Ima Robot
| Ima Robot | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Genres | Dance-rock, art rock, power pop, psychedelic rock |
| Years active | 1998–present[1] |
| Labels |
Virgin/EMI Records Werewolf Heart Records |
| Associated acts |
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros The Lucky 13 |
| Members |
Alex "Edward Sharpe" Ebert (Lead vocals) Timmy "the Terror" Anderson (Guitar) Filip "Turbotito" Nikolic (Bass guitar) Jason "ComputerJay" Taylor (Keyboards) Jonas Petri Megyessi (Guitar, percussion) Orpheo McCord (Drums) |
Ima Robot is a band based in Los Angeles, California that formed in the late 1990s. Their B-side track, "Greenback Boogie", is the theme song for the TV series Suits.
History
Formation (2000s)
Following vocalist Alex Ebert's previous band's (The Lucky 13) breakup, Ima Robot formed in the late 1990s. In the early 2000s, the band signed with Virgin Records.
The band's other original members were Timmy "The Terror" Anderson, Oliver "Oligee" Goldstein, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, and studio drummer Joey Waronker. Meldal-Johnsen and Waronker were sought-after musicians who had played with Beck before joining Ima Robot.
Ima Robot (2003)
On September 6, 2003, Ima Robot released their first full-length album, the self-titled Ima Robot. The album featured the singles "Dynomite" and "Song #1" (released in the UK only), and the band supported their album by touring with artists such as Hot Hot Heat, The Von Bondies, Hoobastank, The Sounds, amongst others.
Departure of Goldstein, Waronker, and Meldal-Johnsen (2004–2005)
In 2004, Waronker and "Oligee" left the band. Meldal-Johnsen followed in 2005, with former Oleander drummer Scott Devours. Tim Anderson's cousin, whom he had never met before Devours, auditioned and took over the drums. Filip Nikolic took over the bass and Andy Marlow started playing the keyboards.
Monument to the Masses (2006)
On September 12, 2006, they released their second album Monument to the Masses, which featured the singles "Creeps Me Out" and "Lovers in Captivity".
Independence from Virgin Records (2007)
In April 2007, the band won their independence from Virgin Records and continued to work unsigned under the management of Alexis Rivera of Echo Park Records. The song "Gangster" premiered on the band's MySpace on April 15, 2008, with its lyrics posted in a blog entry by the band.[2] In 2010 the band announced the upcoming release of their new album, Another Man's Treasure, and released the song "Ruthless" on the Internet.
Ebert remained frustrated with Virgin, saying in a 2016 interview with Transverso Media that, "pretty unironically I ended up feeling like a robot by the end of the process because of the major label thing."[3] During that period, they were being represented by the Werewolf Heart label.[4]
2008 - Present
In June 2008, Lars Vognstrup joined the group, having previously played with Nikolic in the band Junior Senior.
In 2009, Orpheo McCord (of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and of Fool's Gold), Jason "ComputerJay" Taylor, and Jonas Petri Megyessi joined the band.
On January 6, 2011, the band played six songs live on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. This was the first time since Monument to the Masses tours that the new band lineup had played live.
Ima Robot's B-side "Greenback Boogie" from the album Another Man's Treasure has been featured as the theme song of the USA Network legal drama, Suits, since 2011.
Band members
Current
- Alex Ebert – lead vocals 1998–Present
- Timmy "The Terror" Anderson – guitar 1998–Present
- Filip "Turbotito" Nikolic – bass guitar 2004–Present
- Jason "Computer Jay" Taylor – keyboards 2009–Present
- Jonas Petri Megyessi – guitar, percussion 2009–Present
- Orpheo McCord – drums 2009–Present
Past
- Joey Waronker – drums 1998–2004
- Oliver "Oligee" Goldstein – keyboard, guitar 1998–2004
- Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass guitar 1998–2004
- Scott Devours – drums 2005–2009
- Andy Marlow – keyboards, 2006–2007
- Lars Vognstrup – keyboards, 2008–2009
Discography
Albums
- Ima Robot (September 16, 2003)
- Monument to the Masses (September 12, 2006)
- Another Man's Treasure (October 19, 2010)
EPs
- Untitled Demo Tape (1999) - Featuring the tracks Weirdest Girl and Sink or Swim
- "Very Not OK, Underdogs, Drowse" (Demo CD) (1999) - Featuring the tracks Evil Thoughts, Climaxing, Ballad of Self Indulgence, Reaching 4 A Star, and I Am the Son
- Untitled Demo CD (1999) - Featuring the tracks Sheela Fades, Electric Chair, and Pink Monkey as well as the tracks from Very Not OK, Underdogs, Drowse
- "Black Jettas" (LP) (June 19, 2003)
- "Public Access EP" (CD/LP) (June 20, 2003)
- "Song #1" (EP) – (March 22, 2004)
- "Alive" (EP) – (2004) – Radio Only
- "Search And Destroy" (EP) (2006) – Sold only at shows originally and came free with the purchase of "Another Man's Treasure" from the band's website in 2010.
Singles
- "Dynomite" (Maxi Single) (CD/LP) (September, 2003)
- "Creeps Me Out" (June 13, 2006) – Digital Only
- "Gangster" (April 15, 2008[5]) – Digital Only
- "Ruthless" (June, 2010[6]) – Digital Only
References
- ↑ "Overview". mtv.com. Retrieved 2007-02-17.
- ↑ "Ima Robot Biography | Ima Robot Bio & History". Xfm. Retrieved 2013-01-10.
- ↑ http://www.transversomedia.com/articles/edward-sharpe-and-the-magnetic-zeros-alex-ebert-new-interview-persona
- ↑ "Another Man's Treasure". Ima Robot. Retrieved 2013-01-10.
- ↑ "Ima Robot. Latest Albums". MTV. Retrieved 2013-01-10.
- ↑ "Another Man's Treasure". Ima Robot. Retrieved 2013-01-10.