Matchbox Twenty (originally spelled officially, and still sometimes known as Matchbox 20) is an American rock band, formed in Orlando, Florida, in 1995. The group currently comprises Rob Thomas (lead vocals, piano), Brian Yale (bass guitar), Paul Doucette (drums, rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Kyle Cook (lead guitar, backing vocals), touring guitarist and keyboardist Matt Beck, and touring drummer Stacy Jones.
Matchbox Twenty rose to international fame with their debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You (1996), which was certified 12× Platinum (diamond) in the United States and multi-platinum in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Their second album, Mad Season, released in 2000, charted in the top three on the Billboard 200 and was certified 4× platinum in the United States. Their third album, More Than You Think You Are,
released in 2002, was certified double platinum in the United States.
However, it was not as successful as the previous two albums, despite
its singles receiving significant airplay. Director Bill Draheim
documented the band throughout the process while making "More Than You Think You Are". The documentary "Theresville" was an online extra.
The band then went on hiatus in 2004, with rhythm guitarist Adam
Gaynor leaving the band in 2005 after performing on the first three
studio albums. As a result, Paul Doucette took over rhythm guitar, and
the band reunited and released a compilation album, Exile on Mainstream, in 2007, which was certified gold in the United States. After the release, former Push Stars
drummer Ryan MacMillan filled Doucette's vacated drum spot. During this
period, Rob Thomas embarked on a successful solo career. Matchbox
Twenty then took another hiatus, but reunited again in 2010. The band
released North, their fourth album, on September 4, 2012 which made its debut at number one on the Billboard 200.[1]
Formation (1995)
Rob Thomas, Brian Yale, and Paul Doucette were part of the band Tabitha's Secret which was based in Orlando, Florida,
with fellow members John Stanley and John Goff, before splitting to
start a new band (what was to become Matchbox Twenty). After recruiting
Adam Gaynor from Criteria Recording Studios in Miami and Kyle Cook from the Atlanta Institute of Music, the band named themselves Matchbox 20 and won a recording contract with Atlantic Records.
Yourself or Someone Like You (1996–2000)
Main article: Yourself or Someone Like You
Matchbox Twenty released their debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You, in 1996. While their first single, "Long Day", was a rock radio-only success, the album soon spawned several Top 40 singles throughout 1997 and 1998, including "Push", "3 A.M.", "Real World", and "Back 2 Good". "Push" and "3 A.M." did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100
chart due to the rule in effect prior to 1998 that required a song to
be released as a single in order to appear on the Hot 100. "Real World"
and "Back 2 Good" proved to be the band's first entries into the Billboard Hot 100, after the rule was terminated. The album eventually sold more than 12 million copies in the U.S. alone, achieving a diamond certification. In 1998, Matchbox Twenty recorded a live version of their single, "3 A.M." for release on the charity album Live in the X Lounge, benefiting United Cerebral Palsy research. The band was sued by New Yorker Frank Torres for using his image on the cover of Yourself or Someone Like You
without his permission. It turns out that Torres was walking down the
street when he was asked by a photographer to be posed for a picture.
Before recording their second album, Rob Thomas collaborated with Itaal Shur on a song called "Smooth" for Carlos Santana's comeback album, Supernatural.
Thomas was supposed to act only as a songwriter for "Smooth", but
Carlos Santana had him sing for it after hearing the song's demo. "Smooth" was the album's lead single and became a hit in 1999. Thomas won three Grammy Awards for writing and performing on "Smooth": Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Popular Music Collaboration with Vocals.
Mad Season (2000–2002)
Main article: Mad Season (album)
During 2000, Matchbox 20 renamed themselves to Matchbox Twenty and released their second album, Mad Season. The album, on the strength of several successful singles, including "Bent" (which peaked No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart) and "If You're Gone", was certified 4x platinum in the United States. The video
for "Bent" made fun of singer Thomas' increased fame from "Smooth" by
showing the other band members assaulting him. The next two singles, "Mad Season" and "Last Beautiful Girl" were not as successful.
More Than You Think You Are (2002–2003)
Main article: More Than You Think You Are
For their third album, More Than You Think You Are,
the band revived more of a rock sound. Thomas shared the songwriting
efforts with the other band members on several songs. The album again
spawned successful singles "Disease" (written with Mick Jagger), "Unwell", and "Bright Lights".
The album was not as successful commercially as the previous two, and
received mixed reviews from critics. However, the album had an enormous
radio presence for well over a year.
During 2003, the band released EP, consisting of six songs. The EP had never before released live and acoustic versions of previously released songs like "Push" and "If You're Gone", as well as a new track, "Suffer Me".
In May 2004, the band released a live DVD, Show: A Night in the Life of Matchbox Twenty, filmed in Atlanta and featuring 20 songs, including all of their previous successful singles.
First hiatus and Gaynor's departure (2004–2007)
In February 2005, rhythm guitarist Adam Gaynor officially left the
group, which had been on hiatus to allow other members to pursue side
projects. Rob Thomas released a solo album, …Something to Be, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album featured four successful singles: "Lonely No More", "This Is How a Heart Breaks", "Ever the Same", and "Streetcorner Symphony".
In January 2007, Rob Thomas released a single, "Little Wonders", which he wrote for the Disney movie Meet the Robinsons.
Exile on Mainstream (2007–2008)
Main article: Exile on Mainstream
The group reunited and began performing during 2007, with the release of their 'retrospective' album Exile on Mainstream, on October 2, 2007. "How Far We've Come" was the first single from the new album, which was followed by the second single, "These Hard Times". "Exile on Mainstream"
included four other new songs and a complete collection of all eleven
of their previously released singles. The album was also released in the
new MVI (Music Video Interactive) format, which included two video
interviews discussing the six new songs and eleven greatest hits, plus
extras including a photo gallery, U-MYX
(to remix "How Far We've Come"), buddy icons and wallpapers. "How Far
We've Come" was released on the band's MySpace page in July 2007, with
the video released on September 6, 2007.
Matchbox Twenty toured during early 2008 with Alanis Morissette and opener Mutemath.
The band began their US tour on January 25, 2008, in Hollywood, FL, and
concluded in Las Vegas, NV, on March 18, 2008 before heading to
Australia and New Zealand, where the Australian band Thirsty Merc
was the supporting act. Following Australia, Matchbox Twenty visited
the UK for the first time in five years to play six concerts in Cardiff,
Wembley, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Manchester. Matchbox Twenty performed
at the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup award ceremony.
Second hiatus (2008–2010)
When the band finished touring later during 2008, Rob Thomas began work on his second solo album, Cradlesong. He stated in an interview to Billboard that he expected that the other members of the band might begin work on Matchbox Twenty's next album without him.[2]
At the concert at Mohegan Sun Casino on December 18, 2009, Rob Thomas
said that he was not frequently playing Matchbox Twenty songs at his
2009 tour stops because the band was planning to tour together in 2010.
Second return and North (2011–present)
At the Taste of Chicago
on July 2, 2010, Thomas said that Matchbox Twenty would be recording in
the fall for their fourth studio album. On September 4, 2010, while on
VH1's Top 20 Music Video Countdown, Thomas stated that Matchbox Twenty
was planning to start working on their next studio album in
mid-September and that he was 80% sure that the album would be released
sometime in 2011. Rob Thomas posted on Twitter
that he was "heading out next week to start writing the new mb20
record" on September 13, 2010. It was stated on Matchbox Twenty's web
site that the next show they will do together is on January 1, 2011 in
Oklahoma. According to Paul Doucette,
the new Matchbox Twenty album will likely be completed in the beginning
of 2012. He explained, "That's the same question I was asking. We don't
know -- the beginning of next year, we hope. It's a real important
record for us. We haven't done anything in a long time. The older we
get, the more we realize and appreciate the good fortune we have to do
what we do at this level. Realistically, how many more times do we get?
So we're going to really make this record the one we want it to be."[3]
Matchbox Twenty played a one-off live show in Temecula, California on July 9, 2011, but no new material was played. During the show Rob Thomas stated the show was a "love letter to our fans."[4]
North was released on September 4, 2012. The album's first single, "She's So Mean," was released on June 12, 2012.[5]
In 2012, the band embarked on a worldwide tour, the North Tour, to promote the album.[6] The tour continued as the 2013 Summer Tour, when they co-headlined with the Goo Goo Dolls.[7]
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