Biography
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Years Active
2004 – 2007 (3 years)
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Founded In
Antioch, Contra Costa County, California, United States
I Wrote Haikus About Cannibalism in Your Yearbook (stylized as: iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbook {and shortened as: IWHACiYY}) was an American screamo band formed in Antioch, California, sometime in 2004. The band consisted of four members, namely: Freddie Ruiz, Daniel Bajda, Trei Campbell, and Steve Bruder. Steve, unlike the three other members, was not a forming member, only joining a year after their formation, it seems. Due to sparse information on the band, however, this remains ambiguous, as some sources list their formation as 2004 and others claim 2005, which would make Steve an original member. The band’s name is satirical, and the previous members have said it was a reference to metalcore bands whose names and song titles are often long.
The band has officially released two demos and a singular full-length album, all of which lack titles; similarly, none of their songs have titles either. Their first demo was released in 2004, whereas their second was released the following year, in 2005. Both of their demos, lacking titles, have been dubbed by fans based on however many songs are on them. Their first demo with five songs included is known as “5 Song Demo,” and their second demo with eight songs recorded is known as “8 Song Demo.” After seemingly taking a two-year hiatus, the band re-recorded their demo material and, with it, put together an album. The album was not released because of the band’s inability to find a label willing to properly distribute it. In 2009, however, they and the label “Discos Huelga” collaborated to mix, master, and distribute their album. Although their demos were initially released on CDr and have not seen repressing, vinyl of their album have been produced by Discos Huelga and can be purchased through third-parties, though they are rare. The band, after two official releases, would no longer receive help from the label once the final pressing in 2012 was made. Today, though not as vinyl, another label, “Zegema Beach Records,” is distributing their album through cassette. This album, including its songs, has not been titled, and a song unmentioned in the liner notes is included, which is often called “Bonus Track.” The bonus track does not seem to have been recorded in 2007, the year the album was made, but earlier. The album, despite having no title, was originally known as “iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbook,” but Discos Huelga titled it “iwrotehaikusaboutcannibalisminyouryearbook LP,” and this name is used in most metadata of the album. A split, shrouded in speculation, between the band and another screamo band—“She Died Real Pretty”—was supposed to be released, but the label, or rather the middleman, failed to follow through. According to a former member of She Died Real Pretty, the band broke up during the time the split was meant to release, and the middleman had no connections to a label; this information is not corroborated and is merely hearsay, however. There is substantial reason to believe the alleged split was real, as the recordings were found through Soulseek in 2007, with two songs not seen on any release from either I Wrote Haikus About Cannibalism in Your Yearbook or She Died Real Pretty, both of which were She Died Real Pretty songs. A compilation of the first demo, second demo, and only LP labeled “Discography” was made unofficially, likely by fans.
The band was influenced by several bands, having performed live with some thereof, such as: Funeral Diner, Makanda, Spectres (originally known as “Maudlin”), To Summer, The Grand Color Crayon, I Would Set Myself on Fire for You, and Life at These Speeds, among others. A few photos of these shows serve as proof; otherwise, little is known. Their final show before their breakup was played in 2007.
The former members joined and formed bands separate from I Wrote Haikus About Cannibalism in Your Yearbook after and preceding its end. Freddie, alongside Daniel, released music as “Rosenbombs” in 2005 and formed “Punch” in 2006. Freddie and Trei formed the now-defunct “Xochtil.” Freddie, without his previous bandmates, played in “...Who Calls So Loud.” Daniel was involved with “Funeral Diner,” presumably accompanied by his brother, and played for “Nexus 6.” Trei formed “Beau Navire” and plays with “Elle.” Steve has never played for another band prior to or after, but instead has formed a solo project called “Peeled Caps.”
The band posted a video to their Facebook account on the 23rd of December, 2019. The visuals offer a still shot of a snare drum and miscellaneous recording gear, while the audio is a rehearsal of the 12th song of their album or the seventh song of their second demo, hinting at a reunion. Thereafter, in 2020, a reunion was planned but thwarted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Myspace was used by the band to publish their music, but because of Myspace’s decline in popularity, they now use Instagram and Facebook. Their accounts can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/xixwxhxaxcxixyxyx/ and https://www.instagram.com/xxiwrotehaikus/
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