MxPx | |
|---|---|
 MxPx performing in 2008, showing Tom Wisniewski and Mike Herrera | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Magnified Plaid[1] |
| Origin | Bremerton, Washington, U.S.[1] |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1992–present[1] |
| Labels |
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| Spinoffs | Arthur |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | mxpx |
MxPx (/ˌɛmɛksˈpiːɛks/)[2] is an Americanpunk rock band fromBremerton, Washington, formed in 1992 asMagnified Plaid. As of 2016, current members include Mike Herrera (bass guitar, lead vocals), Yuri Ruley (drums, percussion), Tom Wisniewski (lead guitar, backing vocals), and Chris Adkins (rhythm guitar, backing vocals).The band's discography includes twelve studio albums, four EPs, fourcompilation albums, a live album, aVHS tape, aDVD and 20 singles. A number of the group's releases have charted onBillboard, including theBillboard 200 and No. 1 onBillboard Christian Albums.[3]
MxPx was formed in Bremerton, Washington in July 1992 by Mike Herrera, Yuri Ruley, and Andy Husted, who were 15 years old at the time, playing their first show in Herrera's parents' backyard.[citation needed] Herrera and Ruley were classmates atCentral Kitsap High School[4] inSilverdale, Washington, and Husted attendedSouth Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, Washington.[citation needed]
The group was originally called Magnified Plaid, which was a tribute to Husted's fascination withplaid shirts, but did not fit on the band's posters. Consequently, the name wasabbreviated to M.P. on show posters. Yuri Ruley, who used Xs in place of periods, made theposters for the band, resulting in the four-lettermoniker.[5]
MxPx recorded a four-song 7-inch record withAaron Sprinkle in Seattle, who played it forBrandon Ebel ofTooth & Nail Records.[6] The band then played a showcase for thelabel in 1993 in Herrera's parents' garage. The band's first major album,Pokinatcha (1994), was released while the band members were still in high school. The album, though classified asChristian punk, incorporated the quick styles ofhardcore punk,[7] and is composed of influence fromskate punk and punk underground. Their debut album is characterized by their raw punk sound, catchy rhythm, and classic punk three-chord guitar style.[8][9]
Guitarist Andy Husted soon left the band and was replaced by a friend, Tom Wisniewski. Despite only knowing power chords on guitar, Wisniewski was willing to be in the band. MxPx released two further albums with Tooth & Nail:Teenage Politics in 1995, andLife in General in 1996,[7] which features the single "Chick Magnet" and artwork by the artistCoop.[10]
In 1997, MxPx signed a deal withA&M Records. This record deal saw the re-release of 1996'sLife in General. MxPx then released two more studio albums, the first,Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo was released in 1998. The album peaked at No. 99 on theBillboard 200 and was certified gold on January 27, 2000, by theRIAA.[11] The band first appeared onKevin Lyman’sVans Warped Tour in 1997 alongsideBlink-182,The Descendents and more, and went on the full tour in 1998 alongsideBad Religion,Rancid,NOFX, and many others.
In 1999, they releasedAt the Show, their firstlive album recorded on August 24, 1998, at the 930 Club in Washington, DC and on August 25, 1998, at TLA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the time of the recording, the band was touring in support ofSlowly Going the Way of the Buffalo as well as theB-sides collectionLet it Happen, also released in 1998.[12]
The Ever Passing Moment was released in May 2000 viaA&M Records. The band gained critical recognition for this album and landed a slot supportingthe Offspring andCypress Hill on theConspiracy of One tour.[13] "Responsibility" proved to be a radio hit, peaking at #24 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. The video, directed byThe Malloys, features the band messing around and causing mayhem while caddying at a golf course, and also includes an appearance byCheers starGeorge Wendt. The song was featured in theDaria Television MovieIs It Fall Yet?.
The band once again joined the cross-country Vans Warped Tour in 2002 alongside Bad Religion, NOFX,Reel Big Fish, and more.
The band's version of the song "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" is in the soundtrack of the 2002 movieScooby-Doo.[7] MxPx toured alongsideNew Found Glory andGood Charlotte on the annualHonda Civic Tour in May and June 2003.[14] The group's studio albumBefore Everything & After, was released by A&M in 2003.[7] The album achieved the band's highest ever chart position on theBillboard 200, peaking at No. 51.[15]
On August 20, 2004, MxPx joinedMy Chemical Romance,Pennywise, and “many bands from previous tours” to perform at the Vans Warped Tour 10-year celebration show in Foxborough, Massachusetts at theGillette Stadium near Boston.[16]
The group provided the song "The Empire" forThe Passion of the Christ: Songs, which won theGospel Music Association2005 Dove Award for Special Event Album of the Year.[17][18]
In 2005 MxPx was dropped by A&M, signed withSideOneDummy Records and then released their seventh full-length albumPanic in June.[7]Panic turned out to be a breakthrough moment for the band when their single "Heard That Sound" proved a radio hit. It also featured theBlink-182/+44 singer-bassistMark Hoppus on "Wrecking Hotel Rooms."Panic heightened the return of the band's skate punk/punk-rock roots sound.[19][20] In support of Panic, MxPx joined the 2005 Vans Warped Tour alongside supergroupTransplants,Fall Out Boy, The Offspring, and more.[21]
In September 2006, MxPx and the City of Bremerton started a marketing effort revolving around the band's song "Move to Bremerton". The band was given keys to the city by Mayor Cary Bozeman in recognition of the group's contributions to the city.[22][23][24][25]
MxPx spent the majority of 2005 and 2006 touring in support of the band's 7th albumPanic. On November 21, 2006,Tooth & Nail Records re-releasedLet It Happen, an earlier rarities compilation, in a "Deluxe Edition" which included a bonus DVD featuring 12music videos, new artwork, and two new songs.Let's Rock, MxPx's second rarities album, was released on Side One Dummy Records on October 24, 2006. The album consists of many previously unreleased songs, re-recordedB-sides and acoustic demos.[7]
MxPx released the full-length albumSecret Weapon in 2007, the band's first release on its original label Tooth & Nail since 1996'sLife in General. The album debuted at No. 76 on theBillboard 200. The album's sound was a shift back to the group's original punk-rock stylings.[26][27][28]
The band appeared on the "Thank You Billy Graham" tribute song, album, and video documentary, respectively.[29][30][31]
In 2009, the band released a six-song EP entitledLeft Coast Punk EP,[32] which was the first record released by Rock City Recording Company, MxPx's own record label. Also in 2009, the group released a Christmas album, titledPunk Rawk Christmas.[33][34] In late 2009, Mike Herrera teamed up with frontman ofThe Ataris,Kris Roe, and Chris Wilson, the drummer ofThe Summer Obsession and formerly ofGood Charlotte, for the MxPx All Stars tour in Japan and Malaysia.[35]
The band released a documentary entitledBoth Ends Burning on December 1, 2011.[36] In addition, Mike, Tom, and Yuri were working on their ninth studio album. On December 19, 2011, the band announced that the album would be calledPlans Within Plans. It was released on April 3, 2012.[37] In 2012, drummer Yuri Ruley and guitarist Tom Wisniewski announced their retirement from touring. After a brief hiatus, they both returned as full-time members in 2015 and continue to tour with the band today.
In honor of the 20th anniversaryLife in General, the band released a re-recorded version free of charge for a limited time on September 18, 2016. It can now be found asLife in General 2.0 on music streaming platforms.[38] In 2017 it was added to theRolling Stone "50 Greatest Pop-Punk Albums of All Time" article, landing the esteemed record at No. 27.[39]
After MxPx fulfilled their contractual obligations with former labels, the band moved to return to their DIY roots, taking back control of their music and lengthy catalog of music.[citation needed]
On March 29, 2018, the band announced aKickstarter campaign to fund their tenth full-length studio album.[40] The self-titled album,MxPx, was released July 25, 2018. Before the release of the album, a music video for "Let's Ride" came out at the end of June 2018.[41] The album was performed live on Facebook on the release date.
After its release, "Let's Ride" was added to the relaunched 2020 edition of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+ 2 Remastered. According to ScreenRant, MxPx's "Let's Ride" joined new and returning artists for the famous soundtrack that made tracks such as Goldfinger's "Superman" a mainstay.[42]
MxPx went back on tour in 2019 and early 2020, selling out self-booked and promoted tours nationwide.[43] An audio recording at their San Antonio show in early 2020 was captured for a future live album release.[44]
Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the band were unable to perform live for much of 2020 and 2021. On April 1, 2020, Mike Herrera announced the Life in Quarantine live streams every Friday on the group's official Facebook page throughout April and May. The streams included live performances, Herrera answering fan questions, and more. After concluding the Life in Quarantine series on May 29, 2020, the group took songs from the live recordings and released Life in Quarantine-The Collection on July 3, 2020.[45][46] The group followed up the collection with a brand new single, "Fever Dream", which was released on July 16, 2020.[47]On October 6, 2020, the group announced they would be starting a new live performance experience separated into various rounds. The first round of the series titledBetween This World and the Next premiered on October 16, 2020, in which the band performed a full livestream concert.[48] The group hosted several rounds ofBetween This World and the Next which featured new tracks, custom set lists, and fan questions.[49]
On March 11, 2021, the band announced the release of their exclusive MxPx Box Collection featuring 10 full-length albums, original album artwork, bonus inserts and album commentary, zoetropic slipmat, hardcover book, and durable outer case.[50] The box set was made available for pre-order on March 19, 2021, and immediately sold out units on the same day.[51] To thank fans for instantly selling out the exclusive box set, the group organized and announced the release of their new single "Can't Keep Waiting" and a free live show hosted on April 16, 2021.[52]
Of "Can't Keep Waiting", Herrera told SPIN Magazine in an interview, "[‘Can't Keep Waiting’] morphed a little bit as we played it on the livestreams, and people kept asking when it was coming out, so we finally were like, ‘OK, we should probably record this thing.’"[53]
In July 2021, MxPx teamed up with Kalie Wolfe of rising band RIVALS to release an upbeat track titled, "Say Yes", which was placed onFive Guys’ streaming station and later featured onFortnite Radio.[54]
On November 12, 2021, MxPx surprise dropped their new live albumSouthbound to San Antonio.[44] The album features 23 of the band's live performances from their last in-person show before the pandemic on February 29, 2020. Following the release of Southbound to San Antonio, the group announced that they would be returning to the stage for two special performances on April 1, 2022, in Anaheim, California at House of Blues and the following night on April 2, 2022, in Phoenix, Arizona at the Marquee Theatre.[55]
During a live streaming concert on December 23, 2022, Mike announced that a new album will be out in 2023. On July 6, the band officially announced on their social media platforms that their next albumFind A Way Home, would release August 25, with pre-orders up for sale on their website. The lead single, “Stay Up All Night”, was dropped on July 21, with the music video releasing a day prior. Since the release of the album, the band has played several virtual live performances across social media, taking over pages for bands such asBowling for Soup,Goldfinger, andLess Than Jake.
Arthur is aside project of MxPx featuring all three members of MxPx and their former tech assistant Neil Hundt, who now techs forPearl Jam. The group released anEP calledLoneliness Is Bliss in 1999. The band members went by their middle names: Arthur (where the band name came from), Edmund, Zane, and Alexander (Mike Herrera, Tom Wisniewski, Yuri Ruley, and Neil Hundt, respectively). After over ten years since the inception ofLoneliness Is Bliss, the band released a full-length album calledWatch the Years Crawl By on December 7, 2010.[56] In 2013 those involved in the project announced that they would be discontinuing the project.[56]
MxPx is usually described as apop-punk band,[57][58][7] but has also been labeled asskate punk[59][60] andpunk rock.[59][61][62] Originally a punk rock band, by the rise of popularity ofpop punk in the late 1990s and early 2000s the group leaned more towards a more pop-punk sound.[63] Albums likeThe Ever Passing Moment andBefore Everything and After were criticized by some fans for its pop-punk style.[1] MxPx's influences includeDescendents,NOFX,Bad Religion,Rancid,Social Distortion,All,the Clash,the Dead Milkmen,The Who,Sex Pistols,Black Flag, and theRamones.[64][65][66][67][68][69]
Many of the band's early releases touch on Christian themes[70][71][72] and placed them in the front of theChristian punk scene.[73][74][75] However, by 2012, "Christian punk" was a genre classification that the band was trying to distance themselves from.[76] As of 2015, MxPx singer Mike Herrera has said he is no longer Christian. When asked about the topic he stated "...do I believe in god? I'm not sure. Do I believe in this exact religion? No I don't."[77]
Current members[78]
Former members
Touring members
Touring substitutes
Timeline
Studio albums
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