Fountains Of Wayne

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If you're looking for a rather unique way to express pop music, you're definitely looking for Fountains Of Wayne! The band is composed by four extremely talented individuals who love playing their music. Popularized by hit single and music video "Stacy's Mom" in 2004, This mid-90's band once toured all over the world so as to heave their fans with their sizzling songs and scorching performance.

Contents

[edit] About

[edit] The Early Years

It was 1995 when the Fountains Of Wayne was given life by a half of the band with just two of them being the founding members. The band's name owes to a lawn ornament found in a garden shop in New Jersey. Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood both singer and songwriter were brilliant to combine people in a band that's both clever and honest--with their lyrics and their musical style. The two were once teamed up in their college because of their similar talents and passion for British pop.

They parted ways for a while and led different careers; Adam became a part of band Ivy while Chris of Mercy Buckets however, they met up again after a demo which brought them a contract with Atlantic Records in 1996 and released a self-titled debut album Fountains of Wayne. The single That Thing You Do became a huge hit after a release of a movie starring no less than Tom Hanks with the same title. The other singles that received much airplay was Sink To The Bottom and Radiation Vibe. However the album itself was not much of a big success as the single, for the album sold less than 200,000 copies.

After touring the world and playing alongside Smashing Pumpkins and The Lemonheads, in 1999, the band released a follow-up album this time named after a street in Queens, New York Utopia Parkway that talked about life in suburbia, but similar to the first album, failing to launch a hit single. The band disbanded for the time being after being dropped by their label, Atlantic Records.

[edit] The Reunion

Thanks to the Crank Yankers TV show in Comedy Central, where they sang the theme, the band is able to go back in the music scene. The band signed a contract for S-Curve records and released the much acclaimed single Stacy's Mom from their album Welcome Interstate Managers, which proved to be the biggest popular success of the band's career. The hit single talked about a teenage boy having a crush on his friends' mom and starred Rachel Hunter in the music video as the sexy Stacy's Mom.

Other singles that are equally made noise and received airplay was Mexican Wine, Hey Julie and All Kinds Of Time. The latter was used for the promotion of the 2005 NFL season. Out-Of-State-Plates, a double disc collection of plenty of the band's unreleased material and fan-favorites was released in 2005 and backed-up by a US tour. For now the band may be planning to launch another studio album to be released next year.

[edit] The Band

Member Information
Adam L. Schlesinger
  • Born in Montclair, New Jersey on October 31,1967
  • Plays the: Bass, Drums, Guitar, Keyboard, Vocals
  • Also: Songwriter
Chris Collingwood
  • Born in Pennsylvania in 1968
  • Plays the: Guitar, Keyboard
  • Also: Lead Vocals, Songwriter
Brian Young
  • Born in Pennsylvania in 1968
  • Plays the: Drums, Percussion
Jody Porter
  • Born in South Carolina on May 25, 1975
  • Plays the: Guitar, Vocals

[edit] Awards & Certifications

  • That Thing You Do was a certified Gold hit
  • Writer Adam Schlesinger received an Oscar Nomination for the sountrack of the movie That Thing You Do.

[edit] Chart Toppers

Year Title Chart Album
2003 "Stacy's Mom" Top 40 Welcome Interstate Managers

[edit] News

Best Alternative Rock Drummer

Fountains of Wayne member Brian Young rocked the music scene and ranked third in the as Best Alternative Rock Drummer in the DRUM! Magazine 2006 Reader's Poll. Others that won in the category of the said poll was Green Day's Tre Cool and Josh Freese of Perfect Circle, Studio. Certainly not just the two members of Fountains Of Wayne who are songwriters and vocalist become acclaimed of their talents!

[edit] Tours & Concerts

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Album Information
The Pinwheel Demos (Unreleased)
  • Released:n/a
  • Label: n/a
Fountains Of Wayne (album)
  • Released Year 1996
  • Under Atlantic/Wea
Utopia Parkway
  • Released Year 1999
  • Under Atlantic/Wea
Welcome Interstate Managers
  • Released Year 2003
  • Under S-Curve Records
Out-Of-State Plates
  • Released Year 2005
  • Under Virgin Records

[edit] Singles

Year Title
1997 Radiation Vibe
1997 Sink to the Bottom
1997 Survival Car
1997 Leave the Biker
1997 Barbara H.
1999 Denise
1999 Red Dragon Tattoo
1999 Troubled Times
2004 Stacy's Mom
2004 Stacy's Mom Part 1
2004 Stacy's Mom Part 2
2004 Mexican Wine
2004 Hey Julie


[edit] Other artists

[edit] Similar artists

[edit] Influences

[edit] Contemporaries

[edit] Trivia

  • Adam is now the co-owner of Stratosphere Sound and Scratchie Records; and also a member of band Ivy
  • Adam also wrote several tracks for the upcoming movie of 2007, "Music and Lyrics By" which will star Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore.
  • Hit song Stacy's Mom is now featured in a Dr. Pepper commercial, several years after its massive airtime in the radios and late night runs of its music video.

[edit] Reviews

  • The first time I heard this band I thought that they sounded like "The Beatles". Figures! Having "The Beatles" as the band that influenced them, they totally belong to the spotlight. The funky beat that their songs possess put people in the mood to listen and to rock on with their music. They do not have a monotonous style but somewhat manages to have spur-of-the-moment music and performances. They reveal that they are having a great time with every song that they give their audiences. -- vheliefish

[edit] External Links

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