Hoobastank

Biography

Hoobastank (sometimes stylized as h∞bastank, and originally known as Hoobustank) is an American rock band formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, by vocalist Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They were signed to Island Records from 2001 to 2012 and have released six albums and one EP to date. Their most recent album, Push Pull×Push Pull25 May 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Don’t Look Away3:292Push Pull3:083More Beautiful3:534Head Over Heels3:585True Believer3:216Just Let Go (Who Cares if We Fall)2:587Better Left Unsaid3:348We Don’t Need the World3:569Buzzkill (Before You Say Goodbye)3:5810Fallen Star4:2111There Will Never Be Another4:25, came out in May 2018. They are best known for the title track of their second album, The Reason×The Reason3 December 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Same Direction3:152Out of Control2:423What Happened to Us?4:004Escape3:455Just One3:206Lucky3:007From the Heart3:048The Reason3:539Let It Out3:1810Unaffected3:3411Never There3:0412Disappear5:08 (2003), and they have sold ten million albums worldwide.

Early career (1994–2000)

Vocalist Doug Robb knew guitarist Dan Estrin before competing against him in a high school battle of the bands, and the two decided to form a band, recruiting bassist Markku Lappalainen and drummer Chris Hesse.
The origin of the name "Hoobastank" is not clear, and the band's members have made different statements on the topic. Claims include a mispronunciation of a German street, slang for someone who owns many sneakers, or a word the band invented while "joking around".
Hoobastank started playing at Cobalt Cafe in Los Angeles with Incubus and Linkin Park. They recorded their first full-length, self-released album in 1998, They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To×They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Earthsick3:512Foot in Your Mouth3:143Karma Patrol3:284Stuck Without a Voice3:325Can I Buy You a Drink?3:566Naked Jock Man3:267Our Song4:038The Mirror3:429Educated Fool3:5010The Dance That Broke My Jaw9:06, which features a saxophone section headed by Jeremy Wasser, who recorded the "Summer Romance" saxophone solo on Incubus' S.C.I.E.N.C.E. and executive-produced the album.
By this stage, Hoobastank had developed a reputation in Southern California. This attracted interest from Island Records, who signed the band in 2000. At the time of signing, the group had completed a second full-length album, Forward×Forward2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1"End of Our Rope"3:312"Paper Promises"3:123"Divine"4:494"Now or Never"4:145"Tin Walls"5:226"Let You Know"7"The Critic"8"Never Saw It Coming"9"Open Your Eyes"10"Losing My Grip"11"Ready for You"12"Up and Gone"13"Hello Again"14"Right Before Your Eyes", also featuring Wasser. However, they felt the direction they were heading would work best without a sax, so Wasser departed the group, and the album was shelved. A few tracks were rerecorded for Hoobastank's self-titled 2001 release. The original recordings from the Forward sessions made their way to the internet via peer-to-peer sites in late 2001.

Hoobastank (2001–2002)

Hoobastank released their self-titled debut album in November 2001. The first single was "Crawling in the Dark×Crawling in the Dark8 April 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Crawling in the Dark2:592Pieces3:193Losing My Grip3:57", which was a breakthrough hit, reaching No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 3 on the Modern Rock chart, and No. 7 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The song was featured in the 2002 inline skating game Aggressive Inline, appearing on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube consoles. The second single, "Running Away×Running Away2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Running Away (album version)3:002Running Away (acoustic)3:003Up and Gone (acoustic)3:394Open Your Eyes3:45", was even more successful, reaching No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 on the Modern Rock chart, and No. 9 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The album went Platinum due to these hit singles and reached No. 25 on the Billboard 200 album charts and No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseeker chart.
Hoobastank achieved international recognition, with the band touring Europe and Asia to support the record. "Remember Me×Remember Me1 October 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Remember Me (radio edit)3:26", the third single, was a moderate hit, reaching No. 23 on the Modern Rock chart. The band recorded a song titled "Losing My Grip" for the soundtrack of the 2002 movie The Scorpion King, included as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of the album, along with the song "The Critic".

The Reason (2003–2005)

In early 2003, Hoobastank contributed the song "Right Before Your Eyes" to Daredevil: The Album and entered the studio with producer Howard Benson. Recording was disrupted for a month when Dan Estrin was injured in a minibike accident in August. Estrin had recovered by October, and the band went on the Nokia Unwired Tour with the All-American Rejects and Ozomatli in November.
Their second album, The Reason×The Reason3 December 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Same Direction3:152Out of Control2:423What Happened to Us?4:004Escape3:455Just One3:206Lucky3:007From the Heart3:048The Reason3:539Let It Out3:1810Unaffected3:3411Never There3:0412Disappear5:08, was released in December 2003 and eventually reached No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 album chart.
The first single, "Out of Control×Out of Control2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Out of Control2:44", was available for download on their website. The next single, "Same Direction×Same Direction2004 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Same Direction3:152The Reason3:533Running Away2:59", reached No. 9 on the US Modern Rock chart, No. 16 on the Mainstream Rock chart, and No. 16 on a composite World Modern Rock chart (based on the US, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and Australia). A year later, the DVD Let It Out collected the band's videos.
The album's title track was released as a single in the first half of 2004 and became a hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 1 on the US and World Modern Rock charts, No. 10 in Australia, No. 12 in the United Kingdom, and No. 15 in Germany. In Canada, it spent 21 weeks at the top, setting a new record for most weeks at No. 1.
The band's international profile was increased by a support slot on Linkin Park's Meteora world tour in early 2004.
Bassist Markku Lappalainen left Hoobastank following their 2005 Summer Tour, and Matt McKenzie from Tsunami Bomb took over for the remaining 2005 dates.

Every Man for Himself (2006–2007)

Hoobastank's third album, Every Man for Himself×Every Man for Himself3 May 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Rules0:522Born to Lead3:493Moving Forward4:284Inside of You3:095The First of Me5:246Good Enough3:217If I Were You4:188Without a Fight3:219Don’t Tell Me4:1310Look Where We Are3:2911Say the Same4:0112If Only3:2913More Than a Memory7:14, was released in May 2006 and debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard chart. It was eventually certified Gold in the US. Three singles, "If I Were You×If I Were You2 May 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1If I Were You4:19", "Inside of You×Inside of You26 May 2006 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Inside Of You3:16", and "Born to Lead", were issued. Around this time, bassist Josh Moreau joined the band, replacing McKenzie.
On a 2005 co-headlining tour with Velvet Revolver, Hoobastank received a chilly reception from some audiences, and rumors of a feud between Robb and Velvet Revolver frontman Scott Weiland filled internet message boards. The song "If I Were You" from Every Man for Himself addressed the affair. Robb later said in an interview with MTV News online that he had nothing against Weiland or any other member of Velvet Revolver.

For(N)ever and Greatest Hits (2008–2009)

In October 2007, Robb posted on the official Hoobastank website that the band had "set the bar very very high for this next CD" and that they had "more ideas going into this CD than ever before". On June 2, 2008, he announced that recording for their then-upcoming album was almost done and to expect a release date within a couple of weeks.
The first single from the album, "My Turn×My Turn14 October 2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1My Turn3:09", premiered on October 13, 2008, and the record itself, For(N)ever, was released on January 27, 2009.
On April 20, 2010, a Vanessa Amorosi fan website revealed details of a collaboration between Hoobastank and the Australian singer, a duet version of "The Letter". On August 5, it was confirmed that there was another version of the song on Universal International, this one a duet with Anna Tsuchiya. The track appeared on the deluxe edition of Hoobastank's first compilation album, The Greatest Hits: Don't Touch My Moustache×The Greatest Hits: Don't Touch My Moustache5 August 2009 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Crawling in the Dark2:582My Turn3:113Out of Control2:454The Reason3:555Born to Lead3:526Inside of You3:137Just One3:218Running Away3:019Pieces3:1810Same Direction3:1711Remember Me3:3612If I Were You4:2213So Close, So Far3:1714All About You2:5815Disappear5:0416The Letter (feat. Anna Tsuchiya)4:0417Did You3:1918Connected2:4119The Reason (acoustic version)3:5120All About You (live 9-29-08 The Wiltern, Los Angeles)3:31, which came out on August 5.
Hoobastank was a support band on Creed's 2009 reunion tour.

Is This the Day? (2009–2010)

Hoobastank announced on Twitter that they were recording an acoustic album on September 2, 2009.
On October 30, they covered the song "Ghostbusters" for Halloween, and a music video was released on their official YouTube channel.
The band released Live from the Wiltern in December 8, which was available exclusively through iTunes.
On January 19, 2010, Hoobastank issued a new song, "We Are One", as part of a compilation from Music for Relief in support of the Haiti earthquake crisis. On February 12, they released another new track, "Never Be Here Again", as part of the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack.
In May, the band announced that they would perform an acoustic live tour of Japan. On August 4, they released an acoustic album in Japan only, titled Is This the Day?×Is This the Day?30 July 2010 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Just One3:572Crawling in the Dark3:083I Don’t Think I Love You3:524Inside of You3:015Running Away3:376The Reason3:597My Turn3:198What I Meant to Say3:279If I Were You4:3810Tears of Yesterday3:4711Pieces3:3812Same Direction3:2813Is This the Day?4:29

Fight or Flight (2011–2015)

In April 2012, the band announced their fifth studio album, Fight or Flight×Fight or Flight11 September 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1This Is Gonna Hurt3:512You Before Me4:233The Fallen3:174Can You Save Me?3:555No Destination3:446Slow Down4:407No Win Situation3:468Sing What You Can't Say3:249Magnolia4:1010Incomplete3:1211A Thousand Words4:01. On May 3, they revealed the first single, "This Is Gonna Hurt×This Is Gonna Hurt10 August 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1This Is Gonna Hurt3:50", and the album came out on September 11. To promote it, two more singles, "Can You Save Me?×Can You Save Me?2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Can You Save Me? (album version)3:592Can You Save Me? (radio edit)3:41" and "Incomplete×Incomplete2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Incomplete (radio edit)3:132Incomplete (instrumental)3:14", accompanied by a touring music video and a lyric video, respectively, were issued.

Push Pull (2016–present)

In November 2016, Hoobastank began recording their sixth studio album with producer Matt Wallace.
In 2017, Robb provided vocals for "Fist Bump", the theme song of the video game Sonic Forces. In October, the band signed with Napalm Records and announced that their sixth studio album was finished and expected to be released in the first half of 2018.
Push Pull was issued worldwide on May 25, along with the first single, "More Beautiful".
Throughout 2018, the band toured to commemorate the 15th anniversary of their 2003 album, The Reason×The Reason3 December 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Same Direction3:152Out of Control2:423What Happened to Us?4:004Escape3:455Just One3:206Lucky3:007From the Heart3:048The Reason3:539Let It Out3:1810Unaffected3:3411Never There3:0412Disappear5:08, playing the record in its entirety. On August 16, 2019, the band announced that they would reissue The Reason on October 4 with a vinyl release and a digital version with bonus tracks.
In September 2022, a documentary series about the making of the band's self-titled debut album was uploaded to their official YouTube channel, in commemoration of the record's 20th anniversary.
On June 14, 2026, Hoobstank released "How Do You Sleep?×How Do You Sleep?14 June 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1How Do You Sleep?2:56", the band's first new song since their 2018 album, Push Pull×Push Pull25 May 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Don’t Look Away3:292Push Pull3:083More Beautiful3:534Head Over Heels3:585True Believer3:216Just Let Go (Who Cares if We Fall)2:587Better Left Unsaid3:348We Don’t Need the World3:569Buzzkill (Before You Say Goodbye)3:5810Fallen Star4:2111There Will Never Be Another4:25. They debuted the song at the Warped Tour in Washington, D.C..

Musical style and influences

Hoobastank have been categorized under genres such as post-grunge, alternative rock, hard rock, and nu metal. On their early independent releases, the band, which included a saxophonist, used a funk metal and ska punk sound. On their major-label, self-titled debut album, their sound changed: they removed their saxophonist and became a four-piece rock band, playing an alternative rock style. Hoobastank's sound matured on their second album, The Reason×The Reason3 December 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Same Direction3:152Out of Control2:423What Happened to Us?4:004Escape3:455Just One3:206Lucky3:007From the Heart3:048The Reason3:539Let It Out3:1810Unaffected3:3411Never There3:0412Disappear5:08, and became more melodic. Singer Doug Robb has cited Faith No More vocalist Mike Patton as being one of his main influences. In a 2004 Rolling Stone interview, Robb commented that, "Faith No More is my favorite band of all time. I listen to those records constantly."

Current members

Doug Robb – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1994–present)
Dan Estrin – lead guitar, backing vocals (1994–present)
Chris Hesse – drums, backing vocals (1994–present)
Jesse Charland – bass, keyboards, backing vocals (2009–present)

Studio members

Paul Bushnell – bass (2005–2006, 2008)
Chris Chaney – bass (2005–2006)

Past members

Jeremy Wasser – saxophone (1995–2000)
Derek Kwan – saxophone (1997–1999)
Markku Lappalainen – bass (1994–2005)
Matt McKenzie – bass (2005)
Josh Moreau – bass, backing vocals (2006–2008)
David Amezcua – bass, backing vocals (2008–2009, touring substitute for Charland in 2023)