Rob Thomas-who was born on a military base in Germany and reared in the
southeast-honed his songwriting abilities while fronting in a variety of
local bands in his high school years (he lists such artists as Van Morrison,
Elvis Costello, Al Green and R.E.M. as influences). While enjoying the local
scene, Thomas was introduced to matchbox20 drummer Paul Doucette and bassist
Brian Yale. After playing together for a few years in bands and touring
regionally, the threesome (Thomas, Doucette, and Yale) decided to start a
new band-what was to become matchbox20. After recruiting the talents of Adam
Gaynor from Criteria Recording Studios in Miami and Kyle Cook from the
Atlanta Institute of Music, the lineup was complete.
The band quickly joined forces with producer Matt Serletic, who co-produced
the Collective Soul albums, and began tracking demos. It wasn't long before
the project attracted attention from both coasts. And soon matchbox20 found
itself added to the Lava/Atlantic roster. The band wasted no time and headed
back into the studio with Serletic to record their debut album, Yourself Or
Someone Like You.
Rob Thomas is a storyteller whose lyrics focus mainly on personal
relationships, and he delivers his lines with a certain intimacy, like two
friends sharing a good secret. Yourself Or Someone Like You builds
momentum from the strong vocal delivery of principal songwriter Thomas, who
doesn't so much sing these songs as bite into them. He's complimented by the
background vocals of lead guitarist Kyle Cook and rhythm guitarist Adam
Gaynor, whose electric and acoustic guitar arrangements are combined with
the rhythm section of drummer Paul Doucette and bassist Brian Yale.
The instinctive union among these five musicians--immediately evident during
the band's electrifying live shows--is a reminder of what can be achieved
when musicians never lose sight of the fact that the song is the most
important thing. "I think we get up there and try as honestly as we can to
convey the songs as energetically and heartfelt as we can," says Thomas.
"These are our songs and we really feel good about 'em. I don't think we
try and put any dramatics into it, but after a show when we're just talking
to people, they'll tell us, You know you were so into it, that was so intense
to watch.' To us, we were just playing the songs and losing ourselves in
them. It's like if you come to a rehearsal, you're gonna see the same thing.
It's not something that we can help really."
Rob's parents divorced when he was 2. He ran away at 12. Went to high school
and slept on park benches and at friends'. A friend taught him to play a
piano and started a band that played Richard Marx and U2 covers. Then his
career went on the uprise when he joined Tabitha's Secret.
Some Fast Facts on the Band Members
ROBERT KELLY THOMAS
-Born on a military base in Germany
-Favorite drinks are Jack Daniels and coke
-Favorite ice cream is cookies and cream
-Favorite chips are Pringles sour cream and onion
-Favorite cigarettes are Camel Special Lights
-Favorite song on the album is Kody
-Favorite song to perform is Back 2 Good
-Favorite authors are Kurt Vonnegut and Tom Robbins
-Cut his arm while chained to the wall in the Push video
-He has a picture of Elvis on his acoustic guitar
-Bought the leather jacket he's wearing in Push at a thrift store for $7
-He was in Tabitha's Secret with Brian and Paul
-His sister says he's good with kids
-Does his own nail polish
-First concert was Genesis, The Invisible Touch Tour
-Greatest influence is Steve Burry
KYLE COOK
-Favorite cigarettes are Camel Hard Pack
-Favorite song on the album is Girl Like That
-In his high school year book of his senior year he is holding his acoustic
guitar
-He sometimes shares clothes with Adam
-He attended the Atlanta Institute of Music
-He played the violin for 5 years
-He got his first guitar, Yamaha Classical guitar, on his 13th birthday
-He's good at cooking, but not so good at laundry
-He's from Frankfort, Indiana
ADAM GAYNOR
-He's 6'2"
-He does NOT have a middle name
-He's allergic to dogs
-He's Jewish
-He sometimes shares clothes with Kyle
-He taught himself how to play the guitar, his sister was first given a guitar and got a lot
of attention which made Adam jealous. So he stole his sister's guitar and
taught himself how to play.
-He only paints his thumb and pinky finger
-He likes the band Bush
-He doesn't drink or smoke
BRIAN YALE
-Favorite cigarettes are Marlboro
-HE FEARS THE LETTER Y!
-He likes to quote Austin Powers, "Do I make you horny?"
-The band nick named him Pookie
-He's said to be the goofiest of them all
-He was in Tabitha's Secret with Paul and Rob
-He doesn't like mayonnaise
-He uses Aveada hair products
-He attended the University of Miami
-He played the trumpet in his high school band
-He does good impressions of SNL characters
PAUL JOHN DOUCETTE
-He's 5'4"
-Favorite drink is beer, preferably Dos Equis Lager
-Favorite cigarettes are Marlboro
-Favorite song to perform is Push
-He's from Pittsburgh, PA
-He came up with the band name
-He was in Tabitha's Secret with Rob and Brian
-He wanted to be a musician since he was 10
-His greatest influence is R.E.M
-In the 3 a.m. video he was wearing a $550 Versace Mohar sweater
-His greatest idol is Kenny Arnoff
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