DESCRIPTION:
Only Crime is a melodic hardcore group formed by Good Riddance singer Russ Rankin and Bane guitarist Aaron Dalbec in 2003. The band plays melodic but hard-hitting punk rock that borrows heavily from early-1980s hardcore bands such as Black Flag.

In 2002, Russ Rankin found himself ill-at-ease with the situation of his other band Good Riddance. The band did not play frequently, and Rankin wanted to tour more. He set out to form another band that would be more active and that would pursue his drug/alcohol-free aesthetics and lifestyle.
While touring with Good Riddance, Russ became friends with Aaron Dalbec from the band Bane. When Russ asked him to play guitar in the new band, Aaron agreed. Zach Blair and his brother Doni Blair also joined because their bands, including Hagfish, were less active than they wanted.
When Russ was in the Blasting Room with Good Riddance to record Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection, he asked producer Bill Stevenson - legendary drummer of seminal punk bands Black Flag, Descendents, and All - to be the drummer in his new project. The band was given the name Only Crime and they released their debut album on Fat Wreck Chords in 2004, entitled To the Nines.
On January 23, 2007, Only Crime released their second album, Virulence, on Fat Wreck Chords.
Guitarist Zach Blair had recently left due to commitments with Rise Against. He was replaced by Matt Hoffman of Modern Life Is War.
Bassist Doni Blair left in summer of 2007, after touring extensively with Only Crime, to spend more time with his family and pursue his instrumental project, the Mag Seven (also with Bill Stevenson). He was temporarily replaced by Zack Busby (formerly of the Burden Brothers). Doni's last show was August 15, 2007, in Kansas City. Only Crime's current bassist is Dan Kelly.