Train (band)
Train is an American pop rock band from San Francisco that was formed in 1993. Since 2024, the band consists of Pat Monahan (lead vocals), Taylor Locke (guitar, vocals), Hector Maldonado (bass, vocals), Jerry Becker (keyboards, guitar), and Matt Musty (drums).[1][2][3]
This article is about the musical group Train. For 16th to 18th century militias, see Trainband. For transportation, see Train.
Train
San Francisco, California, U.S.
1993–present
- Pat Monahan
- Hector Maldonado
- Jerry Becker
- Matt Musty
- Taylor Locke
- Rob Hotchkiss
- Jimmy Stafford
- Scott Underwood
- Charlie Colin
- Johnny Colt
- Brandon Bush
- Drew Shoals
- Luis Maldonado
- Nikita Houston
- Sakai Smith
With a lineup that included original members Monahan, Rob Hotchkiss, Jimmy Stafford, Scott Underwood, and Charlie Colin, the band achieved mainstream success with their debut album Train. The album was released in 1998 with the hit "Meet Virginia". Train's 2001 album, Drops of Jupiter, contained the lead single "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)". The single won two Grammy Awards in 2002, and the album was certified double platinum. Train's third studio album, My Private Nation, released in 2003, was certified platinum in the United States with the hit "Calling All Angels". Following the departures of Hotchkiss and Colin, the band released their fourth album, For Me, It's You in 2006, with Brandon Bush (keyboards) and Johnny Colt (bass). Despite a generally positive reception from critics, the album was commercially unsuccessful. Because of this, Train went on a two-year hiatus from recording any new music.
In late 2009, Train released the album Save Me, San Francisco, from which the album's three singles—the RIAA 6× platinum-certified international hit "Hey, Soul Sister", "If It's Love" and "Marry Me"—reached numbers three, 34, and 34, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified gold by both the RIAA and ARIA.[4] In April 2012, Train released California 37. The first single from the album, entitled "Drive By", reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a Top 10 hit in the UK. This album was followed by Bulletproof Picasso (2014), Christmas in Tahoe (2015), Train Does Led Zeppelin II (2016), and A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat (2017). Their album AM Gold was released on May 20, 2022.
Train has sold over 10 million albums and 30 million tracks worldwide.[5]
History[edit]
1993–1997: Formation[edit]
Following the dissolution of his Led Zeppelin cover band "Rogues Gallery", singer Pat Monahan left his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, in late 1993. He resettled in California and crossed paths with Berklee College of Music alumnus Rob Hotchkiss,[6] who performed in coffee houses and local clubs. The two shared lead vocals, with Hotchkiss on guitar and harmonica, and Monahan playing percussion, including a modified conga attached to a kick-drum pedal. Hotchkiss had been the lead singer for L.A.-based Apostles. After deciding to form a full band, the duo recruited Jimmy Stafford (lead guitarist for The Apostles) on guitar, Charlie Colin on bass, and Scott Underwood on drums, thus solidifying Train's lineup in 1994. Train attempted to get signed under Columbia Records in 1996, but were rejected. Subsequently, the band decided to release their first self-titled CD independently. By 1997, they were touring nationally, opening concerts for bands such as Barenaked Ladies, Hootie & the Blowfish, Cracker and Counting Crows.[7]
1998–2000: Train[edit]
Train is the band's eponymous debut album. Initially released on Aware/RED, a joint venture with Columbia, A&R executive Tim Devine picked up the record for release on Columbia.[8][9] The album was released on February 24, 1998, with a different track listing from its independent counterpart. It was self-produced for $25,000, and three singles from the album were released. The first single released, "Meet Virginia", was sent to adult album alternative radio in March 1998.[10] In 2000, it became a top-20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 20. The second single, "Free", was released in July 1998[10] and experienced success on pop/mainstream rock stations, and the third single was "I Am", released in 1999. The album brought the band national fame, and was certified platinum by the RIAA. Following the success of the debut album, the band began working on their second album.
2001–2002: Drops of Jupiter[edit]
Drops of Jupiter, the band's second album, was produced by Brendan O' Brien, who has also worked with artists such as Pearl Jam, King's X, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band and Neil Young. Before the release of the second album, the band released the single "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)". The song was a massive hit; it entered the Hot 100 on March 10, 2001, and spent 54 weeks on the chart before being relegated to the recurrents chart. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, which was written by Paul Buckmaster, known for his string arrangements for Elton John. (The band reportedly hired Buckmaster expressly to create a sound similar to his arrangement for John's "Burn Down The Mission".)
The album Drops of Jupiter was released on March 27, 2001, and became Train's first multi-platinum album, with the success of the lead single. The album was Train's first top ten album, peaking at number six on the Billboard 200. The album was also a top ten hit in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number eight. "She's on Fire", the second single from Drops of Jupiter was a modest success and was featured in the 2001 comedy The Animal and the 2003 animated comedy Rugrats Go Wild. The album was eventually certified double platinum in the United States and in Canada. It was also certified gold in Australia.
During the Drops of Jupiter tour, the band released a live DVD of a sold-out concert in the band's hometown of San Francisco at The Warfield. The DVD was titled "Midnight Moon" and featured Train's hits from the first two albums among others. The concert was recorded on May 26, 2001.
Related ventures[edit]
Train founded the Save Me, San Francisco Wine Company in 2011.[91] With a partnership with ACME Wine Movers,[92] the business sells wine that is named after the group's various hits, which include: Drops of Jupiter California Red, Calling All Angels Chardonnay, Soul Sister Pinot Noir, California 37 Cabernet Sauvignon, and Hella Fine Merlot. The wine is made in the Livermore Valley.[92] The company partnered with Ghirardelli Chocolate Company to sell chocolates and confections to pair with the wine. A portion of the proceeds go to the Family House of San Francisco, which supports families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.[93]
Train supported Little Kids Rock along with COUNTRY Financial through the Road Trips and Guitar Picks campaign. In addition to raising money and autographing a guitar for auction, Train met with and sang "Hey, Soul Sister" with some Little Kids Rock students in Atlanta.[94]
In popular culture[edit]
"Calling All Angels" became an unofficial anthem of the Los Angeles Angels baseball team: it was played at Angel Stadium before every game during the 2010 season, while the video screen showed a montage of the team's history.[95]
"Calling All Angels" was featured at the ending montage of the TV series One Tree Hill episode "Life in a Glass House".[96] "Marry Me" was featured on the episode "The Other Half of Me"[97]
The album's second single, "When I Look to the Sky", was used for the trailer of the 2004 film Jersey Girl.[98][99]
The TV series CSI:NY features Train's songs "Hey Soul Sister" and "Calling All Angels" in the season six episode "Second Chances".[100]
The band was parodied in the "Band Face-Off" sketch on the January 26, 2013 airing of Saturday Night Live, in which they invade a bar, have conflict with Adam Levine (the episode's guest host) of the band Maroon 5, and are later joined by Jason Mraz and John Mayer.[101][102] Train made a statement afterwards that they approved of the parody.[103]