris from:11/01/1996 till:end color:rguitar width:3 bar:Kris from:11/01/1996 till:03/01/1997 color:bass width:7 bar:Kris from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:bass width:7 bar:Jasin from:11/01/1996 till:12/01/1997 color:lguitar bar:Jasin from:11/01/1996 till:12/01/1997 color:vocals width:3 bar:Marko from:03/01/1997 till:12/01/1997 color:bass bar:Mike from:12/01/1997 till:01/01/2005 color:bass bar:Mike from:06/01/2023 till:end color:bass bar:Chris from:12/01/1997 till:01/01/2005 color:drums bar:Chris from:06/01/2023 till:end color:drums bar:Marco from:12/01/1997 till:05/01/1998 color:lguitar bar:Marco from:11/01/1998 till:07/01/2001 color:lguitar bar:Patrick from:05/01/1998 till:11/01/1998 color:lguitar bar:John from:07/01/2001 till:01/01/2008 color:lguitar bar:John from:07/01/2001 till:01/01/2008 color:keys width:7 bar:John from:07/01/2001 till:01/01/2008 color:bvocals width:3 bar:John from:06/01/2023 till:end color:lguitar bar:Joseph from:07/01/2003 till:07/01/2005 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Joseph from:07/01/2003 till:07/01/2005 color:rguitar bar:Paul from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:lguitar width:7 bar:Paul from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Sean from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:bass bar:Sean from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:drums width:7 bar:Sean from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Angus from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:cello bar:Shane from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:drums bar:Shane from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:perc width:3 bar:Christopher from:01/01/2007 till:01/01/2010 color:lguitar bar:Jacob from:01/01/2008 till:10/09/2011 color:drums bar:Aaron from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2010 color:lguitar bar:Rob from:01/01/2010 till:10/09/2012 color:lguitar bar:Rob from:10/09/2011 till:10/09/2012 color:drums width:3 bar:Bob from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2013 color:keys bar:Bob from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2013 color:perc width:3 bar:Bob from:10/09/2012 till:01/01/2013 color:drums width:7 bar:Bryan from:01/01/2008 till:12/01/2016 color:bass bar:Thomas from:01/01/2011 till:10/09/2011 color:rguitar width:3 bar:Thomas from:01/01/2011 till:12/01/2016 color:lguitar bar:Derrick from:03/01/1997 till:12/01/1997 color:drums bar:Phillips from:01/01/2017 till:06/01/2023 color:drums bar:Erik from:01/01/2013 till:01/01/2017 color:drums bar:Brian from:12/01/2016 till:06/01/2018 color:lguitar bar:Brian from:06/01/2023 till:03/03/2025 color:lguitar bar:Brian from:06/01/2023 till:03/03/2025 color:bass width:3 bar:Woods from:01/01/2017 till:06/01/2018 color:bass bar:Duke from:06/01/2018 till:06/01/2023 color:bass bar:Nixon from:06/01/2018 till:06/01/2023 color:lguitar

LineData = layer:back at:11/01/1996 color:live at:04/29/1997 color:studio at:10/11/1998 color:live at:04/13/1999 color:studio at:04/13/2000 color:live at:09/13/2000 color:live at:02/06/2001 color:studio at:03/04/2002 color:live at:03/04/2003 color:studio at:07/01/2003 color:live at:02/24/2004 color:live at:02/20/2007 color:studio at:01/01/2012 color:live at:01/01/2015 color:live at:06/25/2016 color:live at:07/10/2017 color:live at:03/21/2020 color:live

Discography

Main article: The Ataris discography

Studio albums

• Anywhere but Here (1997)
• Blue Skies, Broken Hearts...Next 12 Exits (1999)
• End Is Forever (2001)
• So Long, Astoria (2003)
• Welcome the Night (2007)

EPs

• Hawaii 1985 (with Junglefish) (1996)
• Look Forward to Failure (1998)
• Wrists of Fury (with Douglas) (2000)
• Let It Burn (with Useless ID) (2000)
• All You Can Ever Learn Is What You Already Know (2002)
• The Graveyard of the Atlantic (2012)
• October in This Railroad Earth (2016)

Compilation albums

• Hang Your Head in Hope (2015)
• Silver Turns to Rust (2017)

Live albums

• Live at Capitol Milling (2003)
• Live at the Metro (2004)
• Live in Chicago 2019 (2020)

References

References

1. Staff, Consequence. (2019-06-05). "The 100 Best Pop Punk Bands of All Time".
2. Bezer, Terry. (2025-02-06). "10 Forgotten Pop-Punk Bands Who Deserve To Be Better Remembered".
3. "News". The Ataris.
4. {{usurped
5. (14 February 2004). "CaBands.com Show Reviews & Interviews".
6. (February 26, 2014). "THE WEEKLY INTERVIEW: THE ATARIS' FRONTMAN KRIS ROE".
7. (June 15, 2008). "The Ataris look to release new album in 2009". Alternative Press Magazine, Inc.
8. (November 10, 2008). "The Ataris post new demo clip". Alternative Press Magazine, Inc.
9. (December 29, 2008). "The Ataris post Pogues Christmas cover; recording update". Alternative Press Magazine, Inc.
10. (November 24, 2008). "The Ataris post UK tour dates". Alternative Press Magazine, Inc.
11. (April 12, 2009). "The Ataris post "All Souls Day" demo". Alternative Press Magazine, Inc.
12. Paul, Aubin. (April 20, 2009). "The Ataris". Punknews.org.
13. Paul, Aubin. (June 8, 2009). "The Ataris: 'All Souls Day'". Punknews.org.
14. Paul, Aubin. (August 17, 2009). "The Ataris title album, looking at labels". Punknews.org.
15. Paul, Aubin. (November 13, 2009). "The Ataris". Punknews.org.
16. Paul, Aubin. (February 5, 2010). "The Ataris / Don't Panic". Punknews.org.
17. Paul, Aubin. (June 2, 2010). "The Ataris". Punknews.org.
18. "Hang Your Head in Hope (Acoustic), by the Ataris".
19. "Silver Turns to Rust, by the Ataris".
20. Kris Roe. (September 2, 2024). "Kris Roe - Graveyard Atlantic proof". Facebook.com.
21. "The Ataris Recording “Summer of 69” Cover".
22. (2025-06-25). "The Ataris' "Car Song" Is A Tribute to Kris Roe's Father".
23. Flores, Gustavo Atencio. (January 9, 2026). "Iconic pop-punk band to release first album in 19 years". [[Yahoo.
24. Conde, Chris. "Pop Punkers The Ataris Descending Upon San Antonio Next Spring".
25. Ilic, Desanka. (3 April 2020). "40 pop-punk albums from the 2000s that'll make you grab your old Chucks".
26. "Pop-Punk Bassist Accused Of $27 Million Fraud Scheme".
27. "The Ataris ".
28. Joe Lawler. (February 29, 2012). "Cool Show: The Ataris brings pop punk to Gas Lamp". [[The Des Moines Register]].
29. Trevor Lewis. (November 12, 2014). "POP PUNK ". [[Rochester City Newspaper]].
30. John Terlesky. (April 26, 2003). "THE ATARIS "SO LONG, ASTORIA" (Columbia)". [[The Morning Call]].
31. (2003). "SPIN".
32. Tietjen, Alexa. (May 27, 2015). "26 Emo Bands That Got Us Through Our Teenage Years". [[VH1]].
33. Ashley Iannantone. (March 18, 2014). "The Ataris Reunion Tour Coming to Chicago". [[Loyola Phoenix]].
34. Weidling, Joshua. (December 17, 2013). "The Ataris Announce “So Long, Astoria Reunion Tour”".
35. Bezer, Terry. (2025-02-06). "10 Forgotten Pop-Punk Bands Who Deserve To Be Better Remembered".
36. Phillips, Marian. "20 scene albums from 2003 you probably still know every word to".
37. (May 19, 2016). "Interview: Kris Roe From 'The Ataris'". AAA Backstage.
38. Patterson, Spencer. (April 11, 2003). "For the Ataris, music is much more than a game". [[Las Vegas Sun]].
39. "HOLY SH!T: THE ATARIS FRONTMAN HAS A MELTDOWN IN NEW JERSEY, THROWS EQUIPMENT AT DRUMMER (VIDEO)".
40. "Ataris Frontman Explains Attack On His Drummer".
41. "Videos: Rob Felicetti (Patent Pending) responds to Kris Roe's response".