Jawbreaker was an American
punk rock band active from 1986 to 1996. The band is considered one of the most influential acts of the 1990s
emo movement. Lead vocalist and guitarist
Blake Schwarzenbach, bassist Chris Bauermeister, and drummer Adam Pfahler formed the band while students at
New York University, later relocating to
Los Angeles where they released their debut album
Unfun (1990) through
independent record label Shredder Records. Relocating again to
San Francisco the following year, they released 1992's
Bivouac through the Tupelo Recording Company and The Communion Label. Schwarzenbach's charisma and personal, frustrated lyrics helped to establish him as a
cult idol, even as he underwent surgery to remove painful and voice-threatening
polyps from his throat. Jawbreaker toured with
Nirvana in 1993 and released
24 Hour Revenge Therapy in 1994, attracting the attention of major labels. They signed a $1 million contract with
DGC Records and released 1995's
Dear You, but the album's polished production and smooth vocals resulted in a significant backlash from the band's core audience. Internal tensions led to Jawbreaker's dissolution in 1996.