Third Eye Blind

Members: Stephan Jenkins, Arion Salazar, Tony Fredianelli, Brad Hargreaves

Active: 1993 - Present

HISTORY

Third Eye Blind recorded their first demo in 1993. In 1996, the band landed an opening gig for Oasis (band). The legend goes that Third Eye Blind was warned that the crowd might throw food at them. As it turned out, however, they were asked out for an encore even after Oasis had already played, bringing Liam Gallagher to tears and sparking the friendly rivalry that would form between the two bands. The band was paid double what they were promised for the gig. Afterwards, the band found themselves in a bidding war among record labels, in which they settled on Elektra because they believed it offered the most artistic freedom. Stephan Jenkins' outspoken behavior after signing the deal earned him the title of "the biggest mouth in music" by many critics. Stephan has spoken out many times against several different artists, including a heated feud with Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty.

THIRD EYE BLIND SELF TITLED

Third Eye Blind's 14-track self-titled debut album Third Eye Blind was released on April 8, 1997. This album included the smash hit "Semi-Charmed Life" and others, including "Jumper," "How's It Going to Be," "Graduate," "Losing A Whole Year," "Narcolepsy," and "Motorcycle Drive By." The album has since gone on to sell well over 6 million copies.

The biggest misconception about the band's biggest single "Semi-Charmed Life" is that it is a straight pop song. In interviews Stephan Jenkins has said that it is actually about the culture in San Francisco and the use of crystal meth. Interestingly, Jenkins changed the lyrics from originally being "I want nothing else" to "I want something else," as can be heard in the demo of the song versus the final LP. When asked in an interview about the change, the question was dodged.

BLUE

In 1999, the band began writing new material and recorded their 13-track album Blue, which was released on November 23, 1999. It was a moodier, darker album than the band's first, though the first single was the poppy "Never Let You Go". The album went on to sell over 2 million copies.

During the band's tour shortly after the release of Blue, Kevin Cadogan was "released" from the band (allegedly following a vote by the band's other members). Tony Fredianelli, who had some limited experience with the band previously, joined the band shortly thereafter. Cadogan subsequently sued Third Eye Blind for breach of contract, with a settlement of an undisclosed amount permanently ending the relationship.

OUT OF THE VEIN

The band's third album Out of the Vein was released on May 13th, 2003. Despite a strong debut at #12 on the Billboard 200 and many quotes from the band remarking on their happiness with the album, Out of the Vein has been a commercial disappointment with only 250,000 copies sold. The lack of professional music videos for the album's two singles "Blinded" and "Crystal Baller" have been lamented by fans.

By the time the band released 2003's Out of the Vein, Elektra was in the midst of being absorbed into Atlantic Records, and Jenkins contends the group was not a priority. "I worked really hard on Out of the Vein," he said, "Elektra was imploding as we were making it, so we didn't make a video and didn't do a marketing campaign, but as far as critics go, it was my best-reviewed album."

"If you take the first three albums, they were of a piece," he continued. "They were lyrically about making a good shield, putting up a really good front and all the triumph and damage that incurred."

A COLLECTION

A Collection, essentially a greatest hits album, was released on July 18, 2006 in the United States (currently unknown elsewhere) via Rhino Records (not Elektra). While a DVD bonus disc was originally in the works, it was eventually scrapped. The liner notes contain no songwriting credits in order to gloss over changes in the band's line-up.

The album contains all of their singles with the exception of "Anything", a handful of fan and band favorites as well as 3 unreleased-via-LP songs "Tattoo of The Sun", "My Time In Exile" and "Slow Motion (w/lyrics)".

Fourth album is reportedly in the works set for a possible 2007 release. It has recently been posted that the new album is currently being recorded. A short East Coast swing around the Baltimore and New Jersey area in early 2005 sparked some renewed interest in the band and this album, as four new songs were played. Two of these songs had been played at an earlier concert in Salt Lake City. These song titles are "In The Skin", "Summer Town", "Second Born (Family)", and "Don't Believe a Word". Fans feel that "Summer Town" is the most accessible. Speculation has it that this song could be the first single when the fourth album is released. Fans also speculate that "Second Born (Family)" was written about Stephan's mother. Their manager Allison Clark was very instrumental in producing this album. Adrian Burley said that the band could not have done it without her. In the second half of 2005, the band played additional new material in concert. The songs were: "Lay Back (and the Water Will Hold You)," "Standing Up For You (aka "Out In The Blue"), "Red Star (aka "So Pretty" or "Spoke Your Mind")," and "Monotov's Private Opera." Concerts in Spring 2006 have yielded "(You Really) Don't Like Me Now," "(You're Not Going To) Break Me," and "Stevie Ray Vaughan."

SYMPHONY OF DEACY

An EP, "Symphony of Decay", has also been completed. The band reportedly has a contractual obligation to deliver the EP and has leaked several tracks to fans. The leaked tracks are a full-accompaniment version of "My Time in Exile," the stripped down song that played on the menu of the DVD included with their third album, as well as two very different and instrumental songs, "Knife in the Water" and "Animal." Also included on this EP is the full version of an instrumental song from "Blue", titled "Slow Motion." This has been available online since "Blue" was released because of its inclusion on international versions of "Blue". "Carnival Barker," a seven-minute instrumental, which is also a track off of the EP, was released on the band's MySpace page.

ALBUMS

1997 - Third Eye Blind

1999 - Blue

2003 - Out of the Vein

2006 - A Collection

SINGLES

1997 - "Semi-Charmed Life" Third Eye Blind

1997 - "Graduate" Third Eye Blind

1998 - "Losing A Whole Year" Third Eye Blind

1998 - "Jumper" Third Eye Blind

1998 - "How's It Going to Be" Third Eye Blind

1999 - "Anything" Blue

2000 - "Never Let You Go" Blue

2000 - "Deep Inside Of You" Blue

2000 - "10 Days Late"Blue

2003 - "Blinded (When I See You)" Out Of The Vein

2003 - "Crystal Baller"