Switchfoot Biography
Switchfoot is a Grammy-winning alternative rock band from San Diego, formed in 1996 by brothers Jon Foreman (lead singer/guitarist) and Tim Foreman (bass). Long-time friend Chad Butler (drums) joined soon after. The band eventually evolved with the addition of members Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar/electronics, formerly of Mortal and Fold Zandura) and Drew Shirley (guitar, formerly of All Together Separate).
According to Jon Foreman, the name "Switchfoot" comes from a surfing term. "We all love to surf and have been surfing all our lives, so to us, the name made sense. To switch your feet means to take a new stance facing the opposite direction. It's about change and movement, a different way of approaching life and music," Foreman explains.
Although the band started out playing at Christian music festivals, they reject the label of "Christian rock." Lead singer and guitarist Jon Foreman has stated, "For us, it's a faith, not a genre. We've always been very open and honest about where the songs are coming from. For us, these songs are for everyone. Calling us 'Christian rock' tends to be a box that closes some people out and excludes them. And that's not what we're trying to do. Music has always opened my mind -- and that's what we want." The band began their career on Charlie Peacock's label "re:think," spending several years performing at Christian festivals and enjoying success on Christian radio. Most of their early tours were with Christian bands, and both of the band's new members were borrowed from Christian bands.
Switchfoot did not receive recognition outside of the Christian rock scene until they were featured alongside singer Mandy Moore on the "A Walk To Remember" soundtrack. Their first true commercial breakthrough came in 2003 with the release of their fourth major label album (and first on a mainstream label), "The Beautiful Letdown." The album went on to sell more than 2 million copies, making Switchfoot the most popular rock band associated with Christian music.
In 2004, Switchfoot was featured on the British edition of the "Spider-Man II" soundtrack with their song "Meant To Live," alongside artists like Taking Back Sunday and Dashboard Confessional. The following year, Switchfoot released "Nothing Is Sound," which went gold within three months and received critical acclaim.
Their highly anticipated album "Oh! Gravity." was released on December 26, 2006. On November 10, 2009, Switchfoot released their first album produced under their own label, lowercase people. The single "Mess of Me," released months before the album, enjoyed chart-topping radio success.
In 2010, Switchfoot released their album "Hello Hurricane." The following year, on September 27, 2011, they released "Vice Verses," which debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. Their 2014 album, "Fading West," released on January 14, 2014, reached No. 6 on the charts and includes singles like "Who We Are" and "Love Alone Is Worth the Fight." "Where the Light Shines Through" was released on July 8, 2016, and charted at No. 10.
In 2019, Switchfoot released the single "You Found Me" in conjunction with the American Christian drama film "Unbroken: Path To Redemption" as part of its soundtrack. "One of my favorite stories is the tale of [Louis] Zamperini's remarkable life — a legacy of finding hope in dark places," says Jon Foreman. "When the producers of the movie approached us about writing a song for the film, we jumped at the opportunity. And as I was writing the song, one thought kept coming back to me: He must have fought the temptation to give up, over and over again. I wanted to write a song that would capture the healing available not only to a hero like Zamperini but for the rest of us as well. 'You Found Me' is a song that highlights a journey of faith, redemption, and coming home." Their album "Native Tongue" was released on January 18, 2019, and reached No. 41 on the charts.
"Interrobang," released on August 20, 2021, includes the single "I Need You (To Be Wrong)." On November 4, 2022, they released "This Is Our Christmas Album," a festive collection of Christmas songs.
In May 2023, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their album "The Beautiful Letdown," the band released "The Beautiful Letdown (Our Version)" and went on a tour playing the entire album live.
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