- Pop rock band from Los Angeles California, formed in 1994. Members are Adam Levine (frontman, lead vocals, rhythm guitar, songwriting), Jesse Carmichael (keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals, songwriting), Mickey Madden (bass guitar), James Valentine (lead guitar, backing vocals, songwriting), Matt Flynn (drums, songwriting – the original drummer was Ryan Dusick), PJ Morton (keyboards, backing vocals) and Sam Farrar (guitars, percussion, keyboards, samples, backing vocals, songwriting).
- The original members – Levine, Carmichael, Madden and Dusick – were in high school together, and they formed a band called Kara’s Flowers, named after a high school classmate. They self-released a grunge sounding album in 1994 called We Like Digging? In 1997, while performing at a beach party in Malibu, a record producer heard them play and offered to manage them. An album was recorded, which was heard by another record executive, leading to a contract with a record company. The album was re-recorded and released as The Fourth World, with a single called Soap Disco. The record only sold around 5,000 copies, and the label dropped them. The 4 band members decided to take a break and go to college.
- They reunited in 2001 with a different style, influenced by the urban sound that Levine and Carmichael experienced while in college in New York. Their music now had a pop rock sound. A demo tape was made of new music, and was rejected by several labels until it was noticed by a new label, Octone Records. They signed the band, and insisted that the name of the group be changed, to distance themselves from Kara’s Flowers. They also wanted add a member to play guitar, so that Levine could focus on singing and become the frontman for the group. Valentine was recruited, and joined the band – Maroon 5 was created. The band has never revealed how they came up with the name.
- In 2002, Maroon 5 released their debut album – Songs About Jane. Slowly, the album gained momentum. John Mayer heard the record and was so impressed, he invited the band to tour with him in 2003 – this increased the band’s visibility. The first single, Harder To Breathe, made it to #18 on the Billboard Hot 100. Three more singles were released in 2004 – This Love, She Will Be Loved and Sunday Morning. The first 2 reached #5 on the chart, and album sales improved. Eventually, the album peaked at #6 on the album chart, 26 months after its release. It’s the longest period ever between an album’s release and its initial top 10 ranking. It sold over 10 million copies worldwide and was certified 5x platinum. Maroon 5 won the Grammy in 2005 for Best New Artist.
- Dusick left the band in 2006 – the constant touring for 4 years aggravated an old sports injury, preventing him from playing the drums. Flynn replaced him, and in 2007 their second album, It Won’t Be Soon Before Long, was released. The single Makes Me Wonder debuted at #84 in March, and by late April, it was only up to #64. During the first week of May, it jumped to #1 – at the time, the biggest jump to #1 in Billboard history. The album went on the peak at #1 on the album chart, selling over 2 million copies in the U.S.
- Their third album was released in 2010 – Hands All Over. The following year, it was re-released, with one additional song added – Moves Like Jagger (featuring Christina Aguilera). The song was first performed on an episode of The Voice, where both Levine and Aguilera were coaches. It became a mega-hit, ultimately selling over 20 million digital copies.
- Levine’s participation in The Voice, plus the success of Moves Like Jagger, put Maroon 5 on a new level of stardom. Keyboardist PJ Morton was officially added to the group in 2012, after touring with them since 2010. Their next album, Overexposed, was released in 2012, with 4 singles reaching top 10 status (One More Night peaking at #1, and Payphone peaking at #2).
- Maroon 5 released the album titled V in 2014. The album debuted at #1 on the album chart, and the songs Maps, Animals, and Sugar all were top 10 hits. Their most recent album was released in late 2017 – Red Pill Blues. Two singles have sold well, with over 2 million digital copies sold in the U.S. – Don’t Wanna Know (featuring Kendrick Lamar) and What Lovers Do (featuring SZA).
- Maroon 5 has evolved into perhaps the most popular pop music group today. I remember hearing Moves Like Jagger for the first time – I was channel surfing in a hotel room in Switzerland, and the video came up for the song – I knew it would be an instant hit. Their best known video is Sugar – notorious for the band crashing weddings all over Los Angeles on December 6, 2014. Was it real or not? Who knows? This video has 2.5 BILLION views on YouTube (#8 all time). Very catchy, and very fun!
I wasn’t so into Maroon 5 until the movie [Begin Again]—although Adam wasn’t a positive boyfriend role in it but among great staring actor & actress he is indeed the shining star with his performance on stage for LOST STARS! Maybe he can have better songs later as his voice is unforgettable at all—totally fan now!