THIRD EYE BLIND ****

Third Eye Blind is an American alternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The band's current line-up is Stephan Jenkins (vocals, guitar), and Brad Hargreavesdrums, percussion). Guitarist Kryz Reid and bassist Abe Millett have replaced the departed Tony Fredianelli and Arion Salazar respectively.

 

After the success of their eponymous debut album in 1997, the band released one more album, 1999's Blue, before guitarist Kevin Cadogan was released under controversial circumstances.Out of the Vein. In 2008, the band released the digital EP Red Star. After a six-year hiatus from releasing a full-length album, Ursa Major was released on August 17, 2009. A fifth album currently set for a 2011 release is being worked on as well. In 2003, the band released

The band is best known for the singles "Semi-Charmed Life", "How's It Going to Be", "Graduate", "Jumper" and "Never Let You Go".

History

Beginnings (1993–1996)

Third Eye Blind recorded their first demo in 1993. The band gained major label attention after their second demo was released in 1995, including that of Clive Davis, who invited the band to perform a showcase for Arista Records in New York City. During Third Eye Blind concerts at the time, it was customary for the band to have a piñata release candy above their mosh pits, yet at the showcase for the record executives, lead singer Stephan Jenkins released live crickets from the piñata instead. 
With regard to the name of the band, Jenkins indicated during a radio interview that the name came from the metaphysical idea of a mind's eye, a topic of a book he had read. The other group members liked it and chose it as the official name. In April 1996, after Jenkins had challenged Epic Records executive Dave Massey in a meeting, the band landed an opening gig for Oasis at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium. In an unlikely scenario for an opening act, the band was invited back for an encore after playing their initial set and was paid double by the concert promoter. In addition, Stephan Jenkins' production of The Braids' cover of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" gained major-label attention. Afterwards, the band found themselves in a bidding war among record labels, and after a showcase in Los Angeles, signed with Sylvia Rhone of Elektra Records because they believed it offered the most artistic freedom.

Success (1997–2000)

Third Eye Blind's first album, Third Eye Blind was released in 1997. The album had 5 singles: "Semi-Charmed Life", "Graduate", "How's It Going to Be", "Losing a Whole Year", and "Jumper". "Semi-Charmed Life" peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was number 1 on the Modern Rock Tracks for 8 weeks. The band also performed "How's It Going to Be" on Saturday Night Live. To date their eponymous debut has been the group's most successful album, selling 7 million copies in the U.S. alone. Smash Mouth drummer Michael Urbano played drums on 4 songs on the album. During this period they also opened a number of shows on U2's PopMart Tour.

In 1999 the band released their second album, Blue. Although not received as well as Third Eye Blind, the album sold 75,000 copies the first week of release and by 2003 had sold 1.25 million in the U.S. Four singles were released from the album, "Anything", "Never Let You Go", "10 Days Late", and "Deep Inside of You". In early 2000, shortly after the release of the album, Kevin Cadogan was released from the band. Cadogan filed suit, alleging wrongful termination, adding that his production, recording, and songwriter royalties were withheld since being kicked out of the band. The lawsuit was settled out of court in June 2002, with the terms of the settlement undisclosed.

Out of the Vein (2001–2004)

After extensive international touring, the band took a break from performing, appearing only at charity events. They put on shows for the Tiger Woods Foundation and the Breathe Benefit Concert in Los Angeles after Jenkins' mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. During the four year gap between albums, the band also built a recording studio in anticipation of their next album.

In 2003 the band released Out of the Vein. Two singles were released from the album; "Blinded", and "Crystal Baller". Out of the Vein didn't sell as well as its predecessors, with numbers estimated around 500,000 copies as of March 2007. Elektra Records was being absorbed into Atlantic Records at the time, and the only music video created from the album was for the single "Blinded". Due to the merger, the band found themselves without label support, as Jenkins said, "Our record company ceased to exist the month the record was released, Elektra Records imploded."

In May 2004, Warner Music cut Third Eye Blind, along with over 80 other acts, from its roster.Craig Kallman said the cuts were made to get Atlantic's roster down to an appropriate size where "we can give each of our acts top priority." While no specific reason was given for Third Eye Blind being cut, Atlantic co-chairman

It would be over six years after the release of Out of the Vein until the band would release another full-length album.

Red Star and Ursa Major (2005–2009)

For the 10th anniversary of the release of Third Eye Blind's debut album, the band performed at the Fillmore on March 13 and 14, 2007. The shows were filmed for broadcast on HDNet on December 2, as well as normal broadcast and release on DVD and as a live album tentatively to be released in early 2008, as announced by Jenkins on November 9, 2007, on DC101's "Elliot In The Morning". However, as of early 2011, neither the DVD or live album have been released.

A single, "Non-Dairy Creamer", was released in November 2008 and was part of the internet exclusive digital EP Red Star.

Third Eye Blind's fourth studio album titled Ursa Major was released on August 17, 2009. The album had been anticipated since mid-2007 and was previously expected to be named The Hideous Strength. The album was released under their own label Mega Collider Records.

On June 5, 2009, Third Eye Blind released their first single off Ursa Major, "Don't Believe a Word". The band later released a second single, "Bonfire". Neither were able to chart on any radio formats.

Also announced was a possible fifth album titled Ursa Minor, that is planned to follow Ursa Major. Jenkins said that Ursa Minor will consist of songs that did not make the cut for Ursa Major. It was later revealed that the title of the fifth album will not be Ursa Minor, and it will consist of new songs rather than songs that didn't make the cut.

 

Fifth album (2010–present)

Long time guitarist Tony Fredianelli left the band in early 2010. According to an article which quotes a lengthy letter of his, Fredianelli "... is suing the band for apparently being denied songwriting credits and benefits that he allegedly was entitled to." Irish musician Kryz Reid played guitar on the 2010 tour.

Third Eye Blind co-headlined The Bamboozle Roadshow 2010 between May and June 2010. In an interview with Stephan Jenkins and Brad Hargreaves at The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Stephan stated that Ursa Minor is going to be recorded in July, and will be released in 2011. According to a November 2010 blog by Stephan Jenkins, the fifth album will no longer be titled "Ursa Minor". During 2010 Bamboozle Roadshow, Jenkins elaborated on the expected sound of Ursa Minor in an interview with WreckedRadio.net, "In the third album, we probably had use of too much technology, and then on the fourth album, we got rid of the technology and went back to just recording things on tape. And, that's what we're going to do on the fifth album that we are going to do this summer." 

On February 23, 2011, it was revealed that former guitarist Fredianelli had filed a federal lawsuit against Jenkins for over eight million dollars in damages for not giving him credit for past work in the band.

On March 16 2011, a song entitled "Ladies and Gentlemen" was released on Japanese singer and actress Chiaki Kuriyama's debut album. The track was written by Stephan Jenkins and Kryz Reid and is the first commercial release by Third Eye Blind's new line-up.