Happy birthday, Jim Adkins

Posted on November 10 2016 by Gaëlle Drd

Categories: #Alternative Rock, #Emo, #Power Pop, #Acoustic, #Pop Punk, #1975, #November

Jim Adkins, lead guitarist, lead singer and songwriter of Jimmy Eat World (2015)

Happy birthday, Jim Adkins...
Born James Christopher Adkins on November 10 1975 in Mesa, Arizona, U.S., Jim Adkins is singer-songwriter and musician better known as the lead guitarist, lead singer and songwriter of Jimmy Eat World.
With his schoolfriend Zach Lind and with guitarist Tom Linton and bassist Mitch Porter, he formed the band Jimmy Eat World in 1993. They released a punk rock demo tape later the same year (lineup: Jim Adkins (lead vocals, lead guitar, backing vocals), Tom Linton (rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals), Mitch Porter (bass), Zach Lind (drums, percussion)).
Their debut EP, One, Two, Three, Four was released in 1994 and followed by their self-titled debut album. At that time, Jim did not sing much and it was Tom Linton who had sung most of the lead vocals on the album.
Through touring, Jimmy Eat World quickly started to attract more and more attention and by the end of 1995, the band had got a record deal with Capitol Records and had begun working on their next album. Although they were signed with Capitol, the band also released singles on independent labels during the following years (lineup: Jim Adkins (lead vocals, lead guitar, backing vocals), Tom Linton (rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals), Rick Burch (bass, backing vocals), Zach Lind (drums, percussion)).
In late 1998, the band began working on their third studio album, Clarity, which was released in 1999. It was during the recording of the album that Jim took the role of primary lead singer while Tom Linton focused more on the guitar. Despite being praised by the critics and having one of its songs, Lucky Denver Mint, used in the Drew Barrymore movie Never Been Kissed, the album failed to meet success and the band was dropped from Capitol Records in 2000. The album is however now viewed as a masterpiece and as a very influential album for the emo rock genre.
After being dropped by Capitol Records, Jimmy Eat World decided they did not need the help of a label to record and release their next album, and funded themselves by touring intensely and releasing Singles, a compilation of previously unreleased songs.
Once the album was finished, the band looked for a new label and eventually signed with DreamWorks before releasing Bleed American in July 2001. The albums's second single, The Middle, was released in November 2001 and was a breakthrough hit for the band, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Bleed American was later certified platinum in the US and in Canada.
After the end of the tour promoting Bleed American, Jimmy Eat World entered the studio to record their fifth studio album. The album's first single, Pain, and the album itself, Futures, were released in October 2004.
Afterward, Jimmy Eat World toured with Green Day in 2005.
When they started working on their following album, Chase This Light, Jimmy Eat World decided they would self-produce it with the help of producers Chris Testa, John Fields, and Butch Vig, who had respectively worked for Dixie Chicks, Switchfoot, Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins. Chase This Light, the band's sixth studio album, was released in October 2007.
Jimmy Eat World self-produced two other albums, Invented (2010) and Damage (2013), before signing a recording contract with Canada-based label Dine Alone Records.
In 2014, Jimmy Eat World went on the Futures 10 Year Anniversary Tour to celebrate the ten year anniversary of the release of Futures.
The following year, Jim released solo songs and embarked on a solo tour.
On October 7 2016, Jimmy Eat World embarked on a tour to promote their new album, Integrity Blues, which was released on October 21 2016.
To conclude, we wish a happy birthday and years of rock to Jim Adkins!

Jim Adkins, Jimmy Eat World (2014)

Jim Adkins, Jimmy Eat World (2013)

[ french version :
Joyeux anniversaire, Jim Adkins...
Né James Christopher Adkins le 10 novembre 1975 à Mesa, Arizina, U.S., Jim Adkins est un chanteur, auteur-compositeur et musicien mieux connu en tant que guitariste, chanter et auteur-compositeur de Jimmy Eat World.
Avec son ami d'école Zach Lind et le guitarist Tom Linton et le bassist Mitch Porter, il forme le groupe Jimmy Eat World en 1993. Ils sortent une cassette de démos punk rock plus tard la même année (lineup : Jim Adkins (chant, lead guitare, choeurs), Tom Linton (guitare rythmique, choeurs, chant), Mitch Porter (basse), Zach Lind (batterie, percussions)).
Leur premier EP, One, Two, Three, Four, sort en 1994 suivie de leur éponyme premier album. A cette époque là, Jim chante peu et c'est Tom Linton qui a le role de chanteur principal sur la plupart des chansons.
En faisant des tournées, Jimmy Eat World deviennent de plus en plus populaire et fin 1995, le groupe signe un contrat avec Capitol Records et commence à travailler sur leur prochain album. Bien qu'ils aient un contrat avec Capitol, le groupe sort aussi des singles sur des labels indépendants pendant les années qui suivent (lineup : Jim Adkins (chant, lead guitare, choeurs), Tom Linton (guitare rythmique, choeurs, chant), Rick Burch (basse, choeurs), Zach Lind (batterie, percussions)).
Fin 1998, le groupe commence à travailler sur son troisième album studio, Clarity, qui sort en 1999. C'est durant l'enregistrement de cet album qui Jim prend le role de chanteur principal alors que Tom Linton décide de plus se concentrer sur la guitare. Bien qu'acclamé par la critique et qu'une de ses chansons soit dans le film Collège Attitude avec Drew Barrymore, l'album se vend mal et le groupe est laché par Capitol Records en 2000. Cependant, l'album est à présent vu comme un chef d'oeuvre et comme un album très influent dans le genre de l'emo rock.
Après s'être faits renvoyer par Capitol Records, Jimmy Eat World décident qu'ils n'ont pas besoin de l'aide d'un label pour enregistrer et sortir leur prochain album, et s'auto-financent en faisant beaucoup de concerts et en sortant Singles, une compilation de chansons inédites.
Une fois l'album fini, le groupe cherche un nouveau label et signe chez DreamWorks avant de sortir l'album Bleed American en juillet 2001. Le deuxième single de l'album, The Middle, sort en novembre 2001 et permet au groupe de réellement percer en atteignant la cinquième place sur le Billboard Hot 100. Bleed American devient plus tard disque de platine aux Etats-Unis et au Canada.
Après la fin de la tournée de promotion de Bleed American, Jimmy Eat World entrent en studio pour enregistrer leur cinquième album studio. Le premier single de l'album, Pain, et l'album, Futures, sortent en octobre 2005.
Jimmy Eat World tournent par la suite avec Green Day en 2005.
Quand ils commencent à travailler sur leur prochain album, Chase This Light, Jimmy Eat World décident de l'auto-produire avec l'aide des producteurs Chris Testa, John Fields, et Butch Vig, qui ont respectivement travaillé pour Dixie Chicks, Switchfoot, Nirvana et The Smashing Pumpkins. Chase This Light, le sixième album studio du groupe sort en octobre 2007.
Jimmy Eat World auto-produisent deux autres albums, Invented (2010) et Damage (2013), avant de signer un contrat avec le label Dine Alone Records.
En 2014, Jimmy Eat World font la tournée Futures 10 Year Anniversary Tour pour célébrer le 10e anniversaire de la sortie de Futures.
L'année suivante, Jim sort des chansons solo et fait une tournée solo.
Le 7 octobre 2016, Jimmy Eat World commencent une tournée pour promouvoir leur nouvel album, Integrity Blues, qui sort le 21 octobre 2016.
Pour conclure, nous souhaitons un heureux anniversaire et des années de rock à Jim Adkins ! ]