Plain White T's

Plain White T's

Plain White T's performing in 2015; from left to right: Tim Lopez, De'Mar Hamilton, Tom Higgenson, Mike Retondo.
Background information
Origin Lombard, Illinois, United States
Genres Pop punk,[1][2][3][4] pop rock, emo,[3][4] alternative rock,[5] indie rock
Years active 1997–present
Labels
Website Official website
Members Tom Higgenson
Dave Tirio
Tim Lopez
Mike Retondo
De'Mar Hamilton
Past members Steve Mast
Ken Fletcher

Plain White T's (read as "plain white tees") is an American pop punk band from Lombard, Illinois, formed in 1997 by high school friends Tom Higgenson, Dave Tirio, and Ken Fletcher. They were joined a short time later by Steve Mast. The group had a mostly underground following in Chicago basements, clubs and bars in its early years.[6][7]

The band is best known in the USA for the number-one hit song "Hey There Delilah", which achieved platinum status in 2007 and earned two Grammy nominations,[8] as well as "1234" and "Rhythm of Love", which were certified platinum in 2009 and 2011.

History

Formation (1997–1999)

The Plain White T's was formed in Lombard in early 1997. The group began as a trio, with Higgenson as singer and guitarist, Fletcher on bass guitar and Tirio on drums.[9] The group played mostly local punk shows in Chicago's suburbs, eventually having gigs at the Metro in Chicago's Wrigleyville neighborhood. As the band began to establish itself in the local scene, a fourth member was recruited, Steve Mast, who joined playing lead guitar and sang backing vocals.[10]

Higgenson broke several vertebrae in a car crash in 1999[11] while driving the band's van. He was in a back brace for three months and had to learn to walk again. Higgenson changed his song-writing process, choosing songs that were more meaningful to him, and the band began taking its music career more seriously.[12]

Come on Over, Stop and lineup changes (1999–2003)

In 2000, the band recorded its first album, titled Come on Over. In 2002, the band self-financed the recording of Stop, a full-length album that attracted the attention of Fearless Records. While the band toured in support for the album, both Fletcher and Mast left and were replaced by Tim Lopez and Mike Retondo. Shortly after in 2003, Tirio decided to switch from drumming to rhythm guitar and a new drummer named De'Mar Hamilton was added to the line-up.

All That We Needed (2004–2007)

The 2005 release, All That We Needed, was the first studio album from the reformed line-up.[13] "Hey There Delilah" was first released on the band's third album, All That We Needed, in 2005. The group recorded Every Second Counts that year, on which "Hey There Delilah" was added in order to allow it a chance on mainstream radio. The band signed with Hollywood Records, which released Every Second Counts on September 12, 2006. That same year, "Hey There Delilah" reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks.[14] The song was written for the track star Delilah DiCrescenzo, whom Higgenson had met in 2002. The song received two Grammy nominations, and Every Second Counts was certified gold.[15] In early 2006, the band teamed up with Motion City Soundtrack for a winter/spring tour.[16]

Big Bad World (2007–2009)

In 2008, the group released the album Big Bad World. The album had two hit singles: "1, 2, 3, 4" and "Natural Disaster". Both were on the American Top 40 at numbers 1 and 2 for three consecutive weeks.[17] By late 2008, the band had joined the Rock Band Live tour with Panic! at the Disco, Dashboard Confessional and The Cab.[18] Later that year, the band played at the Give It a Name festival in the UK.[19] In 2007, the band performed the single "Our Time Now" on an episode of the Nickelodeon television series, iCarly. "Our Time Now" was also the theme song of the ABC Family dramedy series, Greek.[20]

The Wonders of the Younger and Should've Gone To Bed EP (2009–2013)

The band's "Rhythm of Love" single was the first to be released from the group's 2010 album, The Wonders of the Younger. The song reached number five on the Hot AC chart, and was in the top ten in 2010 as well.[17] In 2012, the band also covered The Ramones' "Pet Sematary" for the song soundtrack of the 2012 Disney film Frankenweenie.[21] Should've Gone to Bed, a four-song EP, was released on April 9, 2013.

American Nights (2014–present)

The band left Hollywood Records after creative conflicts with the label during the production of the American Nights album.[22] American Nights was released by Megaforce Records on March 31, 2015. In 2013, Higgenson and Tirio formed a side project called That Lying Bitch to return to the group's punk rock roots.[23]

In 2015, Plain White T's also appeared on Blues Traveler's album Blow Up the Moon, co writing the song "Nikkia's Prom." On November 22, 2015, the band released a music video for "American Nights" featuring Higgenson's son, Lennon Higgenson.[24]

Band members

Former members
Timeline

    Discography

    Television

    The following list includes a selection of television appearances made by the band and performances used by those and other shows:[25]

    Awards

    Grammy Award
    Year Nominee/work Award Result
    2008 "Hey There Delilah" Song of the Year Nominated
    Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Nominated
    Teen Choice Awards
    Year Nominee/work Award Result
    2007 "Hey There Delilah" Choice Summer Song Won
    American Music Award
    Year Nominee/work Award Result
    2007 Plain White T's New Artist of the Year Nominated
    MTV Video Music Award
    Year Nominee/work Award Result
    2007 "Hey There Delilah" Monster Single of the Year Nominated
    MtvU Woodie Awards
    Year Nominee/work Award Result
    2006 Best Emerging Artist The Breaking Woodie Won

    References

    1. ↑ Hayes, Chanelle (August 26, 2015). "Pop-punk band Plain White T's to headline at Foxtail Pool Club". AXS.com. AXS. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
    2. ↑ "Plain White T's: Big Bad World". AV Club. September 29, 2008.
    3. 1 2 "Plain White T's – Big Bad World – Review of the Album Big Bad World". Top 40.
    4. 1 2 "Plain White T's: Wonders of the Younger". Slant Magazine. December 3, 2010.
    5. ↑
    6. ↑ "Plain White T's". Pandora Music. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
    7. ↑ Nate Cavalieri. "Plain White T's". Rhapsody. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
    8. ↑ Grammy.com: 2008 Nominations and Winners
    9. ↑ "Plain White T's Biography, Music News, Discography @ 100 XR – The Net's No. 1 Rock Station!!!". 100xr.com. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
      - "Plain White T's | Music Videos, News, Photos, Tour Dates, Ringtones, and Lyrics". MTV. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
    10. ↑ "Plain White T's: Biography". Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    11. ↑ "Plain White T's Higgenson dishes on 'Delilah'". MSNBC.com. July 24, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
    12. ↑ Corey Moss. "Plain White T's". MTV. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    13. ↑ Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music, Volume 65. Gale. 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    14. ↑ Katie Hasty (October 13, 2007). "Plain White T's 'Hey There Delilah' spans adult and alternative demographics". Billboard. p. 70. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    15. ↑ Sam Alipour (February 1, 2013). "Runner's high: How the hit song "Hey There Delilah" changed the life of one runner". ESPN. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    16. ↑ Chris Parker (March 2, 2006). "OK Go, Motion City Soundtrack, and Plain White Ts". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    17. 1 2 "Plain White T's". Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    18. ↑ Natalie Parsons (November 4, 2008). "Rock Band Live Tour doesn't live up to hype". Quinnipiac Chronicle. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    19. ↑ "PUT YOUR QS TO PLAIN WHITE TS". Rock Sound. May 5, 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    20. ↑ "Plain White T's Singer Spills on Greek Guest-stint". TV Guide. July 23, 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    21. ↑ Jordan Wyman. "ATP! Album Review: Plain White T's – Should've Gone To Bed EP". Retrieved May 15, 2013.
    22. ↑ Rosen, Craig (April 1, 2015). "Plain White T's Take a 'Pause' and Go Indie". Yahoo! Music Blog. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
    23. ↑ http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/celebrity/chi-plain-white-ts-side-project-that-lying-20131125-column.html
    24. ↑ Payne, Chris (November 23, 2015). "Plain White T's Premiere 'American Nights' Video". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
    25. ↑ "Plain White T's: Soundtrack". IMDB. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
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