New Found Glory (formerly A New Found Glory) is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Since their formation in 1997, the quintet has consisted of Jordan Pundik (vocals), Chad Gilbert (guitar, backing vocals), Steve Klein (guitar), Ian Grushka (bass) and Cyrus Bolooki (drums) for the majority of its existance. Influenced by punk revival bands from the 1990s such as Green Day and NOFX, they are renowned for incorporating pop sensibility into a punk rock sound. Subsequently, they are now widely credited as a key pioneer in the fusion genre of pop punk. Also noted for their energetic live performances, the band have garnered a devout following over the course of their career. As of 2007, New Found Glory has sold approximately 2.5 million records.

Having met during high school, the band soon released the debut EP It's All About the Girls (1997) on independent label Fiddler Records. Later, debut album, Nothing Gold Can Stay (1999) was released on Eulogy Records and helped earn the band a significant following. Whilst still in their teens, the five-piece signed their first proper record deal with Drive-Thru Records, and recorded a cover EP of songs from film soundtrack's titled, From the Screen to Your Stereo (2000). Later that year, debut single "Hit or Miss" peaked at #15 on the US Modern Rock Chart, which helped propel the band to a mainstream audience. Subsequently their self-titled second album New Found Glory (2000) spent 21 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and peaked at #107.

Between 2002 and 2004, the band experienced the height of their popularity with headline slots on the Warped Tour with Blink-182 and a supporting tour with Green Day. Third album and mainstream breakthrough, Sticks and Stones (2002), peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 chart helped by popular singles "My Friends Over You" and "Head on Collision" (charting at #5 and #28 on the Rock Chart respectively). "All Downhill from Here" reached #11 in the Rock Chart before fourth album, Catalyst (2004) peaked at a career-high #3 on the Billboard 200. Their next album, Coming Home (2006), marked a stylistic change that differed largely from earlier material. Despite a lack of label support it entered the Billboard chart at #19, and was warmly received by critics for it's maturity.

The following year the band issued their second cover album titled From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II (2007). After a spell without a contract, they signed with Bridge Nine Records and released a new EP titled, Tip of The Iceberg (2008). Sixth album, Not Without a Fight (2009), produced by Mark Hoppus, was recorded before they signed with independent punk label Epitaph Records. The album helped renew their popularity as it debuted at #12 on the Billboard 200 and at #1 on the Top Independent Albums.

History

Formation, It's All About The Girls EP & Nothing Gold Can Stay (1997–1999)

The band formed under the name "A New Found Glory" in 1997 in Coral Springs, Florida. Jordan Pundik (vocals) met Steve Klein (guitars) and began writing music together. They recruited Ian Grushka on bass, practicing in his garage, and Joe Moreno on drums. Soon after Chad Gilbert (lead guitar), former vocalist of Shai Hulud joined to complete the quintet.

The band’s first release was the 1997 EP, It's All About the Girls on Fiddler Records. Touring up and down the East Coast in the late '90s, they sold out the entire pressing of the EP. Soon after, Moreno was replaced by current drummer Cyrus Bolooki and the band's lineup has remained unchanged ever since. Eulogy Records then signed the band, who released their debut full-length Nothing Gold Can Stay in autumn of 1999. The album's release and rigorous touring schedule soon earned the band a significant following. The album was re-issued later that year when they signed a record contract with independent label Drive-Thru. In 2009, Alternative Press included the album in their "10 Influential Albums of 1999" feature. Brendan Manley wrote, "Like it's title emplies, Nothing Gold Can Stay is the sonic transcript of a glorious, fleeting time for NFG - and for pop-punk. But just as gold never loses its luster, it's only fitting that 10 years later, Nothing Gold Can Stay still shines".

From The Screen To Your Stereo, New Found Glory & Sticks and Stones (2000–2003)

After signing to Drive-Thru Records, the quintet released an EP of cover songs from film soundtracks entitled From the Screen to Your Stereo in 2000. Drive-Thru's relationship with MCA Records ensured that the smaller label's more popular bands would be picked up by the major; subsequently, their eponymous second album, New Found Glory, was released by MCA the same year. In a Kerrang! article years later, they referred to the album as the band's Essential Purchase. They wrote, "marking one of the biggest and quickest improvements in alternative music, the major label debut hurled them to the forefront of the punk scene barely 12 months after its predecessor. Packed with infectious melodies and sing-along anthems, it would see them jostling with the likes of Blink-182 for the genre's crown." The album also marked the official debut of the band's new moniker, which dropped the indefinite article "A" from their original name due to some fans struggling to find the band's records in stores. Their third studio album, Sticks and Stones, was released in 2002, coinciding with an appearance on the Vans Warped Tour. Both albums went on to be certified gold by the RIAA.

Catalyst (2003–2005)

After a stint on the Honda Civic Tour with Good Charlotte and Simple Plan, the band released Catalyst in May 2004. It debuted at number three on the Billboard album chart, selling 146,000 copies in its first week. The band toured with Green Day in the fall of 2004 on the American Idiot Tour.

The heavier style of the record, which included some metal and new wave influences, was due to the comparisons that magazines and other media outlets would make between New Found Glory and other popular bands. Chad Gilbert stated:

Their song, "This Disaster", was featured in EA Sport's Madden 2005. "At Least I'm Known for Something" was featured in EA's Burnout 3: Takedown. This became the band's third record to be certified gold by the RIAA.

Coming Home & From The Screen To Your Stereo Part II (2005–2007)

After the release and tour in support of Catalyst, the band took an extended break before beginning pre-production for another album in 2005. On June 14, 2006, Gilbert announced to MTV.com that their fifth album would be titled Coming Home and that it was scheduled to be released on September 19, 2006. He also stated that first single, "It's Not Your Fault" would be released sometime in July 2006. They had worked with producer Thom Panunzio (Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Ozzy Osbourne), which marked a considerable stylistic change. The pace of the songs were considerably slower and were regarded as "the most mellow of New Found Glory’s career". Guitarist and lyricist Steve Klein, described the sound as "less guitar driven and more melody driven... more than any other of our records. Everything about the record is way more classic rock sounding". The release proved popular with many critics giving the album positive reviews. It was acclaimed for its "matured and nuanced songwriting", and was generally recognised as being the band's most mature work. It was also featured on the Alternative Press end of year "Essential Albums of 2006" list. However, no further singles were released and the band eventually left Geffen Records. They would later be critical of their former label after signing with Epitaph in 2008. Bassist Ian Grushka said, "My goal for this album (Not Without a Fight) is to sell more copies then we did of Coming Home. We are so happy to be on Epitaph now. Our old A&R guy at Geffen was a tool so it would be like a 'fuck you' to him when we sell more CDs".

From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II, the band's follow-up to From the Screen to Your Stereo, was released on September 18, 2007 via Drive-Thru Records. Unlike the earlier EP, Part II is a full-length album, containing 11 songs plus one bonus track for the Japanese edition and iTunes. The first and only single from the album was "Kiss Me" and the music video can be viewed on MySpace.

Hits, Tip of The Iceberg EP & Not Without a Fight (2008–present)

On March 18, 2008, a compilation named Hits was released. Two previously unreleased songs, "Situations" and "Constant Static," are also featured on the album. This was their last release on Drive-Thru/Geffen before going on to sign with independent labels, Bridge Nine Records and Epitaph Records. In April 2008 a compilation from the Punk Goes... series, called Punk Goes Crunk, was released, and features New Found Glory covering "Tennessee", originally by Arrested Development. New Found Glory had previously released another cover song, "Heaven", on Punk Goes Metal.

On April 29, 2008, the band released an new EP with six tracks on Bridge 9 Records containing both new material and covers of classic melodic hardcore songs. The EP, entitled Tip of the Iceberg, was released on CD, 7" and through digital music outlets. The CD also included an extra disc from The International Superheroes of Hardcore, named Takin' It Ova!. The ISHC is a side project of all members of the band and features Gilbert on vocals and Pundik on guitar, with the remaining members playing the same instruments they play in New Found Glory. All the members use pseudonyms for their "characters" in the band (e.g. Gilbert is known as "Captain Straightedge"). The band also recorded an internet-only music video for "Dig My Own Grave" with director Joseph Pattisall.

Their sixth studio album, Not Without a Fight, was released on March 10, 2009, and was produced by Mark Hoppus. It was released through the band's new label, Epitaph Records. Hoppus has said that during recording, they had felt like a different band altogether. Bearing a whole new enthusiasm about music and praised the process in an interview prior to the album's release:



The lead single from the album was called "Listen to Your Friends". The music video for the song was filmed in Los Angeles. The single was released December 23, 2008 in the US & a day earlier in the UK, both via iTunes & AmazonMP3.

Following the albums release, the quintet set out on the "Not Without a Fight Tour" with support from Set Your Goals, Bayside and Shai Hulud. During the tour, a split EP with Shai Hulud titled Not Without a Heart Once Nourished by Sticks and Stones Within Blood Ill-Tempered Misanthropy Pure Gold Can Stay was exclusively released. There were two colors limited to a total of only 500 copies and only for sale from either Shai Hulud or New Found Glory at these shows.

During the summer, the band made appearances for major festivals at the Rock AM Ring in Germany and Reading/Leeds in England. In June 2009, internet radio station PunkRadioCast teamed up with Jones Soda to create a punk pop 6 pack featuring labels designed by PunkRadioCast and five artists. As well as New Found Glory, Less Than Jake, Bad Brains, Thursday and The Gaslight Anthem also featured. Shortly afterwards, Cyrus Bolooki also confirmed they had finished shooting the video for second single "Don't Let Her Pull You Down", which was expected to be released in late summer/early autumn. The video premiered on October 15, and was released on October 20 via limited orange and sky blue vinyl prints. On October 17, Chad Gilbert announced the band would be playing a free show at their practise studio in South Florida. Around 120 fans packed into the studio where the band played a setlist made up of fan requests. During their American tour, the quintet announced they are planning a 10-year anniversary tour in honor of thier self-titled second album New Found Glory in early 2010 with support from Saves the Day. Along with the tour, a special edition re-release of the album is planned which will feature seven new bonus tracks.

Musical style and influences

New Found Glory are renowned for their fast and energetic "pop punk" music by the media. They typically combine power pop melodies and chord changes with fast punk rock tempos, hardcore-influenced breakdowns and gang vocals. They have also been described as "punk revival", and "alternative rock". Other media outlets often refer to the band as "emo", due to their expressive, often confessional lyrics.

Tip of The Iceberg, the bands third EP, was seen as their most obvious display of their "melodic hardcore" influences, while fourth album, Catalyst, was regarded as being a "heavier" record. The sound was described as "combining their renowned knack for massive choruses with some of their hardest hitting riffs". Following album, Coming Home, came in contrast as it drew heavy influence from classic rock, featuring slower melodies and chord progressions. Compared to their earlier recordings, it was viewed as a "much softer album laden with piano riffs and acoustic guitars".

British rock magazine Kerrang!, summarised, "basing much of their lyrical content on heartbreak, the band have gained somewhat of a cult following due to their ability to connect with their fans on unusually personal levels, while their penchant for incorporating pop sensibility into a sound that (largely) stays true to punk's roots has earned them respect from much of the hardcore community."

Rhythm guitarist Steve Klein is the band's lyricist, while lead guitarist Chad Gilbert is the main composer of the songs. Bassist Ian Grushka has stated that "all of the lyrics are based on real life experiences. A song can be created from something one of us is going through or a conversation we've had.." They have cited hardcore bands Hatebreed and Madball, as well as fellow pop punk band Green Day as major influences on their career.

Members

Current members

• Jordan Pundik – lead vocals (1997 – present)
• Chad Gilbert – lead guitar, backing vocals, composer (1997 – present)
• Steve Klein – rhythm guitar, lyricist (1997 – present)
• Ian Grushka – bass guitar (1997 – present)
• Cyrus Bolooki – drums, percussion (1997 – present)

Former members

• Joe Moreno – drums, percussion (1997)

Touring members

• Michael Bethancourt – keyboards, synths (2005 – present)
• James Dewees – keyboards, synths (2003 – 2005)

Record Labels

• Fiddler Records (1997)
• Eulogy Recordings (1999)
• Drive-Thru Records/Geffen Records (2000 – 2007)
• Bridge Nine Records/Epitaph Records (2008 – present)

Discography

Studio albums

• Nothing Gold Can Stay (1999)
• New Found Glory (2000)
• Sticks and Stones (2002)
• Catalyst (2004)
• Coming Home (2006)
• Not Without a Fight (2009)

References

1. Alternative Press (Magazine) #254 September 2009, p.65 The 10 Influential Albums of 1999 - A New Found Glory 'Nothing Gold Can Stay'
2. Greenwald, pp. 127-128. I'm sick of smiling / and so is my jaw / can't you see my front is crumbling down?' asked the first song on Sticks and Stones, the New Found Glory album that stunned the world when debuted at number four in the summer of 2002. It's an interesting contradiction—the celebration of misery, the simultaneous privileging and subsuming of the self—but one that's pure emo, no matter what the band or its label says."

External links