• 2005-

  Bryan GilesGuitar, vocals

  Aaron BeamBass, vocals

  David SullivanGuitar

  John ShermanDrums
• Aaron Reed has a bachelor's degree in molecular biology from Reed College in Portland, Oregon. When it comes to songwriting, he applies a trial-and-error scientific method, which can drive his bandmates a little nuts. "I like to hear a song 15 different ways to hear which one is working the best," he said in his Songfacts interview.
• The titles to their second and third albums, Murder the Mountains (2011) and Whales and Leeches (2013) came from the titles of songs the band came up with but never released.
• After selling about 50,000 copies of their second album, the band had their breakthrough with Whales and Leeches, which was produced by Chris Funk, best known for his work with the Decemberists. A nice bit of critical acclaim came from Spin magazine, which called the album a "flesh-hungry challenge to Queens of the Stone Age's throne."
• The band is known for their outrageously goofy videos directed by Rob "Whitey" McConnaughy. Their most popular is their clip for "Prehistoric Dog," which shows the band doing some live action role play (LARPing) with armor and weapons fashioned from beer cans.
  
  

Comments

More Songfacts:

Carrie AnneThe Hollies

The Hollies' 1967 hit "Carrie Anne" is about the British singer-actress Marianne Faithfull, but with "Marianne" changed to "Carrie-Anne" to disguise it. Faithfull dated Allan Clarke of The Hollies.

It's So EasyBuddy Holly

It really was so easy for Linda Ronstadt to score a hit with her Buddy Holly cover of "It's So Easy." She would sometimes change the lyric to: "It's so easy to have a hit, all you have to do is recycle it."

Party Rock AnthemLMFAO

"Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO was only the second #1 hit on the Hot 100 with "Party" in the title. The first was Lesley Gore's "It's My Party."

Black WidowIggy Azalea

Katy Perry co-wrote Iggy Azalea's hit single "Black Widow." Perry was originally going to sing on the track, but she couldn't fit it into her schedule, so Rita Ora provided the sung vocals instead.

The ReasonHoobastank

"The Reason" by Hoobastank took off on TikTok in 2021 when it soundtracked confessional #NotAPerfectPerson videos about mistakes and regrets. The band made one of their own with the caption: "Realizing 20 years later that you named your band Hoobastank."

Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)Shakira and Freshlyground

Shakira calls her sons Milan and Sasha her "Waka Kids" because she met their father, Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué, on the video shoot for "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)," the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Editor's Picks

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.