Matchbox 20 Biography

Matchbox Twenty released their debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You, in 1996. While their first single, "Long Day", was a rock radio-only smash, the album soon spun off several Top 40 hit singles throughout 1997 and 1998, including "Push", "3 A.M.", "Real World", and "Back 2 Good". The album eventually went on to sell over 12 million copies in the U.S. alone, earning diamond status. The band toured relentlessly for several years, performing from the album, along with some cover songs such as Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and The Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down". Their fan base grew from concert to concert based on their electrifying live performances and the longevity of their hit singles on radio. That same year, Matchbox Twenty recorded a live version of their Top-40 hit "3 A.M." for release on the charity album Live in the X Lounge, benefiting cerebral palsy research.

Before recording their second album, Rob Thomas collaborated with Itaal Shur on a song called "Smooth" for Carlos Santana's comeback album, Supernatural. The song had a pop-tinged Latin beat and showcased Thomas' lyrical talents. Thomas was supposed to act solely as songwriter on "Smooth", but Carlos Santana had him sing on it as well after hearing the song's demo recording. "Smooth" was the album's lead single and became a hit in 1999; Thomas earned three Grammys for writing and performing on "Smooth", Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

In 2000, Matchbox 20 renamed themselves Matchbox Twenty and released their second album, Mad Season. The album featured lush instrumental arrangements, and spun off several hit singles, including "Bent" (which went #1 on the Hot 100) and "If You're Gone". The video for "Bent" poked fun of singer Thomas' heightened profile from "Smooth" by showing the other band members assaulting him mercilessly. The evocatively arranged ballad "If You're Gone" became a big hit, especially on adult contemporary formats. The band's next two singles, "Mad Season" and "Last Beautiful Girl" were not as successful.

For their third album, More Than You Think You Are, the band returned to a harder rock sound. Thomas shared the songwriting efforts with the other band members on several songs. The album contained hit singles "Disease", "Unwell", and "Bright Lights". Although it was not as commercially successful as the band's two earlier efforts, it had an enormous radio presence for well over a year, and received a large amount of critical praise.

In 2003 the band released a small album including only six songs, EP. The album had never before released live and acoustic versions of former songs like "Push" and "If You're Gone", and also a new track, "Suffer Me". The albums was mostly intended as a special little treat for the fans and to get popular versions of songs available.

In May 2004, the band released a live concert DVD, Show: A Night in the Life of Matchbox Twenty, filmed in Atlanta and featuring 20 songs, including all of their hit singles.

In February 2005, rhythm guitarist Gaynor officially left the group, which had been on hiatus to allow other members to pursue side projects. Rob Thomas went on to release a solo album, ...Something to Be, which became the U.S. Billboard 200 #1 album the first week of its release. The album featured four hit singles: "Lonely No More", "This Is How a Heart Breaks", "Ever the Same", and "Streetcorner Symphony".

In January 2007, Rob Thomas released a single, "Little Wonders", which he wrote for the Disney movie Meet the Robinsons.

The group returned to the music scene in 2007, with the release of their 'retrospective' album Exile on Mainstream on October 2, 2007. "How Far We've Come" was the first single off the new album, which also includes five other new songs and a complete collection of all eleven of their previously released singles. The album was also released in the new MVI (Music Video Interactive) format, which includes two video interviews discussing the six new songs and eleven greatest hits, plus extras including a retrospective photo gallery, U-MYX (to remix "How Far We've Come"), buddy icons, wallpapers, and more. How Far We've Come was released on the band's MySpace page in July, with the video release on September 6, 2007.

Matchbox Twenty toured in early 2008 with special guest Alanis Morissette and opener Mute Math. The band began their US tour on January 25, 2008, in Hollywood, FL, and concluded in Las Vegas, NV, on March 18, 2008 before heading to Australia for the month of April. Following Australia, Matchbox Twenty visited the UK for the first time in five years to play six concerts in Cardiff, Wembley, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Manchester (which gets the benefit of two shows). Support was provided by Nottingham band, Headway.

In the summer of 2008, matchbox twenty will play the following dates:

Jul 19, 2008 (North Dakota State Fair in Minot, ND); Jul 20, 2008 (Rock Fest in Cadott, WI); Jul 29, 2008 (CA Mid State Fair in Paso Robles, CA with supporting acts: Vanessa Carlton and The Spinners); Jul 31, 2008 (Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, CA); and Aug 2, 2008 (Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa in Kelseyville, CA with supporting act: Hodges).

There are also rumors of a 2009 album that has yet to be named. First, Rob Thomas is expected to spend most of 2008 working on his second solo album.