Cage The Elephant biography
Cage the Elephant is an American rock band from Bowling Green, Kentucky, that formed in mid-2006. Since their formation, the band has gained a large following in the US as well as the UK and Canada for their sound and their high-energy live performances. The band released their self-titled debut album on May 19, 2008 (June 23, 2008 in the UK). The album made them very popular in both Europe and America. On January 11, 2011, the group released their second effort, Thank You, Happy Birthday (March 21, 2011 in the UK). The second album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, and earned the band much positive reception. Both albums were produced by Jay Joyce of Jive Records.
History
Early years and self-titled album (2007-2010)
Members of Cage the Elephant had previously been involved in the band Perfect Confusion. The band signed with Relentless Records after showcasing at the 2007 South by Southwest music festival, and then moved to London, England. They released their eponymous debut album,
Cage the Elephant, on 23 June 2008 in the UK and April 21, 2009 in the US/Japan/Australia/Canada. The album obtained mostly favorable reviews. Their single "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart and was featured in the Gearbox Software video game Borderlands.
Cage the Elephant appeared as a support act on tour with The Pigeon Detectives in early 2008 and with Silversun Pickups and Manchester Orchestra in 2009. The single "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" was the free single of the week on iTunes for the week of April 12, 2009. The group made a national TV appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, performing "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked", in July 2009. In August 2007, Cage the Elephant played for the first time at Lollapalooza in Chicago, and returned to the festival in August 2009, as well as San Francisco's Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival on August 30, 2009. Prior to their return to Lollapalooza the band also played at the music festival Bonnaroo twice, in June 2007 and 2009. "Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" was played in the 2010 movie The Bounty Hunter, as well as the 2009 game "Borderlands". They released the single "Back Against the Wall" on November 10, 2009. They have supported Silversun Pickups, Manchester Orchestra and recently Stone Temple Pilots on tour.
Thank You, Happy Birthday (2011-Present)
The band's sophomore album,
Thank You, Happy Birthday, was released in January 2011.
Thank You, Happy Birthday was released to high critical acclaim. The album sold 39,000 copies during its first week in the U.S., debuting at Number 2 on the Billboard 200, losing to the band Cake's
Showroom of Compassion. The album received much praise from critics.
Throughout the year, Cage the Elephant supported the album by playing live. The group landed multiple late night shows, such as The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Cage the Elephant also landed the bill for the music festivals such as Coachella and the Glastonbury Festival. On August 6, 2011, Cage the Elephant performed at the Kansas Speedway for the first annual Kanrocksas music festival. In the latter half of the year, the band supported the Foo Fighters, who were on tour supporting their new album Wasting Light. In October, drummer Jared Champion's appendix suddenly burst, requiring immediate medical attention. Dave Grohl, the Foo Fighters' frontman and former drummer of Nirvana, temporarily filled in for Champion while he was recuperating.
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