Vocalist Doug Robb met with guitarist Dan Estrin in a high school battle of the bands competition and decided to form a band. They recruited Markku Lappalainen and Chris Hesse to form Hoobastank. In an interview with Yahoo's Launch, Doug Robb said the name had no particular meaning. "You're going to ask me what it means. It doesn't mean anything. And it's really cool, it's one of those old high school inside-joke words that didn't really mean anything." Rob Bourdon of Linkin Park attended the same high school as the members of Hoobastank.
Hoobastank started playing gigs in their local area and, with their unique saxophone section headed by Jeremy Wasser, recorded a self-released album called They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To in 1998. By this stage, they had developed a strong reputation in Southern California. This attracted interest from Island Records who signed the band in 2000. The bands reputation grew further on tours with the similar sounding band Incubus who come from the same area of Los Angeles and Alien Ant Farm.
Hoobastank released their self-titled debut in November 2001. The first single was Crawling in the Dark which was a breakthrough hit reaching #68 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the modern rock chart, #8 on the mainstream rock chart and #1 on an MP3.com download chart in early 2002. The second single Running Away was even more successful reaching #44 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the modern rock chart, #9 on the mainstream rock chart and #3 on the MP3.com download chart. The Hoobastank album went platinum on the back of these hits and reached #25 on the Billboard 200 album charts and #1 on the Billboard Heatseeker chart. The album also achieved recognition internationally with the album touring in Europe and Asia in support of the record. Remember Me, the third single, was a moderate hit reaching #23 on the modern rock charts and #9 on the mainstream rock charts.
The band entered the studio in 2003 with producer Howard Benson who has produced records by P.O.D., Cold and The Crystal Method. However, recording was disrupted for a month when Dan Estrin was seriously injured in a freak minibike accident in August. Estrin had recovered by October and the band headed off on a Nokia Unwired Tour with The All-American Rejects and Ozomatli in November.
Their second album The Reason was released in December 2003. The first single Out of Control was made available for download on the band's website. Doug Robb says on the band's website: "A lot of it is about asking questions or questioning all that people see. It's not all about religion. 'Out of Control' is about that and about opening your eyes after being blinded by being devoted to anything." [2] "Out of Control" would reach #9 on the US modern rock chart, #16 on the mainstream rock chart and #16 on a composite world modern rock chart (based on the US, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Finland, Canada and Australia). The Reason initially reached a peak of #45 on the Billboard 200.
The title track was released as a single in the first half of 2004. It became a massive hit reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (chart proof), #1 on the US and world modern rock charts, #1 on a world airplay chart in May 2004, #10 in Australia and #12 in the UK. The Reason album received a new lease of life on the US album charts reaching #3 on the Billboard 200.
Additionally, on 15 June 2009, the band played a prank on Iranian protesters and their supporters during the 2009 Iranian election protests using the popular Web 2.0 service Twitter and the shock image Goatse, featuring a naked man stretching his anus to a large size with both hands, with the inside of his rectum clearly visible. While thousands of protesters used the Twitter service to rapidly spread information on street level protests and the shocking behavior of pro-government militias and security forces, Hoobastank allegedly spread links to the image disguised as relevant news items and twittered them to thousands of their fans and followers. The punk rockers have since announced their satisfaction with the number of the political enthusiasts having viewed the image unintentionally (over 2 million, according to the site's usage statistics). As of June 2009, Twitter's verification system for celebrities has not officially validated either twitter account.
Seven Amazingly Fascinating Things About Hoobastank
1) Guitarist Dan Estrin has a great story involving brain surgery and a catheter.
In 2003, during the band's tour for its multi-platinum second album The Reason, Estrin made a fateful purchase. "Everyone in the band rides street bikes and motocross bikes," says the guitarist. "I was fucking around on a mini-bike that I just bought. I was riding one around after a show ... and I smashed my head into concrete." The result? "They had to cut my head open. I just remember, before the surgery, I had two fears: they'd have shave my head and I'd wake up with a catheter in me. So I wake up, and lo and behold, my head's shaved and there's a tube in my dick."
2) There are flutes and seven minute songs on the new album (blame Pink Floyd).
If you liked the infectious pop-rock stylings of the last two Hoobastank albums, you'll enjoy Every Man for Himself just as much, if not more. That said, Every Man does offer up some variety, even while maintaining the band's core sound. The epic "More Than a Memory", for example, features flutes, accordion, chimes and trumpets. "I was listening to a lot of Pink Floyd at the time, especially The Wall," remembers Estrin. "I like albums, and songs, that take you on a journey, that almost come across as a movie. And that song definitely does - it's like Floyd, the Beatles, and even tails off like "Sir Psycho Sexy," that old Red Hot Chili Peppers song. I just like applying lessons from bands I admire."
3) Did we mention the Journey influence?
Listen to "Moving Forward" and prepare to recognize a very familiar classic rock refrain. "We wrote that song when Doug was driving one day and heard Journey's 'Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' on the radio," says Estrin. "We like Journey; we're not huge fans, but I really liked that 'na na na na' part of the song." He laughs. "I don't think it's stealing. We made it our own style."
4) Music critics despise them. The feeling is mutual.
"The album comes out in April. I expect we'll do some shows, meet fans, and have critics ready to tear it apart," says Robb. "Honestly, I want to go 'fuck it, it's not for you, it's for me and the guys in the band.' If we're happy with it, that's what counts. We get a lot of shit because we don't go out of our way to be 'different' ... we're just trying to be who we are. And that's actually the theme of the album - being yourself."
5) Speaking of message boards, you can find a lot of fun, weird stuff about Hoobastank on theirs... and some of it might be true.
* Dan used to be a roadie for Incubus.
* Chris worked in a plant nursery for 5 years.
* Doug and Dan used to be counselors at the YMCA.
* The name of the band? It's the "H" in Jesus H. Christ. At least, that's what Doug will tell you.
6) That's a real drill sergeant on the album. He's there for a reason.
"Born to Lead" features the barking cadence of Sgt. Dale Guy. "I wouldn't want him there all the time, but he was cool," says Robb. "The song was about people wishing and praying for things instead of doing something to accomplish their dreams. It's about getting off your ass, and I think the Sarge added a lot to the song's vibe."
7) They recorded Every Man for Himself in a really backward, inefficient, grueling kind of way.
The band started work on the album during Hooba's last mega-tour. Estrin would come up with musical ideas during sound checks, then record a demo later, hand it off to Doug for melodies and lyrics, and finally, fly home with the whole band to record the finished product during non-tour weekends. "It wasn't an ideal way of doing things," admits Robb. "But I think, strangely, it affected us in a positive way. Maybe it was the energy of being on tour, but I think the results came out far better than our previous two records."
Crawling in the Dark
Hoobastank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For just a seconds worth of how my story's ending
And I wish I could know if the directions that I take
And all the choices that I make won't end up all for nothing
Show me what it's for
Make me understand it
I've been crawling in the dark
Is there something more
Than what I've been handed?
I've been crawling in the dark
Looking for the answer
Help me carry on
Assure me it's ok to
Use my heart and not my eyes
To navigate the darkness
Will the ending be
Ever coming suddenly?
Will I ever get to see
The ending to my story?
Show me what it's for
Make me understand it
I've been crawling in the dark
Looking for the answer
Is there something more
Than what I've been handed?
I've been crawling in the dark
Looking for the answer
So when and how will I know?
How much further do I have to go? (have to go)
And how much longer until I finally know? (finally know)
Cause I am looking and I just can't see what's in front of me
In front of me
Show me what it's for
Make me understand it
I've been crawling in the dark
Looking for the answer
Is there something more
Than what I've been handed?
I've been crawling in the dark
Looking for the answer
The lyrics of "Crawling in the Dark" by Hoobastank suggest a feeling of aimlessness and confusion, with the singer feeling lost and unsure of where their life is headed. This is evident in lines such as "I will dedicate and sacrifice my everything for just a seconds worth of how my story's ending" and "Is there something more than what I've been handed?" The use of "crawling in the dark" as a metaphor suggests a sense of helplessness and anxiety, as if the singer is blindly feeling their way through life without any clear direction.
However, amidst the uncertainty, the lyrics also express a desire for something more meaningful and a willingness to take risks to find it. The lines "show me what it's for" and "help me carry on, assure me it's ok to use my heart and not my eyes to navigate the darkness" suggest a willingness to take a leap of faith and trust in something greater than oneself.
Overall, the lyrics of "Crawling in the Dark" convey a sense of searching for purpose and meaning in life, even in the face of difficulties and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
I will dedicate and sacrifice my everything for just a seconds worth of how my story's ending
I am willing to give up everything I have for even a fleeting glimpse of how my journey will ultimately conclude.
And I wish I could know if the directions that I take and all the choices that I make won't end up all for nothing
I long to be certain that the path I choose and the decisions I make will not turn out to be a waste of my time and efforts.
Show me what it's for / Make me understand it / I've been crawling in the dark / Looking for the answer / Is there something more / Than what I've been handed? / I've been crawling in the dark / Looking for the answer
I am searching for a greater purpose and understanding of my existence beyond what has been laid out before me. I am craving enlightenment and guidance as I navigate through the unknown.
Help me carry on / Assure me it's ok to / Use my heart and not my eyes / To navigate the darkness
I need reassurance that it's okay to rely on my instincts and emotional intelligence in order to push forward and not solely rely on what I can see with my own eyes.
Will the ending be / Ever coming suddenly? / Will I ever get to see / The ending to my story?
I wonder if the end of my journey will take me by surprise, and whether or not I will ever truly know what my life's overall narrative will be.
So when and how will I know? / How much further do I have to go? (have to go) / And how much longer until I finally know? (finally know) / Cause I am looking and I just can't see what's in front of me / In front of me
I am becoming increasingly anxious about when and how I will be able to find clarity and direction in my life. I am uncertain how far left I have to go in my journey and how much longer I will have to wander aimlessly before finding answers.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRIS HESSE, CHRIS LIGHT HESSE, DANIEL ESTRIN, DANIEL B. ESTRIN, DOUGLAS ROBB, DOUGLAS SEAN ROBB, MARKKU LAPPALAINEN, MARKKU J. LAPPALAINEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alhamdleallah
وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ
"Turn ye to our Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped
وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ العَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ
"And follow the best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty comes on you - of a sudden while ye perceive not
أَن تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ يَا حَسْرَتَى علَى مَا فَرَّطتُ فِي جَنبِ اللَّهِ وَإِن كُنتُ لَمِنَ السَّاخِرِينَ
"Lest the soul should (then) say: 'Ah! Woe is me!- In that I neglected (my duty) towards Allah, and was but among those who mocked
أَوْ تَقُولَ لَوْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هَدَانِي لَكُنتُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
"Or (lest) it should say: 'If only Allah had guided me, I should certainly have been among the righteous
Quran .islam*-
@jordanfitzberg5435
I will dedicate and sacrifice my every-thing
For just a seconds worth of how my story's ending
And I wish I could know if the directions that I take
And all the choices that I make won't end up all for nothing
Show me what it's for
Make me understand it
I've been crawling in the dark
Looking for the answer
Is there something more
Than what I've been handed?
I've been crawling in the dark
Looking for the answer
Help me carry on
Assure me it's ok to
Use my heart and not my eyes
To navigate the darkness
Will the ending be
Ever coming suddenly?
Will I ever get to see
The ending to my story?
Show me what it's for
Make me understand it
I've been crawling in the dark
Looking for the answer
Is there something more
Than what I've been handed?
@StevenMartinOfficial
If your listening to Hoobastank in 2024 you're probably old enough to remember when MTV played music videos 🔥
@Murf_Workshop
yup, we were at the tail end of that era, hahaha I miss stuff like Headbangers balll
@Bassman5000
absolutely!
@user-hx5fj6nx1l
Beavis&Butthead❤
@austingriner8179
I don't believe they've ever aired anything other than Ridiculousness lmfao
@monstersaige5068
Yessir!! 👍
@CableGirl35
35 now and this stays on the ‘playlist for my life’ 🤗
Great to see a bunch of 30-something year olds here with me 🖤
@ChrisJohnson-um6tx
Try 50 lol
@flipsix3
You can include some 50-somethings too.
@davidwrona1360
My brothers 54, I’m 32 and I wouldn’t be here without his influence. Here’s to Gen X 🍻