It was 1995 when Rob Thomas, Paul Douchette, and Brian Yale left Tabitha's Secret, added Kyle Cook and Adam Gaynor and began playing as Matchbox 20, in Orlando Florida. In just a year they signed with Atlantic Records and released Yourself Or Someone Like You, which was certified gold before summer 1996, eventually reaching Diamond while only peaking at #5 on the Billboard. Touring extensively their single, Long Day, got some alternative radio play setting the stage for singles Push, 3 AM, Real World, and Back 2 Good to chart on Billboard at Top 10, Top 40, and Top 10 respectively.

Matchbox Twenty - We Love Playing Live!

"It's a good feeling and we love playing live. To be honest, I can't imagine anything I'd rather do. You know it's so amazing if thousands of people are singing your music. It's really mind blowing. We all love it, but we're not the kind of guys who go around and play the big stars. It's all about music you know and playing the music you like, not about big egos and rock star attitude."

Matchbox Twenty - In the early years

It was 1995 when Rob Thomas, Paul Douchette, and Brian Yale left Tabitha's Secret, added Kyle Cook and Adam Gaynor and began playing as Matchbox 20, in Orlando Florida. In just a year they signed with Atlantic Records and released Yourself Or Someone Like You, which was certified gold before summer 1996, eventually reaching Diamond while only peaking at #5 on the Billboard. Touring extensively their single, Long Day, got some alternative radio play setting the stage for singles Push, 3 AM, Real World, and Back 2 Good to chart on Billboard at Top 10, Top 40, and Top 10 respectively.

The album was well received worldwide, reaching platinum levels in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. They were nominated for 2 American Music Awards, a Grammy, and 2 MTV Video Music Awards; didn't win any of them, but the readers of Rolling Stone named them the Best New Band. Their year closed with 2 Billboard Music Video Awards and Adult Top 40 #1 on the Billboard Year-End Charts.

In between tours, during 1999, Rob Thomas shared the Pop Songwriter Award with Sara McLachlan and Mariah Carey, and collaborated with Santana on the 12-week Billboard Chart #1, Grammy Award winner, platinum certified hit, Smooth.

Rising steadily

The album, Mad Season was released in March, 2000 with single Bent charting on the Top 10 almost immediately, making #1 in August, staying on the Adult Top 40 for 13 weeks, and was certified gold. It was during this time the men formally changed their name to Matchbox Twenty. Second album single hit, If You're Gone, hit the Top 40 in October going to the #1 spot on Billboard Adult Top 40 in December and staying there for 13 weeks. It was also named Song of the Year at the BMI Pop Awards. Matchbox won Rock on the Net's Poll as Artist of the year.

Their sophomore album, More Than You Think You Are (2002), was a collaborative effort instead of Thomas doing all of the composing. Although it didn't sell as well as their previous albums it remained a huge presence on the radio and singles Disease, Bright Lights, and Unwell were all very well received. EP, a six song ep featured unreleased versions of prior releases with Suffer Me as the single new track. With the band on official hiatus they released Show: A Night in the Life of Matchbox Twenty, a live DVD of an Atlanta show. Gaynor left the group in 2005, during this hiatus.

Ryan MacMillan joined Matchbox Twenty and Exile on Mainstream, a compilation album with six new songs, was released in 2007 in the interactive MVI format with included videos. It was certified gold in the US. They toured the US from January to March before heading overseas to New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Solo works

Before their next hiatus they performed at the 2008 NASCAR ceremony. Although the Matchbox Twenty is still officially on hiatus, with the members' focus on their own solo works, the de facto leader, Rob Thomas has continued to emphasize that they will reunite to perform again and will record yet another album.

Did you know