Highly Suspect

Highly Suspect
Frontman Johnny Stevens (right) and bass player Rich Meyer (left) performing in 2014
Frontman Johnny Stevens (right) and bass player Rich Meyer (left) performing in 2014
Background information
OriginCape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres
Years active2009–present
Labels
Members
  • Johnny Stevens
  • Rich Meyer
  • Ryan Meyer
  • Matt Kofos
  • Mark Schwartz
Websitehighlysuspect.net

Highly Suspect is an American rock band from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The band consists of twin brothers Rich (bass, backing vocals) and Ryan Meyer (drums, backing vocals), Johnny Stevens (guitar, lead vocals), and Matt Kofos (guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals).[1] After starting as a bar cover band, they relocated to Brooklyn, New York, where they recorded The Worst Humans EP with producer Joel Hamilton.

The band's first studio album Mister Asylum was released in 2015, earning them a nomination for Best Rock Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. The song "Lydia" was nominated for Best Rock Song.[2] Highly Suspect's second studio album,[3] The Boy Who Died Wolf, was released in 2016. Two singles were released from the album, "My Name Is Human", which topped the Billboard US Mainstream Rock Songs chart, and "Little One", which peaked at number 2 on the same chart.[4] Their third studio album, MCID, was released in 2019, their fourth, The Midnight Demon Club, in 2022, and their fifth, As Above, So Below, on July 19, 2024.

History

Frontman Johnny Stevens performs live at Slim's – San Francisco

Formation and Mister Asylum (2009–2015)

Highly Suspect got their start in 2009 as a cover band playing songs by Sublime, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd in local bars in the Cape Cod area, such as the British Beer Company, J.R Brody's Roadside Tavern, and Sundancers, also touring and playing a limited number of shows with bands 10 Years, Monster Truck and Sevendust.[5] They attended Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School.[6]

First Offense was Highly Suspect's first EP, released on July 15, 2009. The EP consists of "Life's a Fun Ride", "Not Me", and "Smile On", their first written and recorded songs after making the switch from a cover band ("Not Me" would later appear on the self-titled album Highly Suspect).

The Gang Lion EP was the band's second EP, released on October 3, 2010. It consists of "Gang Lion", "Big Bear", and "Then Mickey", all of which would later appear on their self-titled album, Highly Suspect.

The Worst Humans was the band's third EP, released July 13, 2012. The EP featured the songs "Bath Salts", "Gumshoe" and "The Go". The recordings were available for both physical purchase and digital download on Bandcamp.

The band's fourth EP, Black Ocean, was released in October 2013. It featured two tracks from their debut release as well as three new tracks, "Fuck Me Up", "Lydia", and "Guess What". This release was jointly produced by Joel Hamilton and Joe Duplantier of Gojira.

Their self-titled compilation album Highly Suspect was released in 2011. It contains fourteen tracks, consisting of several new songs as well as previously released but re-recorded songs, like "Gang Lion" and "Then Mickey".

The band toured the United States in early 2015 with Deftones, Chevelle, Halestorm, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Scott Weiland from Stone Temple Pilots.[6] The music video for the song "Lydia" premiered on MTV.com on June 25, 2015.[7]

Their first studio album[8][9] Mister Asylum was released on July 17, 2015, via 300 Entertainment.[10] The first single from the album, titled "Lydia", peaked at number 4 on the US Mainstream Rock Songs chart and at number 24 on the US Alternative Songs chart. On July 24, 2015, the album debuted at number 39 on the New Zealand Albums Chart.[11]

Highly Suspect was selected for iTunes' 2015 New Artist Spotlight by its editors.[12] In November, the band released their second single "Bloodfeather", which peaked at number 5 on the US Mainstream Rock Songs chart.

The Boy Who Died Wolf (2016–2017)

Highly Suspect performing in 2015

Their second studio album, The Boy Who Died Wolf, was released November 18, 2016.[13] The band released the single "My Name Is Human" on September 7, 2016.[14] A second single, "Little One", was released on April 26, 2017. On December 6, it was announced that "My Name Is Human" was nominated for Best Rock Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.[15]

MCID (2018–2021)

A single featuring Young Thug entitled "Tokyo Ghoul" and Stevens' hip-hop persona "Terrible Johnny" was released October 4, 2019.[16] The fourth single, "Canals", was released on October 25, 2019.[17] The album was released on November 1.[18][19]

The Midnight Demon Club (2022–2023)

The band's fourth full-length album The Midnight Demon Club came out on September 9, 2022, featuring singles as "Natural Born Killer", "Pink Lullabye" and others.[20]

As Above, So Below (2024–Present)

On July 19th, 2024 the band released their fifth full-length album As Above, So Below, and announced a supporting tour starting in September 2024.

Musical style

Highly Suspect's musical style has been described as alternative rock,[21] hard rock,[22] blues rock,[23] grunge,[21] rock and roll,[24] progressive rock,[25] and garage rock.[26] Their third studio album, MCID, marked a change in sound and utilized elements of hip hop,[27][28] pop,[28] and electropop.[27]

Band members

  • Johnny Stevens – lead vocals, guitar, synthesizer, piano (2009–present)
  • Ryan Meyer – drums, vocals (2009–present)
  • Rich Meyer – bass, synthesizer, vocals (2009–present)
  • Matt Kofos – guitar, synthesizer, vocals (2019–present)
  • Mark Schwartz – guitar, synthesizer, keyboards, vocals (2019–present)

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[29] 		US Alt.
[30] 		US Dig.
[31] 		US Hard
[32] 		US Rock
[33] 		US Sales
[34] 		NZ
[35]
Mister Asylum 56 — 9 2 7 23 39
The Boy Who Died Wolf
  • Released: November 18, 2016
  • Label: 300
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 28 1 8 2 2 16 10
MCID
  • Released: November 1, 2019
  • Label: 300, Atlantic
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 79 4 4 — 10 18 20
The Midnight Demon Club
  • Released: September 9, 2022[36]
  • Label: Roadrunner/FRSKT
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
 — — — — — — —
As Above, So Below
  • Released: July 19, 2024[37]
  • Label: Roadrunner, 300, Elektra
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 — — — — — — 6
[38]

Compilation albums

  • Highly Suspect (2011)

EPs

  • First Offense (2009)
  • The Gang Lion EP (2010)
  • The Worst Humans (2012)
  • Black Ocean (2013)

Singles

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
Rock
Air.
[39] 		US Alt.
[40] 		US Main.
[41] 		US Rock
[42] 		CAN Rock
[43] 		NZ
[44]
"Lydia" 2015 14 24 4 26 — — Mister Asylum
"Bloodfeather" 21 37 5 — — —
"Serotonia" 2016 — — — — — — The Boy Who Died Wolf
"My Name Is Human" 7 20 1 12 17 —[A]
"Little One" 2017 12 26 2 21 29 —
"16" 2019 3 15 1 6 26 —[B] MCID
"Upperdrugs" — — — — — —[C]
"Tokyo Ghoul" — — — — — —
"Canals" — — 40 — — —
"These Days" 2020 31 39 10 — — —
"Natural Born Killer"/
"Pink Lullabye"[47] 		2022 7 16 1 — — — The Midnight Demon Club
— — — — — —
"Ice Cold"/
"New California"[48] 		— 35 27 — — —
— — — — — —
"Summertime Voodoo" 2024 — — 32 — — — As Above, So Below
"The Blue-Eyed Devil" — — — — — —
"The 8th of October (To August 17th)" — — — — — —
"Plastic Boxes" — — 23 — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Music videos

Title Year Director(s) Album Link
"Gang Lion" 2012 Nate Severdija Highly Suspect [49]
"Bath Salts" Jamie Northrup The Worst Humans [50]
"Lydia" 2015 TS Pfeffer Mister Asylum [51]
"Bloodfeather" 2016 [52]
"Serotonia" Johnny Stevens The Boy Who Died Wolf [53]
"My Name Is Human" 2017 Marc Klasfeld [54]
"Little One" Djay Brawner & Johnny Stevens [55]
"16" 2019 MCID [56]
"These Days" 2020 Rock And Egg [57]
"Natural Born Killer" 2022 Andrew Sandler The Midnight Demon Club [58]
"New California" 2023 Steele Pace & Haden McKenna [59]
"Plastic Boxes" 2024 Johnny Stevens As Above, So Below [60]

Awards and nominations

Year Organization Title Award Result Ref
2016 58th Annual Grammy Awards "Lydia" Best Rock Song Nominated [61]
Mister Asylum Best Rock Album Nominated
2017 59th Annual Grammy Awards "My Name Is Human" Best Rock Song Nominated [62]
Alternative Press Music Awards Highly Suspect Best Hard Rock Artist Nominated [63]
"Bloodfeather" Best Music Video Nominated
2018 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards Highly Suspect Rock Artist of the Year Nominated [64]

Notes

  1. ^ "My Name Is Human" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number seven on the NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart.
  2. ^ "16" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 22 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[46]
  3. ^ "Upperdrugs" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 32 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[46]

References

  1. ^ "SiriusXM Octane on Instagram: "I gladly joined the guys in Highly Suspect in their hazing of new band mate Matt. Hear Highly Suspect's new songs '16' and 'Upperdrugs'…"". Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2019 – via Instagram.
  2. ^ "Grammy Nominations Announced; Included Slipknot, Sevendust, Highly Suspect and Ghost". WQLZ. December 7, 2015. Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  3. ^ Vain, Madison. "Highly Suspect Detail Second Album, 'The Boy Who Died Wolf' – exclusive". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  4. ^ "Highly Suspect – Chart history – Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  5. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (February 14, 2016). "In Grammy Race, the Band Highly Suspect Marvels at Its Surprising Double Shot". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Miller, Jay N. (March 4, 2015). "MUSIC SCENE: Highly Suspect Revel in the Growing Buzz". Enterprise News. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  7. ^ "Artist Spotlight: Highly Suspect". MTV. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  8. ^ "10 New Artists You Need to Know Now". Rolling Stone. May 26, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  9. ^ Childers, Chad (September 7, 2016). "Highly Suspect Reveal 'The Boy Who Died Wolf' Album Details". Loudwire. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
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  55. ^ "Highly Suspect – Little One (Official Video)". YouTube. April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
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  57. ^ "Highly Suspect – These Days [Official Video]". YouTube. March 23, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
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  59. ^ "Highly Suspect – New California [Official Video]". YouTube. March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
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