SR-71 (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Founder | Mitch Allan (frontman) |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
SR-71 was a rock group originating from Baltimore, Maryland, established in 1998. They gained recognition primarily for their 2000 hit single "Right Now", the 2002 track "Tomorrow", and as the original creators of Bowling for Soup's 2004 chart-topper "1985", which initially appeared on their album Here We Go Again. The band's name pays homage to the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force. Originally named Honor Among Thieves, frontman Mitch Allan remained the only consistent member throughout the band's tenure.
Formation and Now You See Inside era (1998–2001)
Established in 1998 as a continuation of frontman Mitch Allan's previous project Honor Among Thieves, SR-71's name reflected the members' familial connections to the Air Force. Shortly after formation, they secured a deal with RCA Records and released their debut album Now You See Inside on June 20, 2000. The album was crafted under the guidance of producers David Bendeth (Underoath, Killswitch Engage), Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Pixies), and John Shanks (Unwritten Law, Jane's Addiction). It reached number 81 on the Billboard 200 chart and climbed to number 2 on the Heatseekers Chart. The album featured their breakthrough single "Right Now", co-written by Allan alongside songwriter Butch Walker, which attained number 2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and also appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts.
Following the album's tour, original drummer Dan Garvin left the group to join alternative rock band Nine Days.
Tomorrow release, lineup shifts, and label developments (2002–2003)
In 2002, SR-71 worked on their sophomore album, which included a rendition of the Dazz Band's "Let It Whip" featured on the soundtrack of The New Guy.
Their second studio effort, Tomorrow, was released on October 22, 2002. Production credits include Neal Avron, Butch Walker, David Bendeth, and frontman Mitch Allan himself. Allan was responsible for writing or co-writing every track, collaborating with Walker, Kevin Kadish, and other band members. This album marked the debut of new drummer John Allen.
With a darker tone than its predecessor, Tomorrow did not achieve significant commercial success, peaking at number 138 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single "Tomorrow" reached number 18 on the Modern Rock Tracks, a notable decline compared to "Right Now"'s peak at number 2. The song "My World" was subsequently covered by American Idol finalist Bo Bice on his first album, with Allan contributing guitar and bass parts. Additionally, "Goodbye" served as the theme song for WWE's 2004 event WWE No Way Out.
Despite underwhelming sales figures, RCA Records heavily supported a tour throughout 2003 that also failed to generate commercial success. Internal conflicts resulted in guitarist Mark Beauchemin leaving after this tour. Bassist Jeff Reid departed due to lung cancer and sadly passed away in 2004. Beauchemin later joined soft rock musician Vanessa Carlton as a guitarist.
The group then added guitarist Pat DeMent and bassist Mike Ruocco, but shortly thereafter RCA dropped them from their roster.
Here We Go Again and waning success (2003–2005)
After parting ways with their label, the group independently produced a new album during the latter half of 2003. Mitch Allan was responsible for writing every track except for two co-written with drummer John Allen, and one hidden track originally co-written with Kevin Kadish. Allan also took charge of production, mixing, and mastering duties.
In 2004, they secured a deal with the Japanese label Crown Japan, which issued their third album, Here We Go Again, on May 21, 2004, exclusively for the Japanese market. Outside Japan, the album was obtainable only as an import through their official website. The release did not achieve chart placement or significant public recognition.
Notably, the song "1985" from this album was re-recorded by their acquaintances Bowling for Soup for the 2004 album A Hangover You Don't Deserve. Issued as a single, it climbed to number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. Songwriting credits were shared among Mitch Allan, John Allen, and Bowling for Soup’s Jaret Reddick. Both versions were produced by Butch Walker. Allan also made an appearance in Bowling for Soup’s music video for "1985."
The album’s title track "Here We Go Again" was reinterpreted in 2006 by pop punk group JParis on their release Call It What You Want, with production and writing credits attributed to Allan.
The lead-off track "Axl Rose" was released as a single accompanied by B-sides "Here We Go Again" and "All American." Additionally, their rendition of Peter Gabriel’s "In Your Eyes" was issued as a single and prominently featured throughout their 2004–05 touring cycle.
Hiatus and short-lived reunion (2006–2010)
Following minimal band activity in 2005, Mitch Allan began performing solo gigs at clubs around 2006, showcasing SR-71 songs alongside unreleased material such as "Superman." He revealed plans to produce his first solo album, Clawing My Way to the Middle, with recording sessions commencing in Los Angeles and Baltimore during spring 2006 in collaboration with producer Ben Moody. Although initially planned for a late 2007 release, the album faced multiple delays through 2008 and 2009, leaving its release uncertain.
In 2007, SR-71 announced an indefinite hiatus after a final concert in Henderson, Nevada. During this period, Allan concentrated on songwriting and production work for artists including Lindsay Lohan, Daughtry, Hilary Duff, Faith Hill, and Backstreet Boys. He received a Latin Grammy nomination for co-writing Belinda’s "Bella Traición." That same year, SR-71 earned the Brit Award for Best International Breakthrough Act.
In January 2008, Allan released a solo single titled "Make Me High," a mellow reinterpretation of SR-71's "My World," and mentioned intentions to re-record the SR-71 track "Mosquito" for his solo project with contributions from former band members. However, no subsequent information about this project has been disclosed.
By 2009, Allan had launched a weekly Hollywood event spotlighting acoustic performances by songwriters and teamed up with Ben Moody to organize a contest aimed at discovering teenage vocal talent. Meanwhile, drummer John Allen led hard rock group Charm City Devils, touring as part of Mötley Crüe’s Crüe Fest 2 and featuring a song co-written and produced by Allan on their debut record.
SR-71 briefly reunited on July 25, 2009, at Chicago’s Wicker Park Bucktown Arts and Music Festival. Another one-off reunion took place on November 25, 2009, in Baltimore with support from alternative rock band Cinder Road. During this performance, Allen and Allan shared lead vocals on "Best of the Worst," a song they co-wrote for Charm City Devils.
On October 22, 2010, Allan announced via Twitter that SR-71’s third album Here We Go Again would finally be released in the United States. On Thanksgiving Day of that year, it was digitally released featuring a rearranged tracklist, remastered songs, and three live bonus tracks.
Musical style and influences
SR-71's sound has been categorized within genres such as punk rock, pop punk, and alternative rock. The group acknowledges a diverse range of inspirations, including iconic acts like the Beatles, Queen, Sum 41, U2, the Clash, Sex Pistols, Third Eye Blind, Stone Temple Pilots, the Who, the Police, and Duran Duran. Their debut album, Now You See Inside, is often identified with pop punk and pop rock elements, whereas their follow-up record, Tomorrow, incorporates aspects of nu metal.
Members
Last known lineup
- Mitch Allan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- John Allen – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Pat DeMent – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Mike Ruocco – bass guitar, backing vocals
Previous members
- Mark Beauchemin – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Jeff Reid – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Dan Garvin – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Timeline
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | US Billboard 200 | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Now You See Inside
|
81 | RIAA: Gold |
| 2002 | Tomorrow
|
138 | |
| 2004 | Here We Go Again
|
Compilation appearances
- Cool Traxx! 2 (2000) – "Last Man on the Moon"
- Listen to What the Man Said (2001) – "My Brave Face"
- Loser Soundtrack (2000) – "Right Now"
- A Very Special Christmas 5 (2001) – "Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You"
- Splashdown Soundtrack (2001) – "Right Now"
- Crossing All Over Vol. 13 (2001) – "Right Now"
- New Guy Soundtrack (2002) – "Let It Whip"
- Slap Her... She's French (2002) – "Right Now"
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart ranks | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 |
US Alternative |
US Mainstream Rock |
CAN Alt. | GER | |||
| "Right Now"Template:Ref label | 2000 | 102 | 2 | 38 | 23 | 73 | Now You See Inside |
| "Politically Correct" | 2001 | — | 22 | — | — | — | |
| "Another Night Alone" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Tomorrow" | 2002 | — | 18 | — | — | — | Tomorrow |
| "Goodbye" | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Axl Rose" | 2004 | — | — | — | — | — | Here We Go Again |
- Notes
- A. The track "Right Now" did not enter the top 100 on the US Billboard Hot 100 but appeared on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.