New Found Glory

New Found Glory (formerly A New Found Glory) is an American rock quintet formed during 1997 in South Florida. The line up for the majority of their existence has consisted of Jordan Pundik (lead vocals), Chad Gilbert (lead guitar), Steve Klein (rhythm guitar and lyrics), Ian Grushka (bass guitar) and Cyrus Bolooki (drums and percussion). Taking cues from bands such as Green Day and The Offspring, they are known for incorporating pop sensibility into a punk rock sound, and are now widely regarded as pioneers of modern day pop punk. Also noted for their energetic live show, they have garnered a devout following over the course of their career.

Having met during high school, the band soon released EP It's All About the Girls on independent label Fiddler Records. Debut album, Nothing Gold Can Stay was released on Eulogy Records in 1999 and helped earn the band a significant following. While still in their teens, the band signed their first proper record contract with Drive-Thru Records, and released a cover EP of songs from film soundtrack's titled, From the Screen to Your Stereo in 2000. Later that year, debut single "Hit or Miss" peaked at #15 on the US Modern Rock Chart which helped propel the band to a mainstream audience. Subsequently their self-titled second album New Found Glory spent 21 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and peaked at #107.

Between 2002 and 2004, the band experienced the height of their popularity with headline slots on the Vans Warped Tour with blink-182 and a supporting tour with Green Day. In June 2002, Sticks and Stones peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 chart, helped by popular singles "My Friends Over You" and "Head on Collision" (charting at #5 and #28 on the Modern Rock Chart respectively). In 2004, single "All Downhill from Here" reached #11 in the Modern Rock Tracks before fourth album, Catalyst peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 during June. The band's fifth album, Coming Home marked a stylistic change, and despite a lack of promotion it still entered the Billboard chart at #19. By April 2008, the band had signed back to an independent label with Bridge Nine Records and released a new EP titled Tip of The Iceberg. The release was packaged along with a full length album by the band's alter-ego/side project, The International Superheroes of Hardcore. In March 2009, after signing with punk label, Epitaph Records, the band's sixth album, Not Without a Fight, helped renew their popularity as it debuted at #12 on the Billboard 200 and at #1 on the Top Independent Albums.

History

Formation, It's All About The Girls EP & Nothing Gold Can Stay (1997?1999)
"The Blue Stare"
Sample of "The Blue Stare" from Nothing Gold Can Stay. The album's release and a rigorous touring schedule soon earned the band a significant following.
"Hit or Miss"
Sample of "Hit or Miss" from New Found Glory. Originally on their debut album, the newly recorded version was released as a single and helped propel the band into the mainstream.

The band formed under the name "A New Found Glory" in 1997 in Coral Springs, Florida. Jordan Pundik (vocals) met Steve Klein (guitars) and began writing music together. They recruited Ian Grushka on bass, practicing in his garage, and Joe Moreno on drums. Soon after Chad Gilbert (lead guitar), former vocalist of Shai Hulud joined to complete the quintet.

The band?s first release was the 1997 EP, It's All About the Girls on Fiddler Records. Touring up and down the East Coast in the late '90s, they sold out the entire pressing of the EP. Soon after, Moreno was replaced by current drummer Cyrus Bolooki and the band's lineup has remained unchanged ever since. Eulogy Records then signed the band, who released their debut full-length Nothing Gold Can Stay in autumn of 1999. The album's release and rigorous touring schedule soon earned the band a significant following. The album was re-issued later that year when they signed a record contract with independent label Drive-Thru. In 2009, Alternative Press included the album in their "10 Most Influential Albums of 1999" list. Brendan Manley wrote, "Like it's title emplies, Nothing Gold Can Stay is the sonic transcript of a glorious, fleeting time for NFG - and for pop-punk. But just as gold never loses its luster, it's only fitting that 10 years later, Nothing Gold Can Stay still shines".

From The Screen To Your Stereo, New Found Glory & Sticks and Stones (2000?2003)
Vocalist Jordan Pundik

After signing to Drive-Thru Records, the quintet released an EP of cover songs from film soundtracks entitled From the Screen to Your Stereo in 2000. Drive-Thru's relationship with MCA Records ensured that the smaller label's more popular bands would be picked up by the major; subsequently, their eponymous second album, New Found Glory, was released by MCA the same year. In a Kerrang! article years later, they referred to the album as the band's Essential Purchase. They wrote, "marking one of the biggest and quickest improvements in alternative music, the major label debut hurled them to the forefront of the punk scene barely 12 months after its patchy predecessor. Packed with infectious melodies and sing-along anthems, it would see them jostling with the likes of Blink-182 for the genre's crown." The album also marked the official debut of the band's new moniker, which dropped the indefinite article "A" from their original name due to some fans struggling to find the band's records in stores. Their third studio album, Sticks and Stones, was released in 2002, coinciding with an appearance on the Vans Warped Tour. Both albums went on to be certified gold by the RIAA.

Catalyst (2003?2005)

After a stint on the Honda Civic Tour with Good Charlotte and Simple Plan, the band released Catalyst in May 2004.

Catalyst, the bands fourth album, saw them experiment with a heavier sound

It debuted at number three on the Billboard album chart, selling 146,000 copies in its first week. The band toured with Green Day in the fall of 2004 on the American Idiot Tour.

The heavier style of the record, which included some metal and new wave influences, was due to the comparisons that magazines and other media outlets would make between New Found Glory and other popular bands. Chad Gilbert stated:

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Well, when Sticks and Stones came out and we were doing that Honda Civic Tour, we were getting compared to bands like Good Charlotte and Simple Plan we were angry with that. At that point, we were getting compared to more pop bands and we aren't a pop band...
?

Their song, "This Disaster", was featured in EA Sport's Madden 2005. "At Least I'm Known for Something" was featured in EA's Burnout 3: Takedown. This became the band's third record to be certified gold by the RIAA.

Coming Home & From The Screen To Your Stereo Part II (2005?2007)
"Hold My Hand"
Sample of "Hold My Hand" from Coming Home. Collaborating with Thom Panunzio, the album marked a noticable change in style with multi-layered harmonies and keys to produce a slower and more melodic sound.

After the release and tour in support of Catalyst, the band took an extended break before beginning pre-production for another album in 2005. On , 2006, Gilbert announced to MTV.com that their fifth album would be titled Coming Home and that it was scheduled to be released on , 2006. He also stated that first single, "It's Not Your Fault" would be released sometime in July 2006. They had worked with producer Thom Panunzio (Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Ozzy Osbourne), which marked a considerable stylistic change. The pace of the songs were considerably slower and were regarded as "the most mellow of New Found Glory?s career". Guitarist and lyricist Steve Klein, described the sound as "less guitar driven and more melody driven... more than any other of our records. Everything about the record is way more classic rock sounding". The release proved popular with many critics giving the album positive reviews. It was acclaimed for its "matured and nuanced songwriting", and was generally recognised as being the band's most mature work. It was also featured on the Alternative Press end of year "Essential Albums of 2006" list. However, no further singles were released and the band eventually left Geffen Records. They would later be critical of their former label after signing with Epitaph in 2008. Bassist Ian Grushka said, "My goal for this album (Not Without a Fight) is to sell more copies then we did of Coming Home. We are so happy to be on Epitaph now. Our old A&R guy at Geffen was a tool so it would be like a 'fuck you' to him when we sell more CDs".

From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II, the band's follow-up to From the Screen to Your Stereo, was released on , 2007 via Drive-Thru Records. Unlike the earlier EP, Part II is a full-length album, containing 11 songs plus one bonus track for the Japanese edition and iTunes. The first and only single from the album was "Kiss Me" and the music video can be viewed on MySpace.

Hits, Tip of The Iceberg EP & Not Without a Fight (2008?present)
"Right Where We Left Off"
Sample of "Right Where We Left Off" from Not Without a Fight. The album saw the band return to their faster and more energetic roots.
Most recent EP, Tip of the Iceberg, paid homage to the bands melodic hardcore influences

On , 2008, a compilation named Hits was released. Two previously unreleased songs, "Situations" and "Constant Static," are also featured on the album. This was their last release on Drive-Thru/Geffen before going on to sign with independent labels, Bridge Nine Records and Epitaph Records. In April 2008 a compilation from the Punk Goes... series, called Punk Goes Crunk, was released, and features New Found Glory covering "Tennessee", originally by Arrested Development. New Found Glory had previously released another cover song, "Heaven", on Punk Goes Metal.

On , 2008, the band released an new EP with six tracks on Bridge 9 Records containing both new material and covers of classic melodic hardcore songs. The EP, entitled Tip of the Iceberg, was released on CD, 7" and through digital music outlets. The CD also included an extra disc from The International Superheroes of Hardcore, named Takin' It Ova!. The ISHC is a side project of all members of the band and features Gilbert on vocals and Pundik on guitar, with the remaining members playing the same instruments they play in New Found Glory. All the members use pseudonyms for their "characters" in the band (e.g. Gilbert is known as "Captain Straightedge"). The band also recorded an internet-only music video for "Dig My Own Grave" with director Joseph Pattisall.

Their sixth studio album, Not Without a Fight, was released on , 2009, and was produced by Mark Hoppus. It was released through the band's new label, Epitaph Records. Hoppus has said that during recording, they had felt like a different band altogether. Bearing a whole new enthusiasm about music and praised the process in an interview prior to the album's release:

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These guys wanted to come out swinging. So we went in and tracked what I think is the hardest-hitting NFG record to date. We worked really hard to get great, gritty guitars, big drums, edgy bass, and Jordan is singing stronger than he ever has. In the band four of the five members hold fast in their opinions, and when it comes to voicing their views about what they do or don't like, there are no holds barred. Throw in me with my thoughts and Chris Holmes with his, and it made for more than a few heated moments in the control room. But it totally worked. In those short moments of disagreement and raised voices, the songs really came together, and I think it shows through in the music. It's a great album and I can't wait for people to hear this.
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Lead guitarist Chad Gilbert

The lead single from the album was called "Listen to Your Friends". The music video for the song was filmed in Los Angeles. The single was released , 2008 in the US & a day earlier in the UK, both via iTunes & AmazonMP3.

Following the albums release, the quintet set out on the "Not Without a Fight Tour" with support from Set Your Goals, Bayside and Shai Hulud. During the tour, a split EP with Shai Hulud titled Not Without a Heart Once Nourished by Sticks and Stones Within Blood Ill-Tempered Misanthropy Pure Gold Can Stay was exclusively released. There were two colors limited to a total of only 500 copies and only for sale from either Shai Hulud or New Found Glory at these shows.

During the summer, the band made appearances for major festivals at the Rock AM Ring in Germany and Reading/Leeds in England. Shortly afterwards, Cyrus Bolooki also confirmed they had finished shooting the video for second single "Don't Let Her Pull You Down", which is expected to be released in late summer/early autumn. The band are also scheduled to tour America from October through to December with Dashboard Confessional and nevershoutnever.

Musical style and influences

New Found Glory are renowned for their fast and energetic "pop punk" music by the media. They typically combine power pop melodies and chord changes with fast punk rock tempos, hardcore-influenced breakdowns and gang vocals. They have also been described as "punk revival", "alternative rock". and "melodic hardcore". Other media outlets often refer to the band as "emo", due to their expressive, often confessional lyrics.

Tip of The Iceberg, the bands third EP, was seen as their most obvious display of their melodic hardcore influences, while fourth album, Catalyst, was regarded as being a "heavier" record. The sound was described as "combining their renowned knack for massive choruses with some of their hardest hitting riffs". Following album, Coming Home, came in contrast as it drew heavy influence from classic rock, featuring slower melodies and chord progressions. Compared to their earlier recordings, it was viewed as a "much softer album laden with piano riffs and acoustic guitars".

British rock magazine Kerrang!, summarised, "basing much of their lyrical content on heartbreak, the band have gained somewhat of a cult following due to their ability to connect with their fans on unusually personal levels, while their penchant for incorporating pop sensibility into a sound that (largely) stays true to punk's roots has earned them respect from much of the hardcore community."

Rhythm guitarist Steve Klein is the band's lyricist, while lead guitarist Chad Gilbert is the main composer of the songs. Bassist Ian Grushka has stated that "all of the lyrics are based on real life experiences. A song can be created from something one of us is going through or a conversation we've had.." They have cited hardcore bands Hatebreed and Madball, as well as fellow pop-punk band Green Day as major influences on their career.

Members

Left to right: Ian Grushka, Cyrus Bolooki, Jordan Pundik, Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein

Current members

Jordan Pundik ? lead vocals (1997 ? present)
Chad Gilbert ? lead guitar, vocals, composer (1997 ? present)
Steve Klein ? rhythm guitar, lyricist (1997 ? present)
Ian Grushka ? bass guitar (1997 ? present)
Cyrus Bolooki ? drums, percussion (1997 ? present)

Former members

Joe Moreno ? drums, percussion (1997)

Touring members

Michael Bethancourt ? keyboards, synths (2005 ? present)
James Dewees ? keyboards, synths (2003 ? 2005)

Record Labels

Fiddler Records (1997)
Eulogy Records (1999)
Drive-Thru Records/Geffen Records (2000 ? 2007)
Bridge Nine Records/Epitaph Records (2008 ? present)

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Original Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New Found Glory