Lifehouse (band)

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Lifehouse
Lifehouse in 2015
Lifehouse in 2015
Background information
Also known asBlyss (1995–2000)
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1995–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitelifehousemusic.com
Members
Past members
  • Ben Carey
  • Sean Woolstenhulme
  • Aaron Lord
  • Sergio Andrade
  • Jon "Diff" Palmer

Lifehouse is an American rock band from Los Angeles comprising Jason Wade (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano), Rick Woolstenhulme Jr. (drums, percussion), Bryce Soderberg (bass, vocals), and Steve Stout (lead guitar). The band came to mainstream prominence in 2001 with the hit single "Hanging by a Moment" from their debut studio album No Name Face.[1][2] The song was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The single won a Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year, having spent twenty weeks in the top 10 and more than a year on the charts.[3][4]

Since the debut album, Lifehouse has released six more albums: Stanley Climbfall in 2002, the eponymous Lifehouse in 2005, Who We Are in 2007, Smoke and Mirrors in 2010, Almería in 2012, and Out of the Wasteland in 2015. These albums have spawned the singles "You and Me," "First Time," and "Whatever It Takes," all of which were top 40 hits in the US.[5]

History[]

1996–1999: Blyss and formation[]

Jason Wade had been writing songs since his parents' divorce as a coping mechanism. After moving to Los Angeles in 1995, he met bassist Sergio Andrade, his next-door neighbor.[6] The following year, Wade, Andrade, and Jon "Diff" Palmer formed Blyss, the forerunner of Lifehouse, and began to play live shows at high schools and colleges.[6][7][8] Later, Collin Hayden and Aaron Lord were added to the band.[9]

Soon thereafter, word-of-mouth reached producer Ron Aniello, who introduced Jason to Jude Cole, who in turn introduced him to DreamWorks Records principal Michael Ostin.[7][10] In 1998, Aniello produced Blyss's first demos, with the financial backing of DreamWorks Records. Some of these recordings would form the 1999 EP Diff's Lucky Day, which would be sold at live concerts or distributed among friends and music industry contacts.[9]

2000–2001: No Name Face[]

Main article: No Name Face

In 2000, Blyss re-recorded, remixed, and released twelve of the fifteen Diff's Lucky Day session demos as No Name Face, their debut major label release under the name of Lifehouse.[8][9] On their choosing the band name, frontman Jason Wade said, "It's about what we do as a band and for me personally. Most of this record is about my life and about life's circumstances. Not only my life, but other people's lives. We thought Lifehouse was a good name for it."[11]

No Name Face met significant commercial success and established the band, and eventually would sell in excess of 4 million copies worldwide.[7] This was in part due to the success of "Hanging by a Moment", Lifehouse's first commercial single. Due to the charisma and talent of frontman Wade, DreamWorks Records' focus was primarily on him.[12] "Hanging by a Moment" was the third song in chart history to be named the "No. 1 Song of the Year" on the Billboard Hot 100 despite not having reached No. 1 on any weekly Billboard Hot 100 survey (after Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs' "Wooly Bully" in 1965 and Faith Hill's "Breathe" in 2000).[citation needed] The second single from the album, "Sick Cycle Carousel", was not as commercially successful as "Hanging by a Moment", peaking at No. 35 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart; the third and final single was "Breathing", a reworking of a song featured on Diff's Lucky Day.[citation needed]

The song "Everything" was the first of many Lifehouse songs to be featured in The WB's future hit series Smallville.[9] It was used in the series pilot and season 1 finale, and again in the series' 200th episode "Homecoming" in the show's 10th and final season, as an homage to its season 1 episodes nine years prior.[13] The song "You and Me" from the band's eponymous third album would be released on Smallvilles' second soundtrack, Smallville: The Metropolis Mix, in an extended form subtitled "You and Me (Wedding Version)", and the band itself would perform the song live as a special guest appearance in the school prom scene at the end of the season 4 episode "Spirit". Seven of the band's songs would be featured in episodes of the series' first four seasons.

The song "Somewhere in Between", also from No Name Face, was featured in the first-season episode of Falcon Beach, "The Blame Game".[14]

By the time Lifehouse's first album was released, Palmer had left the band, and Wade and Andrade were the only remaining founding members.[7] Soon after recording No Name Face, Wade and Andrade met Rick Woolstenhulme, who auditioned for the needed drummer part and joined the band as full-time drummer.[7] Before the audition, Woolstenhulme had been rehearsing in an adjacent room to Lifehouse and frequently he and Wade would pass each other without meeting the other.[8]

2002–2004: Stanley Climbfall[]

Main article: Stanley Climbfall

Shortly after a long tour for No Name Face, Lifehouse reentered the studio to cut their second album, Stanley Climbfall. The album's initial success was short-lived and its singles, 2002's "Spin" and 2003's "Take Me Away", were vastly overshadowed by the success of the first album.[15] Shortly after the album debuted, Rick's brother Sean Woolstenhulme (of The Calling) officially became the fourth member of the band in June 2002. He had previously toured with Lifehouse.[citation needed]

In April 2004, Sergio Andrade confirmed that he had decided to leave the band to pursue individual projects. Shortly after his departure, Sean also left the band to pursue other musical projects such as Abandoned Pools and The Jimmy Chamberlin Complex.[16]

2004–2005: Lifehouse[]

Main article: Lifehouse (album)

Jason Wade and Rick Woolstenhulme remained the active members of Lifehouse. In September 2004, Bryce Soderberg (previously of AM Radio) signed on as Lifehouse's new bassist. On July 6, 2004, they went to Maryland to begin work on their eponymous third album, spending less than two months in the studio to record thirteen songs produced by John Alagia.[17] Lifehouse was released on March 22, 2005.[citation needed]

The album's first single, "You and Me", was released for airplay on January 18, 2005. It was written several years prior and was originally performed by Jason Wade for the 2000 independent film All Over Again. The song was a success and stayed on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for 62 weeks (the fifth longest-charted in history), peaking at No. 5.[citation needed] The song also appears on the soundtrack to Smallville. One episode, "Spirit", featured the band actually performing it and three other songs from the album ("Come Back Down", "Blind", and "Undone") on the show.[citation needed] The song has also appeared on Cold Case, Boston Legal, Gavin & Stacey, Everwood, Grey's Anatomy, The 4400 and Medium as well as the commercial for the final episode of Zoey 101.[citation needed] The song "All In All" was featured in Scrubs. The music video for the album's second single, "Blind", was released October 19, 2005. It starred Tina Majorino and featured several other up-and-coming young actors such as Sarch McClain, Stephen Cheung, Christopher Thien Duc Van and Andy Walters.[8]

In 2006, the newly-written song "Good Enough" was featured in the Disney film The Wild and was repeated over the end credits.[18][better source needed]

2006–2008: Who We Are[]

Lifehouse in 2008
Main article: Who We Are (Lifehouse album)

Lifehouse began recording their fourth record in mid-2006 at Kiefer Sutherland and Jude Cole's recording studio, Ironworks Studios, in Los Angeles.[19] Their fourth album, entitled Who We Are, was released on June 19, 2007.[20] The album features Wade, Woolstenhulme and Soderberg as its lineup, and "rocks a little harder" than their previous album, according to the band.[21] The album's release was followed by a tour with The Goo Goo Dolls and Colbie Caillat, which began June 15 at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, AZ.[22]

The album's first single was a bright, pop rock love song "First Time", released on April 24, 2007. The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 48 in May,[23] and peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Adult Top 40 Charts.[citation needed] The album's second single, "Whatever It Takes", was released to radio stations on October 29, 2007.[24] "Broken", the album's third single,[25] has appeared on several TV series, including Grey's Anatomy ("Lay Your Hands On Me"), Criminal Minds ("In Birth and Death", season 3, episode 2), One Tree Hill, One Life to Live and The Hills. Most recently, it was featured in the motion picture soundtrack The Time Traveler's Wife. It peaked at No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100.[citation needed]

Lifehouse held a contest to make a video for the song "Make Me Over".[26] The band gave 60 USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate students a chance to shoot the video for their new single. The winning video premiered at a gala event on December 5, 2008, at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, CA.[27]

As of October 2008, the album had been certified gold.[28][better source needed]

2008–2011: Smoke and Mirrors[]

Main article: Smoke & Mirrors (Lifehouse album)

On April 11, 2009, the band announced that Ben Carey was an official member of the band. They said that they had been "a four-piece for some time" and that Ben is "family to us". Carey had been touring with the band since 2004.[29]

The single "Halfway Gone" was released on October 27, 2009. The music video premiered on the VH1 Top 20 on VH1.com at the end of November.[30] Smoke & Mirrors was released on March 2, 2010.[citation needed] The album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 with 54,203 sold. This marked the highest chart debut of their ten-year career, beating out first week chart position for their 2002 sophomore set Stanley Climbfall, which debuted at No. 7.[31][better source needed]

2011–2012: Almería[]

Main article: Almería (album)

On September 11, 2012, Lifehouse released a new single featuring Natasha Bedingfield entitled "Between the Raindrops". A month later, on October 18, the band announced that the title of their sixth studio album would be Almería, named after a city in Spain famous as the locale of many classic Spaghetti Western films.[32] Almería was released on December 11 in the US and December 12 worldwide. The album was met with mixed reviews, and failed to spawn a second single.[citation needed]

2013–2018: Out of the Wasteland and Greatest Hits[]

Main article: Out of the Wasteland

On July 24, 2013, Wade posted a letter to the band's Facebook page saying that Lifehouse had parted with Geffen and was on a temporary hiatus as each band member turned attention to other projects (with the assurance that the band would continue to make records in the future).[33] Drummer Rick Woolstenhulme Jr. began touring with the Goo Goo Dolls; bassist Bryce Soderberg initiated a new band titled KOMOX; lead guitarist Ben Carey continued work in country rock band Elvis Monroe; and singer and songwriter Jason Wade worked on his as-yet-unreleased singer-songwriter solo record.[34][35][36][37] The band's final show before their break was on September 25, 2013.[38]

Lifehouse reentered the studio in May 2014. "Flight" was released independently on November 18, along with an announcement that the band's hiatus was officially over and a new album entitled Seven would be released in April 2015.[39][40] On December 8, 2014, Lifehouse stated on their official website that Ben Carey would no longer be a part of Lifehouse and instead would be focusing on his own projects; for live shows, the band later revealed that Steve Stout would fill in on lead guitar.[41][better source needed]

The album's first official single, "Hurricane", was released on January 27, 2015.[42] On January 27, Billboard.com revealed a new album title Out of the Wasteland and published the official standard-edition track list of the album, giving an official release date of May 19, 2015.[34][43] The album was released online and in stores on May 26, 2015 and debuted at number one on the Independent Albums chart.[44][better source needed] A special Target edition was made available with four bonus tracks. The band was to begin touring in support of the album on June 19, as an opening during the second North American leg of the No Fixed Address Tour, before the tour was cancelled due to the health of headlining band Nickelback's lead singer, Chad Kroeger.[45] A European headlining tour commenced on September 15, 2015 in Amsterdam, with extra dates added due to high demand.[46]

In June 2017, the band released their first Greatest Hits compilation, featuring all 17 of their radio singles to date in chronological order, plus one non-single that still charted on radio.[47] Lifehouse spent the summer of 2017 touring throughout the United States and Canada with Switchfoot in support of the album.[48] It marked the first North American tour by the band since 2011. During the tour, Wade teamed up with Switchfoot's Jon Foreman, to help raise funds for Houston's Hurricane Harvey victims through the track called "Shine Like Gold".[49]

In early 2018, Lifehouse toured with Collective Soul across South Africa.[50] It was later revealed that Lifehouse was among hundreds of artists whose material was destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[51]


Lifehouse at the 2019 Alameda County Fair

2019-Present: Hiatus and Goodbye Kanan[]

After each band member continuing their respective side projects, Lifehouse released their first single in six years "Cut & Run" in April 2021.[52] The first single recorded with member Steve Stout, who had collaborated with Jason Wade on the side project ØZWALD and officially became the band's lead guitarist in 2017, the song was succeeded by four more singles over the course of 2021.[53] The band compiled these five singles and one new track into their first EP, Goodbye Kanan, released on November 26, 2021 under their own label Allswell Records.[54]

Other information[]

In response to questions about the spiritual overtones of some of their songs, singer Jason Wade has stated that Lifehouse is not a "Christian band" but that he is a Christian.[55][better source needed]

Wade wrote the song "From Where You Are" for Allstate's Teen Driving Program. The song was featured on the "Tall Lights" commercial and aired on NBC.[56]

Band members[]

Current members[]

  • Jason Wade – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1997–present)
  • Rick Woolstenhulme Jr. – drums, percussion (2000–present)
  • Bryce Soderberg – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (2004–present)
  • Steve Stout – lead guitar (2015–present)

Touring members[]

  • Stuart Mathis – lead guitar, backing vocals (2000–2001)
  • Joerg Koehrig – lead guitar, backing vocals (2001–2002)

Former members[]

  • Jon "Diff" Palmer – drums, percussion (1997–2000)
  • Aaron Lord – violin, viola, mandolin (1997–2000)
  • Sergio Andrade – bass guitar (1997–2004)
  • Sean Woolstenhulme – lead guitar, backing vocals (2002–2004)
  • Ben Carey – lead guitar (2009–2014, touring 2004–2009)

Timeline[]

Discography[]

Main article: Lifehouse discography

As Blyss

As Lifehouse

References[]

  1. ^ Wolfe, Daniel. "Lifehouse". The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  2. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Top 10 Pop Songs – Summer 2001". The New York Times Company. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  3. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2001". Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
  4. ^ Lamb, Bill. "Top 100 Best Pop Songs of 2001". The New York Times Company. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  5. ^ "Lifehouse – Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Wolfe, Daniel. "Lifehouse". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Jason Wade (II) – Biography". IMDb. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d "Lifehouse Interview 2006". Jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d "Lifehouse Biography". IdolMe.com. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  10. ^ Moeller, Sean. "Lifehouse responds to low point with vigor". North County Times. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  11. ^ "Lifehouse Sees the Summit: Livewire's Exclusive Interview with Jason Wade of Lifehouse". Concert Livewire. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  12. ^ "Amazon.com: Lifehouse: Bio". Amazon.com. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  13. ^ "KryptonSite's Smallville Music Guide: Season 1". KryptonSite.com. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  14. ^ "The official FALCON BEACH website". Falconbeach.ca. December 4, 1999. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  15. ^ "Top 40 About: Lifehouse". Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  16. ^ "New Moments on the Way for Retooled Lifehouse". May 27, 2005. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  17. ^ "Lifehouse hanging on the charts". May 28, 2005. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  18. ^ "The Wild (2006) – Soundtracks". IMDb.
  19. ^ "Lifehouse Returns to Rock on 'Who We Are'". Billboard. April 27, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  20. ^ "Lifehouse official discography". Lifehousemusic.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  21. ^ "It rocks a little harder – Lifehouse on Who We Are". Archived from the original on June 20, 2007. Retrieved June 20, 2007..
  22. ^ The Moment we've all been waiting for Archived April 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine: Lifehouse announces the title of their fourth album as Who We Are.
  23. ^ Jonathan Cohen, "T. Pain Tastes Hot 100 Glory With 'Drank'", Billboard.com, May 17, 2007.
  24. ^ "Lifehouse Gets Serious For Allstate Commercial". Billboard.com. October 26, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  25. ^ "Lifehouse Announces A Third Single". Lifehousemusic.com. April 15, 2011. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  26. ^ Lifehouse Going Art House Archived June 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ "Rock and Roll 'Em: Heineken Funds SCA Music Videos". Lifehousemusic.com. November 20, 2008. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  28. ^ ""Who We Are" Certified Gold". Lifehousemusic.com. April 15, 2011. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  29. ^ "Lifehouse : Blog : Horseback riding". Lifehousemusic.com. July 28, 2007. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  30. ^ 11/23/09. ""Halfway Gone" by Lifehouse | Music Video". VH1.com. Retrieved August 17, 2011.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ "Smoke & Mirrors debuts at No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200". Lifehousemusic.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  32. ^ "INTERVIEW: Lifehouse Gains Fans and 'Haters' on 'Almeria'". ralphieaversa.com. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  33. ^ "Lifehouse – A letter from Jason: To my friends and fans,... – Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  34. ^ a b "About Lifehouse". Lifehouse Music. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  35. ^ "Goo Goo Dolls part ways with drummer after 19 years". Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  36. ^ "Elvis Monroe". Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  37. ^ "Komox: Pledge Music". Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  38. ^ "Lifehouse – Timeline Photos – Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  39. ^ "Lifehouse is back with their 7th studio album". Lifehousemusic.com. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  40. ^ "Lifehouse on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  41. ^ The Uprising Creative. "Lifehouse A Note from the Band". Lifehouse. Archived from the original on January 16, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  42. ^ "Design An Album Cover for Lifehouse Seven". Creative Allies. Retrieved January 15, 2015.
  43. ^ "Exclusive: Lifehouse Premieres 'Hurricane' Video From 'Out of the Wasteland'". Billboard. January 27, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
  44. ^ "New Album Out of the Wasteland debuts at 1 on Independent Albums Chart". June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  45. ^ "Medical Emergency Forces Cancellation of the No Fixed Address Tour". June 23, 2015.
  46. ^ "Lifehouse Tour Dates". Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  47. ^ "'Lifehouse: Greatest Hits,' multiplatinum rock band's first-ever compilation, set for release July 14".
  48. ^ "Lifehouse & Switchfoot Looking for Summer tour".
  49. ^ "Lifehouse and Switchfoot Dropping New Single to Raise Funds for Hurricane Harvey Relief: 'We Love Houston'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  50. ^ "Lifehouse & Collective Soul South African tour".
  51. ^ Rosen, Jody (June 25, 2019). "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  52. ^ Lifehouse - Cut & Run (Official Lyric Video), retrieved April 4, 2021
  53. ^ McGoldrick, Meaghan (July 26, 2017). "Concert Preview: Chart-topping rock band Lifehouse to "Search for Summer" at Ford Amphitheater in August". Brooklyn Reporter. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  54. ^ https://www.submithub.com/artist/lifehouse-1
  55. ^ "Lifehouse takes life on the road". Daily Bruin (UCLA). Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  56. ^ "Lifehouse Magazine – News, Reviews, Albums and Videos". Idiomag.com. Retrieved August 17, 2011.

External links[]

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