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{{short description|American rock band}}
{{for|their self-titled album|Fountains of Wayne (album)}}
{{for|their self-titled album|Fountains of Wayne (album)}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2012}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
|Name =Fountains of Wayne
| name = Fountains of Wayne
|Img =Fountains of Wayne live 2007.jpg
| image = Fountains of Wayne live 2007.jpg
|Img_capt =
| landscape = yes
| caption = Fountains of Wayne performing live in 2007
|Img_size =
|Landscape =
| background = group_or_band
|Background =group_or_band
| origin = [[New York City]], U.S.
|Alias =
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Power pop]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/traffic-and-weather-mw0000478043 |title=Traffic and Weather Review |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2018-03-31}}</ref><ref name=sputnikgenres>{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands/Fountains-of-Wayne/131/|website=Sputnik Music|title=Fountains of Wayne|access-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref>
|Origin =[[New York, New York]]
* [[pop-punk]]<ref name=all>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fountains-of-wayne-mn0000739041/biography|website=[[AllMusic]]|title=Fountains of Wayne – Biography|first=Andrew|last=Leahey|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref><ref name=sputnikgenres/>
|Genre =[[Power pop]],<ref name=all/></br>[[Alternative rock]],<ref name=all/></br>[[Indie pop]],<ref name=all/><br/>[[Pop punk]]<ref name=bards/>
* [[pop rock]]<ref name=sputnikgenres/>
|Years_active =1996–present
* [[geek rock]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Garmon|first=Jay|url=https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/geekend/the-top-10-geek-rock-artists/|title=The top 10 geek rock artists|website=TechRepublic.com|access-date=2020-04-29|date=2012-04-20|archive-date=April 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420174253/https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/geekend/the-top-10-geek-rock-artists/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|URL =[http://www.fountainsofwayne.com/ fountainsofwayne.com]
* [[alternative rock]]<ref name=all/>
|Current_members =[[Chris Collingwood]]<br>[[Adam Schlesinger]]<br>[[Jody Porter]]<br>[[Brian Young (drummer)|Brian Young]]
* {{nowrap|[[indie pop]]}}<ref name=sputnikgenres/>
|Past_members =
}}
| years_active = {{flatlist|
* 1995–2013
* 2020<ref name="sgum20"/> (hiatus 1999–2001)
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
* [[S-Curve Records|S-Curve]]
* [[Virgin Records|Virgin]]
* [[Yep Roc Records|Yep Roc]]
* [[Scratchie Records|Scratchie]]
}}
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
* [[Ivy (band)|Ivy]]
* [[Tinted Windows (band)|Tinted Windows]]
* {{nowrap|[[Fever High]]}}
* [[The Posies]]
* {{nowrap|[[The Jesus and Mary Chain]]}}
* [[The Monkees]]
}}
| past_members = * [[Chris Collingwood]]
* [[Adam Schlesinger]]
* [[Jody Porter]]
* [[Brian Young (drummer)|Brian Young]]
}}
}}
'''Fountains of Wayne''' is a Grammy-nominated American [[power pop]]/[[alternative rock]] [[rock band|band]] that formed in [[1996 in music|1996]] in New York City.


'''Fountains of Wayne''' was an American [[Rock music|rock]] band that formed in [[New York City]] in 1995. The band included founding members [[Chris Collingwood]], [[Adam Schlesinger]], [[Jody Porter]], and [[Brian Young (drummer)|Brian Young]]. They released six albums from 1996 to 2011 before effectively disbanding in 2013. They are best known for the [[Grammy]]-nominated song "[[Stacy's Mom]]".


Schlesinger died of complications from [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] on April 1, 2020,<ref name="variety.com">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/adam-schlesinger-coronavirus-dead-dies-1203552130/|title=Adam Schlesinger, Emmy Winner and Fountains of Wayne Cofounder, Dies of Coronavirus Complications|last1=Willman|first1=Chris|last2=Aswad|first2=Jem|date=2020-04-01|website=Variety.com|access-date=2020-04-01}}</ref> and the surviving members of Fountains of Wayne reunited to perform an online one-shot concert as a tribute to Schlesinger on April 22, 2020.<ref name="sgum20">{{cite web |last1=Rettig |first1=James |title=Fountains Of Wayne Performing With Sharon Van Etten At NJ Benefit Show |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2081689/fountains-of-wayne-reunion-sharon-van-etten-adam-schlesinger/news |website=Stereogum.com |access-date=20 April 2020 |date=20 April 2020}}</ref>
==Early years==
[[File:Adam Schlesinger.jpg|thumb|right|175px|[[Adam Schlesinger]], photographed in spring 2007]]


==History==
The band was formed by songwriters [[Adam Schlesinger]] and [[Chris Collingwood]]. The two first met as freshmen at [[Williams College]] and began playing music together in various bands. They eventually went their separate ways, with Collingwood forming the Mercy Buckets in Boston and Schlesinger forming [[Ivy (band)|Ivy]] in New York City. The two met up once again during the mid-1990s and formed Fountains of Wayne.


===1995–2001: Early years===
The band name was taken from a [[lawn ornament]] store in [[Wayne, New Jersey|Wayne]], [[New Jersey]] called "Fountains of Wayne", which subsequently went out of business in 2009. The store was located at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 46]] and [[New Jersey Route 23]],<ref>{{coord|40.89540|N|74.24371|W |format=dms |type:landmark_region:US-NJ }}</ref> not far from [[Montclair, New Jersey]], the hometown of the band's [[bass guitar|bass]]ist and co-founder Adam Schlesinger. The store can be seen in ''[[The Sopranos]]'' episode "[[Another Toothpick]]". Initially the band went by other names, including ''Are You My Mother?'' and ''Woolly Mammoth''.
After [[Montclair, New Jersey|Montclair]]-based [[Adam Schlesinger]] and [[Sellersville, Pennsylvania|Sellersville]]-based [[Chris Collingwood]] first met as freshmen at [[Williams College]], they played music in various bands and eventually went their separate ways, with Collingwood forming the Mercy Buckets in Boston and Schlesinger forming [[Ivy (band)|Ivy]] in New York City. In the mid-1990s, they came together to form Fountains of Wayne, named after a [[lawn ornament]] store in [[Wayne, New Jersey]] that closed in 2009. The store features in an episode of ''[[The Sopranos]]'', "[[Another Toothpick]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Christmas Finally Ends At Fountains Of Wayne |url=https://www.roadsideamerica.com/blog/end-fountains-of-wayne/ |website=Roadside America |access-date=23 April 2020 |date=9 April 2009}}</ref> At first Collingwood hated the name but eventually warmed to it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/waynes-world-6423163|title=Wayne's World|first=Ted|last=Simons|website=Phoenix New Times|date=1997-05-01|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref> Previous band names included Woolly Mammoth, Are You My Mother? and Three Men Who When Standing Side by Side Have a Wingspan of Over Twelve Feet. The band cut a demo and signed with [[Atlantic Records]], then recruited guitarist [[Jody Porter]] and still-active Posies drummer [[Brian Young (drummer)|Brian Young]] after recording their debut album. Young got in touch with a friend who worked at Fountains of Wayne's label to see if there were any job openings, and when he auditioned for the band, they asked him to play the beat of [[Swingtown (song)|"Swingtown"]] by [[Steve Miller Band]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/2007/04/brian-young/|title=Brian Young of Fountains of Wayne|first=Waleed|last=Rashidi|magazine=Modern Drummer|date=April 2007|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref>


Though Collingwood and Schlesinger shared cowriter credit for all original Fountains of Wayne material, for most of their career together, they wrote their songs separately. In 2005 Collingwood said, "We decided early on, it's better to not have arguments that some bands have where someone might say, 'I wrote 15% of that song,' and try to figure out those numbers. It just seems ridiculous." Schlesinger added, "We just agreed many years ago that if we were to have a band we'd just split the songwriting to avoid having a conversation every time we tried to finish a song. But we really haven't collaborated as writers in years. And that's kind of intentional too because we didn't want it to turn into a thing where people would say, 'Adam's songs are like this...' We wanted the band to have an identity more than we wanted each of us to have an identity in the band."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://americansongwriter.com/2005/07/fountains-of-wayner-bright-future-in-sales/|title=Fountains of Wayne: Bright Future in Sales|first=John D.|last=Luerssen|magazine=American Songwriter|date=2005-07-01|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref>
===''Fountains of Wayne'' (album)===
A demo eventually landed the two a deal with [[Atlantic Records]], and in 1996 the band released its [[Fountains of Wayne (album)|self-titled debut]]. The album spawned the singles "Radiation Vibe" and "Sink to the Bottom", which both received airplay. Coincidentally, at around the same time the [[That Thing You Do (song)|title song]] for the film ''[[That Thing You Do!]]'', which Schlesinger wrote, became a hit. ''That Thing You Do!'' also brought Schlesinger an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] nomination and an [[RIAA]] gold certification for the hit soundtrack.


Along with guitarist Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young, the band toured the world extensively behind the album, playing alongside bands such as [[The Smashing Pumpkins]] and [[The Lemonheads]].
In 1996, the band released its [[Fountains of Wayne (album)|self-titled debut]], which spawned the singles "[[Radiation Vibe]]" and "[[Sink to the Bottom]]", and the band toured the world extensively behind its debut album, playing alongside bands including [[The Smashing Pumpkins]], [[Sloan (band)|Sloan]], and [[The Lemonheads]]. That same year, Schlesinger wrote the [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-nominated, [[RIAA]] gold-certified [[That Thing You Do (song)|title song]] for the film ''[[That Thing You Do!]]''.


In 1999, the band released ''[[Utopia Parkway]]'', an album named after a road in [[Queens]], New York. The album was a concept record that dealt with life in modern suburbia. ''Utopia Parkway'' was received well by critics, garnering many favorable reviews, and was album of the week in [[People (magazine)|''People'' magazine]]. The group once again toured extensively behind the album, but frustrations grew between the band and the label. The band was later dropped by Atlantic in late 1999.
===''Utopia Parkway''===
In 1999 the band released its second album, ''[[Utopia Parkway]]'', named after a road in [[Queens]], New York. The album was something of a concept record that dealt with life in modern suburbia. ''Utopia Parkway'' was received well by critics, garnering many favorable reviews, and was album of the week in [[People (magazine)|''People'' magazine]]. The group once again toured extensively behind the album, but frustrations grew between the band and the label. The band was later dropped by Atlantic in late 1999.


The band was inactive for a period of time. Collingwood, in particular, had a difficult time coping with the band being dropped by their label. In 2004 he said, "When we got dropped from Atlantic, it's my fault that it took so long, because I wasn't sure I wanted to keep doing it. At the end of four years of the hardest work I'd ever done in my life, more traveling and being away from my wife the whole time, I had nothing to show for it. I got back home and I had nothing. I was broke, I was demoralized, I was exhausted. I think I just needed a year to recharge my batteries."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.popentertainment.com/fountains.htm|title=Fountains of Wayne: Bright Future in Record Sales|first=Jay S.|last=Jacobs|website=PopEntertainment.com|date=2004-01-09|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref>
==Hiatus period==
The band was inactive for a period of time. Schlesinger found work as a writer and producer and co-wrote many of the songs for the ''[[Josie and the Pussycats (film)|Josie and the Pussycats]]'' film and soundtrack. He also produced albums for the [[Verve Pipe]] and [[David Mead]], as well as several tracks by [[They Might Be Giants]]. He released a third record with his other band Ivy on [[Nettwerk]] records.


During the group's hiatus, Collingwood formed and fronted a pop-country band entitled the [[Chris Collingwood#Gay Potatoes (side project)|Gay Potatoes]] based in the [[Northampton, Massachusetts]] area. He also played a string of solo shows in the Boston and Los Angeles areas. Guitarist Jody Porter worked with his band The Astrojet alongside famed producer [[Gordon Raphael]] and keyboardist David Zhang in the New York City area. Drummer Brian Young played with Ivy and found session work for various artists.
Schlesinger cowrote many of the songs for the ''[[Josie and the Pussycats (film)|Josie and the Pussycats]]'' film and soundtrack, produced albums for [[Verve Pipe]], [[David Mead (musician)|David Mead]], and [[They Might Be Giants]], and released a third record with his other band, [[Ivy (band)|Ivy]]. Collingwood formed and fronted a [[Northampton, Massachusetts]]-based pop-country band called [[Chris Collingwood#Gay Potatoes (side project)|Gay Potatoes]], and played a string of solo shows in the Boston and Los Angeles areas; Gay Potatoes was officially retired on [[New Year's Eve]] 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=MAGNET |date=2011-08-08 |title=A Conversation With Fountains Of Wayne |url=https://magnetmagazine.com/2011/08/08/qa-with-fountains-of-wayne/ |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=Magnet Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> Guitarist Jody Porter worked with his band, The Astrojet, alongside famed producer [[Gordon Raphael]] and keyboardist David Zhang in New York City. Percussionist [[Brian Young (drummer)|Brian Young]] moved to Los Angeles and did session work for various artists such as producer [[Steve Fisk]], Ivy, [[Heather Duby]], and [[Greg Dulli]].


===2001–2013: Commercial success and breakup===
==Reunion==
[[File:Fountains of Wayne.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Fountains of Wayne performing in April 2007]]
[[File:Fountains of Wayne.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Fountains of Wayne performing in April 2007]]


The band reunited to record a cover of [[The Kinks]]' "Better Things" for the tribute album, ''This Is Where I Belong: Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks'', in 2001, and began to discuss plans for a new album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/fountains-of-wayne-1798208149|title=Fountains of Wayne|first=Stephen|last=Thompson|website=AV Club|date=2001-06-06|accessdate=2019-01-04}}</ref> In 2003, the band released ''[[Welcome Interstate Managers]]'', a successful album that spawned the hit single "[[Stacy's Mom]]", which Adam Schlesinger says was a tribute to [[The Cars]]. Initially the single stalled at commercial alternative radio in the US, but MTV President [[Judy McGrath]] championed the single's [[music video]], a ''[[Fast Times at Ridgemont High]]'' homage featuring [[Rachel Hunter]]. Ultimately Stacy's Mom was certified [[RIAA certification|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] and was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal|Best Vocal Pop Performance]] at the [[46th Annual Grammy Awards|2004 Grammys]]. Another song off the album, "All Kinds of Time", was used for [[NFL]] commercial promotions during the 2005 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fountainsofwayne.us/newsarchive.php |title=Fountains of Wayne.us |website=Fountainsofwayne.us |access-date=2012-12-28}}</ref>
Sometime in 2001 the band slowly came back together, recording a cover of [[The Kinks]]' "Better Things" for the tribute album ''This Is Where I Belong: Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks''. The group also recorded the theme song for the [[Comedy Central]] show ''[[Crank Yankers]]'', and wrote songs for, and appeared as animated characters in, the [[VH1]] cartoon series ''[[Hey Joel]]'' with columnist [[Joel Stein]]. The show aired briefly on VH1 in 2003, but was later picked up by [[TELETOON (Canada)|Teletoon]] in Canada. The band members appeared performing original songs that typically reviewed the plot developments immediately preceding their performance, in addition to the show's theme song.


In 2005, the band released ''[[Out-of-State Plates]]'', a collection of [[B-side]]s and two new songs, which was supported by the single "Maureen" and a limited US tour that included some acoustic-only sets, a set on PBS ''[[Soundstage (TV program)|Soundstage]]'', and an appearance in the American Songbook concert series at [[Lincoln Center]]. Also included on the album is a 1999 cover of the [[Britney Spears]] hit, "[[...Baby One More Time]]".
===''Welcome Interstate Managers''===
The band used the money made from these projects to fund the recording of a new album, working in upstate New York, New York City, and Boston.


Also in 2005, [[Robbie Fulks]] released a song in honor of the band called "Fountains of Wayne Hotline".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fulks |first1=Robbie |title=Adam Schlesinger Celebrated by 'Fountains of Wayne Hotline' Creator Robbie Fulks |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/adam-schlesinger-celebrated-fountains-of-wayne-hotline-robbie-fulks-1234569967/ |website=Variety.com |access-date=8 April 2020 |date=2 April 2020}}</ref>
In 2003, former Atlantic A&R man [[Steve Yegewel]] signed the band as new A&R man at S-Curve Records, and the band released ''[[Welcome Interstate Managers]]''. It spawned the hit single "[[Stacy's Mom]]" (which Adam Schlesinger says was a tribute to [[The Cars]]), which was certified gold by the [[RIAA]].


In 2006, while on tour in Tokyo, Collingwood had a mental breakdown in which he hadn't slept for four days, experienced hallucinations for two days and didn't believe that he was in Tokyo to play in front of 25,000. The show was cancelled and Collingwood was taken to an emergency department,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theywillrockyou.com/2007/06/fountains-of-wayne/|title=Fountains of Wayne|first=Lexi|last=Shapiro|website=They Will Rock You|date=2007-06-26|access-date=2019-01-04|archive-date=August 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813033919/http://theywillrockyou.com/2007/06/fountains-of-wayne/|url-status=dead}}</ref> followed by recovery in a mental hospital after returning to the US.<ref name=Myers>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/08/fountains-of-wayne.html|title=Fountains of Wayne: Ironic No More|first=Paul|last=Myers|magazine=Paste|date=2011-08-03|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref>
Initially, "Stacy's Mom" stalled at commercial alternative radio in the US; the single, LP, and band seemed doomed to obscurity. However, [[MTV]] rescued the band from likely failure as MTV President [[Judy McGrath]] championed the [[music video]] for "Stacy's Mom", rapidly increasing the song's exposure and success. The video features [[Rachel Hunter]] as the object of the fantasies of the song's narrator. The follow-up single, "Mexican Wine", fared less well, with a controversial video that showed young children singing the lyrics "think I'll have another glass of Mexican wine" and guitarist Jody Porter catching a drink on the bare stomach of a woman lying on a beach.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} The single was ultimately pulled by the record label. The third single, "Hey Julie", an acoustic song, received some airplay. "All Kinds of Time", depicting a young football player in a Zen-like state of mind during a crucial potentially game-winning pass, was used for [[NFL]] commercial promotions during the 2005 season. The band also recorded a performance on ''[[Austin City Limits]]'', which aired in December 2003.


In 2007, the band released ''[[Traffic and Weather]]'', an album which included the song "I-95", which ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' named #54 of the year's top 100 songs.<ref>{{cite web|last=Burr |first=Mike |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/news/rolling-stone-top-songs-2008/16472/ |title=Rolling Stone slights Rihanna and embraces Newman on 2007 singles |website=PrefixMag.com |access-date=2012-12-28 |date=2007-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216164516/http://www.prefixmag.com/news/rolling-stone-top-songs-2008/16472/ |archive-date=2008-02-16}}</ref> Collingwood had less involvement during the making of the album due to his struggles with depression and alcoholism, only managing to contribute three songs.<ref name=Myers/>
The band received two 2003 Grammy nominations: Best New Artist and Best Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group (for "Stacy's Mom").


In 2008, Porter released his debut solo album ''Close to the Sun'', a collection of songs he had written and recorded over a period of years in between Fountains of Wayne albums and tours.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fountains-of-wayne-1329689|title=Fountains of Wayne guitarist for solo career|website=NME|date=2008-07-23|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref>
===''Out-of-State Plates''===
In June 2005, Fountains of Wayne released ''[[Out-of-State Plates]]'', a collection of [[B-side]]s which included two new songs. The album was supported by the single "Maureen" and a limited US tour that included some acoustic-only sets, a set on PBS ''[[Soundstage (TV program)|Soundstage]]'', and American Songbook. Also included on the album is a cover of the [[Britney Spears]] hit "[[…Baby One More Time (song)|...Baby One More Time]]", recorded as a b-side in 1999.


[[File:Fountains-of-Wayne-acoustic-July-09.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|The band playing [[Acoustic music|acoustic]] in July 2009]]
===''Traffic and Weather''===
In 2009, the band released ''No Better Place: Live In Chicago'', a live concert DVD which included newly recorded acoustic songs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Fountains-Wayne-Better-Place-Chicago/dp/B001PPLKJ4 |title=Fountains of Wayne: No Better Place - Live in Chicago: Chris Collingwood, Steven M. Gold, Jody Porter, Adam Schlesinger, Brian Young, Joe Thomas, Gregory David: Movies & TV |website=Amazon.com |access-date=2012-12-28}}</ref> Also that year, they played a short run of full-band acoustic shows where they showcased songs from their forthcoming album.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fountainsofwayne.com/main.asp |title=Fountains of Wayne News – Fall '08 |website=Fountains of Wayne |date=October 18, 2008 |access-date=2008-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508225915/http://www.fountainsofwayne.com/main.asp |archive-date=May 8, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>
[[File:Fountains-of-Wayne-acoustic-July-09.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The band playing [[Acoustic music|acoustic]] in July 2009]]


In 2010, Fountains of Wayne commenced work on their fifth album, which was influenced by the recent acoustic tours they had done. According to Porter, "It's a little bit more introspective and not as loud of a record as the last two. I think that came from the fact that we started last year doing acoustic-based tours because we didn't have a record out. We wanted to get back out on tour and did it stripped-down. Overall it's not as brash or guitar-heavy."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.popmatters.com/130729-out-of-the-shadows-into-the-light-an-interview-with-jody-porter-2496141124.html|title=Out of the Shadows, Into the Light: An Interview with Jody Porter|author=Souleo|magazine=Popmatters|date=2010-09-14|access-date=2019-01-05}}</ref>
''[[Traffic and Weather]]'' was released on April 3, 2007. ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' magazine named the band one of the reasons to love 2007 because of the release of its latest album.<ref>{{cite news|last=Errico|first=Mike|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=2391&src=blender_ed|title=25 Reasons to Love '07|publisher=Blender Magazine Online|date=Jan/February 2007|accessdate=2006-02-09}}</ref> The song "I-95" from this album was named one of the year's Top 50 Songs by Rolling Stone.


In 2011, the band released ''[[Sky Full of Holes]]'', an album put out in Japan by [[Warner Music Japan]] (with two bonus tracks), Europe by [[Lojinx]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lojinx.com/releases/fountains-of-wayne/sky-full-of-holes |title=Lojinx // Fountains of Wayne / Sky Full of Holes album |website=Lojinx.com |date=August 2011 |access-date=2014-04-18}}</ref> and the U.S. by [[Yep Roc Records]]. The now-sober Collingwood once again became more involved, but this turned out to be the hardest album for them to make. According to Collingwood in 2013, "The most recent record was definitely the hardest that we've ever done. I think I'm partly to blame for that. I checked out on the previous record, so when I came back in, I had to assert myself. Every single thing about that record was a fight. It was not this blissful reconciliation that led to the release; it was a brutal thing right up to the end. We'll see what happens if we end up making another record."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pottsmerc.com/2013/03/06/fountains-of-wayne-performs-songs-from-newest-release-at-sellersville/|title=Fountains of Wayne performs songs from newest release at Sellersville|first=David|last=Kleinman|website=The Mercury|date=2013-03-06|access-date=2023-01-09}}</ref>
===New album===
In October 2008, the band announced a short run of full-band acoustic shows planned for early 2009 where they had planned to showcase songs from their new album.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fountainsofwayne.com/main.asp |title= Fountains of Wayne News – Fall ’08 |publisher=Fountains of Wayne |date=October 18, 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-04}}</ref> In an interview with Crossbeat Magazine, Adam discussed the possibility of releasing the new album in the summer of 2010, as the record is to be nearing completion (if not completed) as of early 2010.


The band toured ''Sky Full of Holes'' into 2012. After about a one-year layoff, they played a number of U.S. dates in September and October 2013, on a tour with [[Soul Asylum]] and [[Evan Dando]]. They also issued one final new track in 2013, "Trucks", written and produced by [[Sandra Boynton]] for Boynton's kid-friendly various artists album ''Frog Trouble''. The final Fountains of Wayne show took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on October 19, 2013.
===DVD===
Fountains of Wayne released their first live DVD, ''No Better Place: Live In Chicago'', on March 3, 2009 via [[Shout! Factory]]. The concert was filmed in 2005. The DVD also includes newly recorded footage of the band playing five songs acoustically.


===2013–2020: Post-breakup===
== Discography ==
The band never issued an official announcement that they had broken up, but by 2016 all the members were speaking of Fountains of Wayne in the past tense. Neither Schlesinger nor Collingwood had ruled out a future reunion, but both saw the possibility as remote. "I try never to say never," Collingwood said, "but it's staggering to think of everything that would have to happen for me to want to repeat that experience."<ref>{{cite web|author=Lambeth, Sam|url=http://louderthanwar.com/interview-fountains-wayne/|title=Interview: Fountains of Wayne|website=Louder Than War|date=13 April 2016|access-date=2016-05-27}}</ref>
===Studio albums===
* 1996: ''[[Fountains of Wayne (album)|Fountains of Wayne]]'' ([[Atlantic Records]])
* 1999: ''[[Utopia Parkway]]'' (Atlantic Records)
* 2003: ''[[Welcome Interstate Managers]]'' ([[S-Curve Records]], [[Virgin Records]]) #115 <small>(US)</small>
* 2007: ''[[Traffic and Weather]]'' (Virgin Records) #97 <small>(US)</small>


In 2016, Collingwood released what was essentially a solo album that was issued under the group name Look Park. At the time of the album release, he elaborated on Fountains of Wayne's demise by saying, "When we were recording the record before the last Fountains of Wayne record, which was called ''Traffic and Weather'', I didn't really have a whole lot to contribute to that album. I was out to lunch a little bit, mentally, and just drinking too much. And I think that the fact that I sort of removed myself from the process at that point made it really easier for Adam to take over. And when I was ready to actually make another album, you know, several years later after I'd sort of cleaned up my act, it was very difficult. It was very, very hard to get back into the position where we were equals."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/07/24/487237229/fountains-of-wayne-s-chris-collingwood-returns-with-new-project-look-park|title=Fountains of Wayne's Chris Collingwood Returns With New Project 'Look Park'|first=Elise|last=Hu|website=NPR|date=2016-07-24|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref>
===Compilation albums===
* 2005: ''[[Out-of-State Plates]]'' (Virgin Records) #168 <small>(US)</small>


Porter and Young joined Schlesinger in 2016 on [[The Monkees]]' album ''[[Good Times!]]'' and again in 2018 on the group's [[Christmas Party (The Monkees album)|''Christmas Party'']]. Schlesinger produced and wrote songs for both albums.
===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Single
! colspan="6"| Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]
! width="35"| [[Alternative Songs|US Alt]]
! width="35"| [[Pop 100|US Pop]]
! width="35"| [[ARIA Charts|AUS]]
! width="35"| [[RIANZ|NZ]]
! width="35"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]
|-
| 1996
| align="left"| "Radiation Vibe"
| —
| 14
| —
| —
| —
| 32
| align="left" rowspan="5"| ''Fountains of Wayne''
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1997
| align="left"| "Sink to the Bottom"
| —
| —
| —
| 7
| 4
| 42
|-
| align="left"| "Survival Car"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 53
|-
| align="left"| "Barbara H."
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 19
|-
| 1998
| align="left"| "Leave the Biker"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1999
| align="left"| "Denise"
| —
| 34
| —
| 8
| —
| 57
| align="left" rowspan="4"| ''Utopia Parkway''
|-
| align="left"| "Red Dragon Tattoo"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 79
|-
| align="left"| "Troubled Times"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 134
|-
| rowpan="1"| 2000
| align="left"| "The Valley of Malls"
| —
| 17
| —
| 5
| 8
| —
|-
| 2003
| align="left"| "[[Stacy's Mom]]"
| 21
| 31
| 3
| 14
| 5
| 11
| align="left" rowspan="3"| ''Welcome Interstate Managers''
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2004
| align="left"| "Mexican Wine"
| —
| —
| —
| 8
| 3
| —
|-
| align="left"| "Hey Julie"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| 57
|-
| 2005
| align="left"| "Maureen"
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| —
| align="left"| ''Out-of-State Plates''
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2007
| align="left"| "[[Someone to Love (Fountains of Wayne song)|Someone to Love]]"
| —
| —
| —
| 7
| 28
| 13
| align="left" rowspan="2"| ''Traffic and Weather''
|-
| align="left"| "[['92 Subaru (song)|'92 Subaru]]"
| —
| —
| —
| 8
| —
| —
|-
| colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart
|-
|}


Schlesinger and Collingwood, meanwhile, remained distant. "I don't even know where Adam lives now," Collingwood told an interviewer in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shanahan|first=Mark|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2019/05/23/for-fountains-wayne-singer-liberating-new-musical-landscape/xMz1Gqmz8HvItkJ7V8bBrI/story.html|title=For Fountains of Wayne singer, a liberating new musical landscape|website=BostonGlobe.com|date=23 May 2019}}</ref>
===Other charted songs===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Single
! colspan="1"| Peak positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="60"| UK
|-
| 1997
| align="left"| "I Want an Alien for Christmas"
| 36
| align="left"| Non-album song
|-
|}


===2020: Death of Schlesinger and reunion===
===Non-album songs===
Adam Schlesinger died of complications from [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] on April 1, 2020.<ref name="variety.com"/>
* "Better Things" (The Kinks cover) – ''This is Where I Belong: The Songs of Ray Davies and The Kinks'', ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'' OST
* "Bowling Shoes" – Performed live several times in 2000. Later some of the lyrics were slightly changed and became part of the song "The Girl I Can't Forget".
* "[[Bus Stop (song)|Bus Stop]]" ([[The Hollies]] cover) – featured in ''[[American Dreams]]''
* "Everything's Ruined" (Acoustic) – ''Future Soundtrack for America''
* "[[Help! (song)|Help!]]" ([[The Beatles]] cover) – featured in ''[[Cheaper by the Dozen (2003 film)|Cheaper By The Dozen]]''
* "Monster House" – Written for the movie ''[[Monster House (film)|Monster House]]''. The song didn't make it on the OST but a demo version was made available via the band's MySpace.
* "Sasquatch" – live only
* "Sense Into You" – bonus track on the Japanese version of ''Traffic and Weather'', "Someone to Love" b-side
* "Tell Me What You Already Did" – ''[[Robots (film)|Robots: The Movie]]'' OST
* "Too Cool for School" – ''[[Scary Movie]]'' OST
* "You Gotta Go" – bonus track on the UK version of ''Traffic and Weather''.


The surviving members of Fountains of Wayne performed together for the first time since 2013 on April 22, 2020, as part of a charity livestream event to raise funding for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund.<ref name="sgum20"/> The performance was a tribute to Schlesinger, and featured [[Sharon Van Etten]] taking his place on bass guitar.<ref name="sgum20"/>
==Featured in television and film==
Fountains of Wayne songs have been featured in many films and TV shows:
* "All Kinds of Time" – [[NFL Network]] commercial (2005); ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'' (Episode 4.13 – "[[My Ocardial Infarction]]"); ''[[The O.C.]]'' (Episode 1.5 – "The Outsider"); ''[[The Devil Wears Prada]]'' (Although it is uncredited an instrumental version of the song is played at nearly every pivotal moment in the film, as well as during the end credits); ''[[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]]'' (Episode 1.17- "Spirit in the Night"); Friday Night Lights (TV Series) – song provides inspiratinal back-drop in scene where back-up Matt Saracen takes the field and excels


==Band members==
* "Better Things" – ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]''
*[[Chris Collingwood]] – lead vocals, keyboards (1995–2013, 2020); rhythm guitar (1997–2013, 2020); lead guitar (1995–1997)
*[[Adam Schlesinger]] – bass (1997–2013); keyboards, backing and occasional lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1995–2013); drums (1995–1997); ''<small>died 2020</small>''
*[[Jody Porter]] – lead guitar, backing vocals (1997–2013, 2020)
*[[Brian Young (drummer)|Brian Young]] – drums, percussion (1997–2013, 2020)


;Timeline
* "Bright Future in Sales" – ''[[Gilmore Girls]]'' (Episode 4.2 – "The Lorelais' First Day at Yale"); ''[[Malcolm In The Middle]]'' (Episode 5.4 – "Thanksgiving")
{{#tag:timeline|
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PlotArea = left:100 bottom:100 top:10 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:14/02/1995 till:22/04/2020
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ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1996


Colors =
*"Bus Stop" – ''[[American Dreams]]'' as [[The Hollies]] (Episode 3.16 – "No Satisfaction")
id:lvocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals
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id:rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar
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id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards
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id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals
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id:bars value:gray(0.95)


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* "Crank Yankers Theme" – ''[[Crank Yankers]]''


LineData =
* "California Sex Lawyer" – ''[[Newsnight]]''
color:album layer:back
at:01/10/1996
at:06/04/1999
at:10/06/2003
at:03/04/2007
at:20/07/2011


BarData =
* "Hackensack" – ''[[Just Friends]]''
bar:Chris text:Chris Collingwood
bar:Jody text:Jody Porter
bar:Adam text:Adam Schlesinger
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* "Hat and Feet" – ''[[Two Weeks Notice]]''
width:13
bar:Chris from:start till:19/10/2013 color:lvocals
bar:Chris from:start till:19/10/2013 color:keys width:3
bar:Chris from:start till:06/03/1997 color:lguitar width:7
bar:Chris from:06/03/1997 till:19/10/2013 color:rguitar width:7
bar:Chris from:22/04/2020 till:end color:lvocals
bar:Chris from:22/04/2020 till:end color:keys width:3
bar:Chris from:22/04/2020 till:end color:rguitar width:7
bar:Adam from:06/03/1997 till:19/10/2013 color:bass
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bar:Adam from:start till:06/03/1997 color:drums
bar:Adam from:start till:19/10/2013 color:keys width:9
bar:Brian from:06/03/1997 till:19/10/2013 color:drums
bar:Brian from:22/04/2020 till:end color:drums
bar:Jody from:06/03/1997 till:19/10/2013 color:lguitar
bar:Jody from:06/03/1997 till:19/10/2013 color:bvocals width:3
bar:Jody from:22/04/2020 till:end color:lguitar
bar:Jody from:22/04/2020 till:end color:bvocals width:3
}}


==Discography==
* "Help!" – ''[[Cheaper by the Dozen (2003 film)|Cheaper By The Dozen]]'' (as [[Steve Martin]]'s character Tom Baker frantically searches the phone book and rings around looking for a babysitter)
{{Main|Fountains of Wayne discography}}
'''Studio albums'''
*''[[Fountains of Wayne (album)|Fountains of Wayne]]'' (1996)
*''[[Utopia Parkway]]'' (1999)
*''[[Welcome Interstate Managers]]'' (2003)
*''[[Traffic and Weather]]'' (2007)
*''[[Sky Full of Holes]]'' (2011)


==References==
* "Hey Joel"/"Captive Audience"/"Bad Neighborhood"/"Meet In The Middle"/"A Busty Lad"/"Androgyny" – ''[[Hey Joel]]''

* "I've Got A Flair" – ''[[Trojan War (film)|Trojan War]]''

*"I Want an Alien for Christmas" – ''[[Teachers (UK TV series)|Teachers]]''

*"Prom Theme" – ''[[Joan of Arcadia]] (The Uncertainty Principle), [[Gossip Girl]] (Episode 2.21)

* "Radiation Vibe" – ''[[Music and Lyrics]]'' (as [[Hugh Grant]]'s character Alex Fletcher shows [[Drew Barrymore]]'s character Sophie Fisher a copy of his solo album in a record store)

*"Red Dragon Tattoo" – ''[[Kingdom Hospital]]''

* "Sink to the Bottom" – ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' (Episode 2.8 – "[[Atlantic City (How I Met Your Mother episode)|Atlantic City]]"); Commercial for [[Norway|Norwegian]] soda brand Mozell (1998); VH1's ''[[I Love the '90s]] Part Deux''; Scrubs ; Bongwater (1997)

*"Stacy's Mom" – [[Dr Pepper]] commercial; [''"Psych"''] (Episode 1.4)

*"Tell Me What You Already Did" – ''[[Robots (film)|Robots: The Movie]]''

*"Too Cool for School" – ''[[Scary Movie]]''

* "Troubled Times" – ''[[Veronica Mars]]'' (Episode 1.2 – "Credit Where Credit's Due")

* "Utopia Parkway" – ''[[Two Weeks Notice]]''

* "Hey Julie" – ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'' (Episode 5.9 – "[[My Half-Acre]]")

* "Valley Winter Song" – [[L.L. Bean]] commercial<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6qURsAdYrI</ref>

* "Places" – ''[[Friday Night Lights (TV series)|Friday Night Lights]]'' (Episode 3.13)

==Group members==
* [[Chris Collingwood]] – [[Singer|lead vocals]], [[guitar]]
* [[Adam Schlesinger]] – [[Bass guitar|bass]], keyboards, backing vocals
* [[Jody Porter]] – lead guitar, backing vocals
* [[Brian Young (drummer)|Brian Young]] – [[Drum kit|drums]]

==Famous fans==
[[Stephen King]] featured the song "Red Dragon Tattoo" (off ''Utopia Parkway'') in his 2004 ABC miniseries ''[[Kingdom Hospital]]''. King is a big fan of the group, and often makes references to Fountains of Wayne in his periodic [[pop-culture]] related articles in ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. In December 2005, he started a list of his favorite Christmas songs with Fountains of Wayne's "I Want an Alien for Christmas".{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}

[[Elton John]] has said he is a fan of the band. He called Collingwood and Schlesinger after listening to ''Utopia Parkway'' to tell them he thought it was great.<ref>{{Cite document| last =Newman| first =Melinda| author-link =| title =Elton John talks|publisher =[[Monsters and Critics]]| date =2005-09-08| url =http://music.monstersandcritics.com/features/article_1046700.php?page=2| accessdate =2007-07-10| postscript =<!--None--> }}</ref>

[[Paul Muldoon]] also stressed his love of the group to a high school audience at [[Milton Academy]] when he delivered a lecture on poetic inspirations.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}

Country singer [[Robbie Fulks]] wrote a song entitled "Fountains of Wayne Hotline" in which he imagined the group having a hotline which other songwriters could call for help.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} [http://www.spinner.com/2007/06/07/iflts-fountains-of-wayne-hotline-robbie-fulks/]

Zach Braff is also noted as a fan of the band, with many of their songs appearing on ABC sitcom (formerly NBC) ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]'', in which Braff formerly starred.

Katy Perry covered their song "Hackensack"during her July 2009 performance on "MTV Unlplugged."

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q733863|c=Category:Fountains of Wayne|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no|q=no}}
{{Commonscat}}
*{{allMusic|fountains-of-wayne-p194763}}
* [http://www.fountainsofwayne.com/ Official site]
*{{MusicBrainz artist|id=0f82d6b5-12fb-4569-b047-a00194f572a7|name=Fountains of Wayne}}
* [http://www.fountainsofwayne.us/ Fan site]
*[http://www.blender.com/FountainsofWayneLiveatBonnaroo2007/video/1619.aspx?src=dx1 Fountains of Wayne interview] with ''Blender''
* {{MusicBrainz artist|id=0f82d6b5-12fb-4569-b047-a00194f572a7|name=Fountains of Wayne}}
* [http://www.blender.com/FountainsofWayneLiveatBonnaroo2007/video/1619.aspx?src=dx1 Fountains of Wayne interview]
*[http://fountainsofwayne.com/home/ Fountains of Wayne official webSite]

{{Fountains of Wayne}}


{{Fountains of Wayne|state=expanded}}
[[Category:American alternative rock groups]]
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:American power pop musical groups]]
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[[Category:1995 establishments in New York City]]
[[ca:Fountains of Wayne]]
[[Category:2013 disestablishments in New York (state)]]
[[da:Fountains Of Wayne]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1995]]
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[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2013]]
[[es:Fountains of Wayne]]
[[Category:American power pop groups]]
[[fa:فواره‌های وین]]
[[Category:Musical quartets from New York (state)]]
[[fr:Fountains of Wayne]]
[[Category:Alternative rock groups from New York (state)]]
[[ko:파운틴스 오브 웨인]]
[[Category:Lojinx artists]]
[[it:Fountains of Wayne]]
[[Category:S-Curve Records artists]]
[[nl:Fountains of Wayne]]
[[Category:Virgin Records artists]]
[[ja:ファウンテンズ・オブ・ウェイン]]
[[Category:Yep Roc Records artists]]
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[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2020]]
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Revision as of 09:40, 28 August 2024

For their self-titled album, see Fountains of Wayne (album).

Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne performing live in 2007
Fountains of Wayne performing live in 2007
Background information
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1995–2013
  • 2020[5] (hiatus 1999–2001)
Labels
Past members

Fountains of Wayne was an American rock band that formed in New York City in 1995. The band included founding members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter, and Brian Young. They released six albums from 1996 to 2011 before effectively disbanding in 2013. They are best known for the Grammy-nominated song "Stacy's Mom".

Schlesinger died of complications from COVID-19 on April 1, 2020,[6] and the surviving members of Fountains of Wayne reunited to perform an online one-shot concert as a tribute to Schlesinger on April 22, 2020.[5]

History

1995–2001: Early years

After Montclair-based Adam Schlesinger and Sellersville-based Chris Collingwood first met as freshmen at Williams College, they played music in various bands and eventually went their separate ways, with Collingwood forming the Mercy Buckets in Boston and Schlesinger forming Ivy in New York City. In the mid-1990s, they came together to form Fountains of Wayne, named after a lawn ornament store in Wayne, New Jersey that closed in 2009. The store features in an episode of The Sopranos, "Another Toothpick".[7] At first Collingwood hated the name but eventually warmed to it.[8] Previous band names included Woolly Mammoth, Are You My Mother? and Three Men Who When Standing Side by Side Have a Wingspan of Over Twelve Feet. The band cut a demo and signed with Atlantic Records, then recruited guitarist Jody Porter and still-active Posies drummer Brian Young after recording their debut album. Young got in touch with a friend who worked at Fountains of Wayne's label to see if there were any job openings, and when he auditioned for the band, they asked him to play the beat of "Swingtown" by Steve Miller Band.[9]

Though Collingwood and Schlesinger shared cowriter credit for all original Fountains of Wayne material, for most of their career together, they wrote their songs separately. In 2005 Collingwood said, "We decided early on, it's better to not have arguments that some bands have where someone might say, 'I wrote 15% of that song,' and try to figure out those numbers. It just seems ridiculous." Schlesinger added, "We just agreed many years ago that if we were to have a band we'd just split the songwriting to avoid having a conversation every time we tried to finish a song. But we really haven't collaborated as writers in years. And that's kind of intentional too because we didn't want it to turn into a thing where people would say, 'Adam's songs are like this...' We wanted the band to have an identity more than we wanted each of us to have an identity in the band."[10]

In 1996, the band released its self-titled debut, which spawned the singles "Radiation Vibe" and "Sink to the Bottom", and the band toured the world extensively behind its debut album, playing alongside bands including The Smashing Pumpkins, Sloan, and The Lemonheads. That same year, Schlesinger wrote the Academy Award-nominated, RIAA gold-certified title song for the film That Thing You Do!.

In 1999, the band released Utopia Parkway, an album named after a road in Queens, New York. The album was a concept record that dealt with life in modern suburbia. Utopia Parkway was received well by critics, garnering many favorable reviews, and was album of the week in People magazine. The group once again toured extensively behind the album, but frustrations grew between the band and the label. The band was later dropped by Atlantic in late 1999.

The band was inactive for a period of time. Collingwood, in particular, had a difficult time coping with the band being dropped by their label. In 2004 he said, "When we got dropped from Atlantic, it's my fault that it took so long, because I wasn't sure I wanted to keep doing it. At the end of four years of the hardest work I'd ever done in my life, more traveling and being away from my wife the whole time, I had nothing to show for it. I got back home and I had nothing. I was broke, I was demoralized, I was exhausted. I think I just needed a year to recharge my batteries."[11]

Schlesinger cowrote many of the songs for the Josie and the Pussycats film and soundtrack, produced albums for Verve Pipe, David Mead, and They Might Be Giants, and released a third record with his other band, Ivy. Collingwood formed and fronted a Northampton, Massachusetts-based pop-country band called Gay Potatoes, and played a string of solo shows in the Boston and Los Angeles areas; Gay Potatoes was officially retired on New Year's Eve 2010.[12] Guitarist Jody Porter worked with his band, The Astrojet, alongside famed producer Gordon Raphael and keyboardist David Zhang in New York City. Percussionist Brian Young moved to Los Angeles and did session work for various artists such as producer Steve Fisk, Ivy, Heather Duby, and Greg Dulli.

2001–2013: Commercial success and breakup

Fountains of Wayne performing in April 2007

The band reunited to record a cover of The Kinks' "Better Things" for the tribute album, This Is Where I Belong: Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks, in 2001, and began to discuss plans for a new album.[13] In 2003, the band released Welcome Interstate Managers, a successful album that spawned the hit single "Stacy's Mom", which Adam Schlesinger says was a tribute to The Cars. Initially the single stalled at commercial alternative radio in the US, but MTV President Judy McGrath championed the single's music video, a Fast Times at Ridgemont High homage featuring Rachel Hunter. Ultimately Stacy's Mom was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and was nominated for Best Vocal Pop Performance at the 2004 Grammys. Another song off the album, "All Kinds of Time", was used for NFL commercial promotions during the 2005 season.[14]

In 2005, the band released Out-of-State Plates, a collection of B-sides and two new songs, which was supported by the single "Maureen" and a limited US tour that included some acoustic-only sets, a set on PBS Soundstage, and an appearance in the American Songbook concert series at Lincoln Center. Also included on the album is a 1999 cover of the Britney Spears hit, "...Baby One More Time".

Also in 2005, Robbie Fulks released a song in honor of the band called "Fountains of Wayne Hotline".[15]

In 2006, while on tour in Tokyo, Collingwood had a mental breakdown in which he hadn't slept for four days, experienced hallucinations for two days and didn't believe that he was in Tokyo to play in front of 25,000. The show was cancelled and Collingwood was taken to an emergency department,[16] followed by recovery in a mental hospital after returning to the US.[17]

In 2007, the band released Traffic and Weather, an album which included the song "I-95", which Rolling Stone named #54 of the year's top 100 songs.[18] Collingwood had less involvement during the making of the album due to his struggles with depression and alcoholism, only managing to contribute three songs.[17]

In 2008, Porter released his debut solo album Close to the Sun, a collection of songs he had written and recorded over a period of years in between Fountains of Wayne albums and tours.[19]

The band playing acoustic in July 2009

In 2009, the band released No Better Place: Live In Chicago, a live concert DVD which included newly recorded acoustic songs.[20] Also that year, they played a short run of full-band acoustic shows where they showcased songs from their forthcoming album.[21]

In 2010, Fountains of Wayne commenced work on their fifth album, which was influenced by the recent acoustic tours they had done. According to Porter, "It's a little bit more introspective and not as loud of a record as the last two. I think that came from the fact that we started last year doing acoustic-based tours because we didn't have a record out. We wanted to get back out on tour and did it stripped-down. Overall it's not as brash or guitar-heavy."[22]

In 2011, the band released Sky Full of Holes, an album put out in Japan by Warner Music Japan (with two bonus tracks), Europe by Lojinx,[23] and the U.S. by Yep Roc Records. The now-sober Collingwood once again became more involved, but this turned out to be the hardest album for them to make. According to Collingwood in 2013, "The most recent record was definitely the hardest that we've ever done. I think I'm partly to blame for that. I checked out on the previous record, so when I came back in, I had to assert myself. Every single thing about that record was a fight. It was not this blissful reconciliation that led to the release; it was a brutal thing right up to the end. We'll see what happens if we end up making another record."[24]

The band toured Sky Full of Holes into 2012. After about a one-year layoff, they played a number of U.S. dates in September and October 2013, on a tour with Soul Asylum and Evan Dando. They also issued one final new track in 2013, "Trucks", written and produced by Sandra Boynton for Boynton's kid-friendly various artists album Frog Trouble. The final Fountains of Wayne show took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on October 19, 2013.

2013–2020: Post-breakup

The band never issued an official announcement that they had broken up, but by 2016 all the members were speaking of Fountains of Wayne in the past tense. Neither Schlesinger nor Collingwood had ruled out a future reunion, but both saw the possibility as remote. "I try never to say never," Collingwood said, "but it's staggering to think of everything that would have to happen for me to want to repeat that experience."[25]

In 2016, Collingwood released what was essentially a solo album that was issued under the group name Look Park. At the time of the album release, he elaborated on Fountains of Wayne's demise by saying, "When we were recording the record before the last Fountains of Wayne record, which was called Traffic and Weather, I didn't really have a whole lot to contribute to that album. I was out to lunch a little bit, mentally, and just drinking too much. And I think that the fact that I sort of removed myself from the process at that point made it really easier for Adam to take over. And when I was ready to actually make another album, you know, several years later after I'd sort of cleaned up my act, it was very difficult. It was very, very hard to get back into the position where we were equals."[26]

Porter and Young joined Schlesinger in 2016 on The Monkees' album Good Times! and again in 2018 on the group's Christmas Party. Schlesinger produced and wrote songs for both albums.

Schlesinger and Collingwood, meanwhile, remained distant. "I don't even know where Adam lives now," Collingwood told an interviewer in 2019.[27]

2020: Death of Schlesinger and reunion

Adam Schlesinger died of complications from COVID-19 on April 1, 2020.[6]

The surviving members of Fountains of Wayne performed together for the first time since 2013 on April 22, 2020, as part of a charity livestream event to raise funding for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund.[5] The performance was a tribute to Schlesinger, and featured Sharon Van Etten taking his place on bass guitar.[5]

Band members

  • Chris Collingwood – lead vocals, keyboards (1995–2013, 2020); rhythm guitar (1997–2013, 2020); lead guitar (1995–1997)
  • Adam Schlesinger – bass (1997–2013); keyboards, backing and occasional lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1995–2013); drums (1995–1997); died 2020
  • Jody Porter – lead guitar, backing vocals (1997–2013, 2020)
  • Brian Young – drums, percussion (1997–2013, 2020)
Timeline

Discography

Main article: Fountains of Wayne discography

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Traffic and Weather Review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Fountains of Wayne". Sputnik Music. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Leahey, Andrew. "Fountains of Wayne – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  4. ^ Garmon, Jay (April 20, 2012). "The top 10 geek rock artists". TechRepublic.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d Rettig, James (April 20, 2020). "Fountains Of Wayne Performing With Sharon Van Etten At NJ Benefit Show". Stereogum.com. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Willman, Chris; Aswad, Jem (April 1, 2020). "Adam Schlesinger, Emmy Winner and Fountains of Wayne Cofounder, Dies of Coronavirus Complications". Variety.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  7. ^ "Christmas Finally Ends At Fountains Of Wayne". Roadside America. April 9, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  8. ^ Simons, Ted (May 1, 1997). "Wayne's World". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  9. ^ Rashidi, Waleed (April 2007). "Brian Young of Fountains of Wayne". Modern Drummer. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  10. ^ Luerssen, John D. (July 1, 2005). "Fountains of Wayne: Bright Future in Sales". American Songwriter. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  11. ^ Jacobs, Jay S. (January 9, 2004). "Fountains of Wayne: Bright Future in Record Sales". PopEntertainment.com. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  12. ^ Staff, MAGNET (August 8, 2011). "A Conversation With Fountains Of Wayne". Magnet Magazine. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  13. ^ Thompson, Stephen (June 6, 2001). "Fountains of Wayne". AV Club. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  14. ^ "Fountains of Wayne.us". Fountainsofwayne.us. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  15. ^ Fulks, Robbie (April 2, 2020). "Adam Schlesinger Celebrated by 'Fountains of Wayne Hotline' Creator Robbie Fulks". Variety.com. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  16. ^ Shapiro, Lexi (June 26, 2007). "Fountains of Wayne". They Will Rock You. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  17. ^ a b Myers, Paul (August 3, 2011). "Fountains of Wayne: Ironic No More". Paste. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  18. ^ Burr, Mike (December 16, 2007). "Rolling Stone slights Rihanna and embraces Newman on 2007 singles". PrefixMag.com. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  19. ^ "Fountains of Wayne guitarist for solo career". NME. July 23, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  20. ^ "Fountains of Wayne: No Better Place - Live in Chicago: Chris Collingwood, Steven M. Gold, Jody Porter, Adam Schlesinger, Brian Young, Joe Thomas, Gregory David: Movies & TV". Amazon.com. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  21. ^ "Fountains of Wayne News – Fall '08". Fountains of Wayne. October 18, 2008. Archived from the original on May 8, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
  22. ^ Souleo (September 14, 2010). "Out of the Shadows, Into the Light: An Interview with Jody Porter". Popmatters. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  23. ^ "Lojinx // Fountains of Wayne / Sky Full of Holes album". Lojinx.com. August 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  24. ^ Kleinman, David (March 6, 2013). "Fountains of Wayne performs songs from newest release at Sellersville". The Mercury. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  25. ^ Lambeth, Sam (April 13, 2016). "Interview: Fountains of Wayne". Louder Than War. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  26. ^ Hu, Elise (July 24, 2016). "Fountains of Wayne's Chris Collingwood Returns With New Project 'Look Park'". NPR. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  27. ^ Shanahan, Mark (May 23, 2019). "For Fountains of Wayne singer, a liberating new musical landscape". BostonGlobe.com.
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