Sugar Ray is an American rock band formed in Newport Beach, California, in 1986. Originally playing heavier funk metal and nu metal style music, the band achieved mainstream popularity in 1997 with their more pop-influenced single "Fly". The song's success led the band to shift its style dramatically to the more radio-friendly pop sound with their subsequent releases. Their best-selling album, 14:59, was released in 1999, and featured popular singles "Every Morning", "Someday", followed by a self-titled album in 2001 featuring the single "When It's Over". The band would release two further albums, In the Pursuit of Leisure (2003) and Music for Cougars (2009), though the albums and respective singles generally sold far less. The band continued to tour into the 2010s.
In 2019, ten years after the band's last album, they announced their seventh studio album, Little Yachty, in June 2019. The lead single, "Make It Easy", was released the same month.
History
Formation and Lemonade and Brownies (1986–1996)
The band members grew up in Orange County, California. Rodney Sheppard played in a number of reggae bands, including working with future Good Charlotte drummer Dean Butterworth. In the late 1980s, prior to Sugar Ray, Sheppard and Stan Frazier played together in a band under the name The Tories. Later additions Murphy Karges and Mark McGrath changed the band's name to Shrinky Dinx (initially "Shrinky Dinks").[2] After signing with Atlantic Records, the name was changed to Sugar Ray upon threat of a lawsuit from the Milton Bradley Company, maker of the Shrinky Dinks toy.[3]
The band's debut album, Lemonade and Brownies, was released in 1995 and though it failed to produce a major hit single it did earn them recognition in alternative circles.
After they gained fame with the 1997 album Floored in 1998, the single "Speed Home California" and "Mean Machine" from Lemonade and Brownies was featured in the PlayStation game Road Rash 3D, and its Nintendo 64 counterpart Road Rash 64, respectively.[4]
Floored (1997–1998)
Sugar Ray's first mainstream hit came in the summer of 1997 with their song "Fly", which was released from the album Floored and featured reggae musician Super Cat. "Fly" did not sound anything at all like the rest of the tracks on the album and received frequent radio play, resulting in a number one rank on the Billboard's Airplay List. As a result of the success of "Fly", Floored sold well and was certified double platinum. By the end of 1997 critics were skeptical that Sugar Ray could put out another successful song and labeled them a one-hit wonder.[3] The same year, Sugar Ray was featured in the movie Father's Day, starring Billy Crystal and Robin Williams.
14:59 (1999–2000)
Their 1999 album 14:59 was the band's reply to suggestions that they were a one-hit wonder, with the title implying that their 15 minutes of fame were not quite up — their "fame clock" read 14:59.[5] "Every Morning", which was widely compared to "Fly", had similar success during the spring of 1999, reaching number 3 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100chart. When asked about the band's change of style to cash on their previous hit, bassist Murphy Karges said, "We never had any credibility. Nobody ever gave us any so how could we lose any?"[6]
Their follow-up single "Someday" also enjoyed extensive airplay later that year and reached number 7 in the U.S. The next follow-up single "Falls Apart (Run Away)" reached number 29 in early 2000. 14:59 outsold its predecessor and was certified triple platinum. The band toured in support of the album, and were scheduled to perform at Woodstock 99 but McGrath fell ill and they had to cancel.[7] After 14:59 in 2000, Sugar Ray teamed up with The Alkaholiks to contribute the track "Make Room" on the Rap Rock collaboration album, Loud Rocks, with other artists with a similar style such as Crazy Town and Incubus. In 2000, Sugar Ray did a cover version of John Cale and Brian Eno's song "Spinning Away" for the soundtrack to the film The Beach.
Sugar Ray (2001–2002)
Their 2001 self-titled album Sugar Ray produced another hit with "When It's Over", which, although it failed to achieve the same level of success as their previous singles, still reached number 13 in the U.S. Other singles such as "Answer the Phone", "Under the Sun" and "Words to Me" gained some popularity as well. Sugar Ray also made several movie appearances, including Scooby-Doo in 2002. [8]
In the Pursuit of Leisure (2003–2005)
Sugar Ray's 2003 effort In the Pursuit of Leisure, and the first single from the album, "Mr. Bartender (It's So Easy)", received a lukewarm reception.[citation needed] The album also contained the band's cover of Joe Jackson's famous "Is She Really Going Out With Him?". ProHoeZak guested live with the band in 2003 having appeared on "Mr. Bartender (It's So Easy)". In 2005, Sugar Ray released a greatest hits album, with three new songs, "Shot of Laughter", "Time After Time", and "Psychedelic Bee".
Inactivity and Music for Cougars (2006–2009)
After releasing their greatest hits album – The Best of Sugar Ray, in 2005, the band went into a period of relative inactivity for a number of years, with Mark McGrath starting a new job as an anchor on the television show Extra. In January 2006, Sugar Ray was released from their recording contract with Atlantic Records. In mid-2007, their previously unreleased song "Into Yesterday" was used on the Surf's Up movie soundtrack, and the band made brief tour in Asia in August 2007 where they headlined SingFest, Singapore's first international music festival.
On May 19, 2008, the band announced they would be entering the studio to record their first album of new material since 2003. Jason Bernard, a friend of the band (who also happened to be a music producer) brought them a deal to sign with his label. It was announced that the band signed Pulse Recordings and that the new album should be released in the summer of 2009.[9] On March 6, 2009, Mark McGrath announced that the new album would be titled Music for Cougars. It was released on July 21, 2009. The first single was "Boardwalk".[10]
Some critics noted that McGrath aimed to lower people's expectations for the album during its promotion by saying things like: "I know people aren't sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for a Sugar Ray album, but that wasn't the point."[11]
Lineup changes and 1990s nostalgia touring (2010–2017)
On August 22, 2010, Sugar Ray's Twitter page announced that Craig "DJ Homicide" Bullock had left the band.[12] In 2011, the band had what McGrath described as not "the highest-grossing year for Sugar Ray". Murphy Karges and Stan Frazier also left, one not wanting to tour anymore, and the other taking a job with Aaron Rodgers. This left Rodney Sheppard and McGrath as the remaining original members.[13] The band recruited replacements in percussionist Al Keith, bassist Justin Bivona and drummer Jesse Bivona, the latter two being touring support members in the past.[13][clarification needed]
Sugar Ray performing
In 2012, McGrath worked with Art Alexakis, frontman and vocalist of the band Everclear, on starting up a 1990s nostalgia tour, something they had discussed in the past but had always felt was too soon to be successful.[14] The result was the "Summerland" tour, featuring a line-up of alternative rock bands that "at least had a big hit or two" in the 1990s, containing McGrath and Alexakis's own bands along with Marcy Playground, Gin Blossoms, and Lit.[15][16] Percussionist Al Keith (Khalil Al-Rashad) injured his foot on July 2, 2012 at Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, California, during the song "Fly". He was absent from shows until August 2012. The tour was deemed a success, and McGrath initially spoke of the possibility of it becoming a yearly event.[16] Initial plans to expand the nostalgia touring into 2013 faced issues. McGrath announced a "Mark McGrath & Friends" tour, in which the band would perform alongside other 1990s alternative rock bands Smash Mouth, Spin Doctors, and Vertical Horizon, on a cruise ship.[17] though the plans were cancelled, with the idea losing support after the Carnival Triumph cruise ship disaster.[18] Additionally, McGrath and Alexakis did not see eye to eye on the future direction for the "Summerland" tour, leading to Sugar Ray leaving its 2013 incarnation[19] in favor of starting their own rival nostalgia tour called "Under the Sun" instead.[15] The tour ran three separate years – 2013, 2014, and 2015.[20]
As early as 2013, McGrath spoke of recording and releasing an EP, though at the time, he was unsure if it would be released as a band release or a solo release.[16] On April 9, 2013, Mark McGrath announced via Twitter that he would be "heading to Pulse Recording Studios" to record the new material, he stated July to be a hopeful release date.[21] For the tour, and drummer Jesse Bivona and bassist Justin Bivona were temporarily replaced by drummer Dean Butterworth and bassist Serg Dimitrijevic, as the Bivona brothers' band The Interrupters are opening for Rancid. On September 9, 2013, former members Stan Frazier (drums, percussion, programming, backing vocals) and Murphy Karges (bass guitar, backing vocals) performed with Scott Foster (lead vocals, guitar), Lewis Richards (guitar, backing vocals), and Damon Tucker (guitar, backing vocals) during Keep Calm and Beat H.E.A.T. Rocking & Rally. They performed some of Foster's solo material, and some Sugar Ray classics. They performed from 5:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. at Twila Reid Park, 3100 West Orange Avenue, Anaheim. On November 9, 2013, Sugar Ray was to play a benefit for the Greater Los Angeles Fisher House at West LA's Wadsworth Theater.[22][23]
The band continued its "Under the Sun" tour through 2014. However, in June 2014, McGrath revealed that the band had been struggling with legal wranglings with Karges and Frazier since their departure in 2012, and that because of it, he felt there would never be another Sugar Ray album.[24] McGrath would later release the EP as a solo EP entitled Summertime's Coming in 2015.[25][26] As of the fall of 2014, drummer Jesse Bivona and bassist Justin Bivona are no longer in Sugar Ray (leaving officially in 2016); drummer Dean Butterworth became a full member in fall 2014, while bassist Kristian Attard became a full member in 2016.
In August 2017, McGrath spoke of writing and recording another album, which he hoped he would be able to release within the next year.[26]
Little Yachty (2019–present)
In June 2019, ten years after the band last released music, Sugar Ray signed with BMG Rights Management and announced a new album, Little Yachty; with the lead single "Make it Easy" debuting on June 7, 2019. The album title is a reference to both the rapper Lil Yachty[27] and the fact that McGrath views Sugar Ray as a "yacht rock" band.[28][29] The album was released on July 26, 2019.
Sugar Ray shifted to a pop rock sound following the mainstream success of "Fly",[44] beginning with their third album 14:59.[45] The band's later music has also been categorized as skate punk,[46]pop,[36] and alternative pop.[3] The band's new sound occasionally incorporated elements of genres such as power pop[47] and disco.[48] The band's overall sound, throughout its shifts in style, has been characterized as alternative rock.[49] The band's music is generally tongue-in-cheek.[20]
Band members
Current members
Rodney Sheppard – lead guitar, backing vocals, ukulele (1986–present)
Mark McGrath – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, additional percussion (1986–present)
14:59 is the third studio album by American rock band Sugar Ray, released on January 12, 1999. It entered the top 20 on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 17 and certified quadruple-platinum by the RIAA. The album shows the band moving into a more mainstream pop rock sound, due to the success of their single "Fly" off their prior album, Floored. The album's title is a self-deprecating reference to the "15 minutes of fame" critics claimed the band was riding on.
McFly are an English pop rock/pop band formed in London in 2003. The band took their name from the Back to the Future character Marty McFly. The band consists of Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd (drums). They were signed to Island Records from their 2004 launch until December 2007, before creating their own label, Super Records.
Slaughter is an American hard rock band that formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1988. The group was founded by lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum, who previously played together in the band Vinnie Vincent Invasion. The addition of guitarist Tim Kelly and drummer Blas Elias allowed Slaughter to quickly gain attention for their lively performances, catchy hooks, and melodic guitar solos.
Holocaust are a Scottish heavy metal band founded in 1977 and based in Edinburgh.
Lemonade and Brownies is the debut studio album by the American rock band Sugar Ray, released on April 4, 1995, by Atlantic Records. It was produced by the band's director friend Joseph McGinty "McG" Nichol and executive produced by DJ Lethal. Actress Nicole Eggert is featured on the cover. Even though the album did not chart and was a commercial and critical failure for Atlantic Records, the band stayed on the label, going on to huge success.
Mark Sayers McGrath is an American singer who is the lead vocalist of the rock band Sugar Ray. McGrath is also known for his work as a co-host of Extra, and he was the host of Don't Forget the Lyrics! in 2010. McGrath hosted the second season of the TV show Killer Karaoke, taking the place of Jackass star Steve-O.
"Fly" is a song by American rock band Sugar Ray. It appears on their 1997 album Floored twice: one version with reggae artist Super Cat and the other without. The song was serviced to US radio in May 1997.
Floored is the second studio album by American rock band Sugar Ray, released on June 24, 1997. It includes the hit song "Fly", and another moderately successful single, "RPM". Two versions of "Fly" appear on the album, one of them featuring reggae artist Super Cat. Floored is the first album to feature DJ Homicide as an official member whereas he was a guest musician in the previous album Lemonade and Brownies.
"Party for Two" is a song recorded by Canadian country singer-songwriter Shania Twain. It was released as the lead single from her first Greatest Hits compilation on September 7, 2004. The song was written by Twain and her then-husband and producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, with the latter producing the song. "Party for Two" was recorded as both a pop mix with pop rock band Sugar Ray lead singer Mark McGrath and a country version with country musician Billy Currington. The country version with Currington was released to country radio, while the pop mix with McGrath was released to pop audiences.
Sugar Ray is the fourth studio album by the band Sugar Ray. The album was released on June 12, 2001, and debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, and went gold. The album's first single, "When It's Over", also performed well on pop and rock charts.
In the Pursuit of Leisure is the fifth studio album by American rock band Sugar Ray, released in 2003. Singer-songwriter Esthero and reggae singer Shaggy both make guest appearances.
Aimee Allen is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. She is currently the lead vocalist for the ska-punk band the Interrupters under the moniker Aimee Interrupter. As a singer-songwriter, she has collaborated with Mark Ronson, Sublime with Rome, Tim Armstrong of Rancid, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Linda Perry, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Jimmy Cliff, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Travis Barker, Dirty Heads, and Tom Morello.
"When It's Over" is a song by American rock band Sugar Ray. It was released to all radio formats on May 7, 2001, as the lead single from their self-titled fourth album (2001). The song reached number six in New Zealand, number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 32 on the UK Singles Chart.
Music for Cougars is Sugar Ray's sixth studio album. The album was not as successful commercially as previous Sugar Ray albums. It reached number eighty on the Billboard 200 chart, with none of the album's three singles charting. This was the last album to feature turntablist Craig "DJ Homicide" Bullock, bassist Murphy Karges and drummer Stan Frazier before their departures in August 2010 and early 2012, respectively.
Craig Anthony Bullock, also known by his stage name DJ Homicide, is an American musician, DJ, rapper, singer, record producer and radio personality. He was the DJ of the rock band Sugar Ray.
"Mean Machine" is a song by American rock band Sugar Ray. It was released as the lead single from the band's debut album, Lemonade and Brownies. The song samples lines from the Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen version of the song "Hot Rod Lincoln". The song peaked at No. 45 on the Radio & Records active rock chart. The song was featured on the soundtrack to the video game Road Rash 3D.
The Summerland Tour is an annual touring music festival, founded by Art Alexakis of Everclear and mainly featuring bands that began in the 1990s alternative rock era.
Kevin Bivona is an American multi-instrumentalist and audio engineer best known for his work with Tim Armstrong's various musical projects, particularly the Transplants and Rancid. He is currently the guitarist for the ska punk band the Interrupters.
The Interrupters are an American ska punk band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 2011. The band comprises lead vocalist Aimee Interrupter, drummer Jesse Bivona, bassist Justin Bivona, and guitarist Kevin Bivona. They have released four studio albums. The latest, In the Wild, was released in 2022, along with the album's lead single, "Raised by Wolves".
"Silvery Sometimes (Ghosts)" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, written by the band's frontman, Billy Corgan. It was announced on the band's Twitter account on September 13, 2018. The song was released as the second single from the band's tenth album, Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun., the same day. The track was recorded with Rick Rubin in early 2018 and is the second track from the reforming three-quarters of the band's original lineup.
↑ Karges, Murphy (December 10, 2008). "November/December Update". Sugar Ray Blog. Wordpress. Archived from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
↑ Torre, Noelani (September 3, 2005). "Bright and breezy tracks". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p.4. Originally a funk metal band (believe it or not), [Sugar Ray] released their first album, "Lemonade and Brownies," in 1995.
↑ Carter, Brooke (February 6, 2016). "What Happened to Sugar Ray – 2017 Update". Gazette Review. Retrieved August 23, 2017. From [Floored], their success as an alternative metal band only went up...
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