Bleachers Artistfacts

2014-
Jack AntonoffLead vocals, various instruments
Mikey Freedom HartGuitar, keyboards2024-
Sean HutchinsonVarious instruments2024-
Evan SmithKeyboards, horns2024-
Mike RiddlebergerDrums, keyboards2024-
Zem AuduVarious instruments2024-
Bleachers is essentially Jack Antonoff's solo project, which he started planning in 2012 when he was on tour with his band Fun, known for the hits "We Are Young" and "Some Nights." In Fun, he played a variety of instruments and contributed to the songwriting, but in Bleachers he runs the show, with complete creative control. He's also the lead singer, so he's much more visible in Bleachers than in Fun, where Nate Ruess was the frontman.
Before launching Bleachers, Antonoff did songwriting and production work for Tegan and Sara ("How Come You Don't Want Me"), Sara Bareilles ("Brave") and, most notably, Taylor Swift ("Sweeter Than Fiction"). He's since become one of Swift's go-to collaborators and has worked with many of the most popular acts in music, including Sabrina Carpenter, Kendrick Lamar and The 1975. He's known for having a wellspring of ideas and being very easy to work with.
The first Bleachers single, "I Wanna Get Better" in 2014, reflects Antonoff's state of mind at the time. He wanted to get better from lingering health issues, including a bout of pneumonia in 2011 and an ongoing depression. It's a very upbeat song musically, though, so many listeners didn't pick up on that.
Their music has a lot of energy, with many layered sounds baked into the mix. Antonoff can spend a lot of time at his digital workstation pouring through tracks to find just the right combination of sounds.
In 2017, Bleachers pulled off a memorable MTV Unplugged performance at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where one of Antonoff's musical heroes, Bruce Springsteen, often played. For one thing, it wasn't really unplugged - they used some electronic instruments like a keyboard and beat pad, a throwback to when Springsteen plugged in for his appearance in 1992 (billed as "MTV Plugged"). Bleachers were also joined by two high-profile backup singers: Lorde and Carly Rae Jepsen.
Antonoff started dating the actress Margaret Qualley in 2021, and they got married two years later. The Lana Del Rey song "Margaret," which Antonoff wrote and produced with Lana, is about her.
The five guys in Bleachers' touring band became official members starting with their 2024 self-titled album, which they all played on. Jack Antonoff is still the only guy on the cover though.

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