Maroon 5 is a Grammy Award-winning pop rock band from Los Angeles, California that won several awards for their debut album Songs about Jane (2002).
The album enjoyed significant chart success. He has received gold, platinum and triple platinum status in many countries around the world. The subsequent acoustic album, featuring versions of songs about Jane, went platinum.
The group received a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2005. In the autumn of the same year, the musicians released a live album Live, Friday the 13th. It was recorded on May 13th in Santa Barbara, California. Thanks to the collection, the group received another Grammy Award.
Maroon 5 band: how did it all begin?
It all started at Brentwood School. On your first day Adam Levin met Mickey Madden. "He's like a 'musical encyclopedia'," said Adam.
Levin played an important role in Madden's life, after they met, he immediately acquired his first bass guitar. The next member of the group was Jesse Carmichael. Jesse received an excellent musical education, learning to play the piano from an early age.
When he and Adam first met, Carmichael was playing clarinet in the Brentwood school band. Levine and Carmichael began playing together while they were performing at a performing arts festival.
As freshmen in high school, they created a "group-family" that is still a tight-knit team today. The guys are friends.
Levine, Madden and Carmichael played their first show at Jr. high dance. Back then, they only played cover versions of 1990s bands like Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains.
Maroon 5: Mostly Men
When the trio entered high school, the band's drummer left the band. He was replaced by Amy Wood (girlfriend of one of the current members). Since the group now consisted of three guys and a girl. The musicians chose the name Mostly Men and began performing in the Los Angeles area shows.
After the first experience of recording material, the musicians decided that Amy was the "weak link", slowing down their development. And she left.
Soon Levin remembered an old acquaintance of Ryan Dusik. They had previously disliked each other at school, as Dusik was two years older than the others and was in a slightly different social environment. The age difference did not cause problems for the young members of Maroon 5. Because the musical "chemistry" between the members was obvious.
Kara's Flowers
After the merger, the group was called Kara's Flowers. The musicians played their first show at the Whiskey A Go-Go on September 16, 1995. Then the group began to have fans.
The band soon signed to Reprise Records while still in high school. And released the album The Fourth World in mid-1997. Then three of the four participants were going to graduate from school, Ryan Dusik finished his 2nd year at UCLA.
A video was made for Soap Disco's debut track, but MTV didn't like it. Despite touring with Reel Big Fish and Goldfinger, the album did not reach the right audience and was a "failure". In 1999, the band terminated their contract with Reprise Records.
Then four guys independently took up a career and went to different colleges across the United States. They discovered new musical styles and developed a love for motown, pop, R&B, soul and gospel. These styles greatly influenced the sound of Maroon 5.
The four members of Kara's Flowers stayed in touch and started playing together again in 2001. Jesse Carmichael switched from guitar to keyboards. So there was a need for an additional guitarist. James Valentine, who previously worked with the band Square, joined the musicians.
Formation of Maroon 5
When Valentine joined the band in 2001, the band decided it was time to change the name and they chose Maroon. But they changed it a few months later to Maroon 5 due to a name conflict. Then the group had a career growth and began to send inquiries. The musicians began performing their first concerts, went to New York and Los Angeles.
The band signed to the independent record label Octone Records in New York, which was a division of BMG. She got a "promotion" deal with Clive Davis (J Records). The musicians also signed a global deal with BMG Music Publishing.
Songs about Jane
The band recorded the album Songs about Jane at Rumbo Recorders in Los Angeles with producer Matt Wallace. He has worked with Train, Blues Traveler, Kyle Riabko and Third Eye Blind.
Much of the material that was on Maroon 5's debut album was inspired by Levine's relationship with Jane's ex-girlfriend. "After compiling a list of songs, we decided to call the album Songs about Jane because that was the most honest description we could come up with for the title."
The first single Harder to Breathe gradually became popular. And soon the song began to hit the tops. In March 2004, the album hit the top 20 on the Billboard 200. And the song hit the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts.
The album peaked at number 6 on Billboard in August 2004. This was the longest period between an album's release and its first top 10 appearance. Since SoundScan's results were included on the Billboard 200 in 1991.
The album Songs about Jane entered the top 10 of the Australian album charts. Harder to Breathe reached the top 20 single charts in the UK. And also in the top 40 best songs in Australia and New Zealand. The album also peaked at number 1 in the UK and Australia.
The second single, This Love, was also a top 10 hit in the US and Australia. And even in the top 3 leading singles in the UK and Holland.
The third single She Will Be Loved was a top 5 hit in the UK and US. And took 1st position in Australia. And the fourth single Sunday Morning hit the top 40 in the US, UK and Australia.
Did you know what?
- The group was formed in 1994 while the members were still in high school.
- In 2001, the composition of the group changed. It included James Valentine. Then the musicians decided to change the name of the band and became the band Maroon 5.
- The Maroon 5 team has been a longtime supporter of Aid Still Required (ASR). The collective has participated in various ASR social media campaigns.
- The album's second and third singles This Love and She Will Be Loved became worldwide hits.
- The group received a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2005.
- In 2006 Maroon 5 was awarded the Environmental Media Awards.
- Adam Levine is a supporter of same-sex marriage and LGBT rights. His brother is openly gay.
- Since their debut in 2002, the group has sold over 10 million albums and over 15 million digital singles in the United States. As well as over 27 million albums worldwide.
- The single Makes Me Wonder became the first number 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 (USA).
- The single Moves Like Jagger featuring singer Christina Aguilera became the group's second single. It peaked at number 1 on the Hot 100.
Maroon 5 band in 2021
March 11, 2021 the team with the participation of the singer Megan thee stallion presented to fans of his work a colorful video clip for the track Beautiful Mistakes. The video was directed by Sophie Muller.
Maroon 5 at the beginning of June 2021 replenished their discography with a new disc. The collection was called Jordi. The guys dedicated the LP to the manager D. Feldstein. The album was topped by 14 tracks.