A Place To Bury Strangers

A Place to Bury Strangers (APTBS) was formed in 2002 in New York City. The band, currently composed of Oliver Ackermann (guitar/vocals, bass), Sandra Fedowitz (drums), and John Fedowitz (bass guitar), emerged from Brooklyn, New York. Oliver Ackermann, after moving from the Rhode Island School of Design following the disbanding of his previous group Skywave, became the primary songwriter for APTBS and also founded the guitar pedal company Death By Audio. The band’s early career saw them self-releasing three EPs in 2006: ‘Breathe,’ ‘Missing You,’ and ‘Never Going Down’. Their live shows from 2006 onward, including performances at Webster Hall with The Brian Jonestown Massacre in 2006 and The Jesus and Mary Chain in 2007, quickly garnered them a reputation as “the loudest band in New York” for their chaotic and ear-shattering performances. These initial years established APTBS’s signature sound and prepared them for broader recognition.

APTBS gained national attention in 2007 following a favorable Pitchfork review of their self-titled debut album. This led to significant touring opportunities, including opening for Nine Inch Nails and joining Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on the “Holy Fuck” tour in 2007 and 2008. They also performed at the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona in 2008. The band’s debut album was released in the UK in October 2008 by Rocket Girl, earning praise from British media outlets like NME. In November 2008, APTBS supported MGMT on their European and UK tour, further expanding their audience. In early 2009, they signed with Mute Records, which released their second album, ‘Exploding Head’, in October 2009. The band continued to tour extensively, performing at major festivals such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Seaport Music Festival, and Siren Music Festival, and even playing Rock al Parque in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2010.

Throughout their career, A Place To Bury Strangers has undergone several lineup changes, with Oliver Ackermann remaining the constant member and driving force. Following ‘Exploding Head’, the band released their third album, ‘Worship’, in 2012 on Dead Oceans, supported by a full North American tour. This was followed by the ‘Strange Moon’ EP in 2013, released for Record Store Day, and their fourth studio album, ‘Transfixiation’, in 2015. More recently, the band released ‘Pinned’ in 2018, followed by the ‘Hologram’ EP in 2021, featuring a new lineup with John and Sandra Fedowitz. Their sixth album, ‘See Through You’, was released in 2022 on their newly formed label Dedstrange. The band’s seventh album, ‘Synthesizer’, was released in October 2024, continuing their exploration of noise rock and shoegaze, with the music video for “You Got Me” receiving awards at the Europe Music Video Awards and Independent Shorts Awards, LA.