The band was started by singer-guitarist James Dean Brown "Jaw" Alexander after his tenure with Bobby Steele's (formerly of The Misfits) horror-punk group The Undead.
[3] In 2008 The American Plague completed a successful tour with 10 Years, Saving Abel and Fair to Midland and appeared at Bonnaroo 2008 in Manchester, Tennessee.
In December, it was announced The American Plague would record with producers Mike Watts (Hopesfall) and Steve Haigler (Pixies, Fuel, Clutch).
For the title track video to the album Heart Attack[6] the band performed in a "party truck" driven by actor David Keith (An Officer and a Gentleman, Firestarter, U-571).
Other videos include "Highwayman" (depicting singer Alexander as a maniacal hitchhiker) and "War Song," both directed by independent filmmaker Scott W. Lee (Bluff Point, Static, Dawson's Creek).