Now: Train
Band to play sold-out show at Madison Theater on April 1
March 3, 2010, 3:59 p.m.
This San Francisco based band has been on the music scene for more than 15 years and continues to crank out the hits. Although the band members have sometimes been in flux, their success is steady. With five studio albums released, three have made it to the Billboard top 10, with the fourth on its way.
The group was initially formed with only two members, Patrick Monahan on vocals and Rob Hotchkiss on guitar. When they decided to form a full band they reached out to members from a former Led Zeppelin cover group that Monahan had been a part of. Recruited members at this time included Jimmy Stafford on guitar, Charlie Colin on bass and Scott Underwood keeping the beat on drums.
Although Columbia initially rejected signing this adult contemporary-alternative rock group in 1996, the label reconsidered shortly after and sent Train on its first tour with the Barenaked Ladies and Counting Crows.
Train’s first studio album was self-funded by the band and consequently self-titled. The band’s hit single, “Meet Virginia” came from this album and helped compel the album to platinum status. The second studio album produced by the band created a multitude of hit singles. Some of their most well-known hits came from this 2001 album, Drops of Jupiter. Songs such as “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me),” and “She’s On Fire,” inspired MTV to ask the band to cover Aerosmith’s classic, “Dream On,” for a special tribute show. “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me),” made a record - more than 53 weeks on the Hot 100 and also won the guys two Grammy awards as well. Founder Rob Hotchkiss contributed to about half of the group’s third record before leaving in 2002 to pursue his own musical interests.
This third album, My Private Nation, released singles “Calling All Angels,” “Get to Me,” and “When I Look to the Sky.” Following the release of this album Train had songs featured in blockbuster movies Jersey Girl and Spider-Man 2 along with an episode of NBC’s Heroes. After the group’s fourth album didn’t fare as well commercially as their first three had, the members decided to take a break from the industry to spend time with family and friends.
The current band roster includes co-founder Patrick Monahan (vocals), Jimmy Stafford (guitar) and Scott Underwood (drums). The band’s most recent album dropped in 2009 with the single “Hey Soul Sister” reaching number one on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs Chart. The single reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and continues to increase its ranking.
Member Jimmy Stafford has a flair for great wine and even started the Train Wine Club. The Club is an online forum for fans, members, followers and connoisseurs alike to share thoughts on new and different wines from around the world. The Web site acts as an international, interactive blog headed up by Jimmy himself who chooses a wine of the month every month.