Phantom Planet

From Free net encyclopedia

{{Infobox Band | band_name = Phantom Planet | image = Image:Phantomplanet1.jpg | caption = | years_active = 1994-present | origin = Southern California | country = United States | music_genre = Indie rock
Pop underground | record_label = Geffen Records
Epic Records | current_members = Alex Greenwald
Sam Farrar
Darren Robinson
Jeff Conrad | past_members = Jason Schwartzman
Jacques Brautbar | website = http://www.phantomplanet.com/ }}

Phantom Planet is a frequently evolving four-piece alternative music band based out of Southern California that achieved fame for its track California, which has gone on to become the theme song for the popular Fox TV series, The O.C.. Phantom Planet also performed a cover of Jackson Browne's Somebody's Baby for Not Another Teen Movie. Big Brat was also introduced in the video game soundtrack, Driv3r (Driver 3). Their first record is a surf-rock collection of tunes reminiscent of The Beach Boys. Their second is classic rock harkening to U2 and Blur. Their third and most recent album is an amalgam of sounds, described by the band members as "a fight between" bands such as Fugazi, The Who, The Cure, The Flaming Lips, and The Clash.

The band is named after the theme song of a 1961 b-movie called The Phantom Planet. They decided on the name in 1994 in a Pizza Hut.

The band has opened for many well-known artists, including Sting, Elvis Costello, Incubus, Guided By Voices, The Hives, American Hi-Fi, Maroon 5, and even Ludacris. Phantom Planet also helped Los Angeles-based bands Rooney, The Like, and Maroon 5 get their start by providing them with their first proper club gigs.

Lead singer and song writer Alex Greenwald became a popular model and the familiar face of many commercials for clothing retailer Gap. Greenwald also played a sociopath in the 2001 film Donnie Darko. Bassist Sam Farrar is the son of John Farrar, the singer/songwriter known best for notable songs from the movie Grease and other hits sung by Olivia Newton-John.

Ex-drummer Jason Schwartzman is the son of actress Talia Shire and nephew of famed director Francis Ford Coppola. Schwartzman is now an acclaimed actor. He starred in Rushmore, Shopgirl, Roman Coppola's CQ, Bewitched, and will appear in his cousin Sofia Coppola's upcoming film Marie-Antoinette.

1 Band members
2 Discography
- 2.1 Compilations
3 External links

[edit]

Band members

Alex Greenwald, Lead Vocals.
Sam Farrar, Bass Guitar
Darren Robinson, Guitar
Jeff Conrad, Drums

Former band members:

Jacques Brautbar, Guitar, vocals. Left the group in May 2004 to pursue photography. Was not replaced. Brautbar went on to join electronica band Something for Rockets.
Jason Schwartzman, Drums. Left the group to pursue an acting career. Starred in Rushmore opposite Bill Murray. Was replaced by Jeff Conrad.

[edit]