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The All-American Rejects are an American power pop band that formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Their most recent album Move Along was released in 2005 while their latest single "It Ends Tonight" reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2007.
The All-American Rejects: Biography
The All-American Rejects - 1998-2000: Band beginnings
When formed, The All-American Rejects consisted of members of two Oklahoma bands who came together as one. One band was known as the Drowning Fish and included the future All-American Reject Nick Wheeler. At the time, Wheeler was his band's drummer. Also, a part of the Drowning Fish was guitarist Jesse Tabish, who is now playing with rising Oklahoma indie act, Kunek. Tyson Ritter's first band was known as Curbside Service. After Ritter and Wheeler met at a party, Wheeler informed Ritter that his band was in need of a bass player. Ritter responded by telling Wheeler that he was their man even though he had never really attempted to play a bass guitar in his life. In 1998, Ritter joined up with Tabish and Wheeler and the All-American Rejects were formed. After parting ways with Tabish in 2000, the All-American Rejects became a two man show. Ritter led the way with his charisma and bass playing ability and Wheeler switched from drummer to guitar player. The band released their first independent album in the spring of 2000, and eventually built up a large local fanbase. They went on to open for The Flaming Lips and Caroline's Spine. Their music was also licensed for use on then-hit MTV show Undressed.
The All-American Rejects - 2001-2004: Commercial success
In the summer of 2001, the Rejects released the EP Same Girl, New Songs and began to tour the American Midwest. By the tour's end, the band had signed a contract with Doghouse Records - the label of such bands as River City High and The Get Up Kids.
Mike Kennerty (guitar, vocals) and Chris Gaylor (drums, percussion) joined in 2002. That year, with producer Tim O'Heir (who had, in the past, worked with bands like Superdrag, Sebadoh, and Juliana Hatfield), the Rejects recorded their international debut album. From this album came the single "Swing, Swing," for which the Rejects were best-known for several years (so much so, in fact, that some termed the band a one-hit wonder). The self-titled album hit stores on October 15 of that year.
The All-American Rejects - 2005-present: Move Along
On July 12, 2005, they released Move Along, from which came the single "Dirty Little Secret". The music video featured images from collective art project PostSecret. Later that year, the band saw themselves forced to cancel several concerts, including a full European tour, after their touring keyboardist Tim Jordan committed suicide.
The second single "Move Along" was released in January 2006. Within the first weeks after premiering their video, it had been on the Total Request Live countdown ever since, hitting number one four days in row, moving from place to place. Oddly, on the Billboard Hot 100, the single didn't hit peak until almost six months later in June, making it one of the longest-lasting singles by the Rejects. "Move Along" was then nominated for Best Editing in a Video and Best Group Video at the 2006 Video Music Awards, the latter of which they won. In addition, the band performed "Move Along" live at the VMAs on Thursday, August 31, 2006. The band was also nominated for Choice Rock Group in the Teen Choice Awards, but lost to Fall Out Boy.
Due to the success of their two singles and overall popularity of the band, the All-American Rejects began to receive video game opportunities. "Night Drive" was featured in the video game Madden NFL 06 and the Cars video game; and "Top of the World" has also been featured in the video game Burnout Revenge.
In May 2006, they did a cover of Def Leppard's "Photograph" on Vh1 Rock Honors.
They have also received song-spots on TV. In July 2006, the single "Move Along" was announced as the official WWE Diva Search 2006 theme song and was used in advertisements for the Toa Inika figures of Lego's Bionicle franchise. 'Free the Band' is its motto. Also the song "Change Your Mind" was used in an ad for T Mobile. The All-American Rejects are also a part of an alternate reality game promoting Lego's Bionicle toy line.
In August 2006, the fourth single, "It Ends Tonight", was released. The video for "It Ends Tonight" debuted in the UK on August 28, 2006. "It Ends Tonight" debuted at number 10 on the VH1 Top 20 countdown. In early 2007, it was used to advertise Battlestar Galactica on the Sci Fi Channel. The video also made its way up the top 10 on TRL.
So far, the band has toured around the U.S. with Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights, From First to Last, The Hush Sound, and October Fall in the Black Clouds and Underdogs Tour. They have recently finished a headlining tour called "Tournado" with Motion City Soundtrack, The Starting Line, The Format, Gym Class Heroes, and Boys Like Girls.
To promote the band, the Rejects released a small EP, Bite Back. It is currently available only on the popular music service, iTunes. The band has agreed to take the year off and rest from their tour.
The song "Move Along" was used in Super Bowl XLI during the 3rd Quarter.
In 2007, The All-American Rejects teamed up with Danny Elfman to create the song "The Future Has Arrived" for the Disney animated film Meet the Robinsons.
The band is due to play at the Give It A Name Festival in the UK in Early 2007.
The All-American Rejects: Members
- Tyson Ritter - vocals, bass
- Nick Wheeler - lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Mike Kennerty - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Chris Gaylor - drums, percussion
The All-American Rejects - Former members
- Tim Campbell - drums
- Jesse Tabish - guitar
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