Flobots are an alternative rock/alternative hip hop group from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2000. To date, they have released two albums and one EP. Flobots found mainstream success with its major label debut Fight with Tools (2007), featuring the single “Handlebars”, which became a popular hit on Modern Rock radio in April 2008.

Though the official name of the band is Flobots, they are often referred to as The Flobots, sometimes even by the band members themselves.

History

Early career and Onomatopoeia (2000-2004)

The Flobots formed in 2000 when lead MC James Laurie a.k.a. Jonny 5 (not to be confused with former Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5 or Californian rapper Johnny Five or the robot from Short Circuit) teamed up with producer Farhad Ebrahimi a.k.a. Yahktoe. Together they released the album Onomatopoeia in 2001, and the title track ended up in a compilation by the MIT Songwriting Club (Yahktoe’s alma mater). The title track featured guitar player David Gralow, cello player Terrence Favors, and bass player Jaymz Haynes. The band maintains a heavy influence of the American alternative rock band CAKE.

Flobots Present…Platypus (2005-2006)

Jonny 5 kept the Flobots name when forming a side project with another lead MC, Brer Rabbit. They teamed up with violist Mackenzie Roberts, bassist Jesse Walker, guitarist Andy Guerrero (from funk band Bop Skizzum), trumpet player Joe Ferrone (also from Bop Skizzum), and drummer Kenny Ortiz. By the year’s end, their unique instrumentation and politically and socially charged music became popular in their hometown of Denver, and Flobots became a full time project. The group members also identify themselves by numbers; Jonny 5 is 05, Brer Rabbit is 0, Mackenzie is 33, Andy is 17, Jesse is 101, Joe is 79 and Kenny is 69.

In October 2005, the band released Flobots Present…Platypus, which went on to sell over 3000 copies over the next two years. In August 2007, Flobots opened for Colorado locals The Fray at Red Rocks, one of their largest performances to date.

Fight with Tools and beyond (2007-present)

In October 2007, after a year of writing and producing, they released Fight With Tools and sold out their CD release show at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood, Colorado.

Flobots entered a contest held by Denver radio station 93.3 (KTCL), called Hometown for the Holidays, which allowed fans to vote for their favorite songs from 35 local bands. Flobots subsequently won both the radio portion of the contest as well as the live performance award. As a result, the station put “Handlebars” into full rotation at the end of January due to the immense popularity of the song during the contest.

In February 2008, Flobots held a show at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood called “The Heart Attack” featuring local bands The Hot IQs and Paper Bird. It was after this show that the group was approached by and subsequently signed to Universal Republic on a two CD major label deal. On March 31, the band announced that they would be playing Tucson, Arizona’s major alternative rock festival, KFMA Day, with Metallica, Apocalyptica, Chiodos, and Scars on Broadway on May 16. Flobots were also part of the sixteenth annual KROQ Weenie Roast on May 17, along with Atreyu, Bad Religion, Flogging Molly, Metallica, The Offspring, Pennywise, The Raconteurs, Rise Against, Scars on Broadway and Seether. On July 20, 2008, Flobots played at the Mile High Music Festival in Commerce City, Colorado with headliners Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer. On July 26, 2008, Flobots played 93.3′s Big Gig at Coors Amitheater in Greenwood Village, Colorado with Offspring. On September 1, 2008 they performed at Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival in Seattle, Washington.

The single “Handlebars” became popular on alternative rock radio in April 2008 and peaked at #3 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart.

They made their television debut on Carson Daly’s talk show on May 20, 2008. Later the same day Flobots spent two hours with Dr. Drew and Stryker answering sex questions on Loveline. That same day they re-released their album Fight With Tools to a wider audience after their new found success. Flobots also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 5, 2008 with their song “Handlebars”. They performed their second single “Rise” on Late Night With Conan O’Brien on October 13, 2008.

According to Dajuroka.com, the next Flobots album is in the works and expected to be released in 2009.

Discography

Albums

• Onomatopoeia (2001)
  • Note: Although released under the moniker Jonny 5 + Yak, the album itself displays the URL www.flobots.com, so technically this is the first Flobots album
• Fight with Tools (2007) – US #15 266,867 copies sold in the US, UK #52

Other Information

• Origin: Denver, Colorado, USA
• Genres: Alternative rock, Alternative hip hop, Indie
• Years active: 2000 — present
• Label: Universal Republic
• Website: www.flobots.com

Incoming search terms:

• flobots
• flobots rapper

Tags: alternative rock band, drummer, Flobots, Handlebars, Universal, Universal Republic