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Fake Names, the punk supergroup featuring members of Refused, Bad Religion, Minor Threat, and Girls Against Boys, have released the new single ‘If You Could See Me Today’ from their upcoming album ‘Punk Ruins,’ due October 23rd. The band will tour the UK, Europe, and the US in early 2026.
Fake Names, the punk supergroup featuring members of Refused, Bad Religion, Minor Threat, and Girls Against Boys, have released the new song “If You Could See Me Today.” The track is the latest single from the band’s upcoming album, Punk Ruins, which is due out October 23rd, according to Consequence.
The new song arrived with a lyric video. As Consequence describes it, “If You Could See Me Today” carries an earthy mid-tempo rock energy set against jangle pop guitars and what the outlet characterizes as “yearning, soulful vocals.” The publication’s assessment of the track frames it as “something that feels like Motown through the lens of Big Star” — an interpretation that positions the song well outside the harder hardcore-punk sound the members’ flagship bands are known for.
“If You Could See Me Today” follows the album’s lead single, “Until It’s Normal,” which Consequence named its Heavy Song of the Week upon release. Punk Ruins will be the band’s next full-length release and one of the first Fake Names recordings to feature new drummer Mario Rubalcaba, formerly of Rocket From the Crypt and Off!.
The band’s current lineup consists of Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion), Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, INVSN), Michael Hampton (S.O.A., Embrace, The Faith), Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside), and Rubalcaba behind the kit.
What the New Single Signals
The release matters to punk and indie rock listeners because Fake Names functions as a meeting point for several influential scenes — Washington, D.C. hardcore, Swedish post-hardcore, and Southern California punk — within a single band. Each new release draws attention precisely because it shows veteran musicians from genre-defining groups working in a shared, more melodic project rather than their better-known outfits.
The stylistic direction flagged in the new single — jangle pop textures, soul-adjacent vocals, a Big Star comparison — signals that Punk Ruins may continue expanding outward from the band’s punk foundations. That trajectory gives the album a clear news hook beyond the lineup pedigree: listeners now have a concrete preview, and a critical reference point, for what the October 23rd record will sound like.
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From Hardcore Pedigree to Supergroup
Fake Names brings together musicians whose other bands shaped decades of punk. Brian Baker co-founded Minor Threat and played in Dag Nasty before joining Bad Religion. Dennis Lyxzén fronts Refused, whose 1998 album The Shape of Punk to Come remains a touchstone of experimental post-hardcore. Michael Hampton played in D.C. bands S.O.A., Embrace, and The Faith, while Johnny Temple’s credits include Girls Against Boys and Soulside.
The band’s recent history includes a lineup change: drummer Mario Rubalcaba, known from Rocket From the Crypt and Off!, is listed as the newest member. Punk Ruins’ rollout began with the single “Until It’s Normal,” which Consequence highlighted as a Heavy Song of the Week — an early indicator of coverage interest in the album cycle.
““If You Could See Me Today” carries an earthy mid-tempo rock energy against which jangle pop guitars and yearning, soulful vocals strain.”
— Consequence (review of the single)
What the Single Doesn’t Tell Us
Several details about the album remain unconfirmed. The full tracklist and runtime for Punk Ruins have not been announced in the source material, nor has a record label or information about additional pre-release singles. The exact release date of the song itself in September and whether a music video beyond the lyric video is planned are not specified.
Descriptions of the song’s style — the Motown and Big Star comparisons — come from Consequence’s editorial assessment, not from statements by the band, and should be read as critics’ interpretation rather than the group’s own framing. The band’s intent behind the stylistic shift has not been addressed in direct quotes.
Album and Tour Dates Ahead
Fake Names’ album Punk Ruins arrives October 23rd. After the release, the band will launch a UK and European tour in late January, followed by a seven-date United States run beginning in mid-February, according to Consequence. Tickets for the dates are on sale through outlets linked in the original report.
Further announcements — additional singles, complete tracklist details, and specific tour venues — are expected in the lead-up to the album’s release, though none have been formally confirmed yet.
Key Questions
Who is in Fake Names?
The lineup features Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion), Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, INVSN), Michael Hampton (S.O.A., Embrace, The Faith), Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside), and new drummer Mario Rubalcaba (Rocket From the Crypt, Off!).
When does the new Fake Names album come out?
Punk Ruins is scheduled for release on October 23rd, according to Consequence.
What does ‘If You Could See Me Today’ sound like?
Per Consequence, the song pairs an earthy mid-tempo rock base with jangle pop guitars and soulful vocals, with the outlet comparing the result to “Motown through the lens of Big Star.” That description is the publication’s critical assessment.
Is Fake Names touring?
Yes. The band begins a UK/European tour in late January, followed by a seven-date US run starting in mid-February.
Was there an earlier single from Punk Ruins?
Yes. The album’s lead single, “Until It’s Normal,” was previously released and named Consequence’s Heavy Song of the Week.
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