[7][15][16] The record label released music from such artists as Burning Love,[17] Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves,[18][19] Comadre,[20] Coliseum,[17] Off with Their Heads[21][22] and Ruiner.

[3][6] In August 1996, Simmons joined the newly-formed North Miami, Florida-based sludge metal/metalcore band Fork in the Road, which quickly changed name to Bird of Ill Omen.

[3] While writing a full-length album's worth of material during most of late 1996 and early 1997, Bird of Ill Omen played local shows with Shai Hulud, Morning Again, Discount, Strongarm, Vision of Disorder, Earth Crisis, Zao and Cavity.

[3] The band's membership was revised when former Morning Again bass guitarist Peter Bartsocas (who would also later play in As Friends Rust) replaced Martinez in November 1996, and the recruiting of a second vocalist, Rob Ogman.

[3][24] Simmons first played with Morning Again on December 26, 1996 (while still a member of Bird of Ill Omen), when he filled in as bass guitarist for a concert in Atlanta, Georgia, following Peter Bartsocas' departure.

[30] While in Europe, Morning Again stopped over at Midas Studios in Lokeren, Belgium in August 1997, to record a new song, "Dictation of Beauty", with producer Tony De Block.

[34] In February 1998, Morning Again entered Studio 13 in Deerfield Beach, Florida, to record its ten-song debut album, As Tradition Dies Slowly, with producer Jeremy Staska.

[43][44][45] The original version of "Dictation of Beauty" recorded in Belgium was repackaged again on the 12-inch vinyl compilation II, released by Germany's Demons Run Amok Entertainment on September 25, 2015.

[6][9][48] With its new line-up, As Friends Rust recorded the song "Home Is Where the Heart Aches" at Goldentone Studios in late March 1998 with producer Rob McGregor.

[55] In October 1998, guitarist James Glayat replaced Bartsocas in As Friends Rust, and the band returned to Goldentone Studios to record "The First Song on the Tape You Make Her" with McGregor.

[66] On October 5, 1999, Japanese record label Howling Bull Entertainment released the compilation Eleven Songs, which included a selection of As Friends Rust material from 1996–1999.

[6] In late 1999, Simmons contributed backing vocals to grindcore band Crucible's song "Wretch of Shadows", which appeared on the groups' debut No Idea Records release, My Heart Is a Merciless Piece of Metal and Fire, in 2000.

[78][6] A month later, the band returned to Europe and the United Kingdom for a full five-week tour, from August–September 2000,[6] which included a handful of cross-over shows with Grade, Ensign and Garrison.

[81][79] In February 2001, Moyal, Simmons and Beckham recruited former Twelve Tribes drummer Alexander Vernon and future Rehasher bass guitarist Guillermo Amador to continue on with As Friends Rust.

[101][105][55] Beckham initially stepped up as temporary lead vocalist and Tarpley returned to fill the vacant guitarist position,[87] as the band embarked on a tour supporting Sick of It All, Shai Hulud and Thursday in March 2002.

[101] This was immediately followed by another tour with This Day Forward, Coheed and Cambria, The Stryder, Fairweather, Liars Academy and Prevent Falls, and a one-off date opening for Agnostic Front in New York.

[101][106] Adam D'Zurilla (formerly of Short Order, Esteem, Die Tomorrow and Kumité) was finally welcomed as Moyal's replacement in late March 2002, allowing Beckham to return to playing guitar,[87][101] and the band toured with Bloodlet and Hotwire, followed by a performance at Gorefest in Miami, Florida.

[114] As Friends Rust travelled as a four-piece, with Simmons as sole guitarist, for another European and British tour from August–September 2002, supported by The Copperpot Journals on its United Kingdom leg.

[118][119] Although As Friends Rust officially played its last show on September 11, 2002, in Amsterdam, Netherlands,[115] the band would continue to be billed under its old name, as additional tours had been booked well-in-advance for the remainder of 2002.

[114] Salem officially played its first show on September 28, 2002, at The Factory in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, opening for Further Seems Forever, though the band was billed as As Friends Rust.

[114] Salem was again billed as As Friends Rust during its next two tours in October 2002, the first with Fairweather, Liars Academy, Open Hand and Codeseven, and the second with Shelter, Keepsake and Running from Dharma.

[114][118] Upon returning home from this tour in mid-November 2002, Swain quit the band and was replaced by David Miller, who had also played in Die Tomorrow with D'Zurilla and Robertson, and had just finished a stint with Glasseater.

[144] Salem toured with The Bled and The Hope Conspiracy in March 2004,[145][146] and with Running from Dharma and Believe in Toledo in April 2004,[147] including a performance at Henderfest in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

[146] With Simmons available again, Salem continued touring with From First to Last, Underoath, Sincebyman, Name Taken, Scatter the Ashes and The Bled April–May 2004,[149] including a performance at A Day in the Park Festival in Poughkeepsie, New York, and with Autopilot Off, Riddlin' Kids, Jersey, A Second Chance May–June 2004.

[151][152] The band was next booked for a tour of the United Kingdom, spanning September–October 2004, with Johnny Truant,[153][154][155] in promotion of Love It or Leave Me's British release, licensed through Sorepoint Records/Eat Sleep Records, due out October 4, 2004.

[1] The Bay Cannon Beer Company temporarily closed its doors on December 4, 2022, following a shooting that took place across the street; the brewery's outside walls, windows, and refrigerators were hit by bullets.

[164] Simmons rejoined As Friends Rust in March 2008, when vocalist Damien Moyal announced that the band would reunite for a series of European and British shows scheduled for August 2008.

[169][105][83] In June 2014, As Friends Rust travelled to Asia for the Japan Tour 2014, supported by Japanese hardcore bands Endzweck, Noy and Nervous Light of Sunday,[170][171] though Kirkpatrick was unable to attend and was temporarily replaced by former Culture drummer Joshua Williams.

[176][171] To support the release, As Friends Rust played three shows in 2015: one at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, New York,[178][179][180] a second at Groezrock festival in Meerhout, Belgium,[181][171] and a third The Wooly as part of The Fest 14 in Gainesville, Florida.

[6][14] The band also includes vocalist John Hope (formerly of Ceremonial Hammer and currently of Stunner), bass guitarist Michael Lipscomb (formerly of The Yams and Orbiter) and drummer Dennis Bickart (formerly of Fastplant and Broken Things).