The band had retained the same lineup since its formation until 2024 when guitarists B.J. Stead & Justin Aufdemkampe left the band, with the only exception being bassist Ryan Neff, who left the band in 2007 and rejoined in 2009. Miss May I released their second studio album, Monument, on August 16, 2010; their third album, At Heart, on June 12, 2012; their fourth, Rise of the Lion, on April 29, 2014; their fifth, Deathless, on August 7, 2015. On June 24, 2016, the band left Rise Records and signed with SharpTone Records.[7] On June 2, 2017, they released their sixth studio album, Shadows Inside, their first under their new label. On September 2, 2022, Miss May I released Curse of Existence.
History
Formation and early releases (2007–2013)
Miss May I was formed in 2007, in Troy, Ohio with the original members being Levi Benton, Justin Aufdemkampe, BJ Stead, Jerod Boyd, and Ryan Neff.[4] Neff left in late 2007 to join Cincinnati band, Rose Funeral and was then replaced by Josh Gillespie.[citation needed]
In late 2007, the band released a five-track EP titled Vows for a Massacre followed by their 2008 demo the next year, both of which were self-released. This demo contained 6 tracks, including "Architect" and "Tides", which would later on be featured in their first full-length album, Apologies Are for the Weak in 2009. It was after this release, that the band was signed onto Rise Records.[4]
According to the website of producer Joey Sturgis' Foundation Studios, the band had booked studio time in May 2010 to ostensibly record the follow-up to their debut album.[4] According to Ryan Neff's Twitter, the new album would be released sometime in August along with a new music video.
On June 11, 2010, Levi Benton announced that there would be a track on the new album called "Colossal" and that the album would be called Monument and confirmed its release to be on August 17 of that year. The artwork for it was also later revealed, featuring the iconic MMI Lion from the cover of the band's debut. On September 2, 2010, they released their music video for "Relentless Chaos" Directed by Thunder Down Country. In December 2010, they confirmed plans to appear at Warped Tour 2011.[4] The album peaked at 10 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, 15 on the Top Independent Albums chart, and 31 on the Top Rock Albums chart.[8] The band toured with Abandon All Ships, Sleeping with Sirens and Bury Tomorrow to support the album.
On March 8, 2012, the band announced that they had completed work on their new album, At Heart, and were set to release the album on May 29, 2012.[12] To make last-minute changes, the band bumped back the release, to June 12, 2012.[13] They released "Hey Mister" on May 3 on Rise Record's YouTube page.
The band soon set out on tour with Whitechapel, After the Burial, The Plot in You, Rescued by a Sinking Ship, and Structures throughout March 2012, followed by a European tour with Parkway Drive, The Ghost Inside and Confession through April. The band also set out to tour with Whitechapel, The Ghost Inside, Within the Ruins and The Plot in You in the US during May 2012.[14] The band played on Warped Tour in mid-2012.[15] They supported Killswitch Engage for the United States Disarm the Descent tour in mid-2013 with others.[16]
Recent work and lineup changes (2013–present)
On December 14, 2013, the band stated that they are looking for a fan to get a tattoo of their infamous lion design for the cover of their forthcoming album.[17] On February 25, 2014, Rise of the Lion was announced as the title of the new album. The album was released on April 29, 2014.
The band recorded their fifth studio album with Joey Sturgis, who recorded the band's first two records.[19]Deathless was released on August 7, 2015.[20] The first single, "I.H.E.", was released on June 17, 2015. On July 29, 2015, the title track from Deathless was released as the second single for the album.
The band enbarked on a headline North American tour in support of their sixth album, Shadows Inside, in 2017.[22] That same year, they joined The Amity Affliction as a part of Motionless in White's "Graveyard Shift" tour.[23] In 2018, they toured North America once again on the Gore Core Metal and More Tour, as support for Gwar and Hatebreed.[24] In early 2019, the band supported August Burns Red on their Dangerous Tour.[25] They played Monument in its entirety in mid-2019 in celebration of its nearing 10th-year anniversary, they co-headlined the tour with The Word Alive with support from After Life and Thousand Below.[26]
On September 2, 2022, the band released their seventh studio album, Curse of Existence.[27]
On May 31st, 2024 the band announced the departures of guitarists B.J. Stead and
Justin Aufdemkampe.[28] They were replaced with Elisha Mullins.
In an interview with Guitar World, the band discussed how their influences have changed over the years. Guitarist Justin Aufdemkampe said he started by covering basic blues, then moved to pop punk by covering Blink-182, and Green Day, then eventually learned lead guitar by listening to and copying his dad's Stevie Ray Vaughan records.[35] In the 10th grade, Justin started learning Taking Back Sunday, Underoath and Avenged Sevenfold songs. However, once he saw Atreyu at Warped Tour, his taste in music abruptly shifted. He then discovered As I Lay Dying, All That Remains and Darkest Hour, and began writing fast, aggressive originals.[35]
Guitarist B.J. Stead stated "I had been playing guitar for years, but not much metal. I mostly listen to Pink Floyd and straight rock."[35] In an interview with Alternative Press, it was said that B.J.'s favorite band is Iron Maiden.[44]
The band has stated on their influences:
Basically, any metal-core band that doesn't have keyboards and who aren't fake guys who just play instruments. We're trying to be as old school as possible, as it's been working out. So I'm happy with that.[38]
In an interview with WIDB, Levi stated on behalf of his biggest musical influences: "As I Lay Dying is definitely the biggest one that really sets Miss May I where we are. We like a lot of All That Remains, Unearth, Darkest Hour and, recently, In Flames. This is weird, because it’s not really the thing that everyone would say, but we're really interested in Five Finger Death Punch. We’ve been researching how they do everything because their story’s really cool. But As I Lay Dying and All That Remains are probably the biggest ones, along with Killswitch Engage"[36] Levi has stated his "dream tour" would be Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, It Dies Today, and Atreyu.[41]
In an interview with Dayton Daily News writer Madeline Bush,[50] when asked what they thought their music conveyed, Benton replied:
"We have been asked a lot if we are a Christian band due to our lyrics. And the answer to that is no, but some of us are Christians and others are not. But myself as a Christian, I try and not put the wrong negative message out in our lyrics. Most of what we stand for is just a band that plays for the crowd to be happy, and to love what we are doing as much as we do."