Editing Phantom Planet

{{short description|American alternative rock band}}
{{other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name              = Phantom Planet
| image             = Phantom planet.jpg
| landscape         = yes
| caption           = Phantom Planet performing in August 2008
| background        = group_or_band
| alias             = 
| origin            = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Alternative rock]]
* [[garage rock]]
* [[pop rock]]
* [[power pop]]
}}
| years_active      = {{flatlist|
* 1994–2008
* 2012
* 2019–present
}}
| label             = {{flatlist|
* [[Fueled by Ramen]]
* [[Daylight Records|Daylight]]
* [[Epic Records|Epic]]
* [[MCA Records|MCA]]
* [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
* [[Interscope Records|Interscope]]
}}
| website           = {{URL|phantompla.net}}
| current_members   = [[Alex Greenwald]] <br />[[Sam Farrar]] <br />Darren Robinson<br />Jeff Conrad<br />Andrew Parker
| past_members      = [[Jason Schwartzman]] <br />[[Jacques Brautbar]]
}}

'''Phantom Planet''' is an American [[Rock music|rock]] band from Los Angeles, formed in 1994. The band consists of [[Alex Greenwald]] (vocals, rhythm guitar), Darren Robinson (lead guitar), [[Sam Farrar]] (bass guitar) and [[Jeff Conrad]] (drums). The band is best known for its track "[[California (Phantom Planet song)|California]]", which became the theme song for the [[Television program|TV series]] ''[[The O.C.]]''. The band featured actor [[Jason Schwartzman]] on drums until 2003.

On November 25, 2008, the band announced in a blog entry on their website that they are going on "hiatus, and will not be playing any more live shows or making any new records, indefinitely."<ref name="The Full Break Up Story">{{Cite news
| url = http://moviemiguel.blogspot.com/2008/11/phantom-planet-break-up.html|website=Moviemiguel.blogspot.com
| title = Phantom Planet No More? | date = 2008-11-25
}}</ref> They played their last pre-hiatus show on December 12, 2008, in Los Angeles.

The band reunited in 2019, announcing that their hiatus was over.

==History==
===Early years and ''Phantom Planet Is Missing'' (1994–1999)===
Phantom Planet was named in 1994 after a 1961 [[B-movie]] called ''[[The Phantom Planet]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/phantom-planet-mn0000844440/biography|title=Phantom Planet {{!}} Biography & History|website=[[AllMusic]]|language=en-us|access-date=2020-03-01}}</ref> While still in their teens, the group played frequently in and around the Hollywood area, finally catching the eye of [[Geffen Records]] executives. Phantom Planet signed with Geffen in 1997 and released their first album, ''[[Phantom Planet Is Missing]]'' in [[1998 in music|1998]]. The album did not impact any major charts. The album was followed by the release of the single "So I Fall Again" in September 1998, which was also released to promote the soundtrack ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album]]''.<ref name=BillboardMcCormick>{{cite magazine |last=McCormick |first=Moira |date=10 October 1998 |title='Sabrina' Album Hopes To Cast Spell On Show's Teen Demo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FQoEAAAAMBAJ |page=72 |publisher=Billboard}}</ref>

===''The Guest'' and ''Phantom Planet'' (2002–2004)===
Shortly thereafter Geffen Records folded into [[Universal Music Group|Universal]] as part of a major record industry merger, and within a few years Phantom Planet had signed with [[Epic Records]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} Charlotte Froom, the daughter of producer [[Mitchell Froom]], caught the band's show at a time when the group was looking for a producer to record their second effort. Froom approached her father to produce the group, and after meeting with Phantom Planet, he agreed.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} Froom also brought in engineer [[Tchad Blake]] to work on the record.

''[[The Guest (album)|The Guest]]'' was released in 2002. The group toured for almost 18 months both as a headliner and an opening act, and in late 2002 the band got the opportunity to open for one of their collective idols, Elvis Costello.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} ''The Guest'' got an extra boost when the record's song "[[California (Phantom Planet song)|California]]" was chosen as the theme song for the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox Network]]'s hit TV series ''[[The O.C.]]''. {{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} As a result, the record was reissued in late 2003 with bonus tracks and a new cover.

The band's [[Phantom Planet (album)|eponymous third album]] in 2004 marked a change in both the band's sound and lineup. Ditching their radio-friendly pop rock, the band moved towards a [[garage rock]] sound. Lead singer [[Alex Greenwald]] said it was an intentional choice: "I especially loved bands, like The Beatles, that changed with every single record they made. That's been our plan from the get-go. We want our records to be like experiments. We want to have fun with the music. People can hear when you're not having fun."<ref>September 10, 2004. [http://www.theocshow.com/news/news_38.htm Phantom Planet basks in glow of 'The O.C.'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928120217/http://www.theocshow.com/news/news_38.htm |date=2007-09-28 }}</ref> In the middle of recording the album, founding member and drummer [[Jason Schwartzman]] abruptly left the band to focus on his acting career.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} He was replaced by [[Jeff Conrad]], who helped record the remainder of the album.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} ''Phantom Planet'' was released to mixed reviews from critics. Shortly after the album's release, guitarist [[Jacques Brautbar]] left the band to pursue a career in photography.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} The band performed "Big Brat", the album's first single, on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

===''Raise the Dead'' and hiatus (2007–2008)===
Early on in the recording process of their fourth studio album, Phantom Planet's contract with Epic Records expired and they signed to [[Fueled by Ramen]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} ''[[Raise the Dead]]'' was released on April 15, 2008. When describing the new record, Greenwald described it as "a concept record. If [[The Beatles]] had ''[[Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band|Sgt. Pepper's]]'' and [[The Rolling Stones]] had ''[[Their Satanic Majesties Request]]'', we have our 'Leader.' We're concocting it, but at the same time we're following it."{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} The first single from the album was "[[Do the Panic]]".{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

On November 25, 2008, Phantom Planet announced in a blog entry on their website that they would be going on hiatus and playing their last show December 12, 2008 at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.<ref>[http://phantomplanet.com/2008/11/25/phantom-planet/ Phantom Planet break up] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815144638/http://phantomplanet.com/2008/11/25/phantom-planet/ |date=2009-08-15 }}</ref>

===First reunion (2012–2013)===
In late January 2012, Phantom Planet announced their first reunion show, June 13, at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} On January 31, they announced the addition of a second Troubadour show to be played June 14, 2012. Former member of the band, Jacques Brautbar, joined them for songs at the June 13 show.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In August 2013, the band, under Alex Greenwald & Phriends, performed a new song titled Balisong, which ended up being on Greenwald's solo album and later released in 2019 as a single by the full band.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DczZle0U5MA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/DczZle0U5MA |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Alex Greenwald & Phriends (Members of Phantom Planet) perform Balisong at The Kennedy Administration|last=Headquarters Music|date=8 August 2013|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This performance did not have bassist Sam Farrar because he was touring with Maroon 5. He was replaced by [[Jamiroquai]] bassist Stuart Zender.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

===Second reunion and ''Devastator'' (2019–present)===
A Phantom Planet Instagram account<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/phantomplanet/|title=Phantom Planet (@phantomplanet) • Instagram photos and videos|website=Instagram.com}}</ref> was created on January 19, 2019, indicating that the band could be reforming. Additionally, band members posted the logo on their personal social media accounts. It was confirmed that the band played a small secret private show January 19, 2019, at No Name on Fairfax in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2019/01/phantom-planet-reunion/|title=Phantom Planet reunite, perform secret LA concert|date=21 January 2019|website=Consequence.net}}</ref>

On March 18, 2019, the band officially announced "Hiatus. Over."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/phantomplanet/status/1107649833878192128|title=Hiatus. Over.pic.twitter.com/LGjncDK1yT|first=Phantom|last=Planet|date=18 March 2019|website=Twitter.com}}</ref> They announced their first "public" show in over seven years at [[Hanson (band)|Hanson's]] "Hop Jam" Music and Beer Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 19, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Phantom Planet Are Back |date=21 March 2019 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/california-come-phantom-planet-back-2464917 |publisher=NME}}</ref> Before that event, they scheduled three shows across Southern California.

On May 7, the band officially released their first song in 11 years, "Balisong". The song was a reworked version of a track previously released on Alex's solo album. In March 2020, Phantom Planet announced the release of their fifth album ''[[Devastator (album)|Devastator]]'' on May 8, 2020, and their first album in 12 years since ''Raise the Dead'' (2008).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2020/03/phantom-planet-devastator-time-moves-on-stream/ |title=Phantom Planet Announce New Album Devastator, Share "Time Moves On" |work=Consequence of Sound |date=March 13, 2020 |access-date=April 9, 2020 |author=Bacior, Robin}}</ref> However, the album was delayed to June 19, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. It was later pushed again one day earlier June 18, as a way of showing respect and support to the [[Black Lives Matter]] movement.<ref>{{cite web|author=Phantom Planet|url=https://twitter.com/phantomplanet/status/1271167038770122752|title=The Devastator release date has changed to June 18th.|date=June 12, 2020|access-date=June 15, 2020}}</ref>

==Side projects and related work==
In September 2009, Alex Greenwald officially announced the tracks for his solo record. He posted the track listing and a CD mockup to his Twitter account.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twitpic.com/9r3fw |title=Possible Back Of My CD: on Twitpic |publisher=Twitpic.com |date=2009-07-09 |access-date=2011-07-08}}</ref> The debut solo studio album by Alexander Greenwald, ''[[Yo (Alex Greenwald album)|Yo]]'', was released on May 5, 2014.

Greenwald has co-produced and appeared on ex – [[Panic! at the Disco]] members, [[Ryan Ross]] and [[Jon Walker]]'s new band, [[The Young Veins]] debut record, ''[[Take a Vacation! (album)|Take a Vacation!]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/the_young_veins_ex-panic_at_the_disco_premiere_new_song/ |title=News &#124; The Young Veins (ex-Panic! At The Disco) premiere new song |publisher=Alt Press |date=2010-03-25 |access-date=2011-07-08}}</ref> He has also produced a few tracks on the band [[The Like]]'s new album. More recently, Greenwald recorded with [[Mark Ronson|Mark Ronson & the Business Intl]], playing guitar, keyboards, and singing on the album.

Alex Greenwald was a part of the group [[Phases (band)|Phases]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phasesmusic.com/|title=PHASES Official Website|website=Phasesmusic.com}}</ref> He is also helping fellow band member Darren Robinson in his side project Twin Terrors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/#twinterrors/bring-it-all-together-now|title=SoundCloud – Listen to free music and podcasts on SoundCloud|website=SoundCloud.com}}</ref>

Sam Farrar joined a band called Operation Aloha with members of [[Gomez (band)|Gomez]], [[Maroon 5]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2009/01/first-listen-maroon-5-phantom-planet-gomez-members-form-band/ |title=First Listen: Maroon 5, Phantom Planet, Gomez Members Form Band |publisher=SPIN.com |date=2009-01-29 |access-date=2011-07-08}}</ref> Operation Aloha's [[Operation Aloha (album)|self-titled, fourth full-length album]] was released on May 12, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://phantomplanet.com/2009/05/13/operation-aloha-2/ |title=Niet compatibele browser &#124; Facebook |publisher=Phantomplanet.com |access-date=2011-07-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307045245/http://phantomplanet.com/2009/05/13/operation-aloha-2/ |archive-date=2011-03-07 }}</ref> It was recorded over a period of 30 days in Maui, Hawaii.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://laist.com/2009/05/11/operation_aloha_an_experiment_in_ro.php |title=Operation Aloha: An Experiment in Rock 'n' Roll |access-date=2009-05-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516064737/http://laist.com/2009/05/11/operation_aloha_an_experiment_in_ro.php |archive-date=2009-05-16 }}</ref>

Since 2012, Farrar is touring with Maroon 5 – as an additional band member – on guitars, occasionally on the bass guitar, percussion, backing vocals, turntables and providing samples and other special effects (using the [[Music Production Center|MPC]]). He co-wrote and co-produced a few of the band's songs on almost all of their studio albums and also remixed one of their songs, which is called "Woman", on ''[[Call and Response: The Remix Album]]'', released in 2008. On August 31, 2012 – during a show in Argentina on the ''[[Overexposed (album)|Overexposed]]'' World Tour – Farrar filled-in for [[Mickey Madden]] on the bass guitar for the very first time. He subsequently filled-in for Madden on the next few shows of the tour. In 2016, he has become an official member.

Darren Robinson went on tour with the band [[Miniature Tigers]] in January, February and March 2009.<ref>{{cite web|last=Leatherman |first=Benjamin |url=http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/uponsun/2009/01/miniature_tigers_recruit_phant.php |title=Miniature Tigers Recruit Phantom Planet Guitarist Darren Robinson – Phoenix Music – Up on the Sun |publisher=Blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com |date=2009-01-09 |access-date=2011-07-08}}</ref> He toured as member of singer/songwriter John Graney's Southern California surf band [[The Californian (band)|The Californian]], in the summer of 2009. The band then included [[John Graney]] (vocals), himself (guitar and vocals), Jonathan Price (guitar Keys and vocals), Wendy Wang (bass and vocals), Mike Hopkins (drums).

Darren has three projects, Twin Terrors,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/twinterrors|title=Twin Terrors|website=SoundCloud.com}}</ref> Dead Honcho,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/deadhoncho|title=Dead Honcho|website=SoundCloud.com}}</ref> which has songs uploaded to SoundCloud, and Fist Fright<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fistfright.bandcamp.com/ |title=Music &#124; Fist Fright |publisher=Fistfright.bandcamp.com |date=2022-02-07 |accessdate=2022-05-04}}</ref> with Andrew Parker, which currently has three songs posted on Bandcamp.

Jeff Conrad has a project called Vibe Mountain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vibemountain.com/|title=Vibe Mountain|website=Vibemountain.com}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
The band has opened for many well-known artists, including [[Guns N' Roses]], [[Sting (musician)|Sting]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sting.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128105515/http://www.sting.com/news/news.php?uid=3580|url-status=dead|title=Sting &#124; News|archive-date=November 28, 2010|website=Sting.com}}</ref> [[Elvis Costello]], [[Incubus (band)|Incubus]], [[Guided by Voices]], [[Blink-182]], [[The Zombies]], [[The Hives]], [[Sloan (band)|Sloan]], [[American Hi-Fi]], [[Maroon 5]], [[Ludacris]], [[Panic! at the Disco]], [[The Rocket Summer]], [[Hanson (band)]] and [[Paramore]].

Phantom Planet has appeared on ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)|Sabrina the Teenage Witch]]'', performing "So I Fall Again". They have also appeared on ''American Dreams'', playing British rock band The Zombies and performing "[[Tell Her No]]" in the episode "A Clear and Present Danger". The song "Lonely Day" appeared in the television series ''[[Smallville]]''. They have appeared in the 2005 film ''[[Bad News Bears (2005 film)|Bad News Bears]]'', playing as a fictional "[[skate punk|skate]]" band called The Bloodfarts.
In 2005, they covered the [[CSNY]] track "Our House" for the movie ''[[The Chumscrubber]]''.
Phantom Planet also performed a cover of [[Jackson Browne]]'s "Somebody's Baby" for ''[[Not Another Teen Movie]]''. "Big Brat" was also introduced in the soundtrack to the video game ''[[Driver 3]]'' and featured in an episode from the first season of ''[[One Tree Hill (TV series)|One Tree Hill]]'', as well as used in the film ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man (2012 film)|The Amazing Spider-Man]]''. Alex Greenwald, the band's vocalist, sang a [[fusion jazz]] cover of [[Radiohead]]'s "[[Just (song)|Just]]" for the 2006 compilation ''[[Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads]]''.
Sam Farrar also contributed to the [[Hanson (band)|Hanson]] album ''[[Underneath (Hanson album)|Underneath]]'', on the song "Lost Without Each Other".
In 2008, "Raise the Dead" was featured in an episode from the second season of ''[[Gossip Girl (TV series)|Gossip Girl]]'' and "Do the Panic" was featured on the ''Gossip Girl'' soundtrack, ''[[OMFGG – Original Music Featured on Gossip Girl No. 1|OMFGG – Original Music Featured on Gossip Girl]]''.
Their music has been heard frequently on television, most notably "California", as the theme song for the popular TV show ''[[The O.C.]]'', and the songs "Do the Panic" and "Dropped" in various commercials. Greenwald made an impact on the British music scene in early 2008 by featuring on [[Mark Ronson]]'s cover of the Radiohead song "[[Just (song)|Just]]".

==Band members==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

'''Current members'''
* [[Alex Greenwald]]&nbsp;– lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, occasional bass (1994–2008, 2012, 2019–present)
* [[Sam Farrar]]&nbsp;– bass, backing vocals, occasional guitar and keyboards (1994–2008, 2012, 2019–present), drums (2003–2004)
* Darren Robinson&nbsp;– lead guitar, backing vocals (1994–2008, 2012, 2019–present)
* [[Jeff Conrad]]&nbsp;– drums, percussion (2004–2008, 2012, 2019–present)
{{col-2}}

'''Former members'''
* [[Jacques Brautbar]]&nbsp;– rhythm and lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, occasional bass (1994–2004, 2012)
* [[Jason Schwartzman]]&nbsp;– drums, percussion (1994–2003)
{{col-end}}

==Discography==
{{Main|Phantom Planet discography}}

* ''[[Phantom Planet Is Missing]]'' (1998)
* ''[[The Guest (album)|The Guest]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Phantom Planet (album)|Phantom Planet]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Raise the Dead]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Devastator (album)|Devastator]]'' (2020)

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Phantom Planet filmography
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)|Sabrina the Teenage Witch]]''
| Themselves 
| Episode: "And the Sabrina Goes to..."
|-
| 2004
| ''[[American Dreams]]'' 
| [[The Zombies]] 
| Episode: "A Clear and Present Danger"
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Bad News Bears (2005 film)|Bad News Bears]]''
| The Bloodfarts
|
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.phantomplanet.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081028213550/http://phantomplanetonline.com/ Phantom Planet's official fan site]
* [https://www.youtube.com/phantom36 Official Youtube channel]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071116050219/http://www.drivermadness.net/main/dload.php?action=file&file_id=99 Phantom Planet DRIV3R interview]
* [http://www.last.fm/music/Phantom+Planet Phantom Planet] at [[Last.fm]]

{{Phantom Planet}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Fueled by Ramen artists]]
[[Category:Indie rock musical groups from California]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1994]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2019]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:MCA Records artists]]
[[Category:Geffen Records artists]]
[[Category:Interscope Records artists]]