Matchbox 20

     Matchbox Twenty is a rock band formed in Orlando, Florida. Matchbox Twenty’s distorted guitars and emotional vocals are beefed up with major label glossiness and arena rock bombast. Along with Third Eye Blind, Creed and Live, Matchbox Twenty heralded the transformation of grunge. The name Matchbox 20 was taken from a t-shirt worn by a restaurant patron where drummer Paul Douchette was waiting tables. In 2000, the band changed the spelling of their name from Matchbox 20 to Matchbox Twenty, for reasons nobody understands. Lead singer Rob Thomas was an army brat born on a German military base.
     Matchbox Twenty has sold in excess of 44 million albums worldwide from the releases of Yourself or Someone Like You, Mad Season, and More Than You Think You Are. They released their latest album, Exile on Mainstream, on October 2, 2007. The current members of the band are Rob Thomas, Paul Doucette, Brian Yale, and Kyle Cook. Rhythm guitarist Adam Gaynor left the band in 2005, after performing on their first three studio albums. Rob Thomas is the principal songwriter and lead singer. Rob Thomas has created a well-established solo career for himself after releasing the album, …Something to Be.

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Third Eye Blind

 

     Third Eye Blind (frequently abbreviated 3eb) is an American alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The band’s current line-up is Stephan Jenkins (vocals, guitar), Brad Hargreaves (drums, percussion), Tony Fredianelli (guitar, vocals), and Leo Kremer (bass guitar, vocals).
     Half-sung, simple vocal lines, dirty — but not dangerous — guitars, and hummable melodies have made 3EB a bundle of dough. Ex-3EB guitarist Kevin Cadogan filed a multimillion dollar lawsuit against the band, saying he was let go without just cause. “Semi-Charmed Life,” Third Eye Blind’s first Top 40 hit, was a catchy pop song about crystal meth addiction. According to vocalist Stephan Jenkins, Camper Van Beethoven is one of his favorite bands of all-time. Third Eye Blind built their own recording studio in SF, complete with a mixing board used on vintage Rolling Stone sessions.
     After the massive success of their eponymous debut album in 1997, the band released one more album, 1999’s Blue, before guitarist Kevin Cadogan was released under circumstances that still elicit controversy among fans. More recently, bassist Arion Salazar has not been playing with the band, and his future as part of the quartet is unclear. Leo Kremer has been filling in for Salazar during concerts, and on the band’s MySpace page, he is now listed as a full time band member.

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