TRAIN FACTS:
Members: Patrick Monahan, Scott Underwood, Jimmy Stafford
Genre: Rock, Pop Rock
Hometown: San Francisco, California, U.S.
Albums: Train (1998); Drops of Jupiter (2001); My Private Nation (2003); For Me, It's You (2006); Save Me, San Francisco (2009)
Awards: 2 Grammys
Hits: "Meet Virginia," "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)," "Calling All Angels," "Hey, Soul Sister," "If It's Love"
Other:
When they broke onto the music scene in the late 1990s, many people thought Train was a one-hit wonder, but time and success have proved them wrong. With a radio friendly sound and the pleasing vocals of lead singer Patrick Monahan, the band became one of the most popular acts of the last decade.
In the early '90s, Monahan moved to California and met up with guitarist Jimmy Stafford and drummer Scott Underwood, who remain with the band to this day. The band released their first self-titled album independently after getting rejected by various record labels, and in 1997 they were the opening act for a number of established bands including the Counting Crows and Barenaked Ladies.
Their debut was re-released in 1998 and had some added tracks thanks to their touring success. Though it did not have a large number of hits, the record contained the catchy tune "Meet Virginia," which gained the band national attention and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Though their debut was popular, it would be nothing compared to their follow up album three years later.
Drops of Jupiter was released in 2001, and its title track was one of best of that year, eventually earning the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The track broke into the top five on the Billboard charts, and despite mixed reviews from critics, the album was certified double platinum and remains their best selling release nine years later.
Monahan and the gang continued their streak of hits with their third album, 2003's My Private Nation. The release featured the single "Calling All Angels," which much like "Meet Virginia" and "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)," managed to break into the top 20.
With a lukewarm reception of their fourth album, For Me, It's You, Train decided to take a hiatus starting in 2006. However, they came back with a bang in 2009 with the release of Save Me In San Fransico, which included the song "Hey Soul Sister." The track, which became a ubiquitous radio hit and broke into the top 10 in the early weeks of 2010, earned a nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 2011 Grammy's. The second single, "If It's Love," also charted fairly well.