30 Seconds to Mars is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 1998. Since 2007, the band has consisted of actor
Jared LetoJared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
(lead vocals, rhythm guitar, songwriter),
Shannon LetoShannon Leto is an American drummer and an occasional actor. He is the older brother of musician and actor Jared Leto; both are part of the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. -Career:...
(drums, percussion) and
Tomo MiličevićTomislav "Tomo" Miličević is a Bosnian-American musician. He is the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band 30 Seconds to Mars.- Family :...
(lead guitar, keyboards). Following the departure of
Matt WachterMatthew Walter "Matt" Wachter is the bassist, keyboardist, and the backing vocalist in the rock band Angels & Airwaves. He was the former bassist for alternative rock group 30 Seconds to Mars, He was with the band from 2001 to 2007...
(now of
Angels & AirwavesAngels & Airwaves is an American alternative rock supergroup led by Blink-182 guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, also including guitarist David Kennedy from Over My Dead Body, Hazen Street and Box Car Racer, bass guitarist Matt Wachter from 30 Seconds to Mars and former Lostprophets and Nine Inch...
) in 2007, Tim Kelleher became the bassist for the group, performing live only with both Jared and Miličević recording bass for studio recordings, while Braxton Olita (keyboards) was added to the touring lineup in 2009. Previously, the group also featured guitarists
Solon BixlerSolon Bixler is a rock–indie musician from Fresno, California. He is a former guitarist for the bands 30 Seconds to Mars and Earlimart...
(now of
Great NorthernGreat Northern is a rock group from Los Angeles composed of lead vocalist/keyboardist Rachel Stolte, guitarist Solon Bixler , bassist Matt Roveto, and drummer Justin Rocherolle...
) and Kevin Drake.
To date, 30 Seconds to Mars have released three studio albums –
30 Seconds to Mars30 Seconds to Mars is the debut studio album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, released on August 21, 2002. The album was produced by Bob Ezrin, Brian Virtue and 30 Seconds to Mars, and was recorded in Los Angeles during 2001 and early 2002...
(2002);
A Beautiful LieA Beautiful Lie is the second album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. It was released on August 30, 2005 through Virgin Records and was produced by Josh Abraham. The album produced four singles, "Attack," "The Kill," "From Yesterday," and "A Beautiful Lie"; of which three of those four...
(2005);
This Is WarThis Is War is the third studio album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, released through Virgin Records and EMI on December 8, 2009. It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200.- Background and development :...
(2009) and three
extended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
s –
AOL Sessions Undercover (2007),
To the Edge of the EarthTo the Edge of the Earth is a Wal-Mart exclusive EP by 30 Seconds to Mars, published in 2008, which includes a CD/DVD combo made with only environmentally friendly material...
(2008), and
MTV Unplugged: 30 Seconds to MarsMTV Unplugged: 30 Seconds to Mars is a live album by the American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. It features an acoustic performance taped at Sony Music Studios in New York City...
(2011).
30 Seconds To Mars' music has been associated mostly with
progressive rockProgressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
/
metalProgressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
and
post-grungePost-grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1990s as a derivative of grunge, using the sounds and aesthetic of grunge, but with a more commercially acceptable tone...
but also included
electronic musicElectronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
,
emoEmo is a style of rock music and its associated subcultureEmo may also refer to:- Businesses :* Emo , an Irish oil company and filling station chain* Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario...
,
space rockSpace rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
,
post-hardcorePost-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
and synth rock into their music. They have been compared to
Pink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
(who were an influence on their work) and
ToolTool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
because of their use of philosophical and
spiritualSpirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
lyrics, concept albums and their use of
experimentalExperimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
music.
Formation (1998–2002)
Founded in 1998 by brothers
Shannon LetoShannon Leto is an American drummer and an occasional actor. He is the older brother of musician and actor Jared Leto; both are part of the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. -Career:...
and
Jared LetoJared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
, 30 Seconds to Mars began as a small family project. Matt Wachter later joined the band as bassist and keyboard player. After working with a number of guitarists (as the band's first two guitarists, Kevin Drake and Solon Bixler, left the band due to issues primarily related to touring), the three auditioned Tomo Miličević to round out the band's roster.
Jared LetoJared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
said the following in an interview regarding the name of the band:
"For us, the name 30 Seconds To Mars has little to do with space, the universe or anything like that. It is a name that works on several different levels. Most importantly, it is a good representation of our sound. It's a phrase that is lyrical, suggestive, cinematic, and filled with immediacy. It has some sense of otherness to it. The concept of space is so overwhelming and all encompassing I doubt there is a song written that doesn't fall within it."
Shannon LetoShannon Leto is an American drummer and an occasional actor. He is the older brother of musician and actor Jared Leto; both are part of the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. -Career:...
said the following in an interview regarding the name of the band:
""It represents a lot of things. This professor had a thesis. It was talking about where technology was going; the evolution of man and how that plays a role. A sub-category was 30 Seconds to Mars. It was like the exponential growth of humans. We are literally 30 seconds away from Mars. Everything is right here and right now; everything is just so crazy and fast."
According to an interview from
Virgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, former member
Matt WachterMatthew Walter "Matt" Wachter is the bassist, keyboardist, and the backing vocalist in the rock band Angels & Airwaves. He was the former bassist for alternative rock group 30 Seconds to Mars, He was with the band from 2001 to 2007...
said:
"[The band's name] actually comes
from a thesis that the band found online that was written by a former HarvardHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
professor. And one of the subsections of the
thesis was titled 'thirty seconds to mars' and he goes on to talk about the exponential growth of technology that relates to humans and saying that we are quite literally thirty seconds to mars. What it means to us is, we thought it best described our music, in short."
Even though Jared Leto is a Hollywood actor, he prefers not to use this position to promote the band; in fact, he refuses to play at venues if they have used his name to promote the band.
Debut album (2002–2005)
The band's debut
self-titled album30 Seconds to Mars is the debut studio album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, released on August 21, 2002. The album was produced by Bob Ezrin, Brian Virtue and 30 Seconds to Mars, and was recorded in Los Angeles during 2001 and early 2002...
, produced by
Bob EzrinRobert Alan "Bob" Ezrin is a Canadian music producer and keyboardist, known for his work with artists including Alice Cooper, Kiss and Pink Floyd. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2004.-Biography:...
was released in 2002 to positive reviews. The album produced two singles, "
Capricorn (A Brand New Name)"Capricorn " is the debut song by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. The song was released by Immortal Records on July 23, 2002, as the lead single from the band's self-titled debut album. The song was written by Jared Leto and was produced by Bob Ezrin, Brian Virtue and 30 Seconds to Mars....
" and "Edge of the Earth". The former peaked at #31 on the
U.S. Mainstream RockHot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart.
A Beautiful Lie (2005–2008)
Their second album,
A Beautiful LieA Beautiful Lie is the second album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. It was released on August 30, 2005 through Virgin Records and was produced by Josh Abraham. The album produced four singles, "Attack," "The Kill," "From Yesterday," and "A Beautiful Lie"; of which three of those four...
, was released on August 30, 2005. Because the album was leaked five months before its release, the band decided to include two bonus tracks: "Battle of One" (an original song that was also set to be the album's title track when it was first announced) and "Hunter" (a cover of the
BjörkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
song). To further promote the album, the band also enclosed "golden tickets" in 12 copies, which granted their owners access to any 30 Seconds to Mars concert free of charge, along with backstage access.
On August 31, 2006, the band won the
MTV2 AwardThe MTV2 Award was first presented at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2001. The category recognized the best videos to have premiered and/or got their start in MTV's sister channel, MTV2. Much like the Viewer's Choice award, the MTV2 Award was also fan-voted...
for "
The Kill"The Kill" is a song by 30 Seconds to Mars, the song was released as the second single from their second album, A Beautiful Lie...
" at the
MTV Video Music AwardsAn MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
, one of their two nominations. The second nomination was for
Best Rock VideoThe MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video was first given out in , and it was one of the four original genre categories added to the VMAs that year. That year, though, the award was called the Best Heavy Metal Video. From 1990 to 1995, the award was called the Best Metal/Hard Rock Video, and...
; however, they lost to
AFIAFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
's "
Miss Murder"Miss Murder" is a song by American rock band AFI. It was released on April 3, 2006 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Decemberunderground. It was initially scheduled to premiere on LIVE 105 on April 13, 2006, however, it was released early due to overwhelming fan reaction. It was...
". In the video, members of the band reenact scenes from
The ShiningThe Shining is a 1980 psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-written with novelist Diane Johnson, and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, and Danny Lloyd. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. A writer, Jack Torrance, takes a job as an...
.
A Beautiful Lie was certified
platinumMusic recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the
RIAAThe Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
in January for distribution of over one million albums.
In 2006, while on the
MTVumtvU is a division of Viacom's MTV Networks which produces a 24-hour television channel that is available on more than 750 college and university campuses across the United States, as well as several digital cable packages...
$2 Bill Tour, the band did a signing with
Music Saves LivesMusic Saves Lives is a not for profit 5013 organization and is listed in the IRS publication 78. Established in January 2006 by founder Russel Hornbeek in Seal Beach, California. Music Saves Lives has educated students and encouraged over 120,000 summer blood donations from youth under the age of 25...
, drawing people to the importance of the non-profit.
In October, the band began their "Welcome to the Universe" tour, sponsored by
MTV2MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
and were supported by
Head AutomaticaHead Automatica is a Dance Rock band, formed by Glassjaw frontman Daryl Palumbo with Jarvis Holden, formerly of Give Up the Ghost or American Nightmare, Jim Greer, and Brandon Arnovick.-History:...
,
The Receiving End of SirensThe Receiving End of Sirens is a rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 2003.-Overview:The band played on the 2005 Warped Tour and has toured with such acts as Gatsbys American Dream, A Wilhelm Scream, 30 Seconds to Mars, Funeral for a Friend, Saves the Day, Senses Fail, Thrice, and New...
,
Cobra StarshipCobra Starship is an American synthpop band created by former Midtown bassist and lead vocalist Gabe Saporta in 2003 in New York City, New York...
,
Rock Kills KidRock Kills Kid is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California that consists of Jeff Tucker , Shawn Dailey , Sean Stopnik , Reed Calhoun , and Mike Balboa . Their music often draws comparison to The Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen, Duran Duran and U2, as well as new bands such as The...
, and several other bands including
Street Drum CorpsStreet Drum Corps is a punk rock percussion band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2004 by Bobby Alt, of S.T.U.N. and Faculty X, Adam Alt, of Circus Minor, and Frank Zummo, of TheStart. To date the group have released two albums and have been part of tours such as Van's Warped Tour, Taste of...
. The tour was "environmentally sound" according to a 2006 interview with then-bassist Matt Wachter. "Jared and Shannon put together this thing called Environmentour which is illustrating ways—alternatives—to kind of clean up some of the mess we leave behind. We fueled the bus with vegetable oil," he explains. On November 20, MTV2 premiered the video for "
From Yesterday"From Yesterday" is a song by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, and the third single released from their second album A Beautiful Lie. The music video for the song is believed to be the first ever American music video shot in the People's Republic of China in its entirety...
"; the video is the first American rock
videoA music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
ever shot in its entirety in the People's Republic of China. The music video is loosely based on the film
The Last EmperorThe Last Emperor is a 1987 biopic about the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China, whose autobiography was the basis for the screenplay written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci. Independently produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was directed by Bertolucci and released in 1987 by Columbia Pictures...
.
On April 29, 2007, the band performed at the Australian MTV Australia Video Music Awards, where they were nominated for three awards, winning "Best Rock Video" and "Video of the Year" for "The Kill".
As of Spring 2007, the band is supporting
The UsedThe Used is an American rock band from Orem, Utah. The band was founded in 2001 and signed to Reprise Records the same year. They rose to fame in June 2002 after releasing their self-titled debut album. They followed up with their second album, In Love and Death, in September 2004 and their third...
as a part of the "
Taste of ChaosTaste of Chaos is a hardcore tour that was started in the winter of 2005 by Kevin Lyman, the creator of the successful Warped Tour along with friend and business partner, John Reese. The Taste Of Chaos tour caters for fans of the post-hardcore, screamo, and metal genres, while offering the same...
" tour and have scheduled a string of dates in Europe supporting
Linkin ParkLinkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
. They are also scheduled to play
RoskildeRoskilde Festival is a festival held south of Roskilde in Denmark and is one of the six biggest annual music festivals in Europe . It was created in 1971 by two high school students, Mogens Sandfær and Jesper Switzer Møller, and promoter Carl Fischer...
,
Rock am RingThe Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals are two simultaneous rock music festivals held annually in Germany....
,
PinkpopPinkpop Festival, or Pinkpop for short, is an annual festival held at Landgraaf, Netherlands. It is held annually on the Pentecost weekend...
,
Give It A NameGive it a Name, also known as GIAN, , named after an At the Drive-In song, was an annual British rock music festival, normally held on the weekend nearest to the end of April. The first festival took place on May 2, 2005 at Alexandra Palace, North London...
Festival and
DownloadThe Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
. 30 Seconds to Mars were one of the hosts for the
MTV Europe Music Awards 2008The MTV Europe Music Awards 2008 took place on November 6, 2008 in Liverpool, United Kingdom at the Echo Arena. Nominations were officially announced on September 29, 2008. The hosts of the awards were Katy Perry with Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Tomo Miličević of 30 Seconds to Mars hosting the...
. While on the 2007
Taste of ChaosTaste of Chaos is a hardcore tour that was started in the winter of 2005 by Kevin Lyman, the creator of the successful Warped Tour along with friend and business partner, John Reese. The Taste Of Chaos tour caters for fans of the post-hardcore, screamo, and metal genres, while offering the same...
the band also did an interview with
Music Saves LivesMusic Saves Lives is a not for profit 5013 organization and is listed in the IRS publication 78. Established in January 2006 by founder Russel Hornbeek in Seal Beach, California. Music Saves Lives has educated students and encouraged over 120,000 summer blood donations from youth under the age of 25...
.
On March 21, 2008, 30 Seconds to Mars performed at 'My Coke Fest' in South Africa, which saw the band back on South African soil since the inception and recording of
A Beautiful Lie. At a Press Conference Leto described the experience as deeply personal, with the added hope that some new material may see the light of day on African Soil. The band played to a sold-out crowd in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
On December 11, 2009, according to
AOL RadioAOL Radio powered by Slacker, , is an online radio service available only in the United States.- Roots :...
Blog, with votes from listeners of the site's Alternative Radio station, the
Top Alternative Song of the Decade of the 2000s was 30 Seconds To Mars' hit
The Kill"The Kill" is a song by 30 Seconds to Mars, the song was released as the second single from their second album, A Beautiful Lie...
from 2006, which had major success, along with the album which the single appears,
A Beautiful LieA Beautiful Lie is the second album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. It was released on August 30, 2005 through Virgin Records and was produced by Josh Abraham. The album produced four singles, "Attack," "The Kill," "From Yesterday," and "A Beautiful Lie"; of which three of those four...
.
Virgin Records lawsuit and This Is War (2008–present)
In August 2008, Virgin Records filed a $30 million lawsuit, claiming the band refused to deliver three albums as required by its contract. According to the lawsuit, the band "repudiated" a 1999 contract in July. In an early 2009 interview with MTV, Jared said that they hope to have their third album out by summer 2009, and he also gave information about the meaning behind the record saying, "I think this record is about faith, about spiritual matters, and that just happens to be what we're thinking about and talking about in our lives right now. I said when the last album came out that I wanted to destroy the first record, which I think we did. We took a dramatic turn from the first to the second, and I think this new record follows that path. It's exciting to us, and we're really passionate about it."
In the February 11 issue of Kerrang! magazine, the working title for the new album was revealed as
This Is WarThis Is War is the third studio album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, released through Virgin Records and EMI on December 8, 2009. It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200.- Background and development :...
. Jared released a small amount of information about his trip to Hawaii, and recorded a song called "Hurricane" with
Kanye WestKanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
. On April 28, they returned from
EMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and the lawsuit was annulled.
Soon after the announcement of the lawsuit settlement, Jared and 30 Seconds To Mars told
MTV NewsMTV News is the news division of MTV, one of the first and most popular music television network in the U.S., as well as some of MTV's related channels around the world. MTV News began in the late 1980s with the program The Week In Rock, hosted by Kurt Loder, the first official MTV News correspondent...
that their third album had its release date pushed back from April 2009 to some time in September 2009. Although the released dates were changed many times, 30 Seconds to Mars released
This Is War on December 8, 2009. On February 19, 2010, 30 Seconds to Mars began their worldwide
Into the Wild TourThe Into the Wild Tour is the second worldwide concert tour by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars in support of the band's third studio album, This Is War...
in Nottingham to support
This Is War. The tour had 7 legs that ended on December 18, 2010. They also appeared at the 2010 MTV VMAs on September 12, 2010. Also, they presented on the inaugural headliner of the new International
LollapaloozaLollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
Festival in
SantiagoSantiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, Chile at
O'Higgins ParkO'Higgins Park is Santiago, Chile's second largest public park . It is located in the center of the capital, in the Santiago Commune...
on April 3, 2011. They will also be touring NYC in December at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
Logo
The band's
phoenixThe phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
logo (which the band named "
MithraMithra is the Zoroastrian divinity of covenant and oath. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-seeing protector of Truth, and the guardian of cattle, the harvest and of The Waters....
") bears the phrase "
Provehito in Altum", the band's
mottoA motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
. Roughly translated from Latin, this means "Launch forth into the deep"; but a more stylized version would be "Rocket in(to) High(ness)". The logo was primarily used for promotion of the band's debut, whereas for
A Beautiful Lie, the new Trinity logo was created consisting of three skulls and three arrows pointing inwards, along with the band's name and motto. With the release of
This Is WarThis Is War is the third studio album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, released through Virgin Records and EMI on December 8, 2009. It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200.- Background and development :...
, 30 Seconds to Mars introduced a new logo, known as the Triad, which refers to "group of three", hence the three sides of the triangle.
The Echelon
The Echelon is a street team for the band 30 Seconds to Mars, which helps in bringing friends to the shows, phoning local radio stations to request the band's songs, putting up posters, posting to band forums or related bulletin boards online, voting for the band in official award nominations and maintaining magazines or websites dedicated to the band. It is also the name of one of their songs in their debut album
30 Seconds to Mars30 Seconds to Mars is the debut studio album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, released on August 21, 2002. The album was produced by Bob Ezrin, Brian Virtue and 30 Seconds to Mars, and was recorded in Los Angeles during 2001 and early 2002...
. In regards to the Echelon,
Jared LetoJared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
said the following:
"Some people ask us if this is a cult; I say this: It's something special. It's not for everyone - it's only for those who understand."
Musical style, genre and influence
30 Seconds to Mars have been stated by reviewers and critics to play within the genres of
hard rockHard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
,
alternative rockAlternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
,
neo-progressiveNeo-progressive rock is a sub-genre of progressive rock, developed in the UK and popular in the 1980s, although it lives on today....
,
progressive metalProgressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
,
alternative metalAlternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
and
post-grungePost-grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged in the mid-1990s as a derivative of grunge, using the sounds and aesthetic of grunge, but with a more commercially acceptable tone...
. The band takes influence from a variety of artists, but primary influences include:
Alice in ChainsAlice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
, The Goo Goo Dolls,
DeftonesDeftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
,
David BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
,
Jane's AddictionJane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
, My Bloody Valentine,
Nine Inch NailsNine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
,
NirvanaNirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
,
Pearl JamPearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
,
Stone Temple PilotsStone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
,
RadioheadRadiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
,
Marilyn MansonMarilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
,
Pink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
,
EverclearEverclear is a rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1992 best known for their radio hits spanning more than a decade. For most of its existence, Everclear has consisted of Art Alexakis , Craig Montoya , and Greg Eklund . Eklund replaced original drummer Scott Cuthbert in 1994...
,
CreedCreed is an American rock band formed in 1995 in Tallahassee, Florida. Becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the band has released three consecutive multi-platinum albums, one of which has been certified diamond, and has sold over 28 million records in the United States, with an...
,
The CureThe Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
,
BjörkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, and
U2U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
.
Band members
Current members
- Jared Leto
Jared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
– lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards (1998–present)
- Shannon Leto
Shannon Leto is an American drummer and an occasional actor. He is the older brother of musician and actor Jared Leto; both are part of the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. -Career:...
– drums, percussion (1998–present)
- Tomo Miličević
Tomislav "Tomo" Miličević is a Bosnian-American musician. He is the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band 30 Seconds to Mars.- Family :...
– lead guitar, violin, keyboards (2003–present)
Former members
- Matt Wachter
Matthew Walter "Matt" Wachter is the bassist, keyboardist, and the backing vocalist in the rock band Angels & Airwaves. He was the former bassist for alternative rock group 30 Seconds to Mars, He was with the band from 2001 to 2007...
– bass guitar, keyboard (2001–2007)
- Solon Bixler
Solon Bixler is a rock–indie musician from Fresno, California. He is a former guitarist for the bands 30 Seconds to Mars and Earlimart...
– lead guitar, backing vocals (2001–2003)
Current touring members
- Tim Kelleher – bass guitar, keyboard (2007–2010)(2011)
- Braxton Olita – keyboard, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2009–present)
Former touring members
- Kevin Drake – rhythm guitar (2001–2002)
- Matt McJunkins
Matt McJunkins is a studio and touring bass player who currently resides in Los Angeles, California. He plays bass in A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, Ashes Divide and recently 30 Seconds to Mars. He also sings backup vocals in all of these bands and plays some keyboard and guitar for Puscifer.- Early...
– bass guitar, backing vocals (2011)
Discography
Studio albums
- 30 Seconds to Mars
30 Seconds to Mars is the debut studio album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, released on August 21, 2002. The album was produced by Bob Ezrin, Brian Virtue and 30 Seconds to Mars, and was recorded in Los Angeles during 2001 and early 2002...
(2002)
- A Beautiful Lie
A Beautiful Lie is the second album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. It was released on August 30, 2005 through Virgin Records and was produced by Josh Abraham. The album produced four singles, "Attack," "The Kill," "From Yesterday," and "A Beautiful Lie"; of which three of those four...
(2005)
- This Is War
This Is War is the third studio album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, released through Virgin Records and EMI on December 8, 2009. It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200.- Background and development :...
(2009)
Acoustic songs
The band made acoustic versions of songs from their second album
A Beautiful LieA Beautiful Lie is the second album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. It was released on August 30, 2005 through Virgin Records and was produced by Josh Abraham. The album produced four singles, "Attack," "The Kill," "From Yesterday," and "A Beautiful Lie"; of which three of those four...
. Some of the acoustics have been included in some versions of the album. After playing in MTV Unplugged, the band released an EP composed of acoustic versions of some of the songs from the album "This Is War". It contains songs such as "Hurricane" and "
Kings and Queens"Kings and Queens" is a song by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, featured on their third studio album This Is War. Written by lead vocalist Jared Leto, the song was released as the lead single from the album to American radio on October 6, 2009, and the physical single was released on October...
". It also contains a cover of U2's "Where Streets Have No Name" performed by 30 Seconds to Mars.
Non-album tracks
In addition to the tracks on their three full-length releases thus far, the band has also recorded a few other tracks. Among these tracks are "Phase 1: Fortification" and "Valhalla", the latter of which was present on an early demo. "Phase 1: Fortification" was released on an overseas single for "Capricorn (A Brand New Name)". Another track featured on certain imported
30 Seconds to Mars titles is "Anarchy in Tokyo", a song that was recorded during the process of their self-titled debut. "Revolution" was also recorded for the self-titled album, but was not included because it did not fit the theme of the album, and because of fear that listeners would take the lyrics too literally, especially after the
September 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. "Occam's Razor" was also recorded, but was never included on any of the band's releases. As a result, it is considered the most difficult to locate of the five unreleased tracks.
Demo versions of songs on the band's
self-titled debut30 Seconds to Mars is the debut studio album by American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, released on August 21, 2002. The album was produced by Bob Ezrin, Brian Virtue and 30 Seconds to Mars, and was recorded in Los Angeles during 2001 and early 2002...
were also slightly different, along with different names. For example, "Fallen" was previously called "Jupiter", and "Year Zero" was previously called "Hero". Also made available are the demo versions of "Buddha for Mary" and "93 Million Miles"; the latter originally had lyrics referring to the band
DeadsyDeadsy is an American synth rock band from California. The band is known for its visual iconography and signature characteristics assigned to each band member. Each musician is identified by a specific color, stage name, and graphic tied into the band's theatrical nature. The band has released...
, whose members
Dr. NnerRenn Macdonnel Hawkey , also known by the stage name Dr. Nner, was the synthesizer player for the band Deadsy. He was the third member to join after frontman Elijah Blue Allman sent him a Juno-106 synth and a demo tape made by Allman and drummer Alec Puro...
and
P. Exeter Blue IElijah Blue Allman, also known by his stage name Phillips Exeter Blue I, is the son of Cher and her second husband Gregg Allman and half brother of Chaz Bono, Delilah Allman, Michael Allman, Layla Allman and Devon Allman....
provided extra instrumentation on several tracks, but the lyrics were changed after the two bands were involved in a small feud.
During live shows, the band premiered two new songs, one of which was rumored to end up on the new album: "Some Other Sun". "The Believer" was initially written for the self-titled album but was scrapped during recording. There was also live songs such as "Sisters of Heresy" and "Under Pressure / Pressure" (Name of song unsure, name based on lyrics). A recent live song, "Revenge", was written for "This Is War" but was scrapped.
On December 11, 2006, the band sent their fans a "stocking stuffer" in the form of a holiday song called "Santa Through the Back Door". It was featured on a
KROQ-FMKROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
(Los Angeles) compilation which coincided with the station's annual Almost Acoustic Christmas festival. The song also featured a spoken word intro performed by the band's roadie Mike "Colonel Buck" Bobroff who also performed the intro prior to the band's set at the festival on December 9, 2006.
In September 2007, the band also recorded a cover of Kanye West's "
Stronger"Stronger" is a song by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released as the second single from his third studio album Graduation. It was produced by West and contains an extended outro co-produced with Mike Dean...
" for
BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's
Live LoungeThe Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
.
In February 2008, the band had premiered a song during the first European blood ball in Milan, Italy. Leto said the song is called "Old Blues Song". Later, he revealed the actual title: "Guillotine".
On March 29, 2010, the band returned to
BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's
Live LoungeThe Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
where they recorded a cover of
Lady GagaStefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
's "
Bad Romance"Bad Romance" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga. It was released as the lead single from her third extended play , and second major release The Fame Monster . Written by Lady Gaga and produced by RedOne, the track was inspired by Gaga's fear of negative love relationships and the...
".
Videography
DVDs
- A Beautiful Lie - Deluxe Edition (2006) – (DVD-Audio
DVD-Audio is a digital format for delivering high-fidelity audio content on a DVD. DVD-Audio is not intended to be a video delivery format and is not the same as video DVDs containing concert films or music videos....
)
- To the Edge of the Earth
To the Edge of the Earth is a Wal-Mart exclusive EP by 30 Seconds to Mars, published in 2008, which includes a CD/DVD combo made with only environmentally friendly material...
(2008) – (limited release)
- Artifact/Into The Wild Tour (2011)
Awards
30 Seconds to Mars has received 44 awards of 68 nominations.
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2006 ||
The Kill"The Kill" is a song by 30 Seconds to Mars, the song was released as the second single from their second album, A Beautiful Lie...
|| MTV2 Best Single ||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2006 || The Kill || MTV Video Music Award 'Best Rock Video' ||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2006 || The Kill || Fuse Fangoria Chainsaw Awards 'Video Inspired by Film Award'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2006 || The Kill || MTVu Woodie Awards 'Live Action'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2007 || 30 Seconds To Mars || Kerrang! Award 'Best International Newcomer'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2007 || The Kill || Kerrang! Award 'Best Single'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2007 || 30 Seconds To Mars || TRL Award 'Best New Artist'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2007 || The Kill ||
MTV Australia AwardsThe MTV Australia Awards started in 2005 and is Australia's first awards show to celebrate both local and international acts.-History:...
'Best Rock Video'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2007 || The Kill || MTV Australia Awards 'Video Of The Year||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2007 || 30 Seconds To Mars ||
MTV Europe Music AwardThe MTV Europe Music Awards were established in 1994 by MTV Networks Europe to celebrate the most popular music videos in Europe. Originally beginning as an alternative to the American MTV Video Music Awards, the MTV Europe Music Awards is today a popular celebration of what MTV viewers consider...
'Rock Out'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2007 || 30 Seconds To Mars || Fuse 'Best of 2007'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2008 || 30 Seconds To Mars ||
Bandit RockBandit Rock is a Swedish radio station which plays rock, punk and heavy metal. The station, now a part of the Modern Times Group, was originally founded by American ex-pat Thomas McAlevey and began broadcasting in Stockholm in 1994....
Award 'Best International Breakthrough'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2008 || A Beautiful Lie ||
MTV Asia AwardThe biannual MTV Asia Awards is the Asian equivalent of the Europe MTV EMA. Established in 2002, the show gives recognition and awards to Asian and international icons in achievement, cinema, fashion, humanitarian, and music. Just like the EMA, most of the awards are voted for by the viewers from...
'Video Star'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2008|| From Yesterday || Kerrang! Award 'Best Single'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2008|| 30 Seconds To Mars || Kerrang! Award 'Best International Band'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2008 || 30 Seconds To Mars || Lost Premios MTV 'Best International Rock Artist'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2008 || 30 Seconds To Mars || MTV Europe Music Award 'Rock Out'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2008 || A Beautiful Lie || MTV Europe Music Award 'Video Star'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2008 || 30 Seconds To Mars || Lost Premios MTV 'Best International Rock Artist'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2010 || 30 Seconds To Mars || Kerrang! Award 'Best International Band'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2010 || Kings and Queens || MTV Video Music Award 'Best Rock Video'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2010 || 30 Seconds To Mars || MTV Europe Music Award 'Best Rock Band'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2011 || 30 Seconds To Mars || Kerrang! Award 'Best International Band'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2011 || Hurricane || Kerrang! Award 'Best Single'||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2011 || 30 Seconds To Mars || MTV Europe Music Award 'Best Alternative '||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2011 || 30 Seconds To Mars || MTV Europe Music Award 'Biggest Fans '||
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2011 || 30 Seconds To Mars || MTV Europe Music Award 'Best World Stage '||
Literature
- AA.VV. Thirty Seconds to Mars. A Beautiful Lie. Milwaukee (United States), Hal Leonard Corporation, Guitar Recorded Versions, 2005. ISBN 1-4234-2679-7.
- AA.VV. Thirty Seconds to Mars. A Beautiful Lie — Deluxe Edition. Milwaukee (United States), Hal Leonard Corporation, Guitar Recorded Versions, 2007. ISBN 978-1-4234-2679-0.
External links