Professional Career
Tony Sly joined No Use for a Name in 1989, when he was 18 years old. He was the vocalist and lead guitarist. Their first album Incognito was released in 1990 on the label New Red Archives and featured a heavy but melodic hardcore punk sound. The band's second album Don't Miss the Train was released in 1992 and featured a much more melodic hardcore sound.
The band's third album ¡Leche con Carne!, which was released in 1995, was their debut on the Fat Wreck Chords label, though they released an EP titled The Daily Grind on the label in 1993. The album marked a change of musical style going from hardcore punk more into punk rock and skate punk. Also in 1993, guitarist Robin Pfefer replaced Chris Dodge and took the position of the lead guitarist, allowing Tony Sly to focus on singing and playing rhythm guitar instead.
In 2004, Tony Sly, along with Lagwagon front man Joey Cape released a split acoustic album. Acoustic was released on May 18, 2004, through Fat Wreck Chords and featured 12 tracks, acoustic renditions of No Use for a Name and Lagwagon songs performed by each respective member, along with two new exclusive tracks, one by each member.
On July 10, 2007, No Use for a Name released a best of compilation, titled All the Best Songs. The compilation marked the band's 20th anniversary together and included 24 previously released remastered singles, plus two previously unreleased songs.
In 2008, Sly started recording demos for what he announced would be his solo acoustic folk punk project. Sly went on his first solo acoustic tour in March 2009. In late 2009, Tony Sly went into the studio to record the album.
On February 16, 2010, 12 Song Program, Tony Sly's first album as a solo acoustic artist was released through Fat Wreck Chords. On February 6, 2010, Sly started his solo tour in support of the album with a few North American dates, where he was joined by former No Use for a Name bandmate Chris Shiflett. On February 17, 2010, Sly started his first solo European tour, where he toured alongside Lagwagon's Joey Cape and Drag the River's Jon Snodgrass, until March 10, 2010. Tony Sly spent the rest of the spring touring in support of NOFX and Teenage Bottlerocket on their co-headline tour, then joining Joey Cape on a short Australian tour in the summer.
It was confirmed that Sly would go on to record the next No Use for a Name album in late 2010, for a spring 2011 release. It would be the first new album from the album since 2008's The Feel Good Record of the Year. These plans were pushed back when Sly decided to record a second solo album.
On December 22, 2010, Sly announced that he was in the studio recording songs for a Japanese split EP. On December 29, 2010, he commented that the Japanese split EP songs came out well, and that he was gathering material for a new full-length solo album.
On January 7, 2011, Sly announced on his Facebook page that he was done writing for his next solo album and that he will be entering the studio on January 28, 2011, to start recording. He described the album's sound as being "sad". On February 4, 2011, Sly announced that he recorded 17 songs for his album and that he would be taking a break from the studio to play some solo acoustic shows and road-test some new songs.
On March 29, 2011, Sly announced that he was going back to the studio. Between April 7–18, 2011 and May 31-June 6, he played two short Canadian tours in support of his second solo record.
On June 16, 2011, Sly announced that mixing for his second solo album, titled Sad Bear, had begun.
On September 28, 2011, Sly released "Devonshire and Crown", the first single off Sad Bear, for free streaming through Alternative Press, AbsolutePunk and the official Fat Wreck Chords website. Sly announced that Sad Bear would be released on October 11, 2011, through Fat Wreck Chords.
On August 1, 2012, Fat Wreck Chords announced that Sly had died. On August 7, 2012, they released a statement saying that Sly had passed away "dying peacefully in his sleep". His final solo show took place in Gainesville, Florida on July 29, 2012. His last show with No Use for a Name took place at the D-Tox Rockfest in Montebello, Quebec on June 15, 2012.
On September 8, 2012, when the surviving members of No Use for a Name played a show in Quebec City, Quebec in honor of Sly, bassist Matt Riddle confirmed that the band is no more.
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