The Rapture Biography

The Rapture was formed in early 1998 by drummer Vito Roccoforte and guitarist/vocalist Luke Jenner. The whimsical indie group had extensive touring behind them by the time they recorded 1999's Mirror. More touring ensued - with the likes of Sunny Day Real Estate and Nuzzle - and the band eventually relocated to New York City.

They lost their original bassist and found a new one in Matt Safer, who had recently moved from Washington, D.C. After some more touring, the band recorded the six-song Out Of The Races^ And Onto the Tracks EP and had it released by Sub Pop in 2001. Thanks to their sloppy brand of scratchy post-post-punk, the Rapture were hailed as a forerunner to the post-punk revival that was taking place in the early 2000s.

Their profile increased significantly with 2002's House of Jealous Lovers 12". That same year, they added multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Andruzzi to the fold. The full-length Echoes followed for Gary Gersh's Strummer label in late 2003. The follow-up, Pieces Of The People We Love, was released three years later by Mercury.