Band names in metalcore often come with interesting origin stories. August Burns Red also has an interesting tale behind their name.
August Burns Red Conceals A Dark Secret
August Burns Red formed in March 2003 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The members were still in high school at the time. They began with local performances and released their first EP, ‘Looks Fragile After All,’ in 2004.
According to an interview with Driven Far Off, guitarist Brent Rambler shared a chilling origin story about their band name. “We got our name, it’s really ridiculous story,” Rambler explained. He then unfolded a dark tale involving their former vocalist Jon Hershey, his girlfriend named August, and a tragic incident with a dog named Redd.
The Name Has a ‘Literal’ Meaning
“Right before he joined the band, he was dating this girl named August,” Rambler recalled about Hershey. “The relationship got a bit out of hand, and he really wanted to end it. So he ended the relationship, and instead of getting just sad about it, she got really angry. Jon at the time had a dog named Redd. So she got really mad, went up to his house, and burned his dog Redd alive, in his dog house. ”
The next day, the local newspapers had the headline “August Burns Redd” that allegedly inspired the band’s name.
The Truth About August Burns Red Revealed
The reality behind the band’s name is far less dramatic. Drummer Matt Greiner revealed in a radio interview that this story was simply a creative fabrication. “We just came up with the name to come up with a name,” Greiner stated. However, he original tale involving August and the dog Redd became part of the band’s lore.
