Top 5 Music Bands who started at college.
Who would’ve thought that starting a band in college could make you famous? As it happens, many popular bands started when they were really young. They were in school, studying – and instead of partying hard or joining Greek clubs, these students decided to become stars. They followed their big dreams.
These guys should be a powerful example that anything is possible, that sky is not the limit anymore, and that performing, singing, or dancing is the best way to kickstart your career in school. Let’s see which bands started experimenting with music while in college and then, see how you can follow in their footsteps.
Top 5 Most Popular Music Bands Who Started in College
- Imagine Dragons
They’ve started in Las Vegas in 2008, while they were still in college. The lead singer Reynolds met Tolman at Brigham University and decided to work together. Their first EP was entitled Speak to Me and published in 2008. Their first big performance was at Las Vegas Festival, where the rock band Train couldn’t make it, but Imagine Dragons could. Their concert turned out to be a huge success as the room filled almost 26,000 people. The band continued to switch and shuffle players until recently. The lead vocalist Dan Reynolds and Daniel Platzman, the drummer, are the only two members that have stayed with the band since 2008.
- The Pixies
The band Pixies also started in college and made their way up to become successful. They’re regarded as the most successful predecessor of the grunge revolution, a 1990 movement that changed the music industry forever. At first, they were not as commercial as they are today – most of their music was underground. As they climbed the success ladder, they’ve started recording well-known songs such as Shrek 2 movie’s theme song or Bam Thwok. Today, the band is made out of Kim Deal, Black Francis, David Lovering, and Joey Santiago.
- The Doors
The Doors formed while in college in 1965 in LA. They were one of the most controversial music bands in the history of rock and roll, since their music was so eccentric. They got their name from Aldous Huxley’s book, The Doors of Perception, and were introduced to the Wall of Fame in 1993. Ray Manzarek was the so-called architect of the band, whose keyboard playing exceeded public expectation.
- Queen
Queen’s history dates before Freddie Mercury. Brian May and Tim Staffell met in college and started a band named Smile when they were still studying at London’s Imperial College. Their first performance was in front of the Imperial College’s student union in 1970. Only later on they met Mercury and became famous.
- Coldplay
Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland met during orientation week at University College London. They introduced themselves to each other and have stayed friends ever since. They were living in the same hall, so they would meet regularly. Coldplay became famous only after the band members graduated college.
How Can I Start a Band in College?
If you’re excited about starting your own band, don’t worry – you don’t have to give up on school. There are many ways in which you could start your own band while in college. Here are the dos and the don’ts of this experiment.
- Plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead. I cannot emphasise how important this is. Starting a band is no joke, as it takes a serious time commitment. If you don’t have a organised schedule, you won’t be able to make it happen. Do your research and divide your time into smaller chunks, making sure you’ve got enough time to study, socialize, work out, and practice, all in one day.
- Don’t use studying as an excuse. If you want to be successful, you’ve got to work hard at achieving your goals. You might have to invest in professional gear and work to support your expenses. While this might indeed be tough, don’t use school as an excuse not to do it. Write as many songs as you can! When you run out of ideas and need help with writing lyrics, get together with your band and start practicing writing. Personally, when I cannot finish my school assignments by the due date (but need to write lyrics), I start looking for someone who can do my uni assignment. There are many student groups online that can help you out. I’ve always had someone professional do my work for me. When you’ve got no other options left, this one can help you focus on your music.
- Don’t be shy, make friends and connections while in college. Use your connections to advance your career after graduation. If you want to make it, you’ve got to be bold and take on many challenges. Don’t shy away from them, confront them and win.
- Support the pre-existing scene. Your reputation should be established at a local level before you can take it up a notch (or ten). In order to make it, you’ve got to start somewhere, so start by throwing concerts on campus and inviting your friends over when you’re practicing. This could be a great way to promote yourself since most of your college buddies are already on social media.
- Constantly post on social media, even if you don’t have sh*t. You don’t have to be established to get many followers – and once you’ve got thousands of them, the world is slowly opening up. Musical records might contact you. While you’ve reached millions, the world is yours.
Wrapping Up
If you and your band hope to be the next Queen, you’ve got to start practicing constantly. Promote yourselves, practice, and don’t be shy – these are the pillars of success. Don’t forget to study!
Author Bio:
Paul Calderon is a song writer and music enthusiast. He helps young talents write good songs and works as a freelancer in his free time. Paul is specialised in blogging and content writing but is also passionate about marketing.
