Day For Airstrikes are an instrumental 5-piece band from Manchester, UK.
They take influence from 70s prog rock, post-rock and 90's emo and are often likened to Explosions In The Sky, Mogwai, Boris, King Crimson, Yes, Cave In, Mineral, Low and The Longcut.

They have so far produced a 4 track ep, Secret Whale (2005 - self-released) and a full-length album, Widows (2006 - Roadkill Records).

Live, they usually switch instruments inbetween and often during songs.
The current lineup consists of Ian Breen (guitar, bass, percussion), Wez Roskell (bass, guitar), Adam Skeritt (guitar), John Simpson (guitar, percussion) and Danny Jones (drums)

History

Sometime around 2002, Selina Travis, Ian Breen, a french boy called Eman another boy called John Callaghan frequently muck about making noises in a dirty practise room in Ashton. Selina and Ian play guitar, Eman pressed buttons on a casio, John hits drums at erratic and inconsistant speeds and tempos. It is far too cold and far too snide to stay there and decide to leave, instead setting up home in Eman's kitchen.

This goes on for about 6 months, eventually relocating to Big Fish rehearsals - a building designed to drain inspiration and encourage suicide. Eman decides to stay at home.

Jess Dolan joins on viola, despite having no idea how to play it.

A few months later, John Simpson joins on bass.


Ian Breen, Selina Travis, John Callaghan, Jess Dolan John Simpson get a set of 3 or 4 songs together and play an appalling debut gig at Yorkshire House in Lancaster. Selina snaps a string during the first song resulting in 8 minutes dead time, replacing it.

Day For Airstrikes play no more than 3 gigs in this guise until it comes to a point that none of them can stand Jess' terrible viola playing any more.

Jess leaves.



Wesley Roskell joins on bass, pushing John Simpson over on to guitar.

Monsters Monsters, a 3 track ep is recorded in 2003, costing an extraordinary amount of money due to time spent fixing out-of-time drums. It didn't help that the songs were bobbins but it was still met with a pleasant reception.

None of the band would ever listen to it outside of the recording studio.

John Callaghan is forced out in a somewhat cruel and amateurish fashion.

Ryan Dyson joins. He can actually keep time.

After 3 practices, DFA debut Ryan with 2 songs at Sonic Sunday 1 at Satan's Hollow.


Come Feb 05, DFA record 4 songs up in the hills of Littleborough. These songs become Secret Whale which Piccadilly Records named as one of their 'records of the year'.

DFA play lots and lots of gigs, mostly at The Phoenix in Manchester. Eman does some nice projections in the background.



John Simpson decides March 06 would be a fine time to do one to Paris for 3 months which rumbles plans to record 5 new songs for their first proper full length.

Adam Skeritt joins on guitar as a temporary live fixture while John pops back for 3 weeks in April to record the tracks before hastily scurrying back to Paris.

Widows is eventually released on Roadkill Records on 20 June 2006 following a sold out release party at Tiger Lounge, M/cr.

With an 18 minute opener, it blows peoples minds and some people actually claim they died listening to it. Despite this, nearly everyone enjoys listening to it.

DFA play some more gigs including one in Tellytubbyland.

Adam Skeritt thinks to himself 'Hmmm I like it here, I might stay.'


Having spent the previous seven or eight months playing the same two songs at every gig DFA decide a change is needed. They start to relearn some old songs and start writing some new songs. They write one new song and have a few ideas knocking about but things aren't going to plan. Writing is getting difficult.
By December 06, things aren't what they used to be and any aspect of fun is drained by tense practices and PMT.

Following a drinking session at Sinclair's Oyster Bar before christmas, Ryan Dyson decides to leave.

DFA spend the first month of 2007 either fingering their arse or trying out potential drummers. DFA's members tinker about with other bands while trying their best to keep the DFA dream alive.



In March 2007, Danny Jones, ex- Beecher drummer, becomes the latest member of DFA. The band begin writing new material with Danny but in November, Selina Travis feels increasingly spare in the way of contribution and eventually leaves to focus attention on Lamb Wolf gig promotions.
<ref http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=2758554&blogID=264432219>A statement on the DFA myspace said "There's been no fallout, no "musical differences" or clashes of personality that have led up to this, it's simply that I don't think my contribution to the band is what it once was."</ref>

The band agree not to replace her and instead pad out their existing parts to compensate for the Selina-shaped hole in the lineup.

Current activity

Day For Airstrikes are currently rounding up pre-production for their third and possibly final record. It is currently untitled.