Jimmy Eat World

  • Phoenix, AZ
    hometown
  • Alternative
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  • 1994
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About Jimmy Eat World

Official Site: http://jimmyeatworld.net/ | @jimmyeatworld | facebook.com/jimmyeatworld


Once a trailblazing name in the mid-'90s emocore scene, Jimmy Eat World eventually found a larger audience by embracing a blend of alternative rock and power pop that targeted the heart as well as the head. The band's influence widened considerably with 1999's Clarity -- an album that has since emerged as a landmark of the emo genre -- it was the band's follow-up (specifically the infectious single "The Middle") that crowned them as major figures in commercial rock. The emo label proved difficult to shake throughout the 2000s, even when subsequent albums like Futures and Chase This Light did little to evoke the hard-edged sensitivity of Clarity, but Jimmy Eat World still remained a league above the generation of emocore torch-bearers they helped spawn.

Jimmy Eat World formed in February 1994 in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa, AZ. Jim Adkins (vocals/guitar) and Zach Lind (drums) had met while attending Mountain View High School; years of playing in local bands had also introduced them to locals Tom Linton (guitar/vocals) and Mitch Porter (bass). The four musicians joined forces and derived the band's moniker from an argument between Linton's younger brothers, Ed and Jimmy. The two siblings were prone to fighting, with the heavyset Jimmy usually emerging as the victor. One day, a revengeful Ed resorted to drawing a picture of his heavyset older brother shoving the entire world into his mouth. The caption "Jimmy Eat World" was printed beneath, and the band deemed it a perfect fit. Citing influences like Rocket from the Crypt, early Def Leppard, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Fugazi, and the Velvet Underground, Jimmy Eat World outfitted themselves as a punk rock act and began playing small shows in the Phoenix valley.

Over the course of 1994 and early 1995, Jimmy Eat World released several EPs and singles on Wooden Blue Records, an imprint based in the nearby town of Tempe. Limited-edition pressings of "One, Two, Three, Four," "Back from the Dead Mother Fucker," and split EPs with Christie Front Drive, Emery, and Blueprint would later run out of print, as would the band's self-titled debut album. The band's audience was steadily growing, and Capitol Records responded by signing Jimmy Eat World in mid-1995, when bandleaders Adkins and Linton were only 19 years old. Porter soon exited the group; Linton's best mate since seventh grade, bassist Rick Burch, was enlisted as a replacement, and the band marked their major debut with the release of 1996's Static Prevails.

Three years passed; by 1999, Jimmy Eat World had officially transformed themselves into an emo outfit with the release of their intricate sophomore album, Clarity. The record marked Adkins' first time as the group's lead singer and principal songwriter, two roles that Linton had previously handled. Unfortunately, Capitol Records had also experienced some significant changes, ultimately culminating in the departure of president Gary Gersh -- the same man who signed Jimmy Eat World in 1995. Capitol's new management balked at Clarity's sensitive sound and started to shelve the album; it wasn't until several key radio stations (including L.A.'s influential KROQ) started airing the song "Lucky Denver Mint" that the label relented and released Clarity in February 1999. "Lucky Denver Mint" proved to be popular on the radio and in the movies, where it scored a spot in the Drew Barrymore comedy Never Been Kissed. Jimmy Eat World's fan base continued to grow, but their relationship with Capitol progressively soured. After the label shelved the band's third LP, Jimmy Eat World decided to leave the label, and Capitol was happy to let them go.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Eat World's music was attracting an audience overseas, where Clarity had become a hit in countries like Germany. The band responded by financing and promoting a tour throughout the European continent. Singles, a collection of unreleased B-sides and rarities, was released that same year on the independent label Big Wheel Recreation. A split EP with Australian rockers Jebediah was also released, and the band scraped together the profits from those ventures before entering the studio to record Bleed American (whose title would later be changed to Jimmy Eat World after the events of September 11, 2001). Enlisting the help of Clarity's producer, Mark Trombino, the band independently created the record that would effectively launch their high-profile careers. Jimmy Eat World then used the completed product to land a contract with Dreamworks, who released the album in July 2001. While the hard-hitting title track did moderately well, it was the record's second single, "The Middle," that landed Jimmy Eat World a spot on the pop/rock map. Featuring a video filled with scantily clad teenagers, the song also enjoyed heavy exposure on MTV, where a younger audience latched onto the band's summery appeal. A year after its release, Jimmy Eat World was still a fixture on the Billboard charts and modern rock radio. A third single, "Sweetness," was released in summer 2002, and "A Praise Chorus" followed soon after, allowing the album to go platinum.

The Dreamworks label closed its doors in January 2004, and Jimmy Eat World shifted their operations over to Interscope for the release of their fifth album. Futures was released in October 2004 and debuted at number six on the Billboard charts, eventually going gold on the strength of the Top 40 hit "Pain." The Stay on My Side Tonight EP appeared one year later, featuring a Heatmiser cover and several tracks that had been axed from the Futures track list. Jimmy Eat World continued to tour in support of the album before entering the recording studio with Butch Vig, a veteran musician who had produced Nirvana's Nevermind and the Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream before forming a platinum-selling group of his own, Garbage. With Vig behind the controls, Jimmy Eat World recorded their sixth studio LP, Chase This Light. The leadoff single, "Big Casino," was released in August 2007, and the album followed in October. The following year, the band announced that they were returning to the studio to work on a new album with their old producer, Mark Trombino. Two years later, Invented became their seventh release. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi

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Music

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  • Big Casino
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    Big Casino
  • My Best Theory
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    My Best Theory
  • The Middle
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    The Middle
  • 2380
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    • The Middle
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/9/7/1/8/6/962568179.mp3
    • Sweetness
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/2/3/1/8/6/962568132.mp3
    • Hear You Me
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/7/1/1/8/6/962568117.mp3
    • Bleed American
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/4/2/3/8/6/962568324.mp3
    • The Middle
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/9/8/5/2/104625894.mp3
    • Pain
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/8/7/9/5/989959784.mp3

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • In The Studio with Jimmy Eat World
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    In The Studio with Jimmy Eat World

Photos

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  • Jimmy Eat World

News

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  • Jimmy Eat World
    15 Musicians Turned Reality Stars (For Better Or For Worse)
    VH1 Tuner
    May 23, 2013
    Music and reality TV have a rather peculiar, but beneficial relationship for artists. Whether its a veteran artist trying to reignite the flame of the...
    Read More
  • Jimmy Eat World
    Teen Choice Awards 2013 Nominations: 'Twilight' And Taylor Swift Dominate
    MTV News
    May 23, 2013
    Other nominees at August show include Justin Bieber, 'Pretty Little Liars' and Miley Cyrus.
    Read More
  • Jimmy Eat World
    What 'Star Wars: Episode VII' Needs: Malakili
    Movies Blog
    May 20, 2013
    By Ryan Rigley Seems like we here at MTV News aren't the only ones speculating about what to expect from the upcoming "Star Wars" trilogy. Last Wedn...
    Read More
  • Jimmy Eat World
    'Star Trek Into Darkness' Spoiler Special: Burning Questions Answered
    MTV News
    May 20, 2013
    Co-writer Damon Lindelof exclusively addresses the mysteries surrounding the blockbuster.
    Read More
  • Jimmy Eat World
    Jimmy Eat World Revisiting 'Clarity' On Tour
    www.billboard.com
    "Clarity" has become something of a classic for a younger generation of rock fans, inadvertently jump-starting the commercial ascent of the so-called ...
    Read More
  • Jimmy Eat World
    News in Brief: Future of Music Coalition, Tim Tuten, Jimmy Eat World, the Datsuns
    www.pitchfork.com
    Clarity Live. It's a recording of them playing their 1999 album Clarity back-to-front, along with two encores, in Arizona last month at the end of the...
    Read More
  • Jimmy Eat World
    Jimmy Eat World Reveal 2010-2011 Tour Dates
    Paste
    Jimmy Eat World will do a bit of globe-trotting in support of their album Invented. The band will make stops in the U.S., Japan, Australia and New Zea...
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  • Jimmy Eat World
    Jimmy Eat World Embraces Digital Domain with 'Invented' | Billboard.com
    www.billboard.com
    and success at radio." At radio, Jimmy Eat World is faring well, with "My Best Theory," the lead single off "Invented," reaching No. 4 on Billboard's ...
    Read More
  • Jimmy Eat World
    Listen: How to Dress Well Mixes Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Jimmy Eat World on New FACT Mix
    www.pitchfork.com
    How to Dress Well will release his new album, Total Loss, via Acéphale/Weird World. In support of the record, he's shared a 58-minute FACT mix, drawin...
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  • Jimmy Eat World
    Jimmy Eat World's Next Album Is an 'Adult Breakup Record'
    music.yahoo.com
    Related ContentView Photo Jimmy Eat World's Next Album Is an 'Adult Breakup Record' Jimmy Eat World's seventh album, Damage, out June 11th on RCA, was...
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  • Jimmy Eat World
    Jimmy Eat World's Next Album an 'Adult Breakup Record'
    www.rollingstone.com
    Jimmy Eat World Michael Elins Jimmy Eat World's seventh album, Damage, out June 11th on RCA, was recorded last October in producer Alain Johannes' Los...
    Read More
  • Jimmy Eat World
    Jimmy Eat World's Adkins Discusses New 'Adult Break-Up Record'
    www.billboard.com
    "Nothing is less effective for me than when you stack happy on top of happy," says the frontman. Jimmy Eat World singer/songwriter/guitarist Jim Adkin...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • Jun 14 Friday
    Castle Donington, UK Donington Park
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  • Jun 14 Friday
    Landgraaf, Netherlands Unknown venue
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  • Jun 16 Sunday
    London, UK KOKO
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  • Jun 18 Tuesday
    Esch Sur Alzette, Luxembourg Rockhal Main Hall
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  • Jun 18 Tuesday
    Berlin, Germany Astra Kulturhaus
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  • Jun 19 Wednesday
    Berlin, Germany Astra Kulturhaus
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  • Jun 21 Friday
    Scheessel, Germany Eichenring
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  • Jun 21 Friday
    Neuhausen Ob Eck, Germany Unknown venue
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  • Jun 22 Saturday
    Prague, Czech Republic Lucerna Music Bar
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  • Jun 29 Saturday
    Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada The Commons at Butler’s Barracks Historic Site
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  • Jun 30 Sunday
    Pittsburgh, PA, US Zoo Entertainment Complex
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  • Jul 2 Tuesday
    Cleveland, OH, US House of Blues
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  • Jul 3 Wednesday
    Clifton Park, NY, US Upstate Concert Hall
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  • Jul 6 Saturday
    Royal Oak, MI, US Royal Oak Music Theatre
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  • Jul 7 Sunday
    Milwaukee, WI, US BMO Harris Pavilion
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  • Jul 8 Monday
    Minneapolis, MN, US First Avenue
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  • Jul 10 Wednesday
    Missoula, MT, US Wilma Theatre
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  • Jul 12 Friday
    Vancouver, BC, Canada PNE Agrodome
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  • Jul 13 Saturday
    Victoria, BC, Canada Juan De Fuca Recreation Centre
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  • Jul 14 Sunday
    Victoria, BC, Canada Juan De Fuca Rec Centre - Lower Fields
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  • Jul 15 Monday
    Seattle, WA, US Showbox SoDo
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  • Jul 16 Tuesday
    Portland, OR, US McMenamin's Crystal Ballroom
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  • Jul 17 Wednesday
    Boise, ID, US Knitting Factory
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  • Jul 18 Thursday
    Salt Lake City, UT, US The Depot
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  • Jul 20 Saturday
    Denver, CO, US Ogden Theatre
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  • Aug 2 Friday
    Toronto, ON, Canada Phoenix Concert Theatre
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  • Aug 4 Sunday
    Montreal, QC, Canada Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
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  • Aug 4 Sunday
    Portland, ME, US State Theatre
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  • Aug 5 Monday
    Boston, MA, US House of Blues
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  • Aug 7 Wednesday
    New York, NY, US Central Park SummerStage
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  • Aug 9 Friday
    Philadelphia, PA, US The Mann Center for the Performing Arts - Skyline Stage
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  • Aug 10 Saturday
    Richmond, VA, US The National
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  • Aug 11 Sunday
    Washington, DC, US 9:30 Club
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  • Aug 13 Tuesday
    Charlotte, NC, US The Fillmore
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  • Aug 14 Wednesday
    Atlanta, GA, US Center Stage Theater
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  • Aug 16 Friday
    Nashville, TN, US Marathon Music Works
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  • Aug 17 Saturday
    Indianapolis, IN, US Egyptian Room, Old National Centre
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  • Aug 18 Sunday
    Chicago, IL, US Vic Theatre
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  • Sep 20 Friday
    Chula Vista, CA, US Sleep Train Amphitheatre
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  • Oct 4 Friday
    Austin, TX, US Zilker Park
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  • Oct 11 Friday
    Austin, TX, US Zilker Park
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  • Oct 12 Saturday
    Mexico City, Mexico Curva 4 Del Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
    Buy Ticket

Discography

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  • Damage (2013)
    Jimmy Eat World
    Damage (2013)
    RCA
  • Invented (2010)
    Jimmy Eat World
    Invented (2010)
    Interscope
  • Chase This Light (2007)
    Jimmy Eat World
    Chase This Light (2007)
    Tiny Evil
  • Futures (2004)
    Jimmy Eat World
    Futures (2004)
    Western Tread Recordings
  • Bleed American (2001)
    Jimmy Eat World
    Bleed American (2001)
    Western Tread Recordings
  • Clarity (1999)
    Jimmy Eat World
    Clarity (1999)
    Nettwerk America
  • Static Prevails (1996)
    Jimmy Eat World
    Static Prevails (1996)
    Nettwerk America
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