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+44 (band)

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+44
File:(+44).jpg
Background information
Years active2005–present
MembersMark Hoppus
Travis Barker
Shane Gallagher
Craig Fairbaugh
Past membersCarol Heller
WebsiteOfficial Website

(+44) (pronounced "plus forty four") is a band formed by former blink-182 members Mark Hoppus (bass and vocals) and Travis Barker (drums and keyboards). Also playing in the band are former Transplants touring guitarist Craig Fairbaugh and the lead guitarist of The Nervous Return, Shane Gallagher. The band's debut album, When Your Heart Stops Beating, is set for release November 14, 2006 in the United States.[1] The name (+44) was conceived as a reference to the international dialing code for the United Kingdom, where Hoppus and Barker first discussed the new project.[2]

Background

After the blink-182 hiatus in February of 2005, both Hoppus and Barker wanted to keep working on music, and started writing and recording new songs together in Barker's basement and Hoppus' dining room and living room. Originally, the two were using electronic drums, keyboards, samples and direct computer recording.[2]

While working on demos, the two invited punk rock vocalist Carol Heller to sing a song. Satisfied with her performance, the three kept working on other songs also. During the spring of 2005, guitarist Shane Gallagher joined the band. In October of 2005, Barker and Hoppus purchased a studio. According to Hoppus, this move marked a "turning point for (+44)",[2] as the band started working in that studio exclusively, and was finally able to play live drums and loud guitars and vocals. The electronic element of the band became less prominent, but still a key element of the band's sound. By that time Heller found she did not fit well with the band's new direction, and coupled with her desire to start her family, she left the band. Heller's vocals remain, however, in the song Make You Smile. Hoppus also insists that there are no hard feelings between (+44) and Heller, and that the band was in full support of her decision.[2]

The band kept working on their first record, and about three-quarters of the way through recording, Craig Fairbaugh joined to play second guitar and backup vocals.

Regarding the lyrical content of the album, Hoppus stated that "the (+44) album is by far the most lyrically personal music I have ever written. The words are everything I have inside me put on a CD. This is the most personal album any of us have ever written. You want to know who we are, what we think, or how we feel? Listen to the (+44) CD."[2] The album references the break-up of blink-182, and "the ugly feelings that were left over afterwards,"[1] according to Hoppus. The song "No It Isn't" was specifically written about blink-182.[3]

Released songs

On December 13th 2005, the band released a demo of the song No It Isn't [1]. On September 1st 2006, they added a song called "Lycanthrope" [2] to their official website. Also on September 7th, the (+44) Song "When Your Heart Stops Beating" was played on KROQ radio. On September 18th, an unedited version of the song was posted on the band's MySpace profile. As of September 21,2006, the video is still being edited, however at a show in Hamburg, Mark announced that the video should be released on September 25.

Website taglines

Date Phrase Taken From
2005 "Musical masterpiece in progress. Please be patient." n/a
2005 "No It Isn't" No It Isn't
2006 "The past is only the future with the lights on." Baby, Come On
2006 "She's a pretty girl. She's always falling down." Baby, Come On
2006 "Fall asleep with the windows open." Little Death
2006 "Our bare feet were framed on the horizon" Cliff Diving
2006 "Burn down something beautiful" No It Isn't
2006 "I only want to make you smile" Make You Smile
2006 "Little Death" Little Death
2006 "Dear you, tonight let's get ahead of ourselves." Cliff Diving

Band members

Current lineup:

Former members:

Discography

Albums

Singles

  • No It Isn't - Released in early 2006 as a limited edition CD.


Year Title Chart Positions Album
US Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Mainstream Rock UK Singles Chart
2006 "When Your Heart Stops Beating" - - - - When Your Heart Stops Beating

Trivia

  • (+44) released their first song "No It Isn't" on Tom Delonge's birthday, [December 13th]. This was when Angels And Airwaves were supposed to release their first single, but this didn't happen.
  • (+44) played their first ever live show at the Roxy Theater in Hollywood, CA on September 7th. The audience received free shirts that say "THE FIRST SHOW SEPTEMBER 7, 2006 LOS ANGELES, CA THE ROXY THEATRE."
  • Upon ordering a t-shirt from (+44), fans received a limited edition CD that contains the song "No It Isn't." The packaging states that there are only 500 of these disks.

References

  1. ^ a b Montgomery, James. "Plus-44 Address Blink Breakup On LP, Want Fans To 'Hear The Truth'". MTV News. Retrieved 23 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e "Mark Hoppus Tells All to B182.com". b182.com. Retrieved 2006-08-14.
  3. ^ '"Yeah, that one is absolutely about the end of Blink," Hoppus said.' regarding No It Isn't. "Plus-44 Address Blink Breakup On LP, Want Fans To 'Hear The Truth'". MTV News. Retrieved 23 August. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
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