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."
Did You
Hoobastank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do the things that you thought you would
Did it ever occur to you that
This could be your final day?
Did you go where you wanted to go
Learn about what you wanted to know
Did you ever really give something back
Did you find what you're looking for
Did you get your foot in the door
Can you look at yourself and feel
Proud of all the things you've done
Did you inspire the ones that you knew
Make a difference to those who knew you
Did you finally figure out what it is
That makes us who we are today
[Chorus]
Don't waste another day
(You never know when you'll get one)
Don't waste another day
(To do anything you haven't done)
Did you always give it your best
Is there anything you regret
If you could have another shot at it all
Would you do it just the same
Was it all that you thought it could be
Are you the person you thought you would be
Or did it feel like you were spinning your wheels
Instead of moving forward everyday
[Chorus: x2]
Did you, did you
Did you, did you
[Chorus: x2]
Did you, did you
Did you, did you
Did you, did you
Did you, did you
The lyrics of Hoobastank's "Did You" are a thought-provoking reminder for us to be introspective about our lives. The song opens with a set of questions that urge the listener to reflect on whether they have done everything that they wished to in their lives. The use of rhetorical questions nudges the listener to dig deeper into their consciousness and ponder whether they have truly lived their life to the fullest. The second verse delves into more specific queries and emphasizes the importance of giving back and making a positive difference in others' lives.
The repeating chorus urges the listener not to waste a single moment in their lives, as one can never predict when it might be their last chance to act on their dreams or right their wrongs. It emphasizes the importance of taking risks and making the most of every opportunity. The song concludes with the same set of questions it began with, and it leaves the listener with much food for thought.
Overall, "Did You" by Hoobastank is a sobering reminder to live life to the fullest and make every moment count. It prods us to introspect and ask ourselves hard-hitting questions that can help us evaluate our past, present and future.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you say everything you could
Did you speak your mind and express everything that you wanted to convey?
Do the things that you thought you would
Did you accomplish the goals and actions that you intended to do?
Did it ever occur to you that
This could be your final day?
Were you aware that any day could be the last day of your life?
Did you go where you wanted to go
Did you travel to the places that you always wanted to visit?
Learn about what you wanted to know
Did you gain knowledge in the areas that you were interested in learning?
Did you ever really give something back
Did you contribute and help others instead of solely taking for yourself?
Instead of always taking it
Rather than continuously taking from others, did you give?
Did you find what you're looking for
Did you discover what you were seeking in life?
Did you get your foot in the door
Did you have the opportunities that you wanted?
Can you look at yourself and feel
Proud of all the things you've done
Are you proud of your accomplishments and the person that you have become?
Did you inspire the ones that you knew
Did you motivate and encourage those who you were acquainted with?
Make a difference to those who knew you
Did you have a positive impact on the people who knew you?
Did you finally figure out what it is
That makes us who we are today
Have you discovered the key factors that shape our individual identities?
Don't waste another day
(You never know when you'll get one)
Don't squander any more time because one cannot predict their future opportunities.
To do anything you haven't done
Use the remaining time that you have to accomplish new things.
Did you always give it your best
Did you consistently put forth your greatest effort?
Is there anything you regret
Do you have any past choices or actions that you wish you could change?
If you could have another shot at it all
Would you do it just the same
If given a second chance, would you make the same choices and take the same actions?
Was it all that you thought it could be
Did your experiences and accomplishments meet your expectations?
Are you the person you thought you would be
Have you become the individual that you envisioned for yourself?
Or did it feel like you were spinning your wheels
Instead of moving forward everyday
Did you perceive yourself as stagnant, progressing slowly if at all, rather than making progress every day?
[Chorus: x2]
Don't waste another day
(You never know when you'll get one)
To do anything you haven't done
The song's central message advising the listener not to waste the time they have left to accomplish things.
Did you, did you
The song's repeating refrain.
Did you, did you
Did you, did you
Did you, did you
Did you, did you
The song's repeating refrain.
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