Short Biography
THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS RETURN TO ROCK AUSTRALIA & NZ
With more than 3.5 million albums sold worldwide and a massive legion of devoted fans, Frontier are thrilled to confirm the return of Thirty Seconds to Mars this July.
Following their impressive self titled debut, the band's sophomore album A Beautiful Lie further launched the band to international fame with its chart topping title track and second hit single ‘The Kill'. Their latest release, titled This Is War, cements the American trio as a world class arena-crushing rock band.
"The whole album is an experience, with variation in style while keeping true to the bands style and spirit... it's impossible to deny the beautiful melodies and passionate riffs are anything short of catchy and at the same time grand." - inthenews.co.uk
"[This Is] War is a shimmering epic of an album...If only all big rock albums had this much nerve." - MTV.com
"Combative....sinister...the most confident sounding thing the band has done" -
Los Angeles Times
In addition to Jared Leto's searing, no-holds-barred vocals, propulsive and melodious bass, guitar and keyboards, his brother Shannon's huge and inventive percussion, and guitarist Tomo's searing six-string, This Is War buzzes with dozens of imaginative effects and layers of vintage synths.
However, the most stunning and profound instrument on the album is the inclusion of thousands of Thirty Seconds to Mars fans - of which there are more than 100,000, comprising a group infamously known as The Echleon.
The band invited fans to contribute group vocals for the recording of the album and the result is an innovative and highly interactive way of enhancing the anthemic, all-conquering aspect of the songs. Furthermore, the LP's artwork features portraits of 2,000 of the band's devotees.
Having already made a name for himself in Hollywood, front man Jared Leto's charisma and on-stage showmanship have also earned him a reputation as a truly talented musician who, alongside the band, is able to command a crowd of thousands with ease.
"Leto is a fantastic showman and Thirty Seconds to Mars are a band worthy of headlining arenas...intent on giving their fans the best live experience possible: judging by the Cheshire cat faced people in the audience, I'd say they have succeeded." - AltSounds
"Leto is a master of theatrics and from the moment the curtain falls and the band appear in a blaze of light his magnetic charm is inescapable... he thrills the crowd with his relentless energy, throwing himself about the stage eager to commune with every last person in the audience." - The Music Fix
Make no mistake, this is not just a series of shows for existing fans but also an opportunity for new listeners to be a part of the epic Thirty Seconds to Mars live concert experience.
THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS
Frontier Members pre-sale from 2pm AEST Monday 12 April - 2pm AEST Tuesday 13 April
General public on sale 9am local time, Thursday 15 April
Saturday 24 July Challenge Stadium, Perth ALL AGES
Wednesday 28 July Festival Hall, Melbourne ALL AGES
In-depth Biography
Formed in 1998 by frontman Jared Leto and his older brother, 30 Seconds to Mars found success in the 2000s with a mix of post-grunge, screamo, and hard rock. The band gained a modest audience with its debut album, but it was the platinum-selling sophomore effort A Beautiful Lie that officially opened the flood gates in 2005, securing the band a frequent presence on MTV while paving the way for a number of successful tours. By placing all-access passes into 12 copies of the album, the bandmates also showed a savvy appreciation for marketing, which they revisited several years later by putting fans' photographs on the cover of their third album, This Is War.
Initially known for his work as an actor (most notably on the '90s TV drama My So-Called Life, as well as movies like Requiem for a Dream and Fight Club), Jared Leto decided to flex his musical muscles as he approached his 30s. He enlisted the help of his brother, drummer Shannon Leto, and co-founded 30 Seconds to Mars in 1998. The group made its studio debut four years later, releasing a self-titled album whose post-grunge sound showed an affinity for groups like Chevelle and Incubus. Although only modestly successful, the album convinced the bandmates to continue making music in spite of Jared Leto's busy acting schedule, which had filled up with roles in Panic Room, Highway, American Pyscho, and Requiem for a Dream.
It took three years to record A Beautiful Lie, with the bandmates traveling to four different continents to work with Leto on his movie sets. Released in 2005, A Beautiful Lie widened the band's sound by sampling from metal, neo-prog, and screamo. It also expanded the group's audience by going platinum in America, reaching gold status in several foreign countries, and spawning two Top 10 modern rock hits. 30 Seconds to Mars toured heavily as a result, sporting a new lineup that included lead guitarist Tomo Milicevic and bassist Matt Wachter (both of whom had also contributed to the album) in addition to the two Letos. Although Wachter threw in the towel in 2007, the band continued to tour around the world for the rest of that year, making stops at several major festivals (Roskilde, Pinkpop, Download) and opening shows for bands like the Used and Linkin Park.
Despite their growing momentum, 30 Seconds to Mars soon found themselves at war with their label, EMI/Virgin Records. The band had attempted to sign with a new label after the Beautiful Lie tour, prompting EMI to file a lawsuit for $30 million, claiming that 30 Seconds to Mars was contractually obligated to produce three more albums before signing with another company. The legal dust settled as the band relented and returned to EMI's roster, and This Is War -- the band's third album, not to mention a stylistic return to the sound of their self-titled debut -- arrived in December 2009. To encourage audience participation, the band solicited photographs from their fans, the first 2,000 of which were used to create the album's 2,000 different covers. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi
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