Break-ups: Enemies (2001-2004)

Jackson from Berkeley, CA sent us the following on Oakland's Enemies. We've confirmed this breakup with Lookout! Records:

Oakland, CA trio ENEMIES has called it quits, and played their final gig at San Francisco's Bottom Of The Hill club, opening for previous tourmates Subhumans (UK) who were in town this first week of March. After a successful tour supporting them & its own Seize The Day LP (Lookout! Records #278) for the last eighteen months...high profile gigs (special events for Thrasher magazine & Real skateboards) and great local support bookended their initial releases on local SF/Bay Area labels S.P.A.M. & New Disorder. At age twenty-six founding member Jason Willer had already been a part-time touring member of the U.K.Subs for the last few years and is moving to Europe.

The addition of NEUROSIS bassist Dave Edwardson in 2001 & its split-release with fellow favorites Pitch Black added further to the artistically-thriving East Bay/Gilman underground scene. Then in July 2003, Seize The Day was released to rave reviews and a rare flush of hype surrounding one of the most important punk rock records of that year. It topped year-end lists and propelled the band from a low-priority at the label to one of the biggest surprises. European, part & full-US tours with Subhumans, plus subsequent a regional jaunts (Lagwagon, Alkaline Trio) found ex-DIVIT member Danny Kain adding a new dimension and hope that a rejuvenated Enemies will continue on...but it was not to be. It's rumored that he will join local project Arnocorps, or just finish school--while singer/guitarist Mike Pelino will "go to Shanghai or something" in the next
year.