In 1981, Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat coined the term straight edge. It became a movement within the hardcore punk community, abstaining from the use of drugs and alcohol. This movement vehemently rejected the use of drugs and alcohol, citing a silent class war that was destroying ghetto neighborhoods. With this movement catching on, the hardcore punk community rehabilitated countless hardcore fans throughout the decade.

Straight edge hardcore carried over into the 90s but slightly dissipated towards the end of the decade. Due to this, there was a full straight edge revival in the 2000s. These 3 hardcore punk bands were at the forefront of the revival of straight edge in the 2000s.

Have Heart

One of the main bands to introduce straight edge to a new generation was Have Heart. Fronted by Patrick Flynn, they were a primary fixture in the Boston hardcore scene. Formed in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 2002, Have Heart released their first EP in 2004, What Counts. With this EP release, the band helped usher in a new era of youth crew hardcore. Additionally, they contributed to the straight edge revival with songs such as “Something More Than Ink”.

They became hardcore icons with their 2006 debut album, The Things We Carry. Their track “Armed With A Mind” became a straight edge anthem. For their sophomore release in 2008, the band transitioned into a post-hardcore sound while carrying over their straight edge ideals. Songs To Scream At The Sun was the band’s final release before their legendary final show on National Edge Day, October 17, 2009. Patrick Flynn and drummer Shawn Costa are now members of the post-hardcore band Fiddlehead, which also features members of Basement.

Champion

Formed in 1999, Champion was also signed to Bridge 9 Records, much like Have Heart later on. Members of Champion were in other hardcore punk bands hailing from Seattle, Washington, in the late 90s and early 2000s. These included Betrayed, fronted by Champion guitarist Aram Arslanian. Champion released only one studio album, three EPs, and a compilation album before disbanding in 2006. Their only album, Promises Kept, became a defining and foundational straight edge album in 2004.

Their final show was filmed, recorded, and released in 2007 as a DVD/CD combo. This last live performance film will give you a special glimpse into the straight edge movement in Seattle in the mid-2000s.

Carry On

While Champion emerged from the northern Pacific coast, bands like Carry On emerged in Southern California to help continue the straight edge movement. Formed in 1997, the band released a string of EPs in the late 90s and early 200s. In 2001, they released their only studio release, A Life Less Plagued. It was the first album released by Bridge 9 Records, which became a massively influential hardcore punk label in the 2000s. Members of Carry On went on to form or join bands such as Stand & Fight, Betrayed, Terror, Go It Alone, Internal Affairs, and Piece By Piece.

Photo by Ian Dickson/Redferns

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Before YouTube, there were music video countdowns on television. In the late 90s and early 2000s, millennials were glued to the television when TRL came on MTV. We’d leave school in a mad dash to get home so we could catch the newest music videos. You never knew what video was about to debut, or what interviews you were about to witness. You’d sling your backpack to the floor, and homework had to wait until TRL was over. This era of “appointment television” made music videos much more exciting, and here are the rock videos that we’d race home to watch.

“The Hardest Button To Button” by The White Stripes

This video is arguably the most memorable from The White Stripes, even though they released multiple iconic videos in the early 2000s. This one particularly stands out for its unique effects. They utilized 32 identical Ludwig drum sets and 32 identical amplifiers to move the duo frame-by-frame along to the beat.

This concept was so unique that The Simpsons created their own parody. Bart Simpson’s drum set creates a new identical drum set with each beat of the song, just like the music video. As he scoots through Springfield, he eventually encounters Jack and Meg White at an intersection, and they collide. The duo then threaten and chase Bart Simpson until they fall off a broken bridge and land on a floating trash barge. You just had to be there; it was amazing.

“No One Knows” by Queens Of The Stone Age

In the early 2000s, Dave Grohl had already proven that he can play the frontman role. Internally, the Foo Fighters were experiencing a dip in creative ambition, and things got tense while recording a new album. They weren’t happy with the way their new album was turning out, and they didn’t know what to do about it. Instead of fixing the issue immediately, Dave Grohl unexpectedly recorded a Queens Of The Stone Age album, making a grand return to the drums. He then toured with the band, shocking everyone, including his own bandmates in Foo Fighters.

Dave Grohl appeared on Queens Of The Stone Age’s 2002 rock masterpiece, Songs For The Deaf. Their single, “No One Knows”, showcased how Dave Grohl was still among the greatest rock drummers, returning to the kit with even heavier yet more concise chops. It was very exciting watching this music video on MTV, spotting Grohl behind the drum kit again.

“One Last Breath” by Creed

The combination of CGI and one of the most defining bands of the early 2000s generated this iconic music video. It doesn’t get more early-2000s than this. Younger generations will never fully understand how it blew our minds back then. There’s no denying Creed’s place at the forefront of early 2000s rock. They were at the top of the mountain, much like how the band stands high on their individual CGI pillars in this music video.

Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Corbis via Getty Images

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As time goes on, it can be hard to remember every detail of events that unfolded decades ago. It pains me to admit it, but the 2000s are now decades ago. It’s the equivalent of referring to the 1980s in the 2000s, when the 80s were only 20 years in the past. Despite this, I still can’t believe millennials have forgotten about these emo bands after over 20 years.

Northstar

Rarely do I hear anyone mention this early 2000s band. Fans of bands such as Taking Back Sunday and Brand New should listen to Northstar’s early 2000s albums. They only released two albums before disappearing following a breakup in 2005. Famously, Taking Back Sunday praised this band in the liner notes of their 2002 debut, Tell All Your Friends, stating that Northstar is “the greatest band ever.”

If you’re unaware of this 2000s emo band out of Huntsville, Alabama, then today is your day to discover a forgotten gem. You won’t regret it. Their 2002 debut, Is This Thing Loaded? captured their early raw energy. You can hear the band in a tame, polished setting on their sophomore album Pollyanna, released in 2004.

Moneen

Despite touring with huge Canadian bands such as Alexisondire, Moneen never entirely broke through into emo stardom. Instead, they’re high on the list of forgotten emo bands of the 2000s. Oddly, this isn’t because of a breakup, as the band is still together to this day. Their experimentation with art rock didn’t appeal to scene kids at the time, and their songs were too “emo” for the average indie rock fan.

Regardless, their Canadian fans rank them among the great emo bands of the 2000s. They peaked with their 2006 release, The Red Tree. From the album opener “Don’t Ever Tell Locke What He Can’t Do” to their sentimental closer “The Song I Swore Never To Sing”, this album is full of fan favorites. The album went to No. 18 on the US Heatseekers Albums chart and No. 25 on the Independent Albums chart.

Hot Rod Circuit

Northstar isn’t the only forgotten emo band out of Alabama. Formed in 1997, they were originally named Antidote. After they won Best Unsigned Band of 1998 in Musician Magazine, the band relocated to Connecticut. Following a name change, the band performed around New England. They soon embarked on tours with The Get Up Kids, At The Drive-In, and the Jazz June. In the following years, they’d join national tours with Jimmy Eat World, Say Anything, Brand New, and Eisley. After 6 albums released in only 10 years, the band announced their breakup on Myspace. They briefly reunited in 2011 before making a full return in 2014, and have remained together to this day.

Photo by Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic

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Halloween is rapidly approaching, which means you only have a little time to create the perfect playlist. If you experienced the 2000s as a scene kid, then you’re aware that a lot of the bands fit perfectly with this time of year. Here are three emo bands that belong on your Halloween playlist this year.

Chiodos

It’s the time of year for horror. In the 2000s, Chiodos were the premier horror band, though many may not realize it. Even their name, Chiodos, comes from the famous Chiodos brothers. They wrote and directed the 1988 sci-fi horror film Killer Klowns From Outer Space. Additionally, they handled the special effects on Halloween classic films such as Clitters and Ernest Scared Stupid.

Their lyrical content was inspired by their love for gore and horror, with scenes detailing murders with lots of blood and everything else spooky. Any songs from the band’s 2007 debut, All’s Well Ends Well, or their follow-up 2008 masterpiece, Bone Palace Ballet, would be the perfect additions to your Halloween playlist. You may even turn a new fan to their music, as they’re often overlooked in the world of emo.

My Chemical Romance

It doesn’t get any more Halloween-y than My Chemical Romance. In the mid-2000s, fans adopted their looks from music videos and turned every day into Halloween. This time of the year is celebratory for My Chemical Romance. Each year, it reminds them of their very first show on October 1, 2001, at an Elk’s Lodge in Ewing Township, New Jersey. The band will celebrate 25 years as a band in 2026. Help celebrate with My Chemical Romance by filling your playlist with their timeless emo classics.

The Used

Much like Chiodos, The Used also explored dark themes in their lyrics. This can be heard on tracks such as “Slit Your Own Throat”, “Dark Days”, and “Choke Me”. They’re another band that is often associated with this time of year. Also, their close friendship with My Chemical Romance in the 2000s makes the bands adjacent, with many crossover fans. Especially when the two bands recorded a cover in 2004 of Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure”. At one point, fans speculated about a brewing feud when The Used singer Bert McCracken made remarks about Gerard Way’s artistic integrity. He later apologized and spoke publicly about how Way inspired him to seek sobriety in the early 2010s. Fans of both bands love the happy ending.

Photo by Larry Marano/Getty Images

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