Mêlée (band)
| Company type | Independent / Major label band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Orange County, California , United States |
| Products | Rock music albums and singles |
Mêlée is a rock ensemble originating from Orange County, California, United States. Established in 2000, the lineup consists of Ricky Sans, Chris Cron, Ryan Malloy, and Derek Lee Rock. Their initial album, Everyday Behavior, was launched in 2004 through the independent Los Angeles label Subcity Records. In 2006, the band secured a contract with the major label Warner Bros. Records, leading to the release of their major-label debut Devils & Angels in 2007. Subsequently, The Masquerade was issued in 2010, first in Japan and then digitally across North America.
Devils and Angels
The album’s premier single, "Built to Last," garnered widespread international airplay success, achieving top chart rankings such as No. 1 in Japan, No. 2 in both Germany and the Netherlands, No. 6 in Finland, along with numerous top 20 placements throughout Europe and Asia.
Following this, "Imitation" also made an impact globally, reaching No. 10 in Singapore and securing spots within the top 50 charts of Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The third single from the album, "Can't Hold On," attained position No. 97 on the Dutch charts.
The track "Biggest Mistake" was utilized in the promotional trailer for Disney’s animated feature Tangled (2010), while "Stand Up" appeared on the soundtrack for the 2007 film Sydney White. Additionally, Mêlée took part in Where Music Meets Film, a television special broadcast on Fuse during the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.
The Masquerade
The single "On The Movie Screen" climbed to No. 3 on the J-Wave Tokyo Hot 100 radio rankings. Meanwhile, "The Ballad of You and I" was selected as the iTunes Store free single download of the week on October 5, 2010, and was featured in promotional commercials for NBC’s The Biggest Loser in December of that year.
Breakup
The band officially dissolved in 2012.
Members
- Chris Cron – vocals, keyboards, guitar
- Ricky Sans – guitar, vocals
- Ryan Malloy – bass guitar, vocals
- Derek Lee Rock – drums
- Former members
- Mike Nader – drums
- Israel Villanueva – drums, vocals
- Michael Amico – drums
- Lina Simpson – keyboards, vocals
After breakup
Chris Cron participated in season eleven of the American version of The Voice, performing INXS’s "Never Tear Us Apart". During his appearance, he reflected on Mêlée’s international achievements—highlighting their popularity in Japan—and discussed his career following the group’s disbandment.
Studio albums
| Year | Album Title | Chart Positions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | BEL (Vl) |
GER |
JP | NED |
SWI | UK | ||
| 2004 | Everyday Behavior
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2007 | Devils & Angels
|
– | 86 | 81 | 18 | 26 | 96 | 61 |
| 2010 | The Masquerade
|
– | – | – | 35 | – | – | – |
Extended Plays (EPs)
2000 – An Existential Guide to Love 2001 – Transmission 2002 – Mêlée 2003 – Against the Tide 2007 – New Heart/Sick – These tracks were exclusively distributed through the US iTunes store and were not part of any Mêlée album releases.
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest Chart Positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUT | BEL (FLA) | BEL (WAL) | GER | NED | SWI | UK | ||||
| "Francesca" | 2001 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Transmission | |
| "The War" | 2004 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Everyday Behavior | |
| "Can't Hold On" | 2007 | — | — | — | — | —* | — | — | Devils & Angels | |
| "Built to Last" | 45 | 30 | —* | 40 | 7 | 36 | 57 | |||
| "Frequently Baby (She's a Teenage Maniac)" | 2008 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Imitation" | — | —* | — | — | 24 | — | — | |||
| "On the Movie Screen" | 2010 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Masquerade | |
| "The Ballad of You And I" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Teo Toriatte" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "—" indicates tracks that were either unreleased or did not chart. | ||||||||||
- Entered secondary charts but not the main chart.
Compilations
- OCSka.com Compilation CD (2001) Ocska.com
Includes "Last Chance" - Rock Your Socks Off! (2001) Mr. Good Records
Features the track "Audra" - The Best of Orange County, Volume 1 (2002) Tankfarm Records
Contains "Francesca" - Because We Care: A Benefit for the Children's Hospital of Orange County (2002) Gluefactory Records
Includes "Goodnight For Now" - Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 5 (2004) Hopeless Records/Sub City
Features both "New Day" and "Francesca" - In Honor: A Compilation To Beat Cancer (2004) Vagrant Records
Includes the piano version of "The War" - Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 6 (2006) Hopeless Records/Sub City
Contains an alternate version and music video of "The War" - Gift Wrapped - 20 Songs That Keep on Giving! (2009) Warner Bros. Records
Features "(When Is) Hanukkah This Year?"