50 Cent collab ringtone album AFI share bad record label advice

When a band hits its stride, it’s easy to focus on the music, the sound, and the creative process. But sometimes, the most defining chapters are not found in the studio, but in the absurd, often terrible advice handed down by those running the machinery behind the scenes.

For frontman Davey Havok of AFI, that period around the creation of their seventh album, Decemberunderground, was marked by some truly bewildering suggestions from their major label. In a recent interview, Havok opened up about the chaotic environment of the time, revealing the low points of trying to navigate industry expectations.

Decemberunderground was released in 2006 and quickly became a landmark release, topping the US Billboard 200 chart. Singles like Miss Murder and Love Like Winter cemented the band’s reputation, earning praise from outlets like NME for its “crunching call to arms.”

However, Havok shared that the creative process was complicated by the label’s attempts to steer the band’s direction. He recounted how their A&R representatives were keen on getting attention from figures like Jimmy Iovine, who had publicly dismissed rock music as dead. This pressure led to some truly outlandish suggestions.

One of the most memorable pieces of advice involved chasing trends that felt utterly disconnected from the band’s core identity. Havok detailed a suggestion to collaborate with 50 Cent. While he expressed no personal animosity toward the artist, he found the idea baffling: “What does that even mean?!”

The bizarre advice didn’t end there. In keeping with the burgeoning trend of downloadable ringtones, the label pushed an even more unusual concept: suggesting the band consider creating a ringtone album.

Though AFI ultimately chose not to pursue a full collaboration with 50 Cent, they did release songs from Decemberunderground as ringtones, playing into that technological craze. The resulting soundtrack proved that even amidst the pressure and poor suggestions, the band found a way to channel their energy.

AFI continues to evolve, having released their latest studio album, Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…, last year. They remain an active force in music, with upcoming plans for UK dates and major festival appearances, including the Outbreak event at All Points East and performances alongside acts like The Neighbourhood and Converge.