94-663: David John Matthews (born January 9, 1967) is an American musician and the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band (DMB). Matthews was born in Johannesburg , and moved frequently between South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States while growing up. He started playing acoustic guitar at the age of nine. From 1991 to 2003, Matthews predominantly focused on songwriting and performing with
188-589: A Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals nomination for the song "Crush". In 2000, DMB set up their own recording studio at a large countryside home outside Charlottesville. With longtime producer Lillywhite at the helm, the band began work on a fourth studio album. The songs were heavily influenced by personal conflicts, notably the death of Matthews's uncle from alcoholism. In October 2000, an energized Matthews began writing with Glen Ballard , most famous for his work with Alanis Morissette . The rest of DMB (along with special guest Carlos Santana ) soon joined Matthews in
282-688: A modern dance performance by the Miki Liszt Dance Company , based at McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville, singing "Meaningful Love", composed by John D'earth and Dawn Thompson. In 1991, he hatched the idea to form his own band. Before recording his first demo, Matthews bartended at Miller's in Charlottesville. After writing his first few songs, including "I'll Back You Up", "The Song That Jane Likes" and "Recently", Matthews formed Dave Matthews Band in early 1991 with LeRoi Moore , Carter Beauford , Stefan Lessard , Peter Griesar (who left
376-686: A 2008 album called Songs for Tibet , an initiative to support Tibet and Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso and to underline the human rights violations allegedly committed against Tibet by China . On 4 October 2009 Reynolds performed with Matthews in St. Louis , Missouri to support Farm Aid in 2009 and again in Hartford , Connecticut on 22 September 2018. Reynolds has a son Josef, born in February 1982 with his ex-wife, Linna. In 1995, he and then-girlfriend Diane Thomas had
470-887: A Dave Matthews Band concert in Virginia Beach on June 15, 2024, Matthews paused in the set to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Two shows have been released as part of the Dave Matthews Band's DMBlive series available only for online download. Dave Matthews Band Dave Matthews Band (also known as DMB ) is an American rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia , in 1991. The band's lineup originally consisted of Dave Matthews (lead vocals, guitar), Stefan Lessard (bass), Carter Beauford (drums, backing vocals), Boyd Tinsley (violin, backing vocals), and LeRoi Moore (saxophonist). As of 2024, Matthews, Lessard, and Beauford are
564-540: A Duo or Group and Best Music Video, Short Form, for "What Would You Say". The band achieved hits with " Crash into Me ", "Too Much", and " Tripping Billies ". By 1997, DMB reached unparalleled levels of popularity across the United States and, to some degree, the world. On October 28, 1997, the band released their first full-length live album, Live at Red Rocks 8.15.95 . The album was recorded at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado , and featured popular songs from
658-407: A Los Angeles studio and quickly recorded Everyday . While the album gave the band a fresh start, Ballard's production, which featured a pop-rock music sound and no songs over 4:43, was very different from the acoustic sound and long jams that the albums produced by Steve Lillywhite featured (only 8 of the 35 tracks on the previous three albums were under 4:43). Carter Beauford has said that the album
752-623: A benefit show at Atlanta's Piedmont Park with the Allman Brothers Band opening. Though only 65,000 tickets were sold (50,000 originally, then a second block of 15,000) nearly 20,000 people sneaked into the show, making it the largest one-day concert in Atlanta history. The show raised money for the Piedmont Park Conservancy Association . It was released as a CD/DVD called Live at Piedmont Park . On March 6, 2008, it
846-671: A farm in Indiana, an army base in Alaska, Kansas, and Missouri, where he lived longer than any other place until he was old enough to move away as an adult. Both parents were extremely devout Christians and he says he grew up with Christian music all around him. However, his older sister owned some albums from the Beatles , which he says, even as a very young child, he loved instantly, playing air guitar to their music. Upon reaching adolescence, Reynolds learned guitar and bass guitar, so he could perform in
940-455: A favorite song of John Edwards and Rielle Hunter during their much-publicized affair. In March 2005, Dave Matthews Band arrived on Australian shores for the first time, playing shows at Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Byron Bay East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival . The band supported Stand Up with a 54 show, summer-long tour culminating in a four-night stand at Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre . The 2005 summer tour also marked
1034-580: A few years these shows gained popularity, and in 1996 Matthews and Reynolds embarked on their first full tour together as a duo. In 1999, coinciding with the release of the 40-date tour, Live at Luther College was released. After a short break, Reynolds toured again with Matthews as a duo in 2003. Reynolds and Matthews then reprised their duo shows as an opening act for the Dave Matthews & Friends tour in 2003 and early 2004. They played several shows together in 2006 and 2007. Reynolds joined Matthews on
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#17328729467451128-400: A full-time member until 1992. Matthews later admitted, "We had no plans of adding a violinist. We just wanted some fiddle tracked on this one song " Tripping Billies ", and Boyd was a friend of LeRoi. He came in and it just clicked. That completely solidified the band, gave it a lot more power." The band's first in-studio demo was recorded in February or March 1991, before Tinsley joined as
1222-400: A full-time member, and consisted of "Song That Jane Likes", "Recently", "Best of What's Around", and "I'll Back You Up." For years, it was believed that the band's first public show was April 21, 1991, at Charlottesville's Earth Day Festival . On October 9, 2010, Stefan Lessard reported via Twitter the discovery of an earlier show, taped March 14, 1991, at TRAX, a local music venue. The show
1316-453: A great change in direction for the band as they did not rely on upbeat hit singles to carry the album. " Stay (Wasting Time) ", an uplifting gospel number, and " Crush ", a love ballad , became popular along with the lead single, " Don't Drink the Water ". Before These Crowded Streets was an instant commercial success, with over 900,000 albums sold worldwide in the first week. The band took part in
1410-561: A man who works at a pet store and plays guitar. In 2007, Matthews appeared briefly in the movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry , where he plays a homosexual salesman. In 2008, he appeared in the Adam Sandler movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan as a racist redneck character named James. He also had a significant role in Lake City with Sissy Spacek and Troy Garity , in which he portrays
1504-410: A matter of fact, that's one of the things about this band that everybody likes: There isn't a leader. Each one of us can express ourselves musically without being choked by a leader. Everybody can offer what they feel is gonna enhance the music. So, yeah, that's the main thing that all the guys — especially me — feel make this band happen. It's the freedom that we have to speak with our instruments." By
1598-463: A mini-tour of Europe in February and March 2007. On 14 August 2007, Matthews and Reynolds released a live CD/DVD set, Live at Radio City , including the songs "Stay or Leave", " Gravedigger ", "Cornbread", and " Dancing Nancies ," among others. It also includes two of Reynolds' own songs: "You are My Sanity" and "Betrayal". The Radio City show was also released in high definition on Blu-ray. In 2008, Reynolds once again joined Dave Matthews Band for
1692-634: A musician, Dave Matthews was an amateur actor, appearing onstage in several productions at Charlottesville's Offstage Theatre and Live Arts theater in the early 1990s; the role for which he is best remembered is as a used car salesman in Offstage Theatre's "Just Say No," directed by John Quinn, co-starring Kylie Suture. He played Will Coleman in the 2003 adaptation of the novel Where the Red Fern Grows . In 2005, he played in Because of Winn-Dixie as Otis,
1786-401: A new producer. The band decided they wanted to take some chances and pursue a funkier side to their music. To help achieve it, A&R rep Bruce Flohr tracked down producer/songwriter Mark Batson . According to Flohr in an interview with HitQuarters , "When the band and him got together it was instant creative karma. Things took off like a bat out of hell." The resultant album, Stand Up ,
1880-483: A piano double for the complex pieces, but played the simpler pieces himself. In the season one episode of House , " Love Hurts ", the song " Some Devil " can be heard playing at the end. In another episode, one of the tracks from Stand Up , " You Might Die Trying " was played in the season five episode, " Not Cancer ". The fifth time Matthews appeared as musical guest on Saturday Night Live in November 2009 (which
1974-557: A popular and widely publicized online campaign known as the Release Lillywhite Recordings Campaign , DMB returned to the studio in 2002 to record Busted Stuff . Produced by Stephen Harris , the recording engineer who worked under Lillywhite on previous albums, the resulting album provided new treatments of much of the Lillywhite Sessions ' material, along with newly written songs "You Never Know" and
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#17328729467452068-558: A profound effect on Matthews's outlook on life and was referenced in a few of his songs. On January 29, 1994, he performed with Tim Reynolds at the Wetlands in New York, where he dedicated that performance "to her [Anne's] memory". Dave Matthews Band's Under the Table and Dreaming , released later that year, was dedicated to her. Anne Matthews was survived by her two children, and they traveled to
2162-405: A saxophone, it was because this guy just blew my mind. At this jazz place I used to bartend at Miller's, I would just sit back and watch him. I would be serving the musicians fat whiskeys and they'd be getting more and more hosed, but no matter how much, he used to still blow my mind. And it was the sense that everyone played from their heart. And when we got together and they asked, 'What do you want
2256-542: A scheduled show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles that day, where Matthews announced the death of the band's "dear friend" to the crowd. As we sat this afternoon contemplating the loss of our brother, we wondered how we could possibly do a show today. Dave put it into perspective stating, "There's no place I'd rather be than here with you guys right now." We cherish special memories of our lost friend. Tonight, Dave told
2350-532: A second rehearsal." Their limited instrumentals did not provide the full sound they desired, however, and more musicians were needed. Upon the recommendation of John D'earth, Director of Jazz Performance at the University of Virginia and another local musician, Stefan Lessard, a junior bassist at the time, joined the band. In 1991, Miller's waiter Peter Griesar became the band's first keyboardist. Because of other commitments, violinist Boyd Tinsley did not become
2444-520: A sellout crowd at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle where President Obama was hosting a campaign fundraiser. In a September 28, 2015, interview with Rolling Stone , Matthews said that "when I hear someone like Bernie Sanders talking, I think there's a hope." Matthews performed at a San Francisco rally for Sanders during the 2016 presidential primaries and later, during the general election campaign. He
2538-487: A show at Trax nightclub on March 23, 1993, a night known as "Big League Chew". On November 9, 1993, DMB offered its first official release, Remember Two Things , on its Bama Rags label. It was re-released by RCA in 1997. Live songs on the album were recorded at Trax in Charlottesville , Virginia The Flood Zone in Richmond , Virginia, and The Muse Music Club on Nantucket Island . The album debuted on college charts as
2632-669: A sightseeing boat on the Chicago River below. On March 9, 2005, the band's tour bus driver, Stefan Wohl, pleaded guilty to dumping the bus's waste tank into the river, and the band donated $ 50,000 to the Friends of the Chicago River and $ 50,000 to the Chicago Park District . In April 2005, the band paid $ 200,000 to settle the civil lawsuit that followed. In Fall 2004, DMB returned to their studio in Charlottesville, Virginia, with
2726-406: A small winter 2003/2004 U.S. tour. The group consisted of Trey Anastasio (of Phish ) on guitar, Brady Blade on drums, Tony Hall on bass, Ray Paczkowski on keys, and Reynolds on guitar. Each show opened with a small acoustic Matthews and Reynolds set, and then followed with the full-band set with Reynolds performing on electric guitar. Most of Some Devil was played live that tour, along with
2820-549: A story about LeRoi at a bar in Virginia where the cash register was near the stage and Dave leaned on the register because "standing had become a chore". Roi proceeded to play the most beautiful version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Dave said, "that was the day I fell in love with him. And I'm still in love with him." It's safe to say we all were in love with him. "It's always easier to leave, than to be left." — The Dave Matthews Band Crew on August 19, 2008 Despite Moore's death,
2914-583: A supporting summer tour, slated to run through early October. The band named this album in honor of Moore. Moore is said to be the "King" in the album title. Tim Reynolds, Rashawn Ross, and Jeff Coffin performed with the band on both the spring and the summer tours of 2009 and 2010. The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, achieving platinum status. Three singles from the album were released: " Funny The Way It Is ", " Why I Am ", and " You and Me ". Tim Reynolds Tim Reynolds (born 15 December 1957)
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3008-430: A warehouse owned by Roulhac Toledano . Although Matthews had started playing the guitar at age nine, it was only in Charlottesville that he started performing publicly. Matthews met local star (and future collaborator) Tim Reynolds through mutual friend, Nic Cappon. In time, Reynolds had Matthews join him on stage, and Matthews was persuaded to record some of his own songs. This led to his first professional musical gig at
3102-476: A wide variety of covers, including, by Reynolds' request, Peter Gabriel 's hit " Solsbury Hill ". Dave Matthews & Friends performed occasional shows again in 2004, 2005, and 2006. In 2008, Reynolds joined the Dave Matthews Band on their summer North American tour, and scheduled to rejoin them on their Spring 2009 North American tour. Both Matthews and Reynolds have an open taping policy that additionally extends to TR3. Reynolds and Matthews performed on
3196-572: Is a "real American" and a "real Virginian," stating that "real Virginians get out and vote." Although bereaved by the loss of band co-founder and saxophonist LeRoi Moore on August 19, 2008, he and Tim Reynolds played for the Democratic National Convention delegates on Sunday, August 24, at Red Rocks, and again with Reynolds at Virginia Commonwealth University on October 26, 2008, among other places. Matthews has often supported environmental initiatives, such as biofuel availability and
3290-481: Is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist known as both a solo artist and as lead guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band . AllMusic critic MacKenzie Wilson has called Reynolds "an under-rated master". Reynolds plays the guitar, piano, sitar , drums, violin, bass, keyboards, ethnic percussive instruments , solo djembe , harp , uses drum machines for special effects, and sings, although his performances are primarily instrumental rock music. As well as being
3384-497: Is the Tswana word for "hello", but there was little enthusiasm for the name and they decided against it. One story is that Moore reportedly telephoned a place they were booked and said to write "Dave Matthews." The person receiving the call wrote "band" after the name, and the name stayed Dave Matthews Band from that point on. Matthews told Robert Trott of AP, "Boyd [Tinsley], if memory serves, wrote 'Dave Matthews Band' [on this flyer for
3478-508: The Billboard charts. This record was extended to seven consecutive number one albums with the 2018 release, Come Tomorrow . In addition to music, Matthews has had multiple acting roles. He has also won two Grammy Awards: one with the Dave Matthews Band in 1997 for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group (" So Much to Say ") and one in 2004 for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance (" Gravedigger ") from his solo album. David John Matthews
3572-564: The Dave Matthews Band started (1991), I already had my own band (TR3). I told him (Matthews), "I've got a band and I kind of like the way it is. You should start your band." I could see that he needed to do his own thing. In 1993, Reynolds and Matthews started playing a few acoustic duo sets. These featured Matthews' music, stripped down to just the acoustic guitar , paired with Reynolds' guitar and occasional use of slide guitar . During these sets, Reynolds would play between one and four of his own pieces that spanned his own catalog of work. After
3666-597: The Dreaming Tree Wines . In April 2012, Matthews was credited as producer on the documentary Last Call at the Oasis , directed by Jessica Yu . In early 2013, Matthews participated in a jam session at Blade Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana, with Jakob Dylan , Charlie Sexton , Blade studios co-owner Brady Blade , and Sexton's brother Will. This led to the formation of a band named The Nauts with Matthews, Dylan, Blade, and
3760-538: The Vote for Change tour. Matthews also supported Barack Obama for president in 2008, both in the primaries and in the general election. On April 6, 2008, he and Tim Reynolds played a concert titled "Change Rocks" at Indiana University to encourage students to register to vote. The tickets were distributed by the Obama campaign. Questions regarding his citizenship were answered by advertisements and videos on YouTube, where he says he
3854-593: The Waikiki Shell on the island of Oahu , in Hawaii. Reynolds toured as lead guitarist with the Dave Matthews Band in support of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King in early 2008. As of the summer/fall tour of 2023, he is still a full-time member of the Dave Matthews Band. Following the release of Dave Matthews' first solo album, Some Devil , Matthews brought together many of the album's collaborators and embarked on
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3948-690: The Woodstock '99 concert during the summer. In the fall, it then released a third live album, Listener Supported . The album, a live recording, used a show performed at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 11, 1999, for a PBS television special. The album was also released as the band's first DVD. The year also provided two more Grammy nominations. From their recent album, they earned another Best Rock Album nomination for "Before These Crowded Streets", and
4042-539: The 1990s, he had formed the Tim Reynolds Three, or TR3, and had added other influences, such as Nine Inch Nails , Bob Marley and Marilyn Manson . In addition, he continued to learn to play other instruments, including the sitar , sarod , the mandello, keytar , tubular bells and other "exotic" instruments that were not commonly seen in Western rock music of the time. Reynolds was performing in Charlottesville in
4136-557: The Dave Matthews Band from its inception until late 1998, joining them as a permanent member in June 2008. He often tours with Dave Matthews as an acoustic duo in addition to performing as a member of Dave Matthews & Friends . Reynolds was born in Wiesbaden , Germany, where his father, who served in the U.S. Army , was stationed. He says he hails from nowhere, because the family moved so often. His family lived many places, including Germany,
4230-532: The Dave Matthews Band, which he started in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1991. He also has done various solo performances and produced other records. During the period from 2000 to 2010, his band toured constantly, selling more tickets and earning more money than any other act in North America. The band's 2012 album Away from the World made them the only group to have six consecutive studio albums debut at number one on
4324-782: The Flecktones saxophonist Jeff Coffin filled in for Moore for the remainder of the tour. Although he was expected to make a full recovery, Moore died suddenly of complications from the accident on August 19, 2008. The band released a statement through their website which read: We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program. The band proceeded with
4418-462: The Flood Zone where the band often played, took the helm of the Dave Matthews Band. For a variety of reasons, like sensing that the band was on the verge of making it big and not wanting to have his life ruled by the grueling schedule that touring musicians often face, difficulties communicating with Matthews, and maintaining the mortgage on his new home, Peter Griesar decided to leave the band after
4512-559: The Sexton brothers as members. However, there has been no news regarding an album release since that jam session. On May 16, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 quarantine, Matthews appeared streaming on the virtual graduation ceremonies for the University of Virginia. He wished students his best and said "it is now your small opportunity to make the world a better place, as you see fit." He then sang
4606-445: The Table and Dreaming , featuring their first commercial hits " What Would You Say " (featuring John Popper of Blues Traveler on harmonica), " Satellite ", and " Ants Marching ". The album was dedicated "In memory of Anne" for Matthews's older sister Anne, who was killed by her husband in 1994 in a murder–suicide . Under the Table and Dreaming brought the band worldwide fame and was eventually certified six-times platinum. Under
4700-458: The Table and Dreaming and its follow-up album, Crash , brought the band a Grammy Award and four additional Grammy nominations. The band won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group for " So Much to Say ", and was nominated for Best Rock Album for Crash and the Best Rock Song for "Too Much" . The band had also been nominated in 1995 for Best Rock Performance by
4794-477: The United States following her death. Dave and his younger sister Jane (after whom the Dave Matthews Band song "The Song That Jane Likes" is named) took responsibility for the children's upbringing. Matthews focused primarily on songwriting and performances with Dave Matthews Band from 1990 to 2003. The band's sound blends acoustic guitar, bass, saxophone, drums and violin. In 1994, DMB signed with RCA Records . Since that period, he has occasionally ventured outside
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#17328729467454888-517: The United States. Matthews published an Internet video before the 2000 U.S. presidential election , urging viewers to vote without advocating any candidate. He mentioned only Ralph Nader by name, and updated fans about the recording sessions for Everyday . Although his music often explores political and social issues, Matthews refrained from public campaigning for presidential candidates until 2004. He cast his support strongly with Democratic nominee John Kerry , performing at political events including
4982-474: The band continued to play the rest of the tour, cancelling only two shows. They concluded the tour with a benefit concert for lung cancer research (Stand Up for a Cure) at Madison Square Garden in New York City on September 10, for which tickets were exclusive to members of the band's fan club, Warehouse. The band's next album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King , was released June 2, 2009, coinciding with
5076-541: The band in 1993), and Boyd Tinsley while working at Miller's as a bartender. The band's first show was on March 14, 1991, as part of a benefit for the Middle East Children's Alliance at Trax Nightclub in Charlottesville, Virginia. Matthews's older sister Anne, who lived in South Africa, was murdered by her husband in early 1994. Her husband then died by suicide on or around January 27 of that year. The event had
5170-400: The band in various solo performances and records. Matthews sang on the track "Sing Along" on Blue Man Group 's second album The Complex in 2003. Later that year he released the solo album Some Devil , which went platinum ; its single " Gravedigger " won a Grammy Award in 2004. To support the album, Matthews toured with a group of musicians (many of whom performed on "Some Devil") under
5264-522: The band since 2001, had decided to leave the band. Dave Matthews Band played their last show with all five original members on June 28, 2008, at the Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Virginia . Two days later, saxophonist LeRoi Moore was injured in an ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. On July 1, 2008, while in Charlottesville, Dave Matthews announced Moore's accident. Béla Fleck and
5358-583: The band's first three albums and longtime collaborator Tim Reynolds on electric guitar. In late 1997, the band returned to the studio with producer Steve Lillywhite and an array of guest collaborators, including Reynolds, banjoist Béla Fleck , vocalist Alanis Morissette , future touring band member Butch Taylor , Chapman Stick player Greg Howard , and the Kronos Quartet . They composed and recorded Before These Crowded Streets , their third album with RCA, released on April 28, 1998. The album represented
5452-486: The character Red. He was in one movie in 2011: the Adam Sandler/ Jennifer Aniston comedy Just Go with It . In 2007, Matthews guest-starred in the medical-drama series House in the episode " Half-Wit ". He played a piano-playing musical savant who had the two hemispheres of his brain severed from each other in order to recover from his epilepsy, but at the expense of his musical abilities. Dave had
5546-486: The drums, both inside and outside the studio. Matthews also approached LeRoi Moore , another local jazz musician who often performed with the John D'earth Quintet, to join them. The trio began working on Matthews's songs in 1991. Matthews recollects that, "...the reason I went to Carter was not because I needed a drummer, but because I thought he was the baddest thing I'd ever seen and LeRoi, it wasn't because I desperately wanted
5640-486: The family's local church choir three times a week, while also beginning to experiment with learning what eventually became second nature: adding riffs infused with rock and roll , funk and soul music by the age of twelve. Upon graduation from high school, he moved away from the Midwest. His talent brought him together with what would be two other founding members of the Dave Matthews Band, Carter Beauford and Butch Taylor in
5734-430: The fight against global climate change . On September 21, 2009, Matthews stated that some of President Barack Obama 's harsher critics were motivated by his race, and stated that he "sees it [racism] everywhere" in the United States. Matthews is also a strong supporter of gay rights and participated in "Love Unites Shepard Fairey Equality Project", a gay marriage advocacy project. On May 10, 2012, Matthews entertained
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#17328729467455828-461: The first time Rashawn Ross played with the band. DMB also played a 13-show tour in the fall. The band returned to the studio along with producer Mark Batson in March 2006, with the resultant album slated for release in winter. The band worked with Reverb , a non-profit environmental organization, for their 2006 summer tour. Their Labor Day concert at The Gorge Amphitheatre drew a crowd of 64,468,
5922-567: The folk song " Long Black Veil ". Matthews played a cover of Neil Young 's song " The Needle and the Damage Done " at the 2010 tribute MusiCares Person of the Year , honoring Young on January 29, 2010. The Dave Matthews Band opened for the Rolling Stones on their Bridges to Babylon Tour (1997–1998), and Matthews sang " Wild Horses " and " Memory Motel " with Mick Jagger . Before he was known as
6016-413: The founding member of the band TR3, while he was a regular performer at Miller's, a bar in Charlottesville, Virginia , he befriended and encouraged the bartender, a young Dave Matthews , to form a band of his own, introducing him to local musicians, several of whom make up the Dave Matthews Band. While Reynolds long declined the offer to join as an official member, he recorded and toured as a sideman with
6110-510: The fusion band Secrets in Richmond, Virginia . Later landing in Charlottesville , Virginia , finding jazz , jazz fusion , and experimental music enthusiasts there, Reynolds found the college town a more welcoming environment for him to branch out musically than any of his previous homes, and added to his experimentation other musical influences to his repertoire, including sixties psychedelic rock , citing some of his early influences as Jimi Hendrix , Carlos Santana and Led Zeppelin . By
6204-519: The highest independent entry, and went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA in 2002. The band released their first live EP , Recently , in 1994. The album's five tracks were taken from shows performed at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia , and from Trax in Charlottesville . Recently was re-released by RCA Records in 1997. On September 27, 1994, DMB released their debut studio album, Under
6298-537: The largest ever for that venue. In early 2007, the band entered the studio with producers Mark Batson and Steven Miller to begin recording their seventh studio album. According to Billboard magazine, the band's new album had been scheduled to be released in July by RCA Records , but in an interview with the Brisbane Times on May 4, 2007, Stefan Lessard stated, "We're on a bit of a creative break as far as working in
6392-514: The late 1980s when his friend Nic Cappon encouraged him to perform at a local bar, Miller's, where he met bartender Dave Matthews . Reynolds explains: I played there [Miller's in Charlottesville] all the time. Dave Matthews was the bartender. I knew the rest of his [future] band way before that. We played together in Charlottesville since I moved there in 1981. I would play with LeRoi Moore and Carter Beauford . Dave moved to town in 1987. When
6486-536: The music to sound like?' I said, 'I know this is a song I wrote and I like what you guys play, so I want you to play the way you react to my song.' There was a lot of breaking of our inhibitions." Matthews later said in an interview with Michael Krugman, "In a way, initially it was just the three of us and I approached them with this tape and they said 'Sure,' cause they had time on their hands. They were both working on other things, but they had some afternoon time." The beginning stages of this new band proved to be, in
6580-407: The name Dave Matthews & Friends . Dave often collaborates with banjoist Béla Fleck . Fleck is the frontman and namesake of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones ; Matthews appears as guest vocalist with the band on their 1998 release, Left of Cool . Both Fleck and the Flecktones' bassist Victor Wooten have made numerous live appearances and in studio with the Dave Matthews Band. Wooten soloed in
6674-475: The only remaining founding members. Dave Matthews Band's 1994 debut studio album, Under the Table and Dreaming , was certified six times platinum. As of 2018 , the band had sold more than 25 million concert tickets and a combined total of 38 million CDs and DVDs. Their 2018 album, Come Tomorrow , debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 , making DMB the first band to have seven consecutive studio albums debut at
6768-482: The peak. The band won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for " So Much to Say ". Dave Matthews Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. A jam band , Dave Matthews Band is renowned for its live shows. The band is known for playing songs differently in each performance; this practice has become a staple of their live shows. In November 1990, Dave Matthews , who
6862-413: The practice was becoming widespread. As a Quaker (and consequently pacifist), Matthews left South Africa to avoid service. Matthews moved to New York in 1986 where he worked for IBM for a short time, then joined his mother that same year in Charlottesville, Virginia , a town Matthews's family had lived in before he was born. In Charlottesville, he became part of the local music community, rehearsing in
6956-416: The property, since it is located within both the Virginia and Monticello viticultural areas. Blenheim Vineyards was founded in 2000, and currently produces 5,500 cases of wine per year, including its signature Petit Verdot and several special edition wines that have featured unique labels with drawings by Matthews. In 2011, Matthews collaborated with wine makers Steve Reeder and Sean McKenzie in creating
7050-632: The recording of Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King with producer Rob Cavallo . It was Reynolds's first recording collaboration with Matthews since 2003's Some Devil and his first with the Dave Matthews Band since 1998's Before These Crowded Streets . Reynolds and Matthews performed together several times in April 2008: in support of Presidential candidate Barack Obama , at the "Seeds of Compassion" show in Seattle and at Jack Johnson 's Kokua Festival at
7144-513: The second part of the Daniel Lanois song "The Maker", and also in " #41 " on the 1998 live album Live in Chicago . The Flecktones also opened for DMB on several tours. Matthews performed a duet with Emmylou Harris on "My Antonia" on her 2000 album Red Dirt Girl . They also appeared together on the musical television show CMT Crossroads , where the two performed Matthews's " Gravedigger " and
7238-405: The show]. There was no time when we said, 'Let's call this band the Dave Matthews Band.' It just became that, and it sort of was too late to change when we started thinking that this could focus unfairly on me. People sort of made that association, but it's really not like that." Beauford seemed to agree with Matthews's analysis of the band name when he said to Modern Drummer magazine that, "As
7332-521: The single " Where Are You Going ", which was subsequently used in the movie Mr. Deeds . Busted Stuff hit the shelves on July 16, 2002. During these two years the band released two live albums. The first, Live in Chicago 12.19.98 , features Tim Reynolds on guitar as well as many other special guests such as bassist Victor Wooten , guitarist Mitch Rutman , and saxophonist Maceo Parker . The second, Live at Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado , highlights songs from both Everyday and Busted Stuff and
7426-541: The song "Singing from the Windows". Dave Matthews married longtime girlfriend Jennifer Ashley Harper in 2000. They have twin daughters born in 2001, and a son born in 2007. They reside in Seattle . In a 2001 interview, Matthews stated that he was agnostic . He joined the Farm Aid board of directors in 2001, to serve alongside fellow musicians Willie Nelson , John Mellencamp and Neil Young to raise money for family farmers in
7520-624: The studio – we've been in pre-production for a long time, but we'll get more serious later in the year." On July 7, 2007, Dave Matthews Band performed at the American Live Earth concert at Giants Stadium . On August 1, 2007, the band kicked off their annual summer tour, which ran 37 dates. "A Dream So Real" would only be played once after the 2007 Summer Tour, at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on June 21, 2008, featuring Matthews playing keyboard. Supporting acts for
7614-505: The summer of 1991, they were playing at Eastern Standard with Charles Newman as their manager for a brief time. They also continued to play at fraternity functions; the last such show was at UVa at the DKE house on September 11, 1992. Thereafter the band began playing a regular Tuesday night show at the popular Charlottesville club Trax . Tapings of shows at Trax are some of the most widely shared among DMB fans. After Newman, Coran Capshaw , owner of
7708-613: The tour included Toots and the Maytals , The Roots , and Robert Randolph and the Family Band . On September 6, 2007, Dave Matthews Band performed a free concert for the Virginia Tech student body and faculty. The show was entitled "A Concert for Virginia Tech" and was held in memory of the mass shooting that took place on April 16, 2007. John Mayer , Phil Vassar , and Nas joined them. Over 50,000 attended. Two days later, they performed
7802-422: The tracks were lauded by both the fan base and the popular press. After critical comparison of the two albums, fans who were less pleased with Everyday 's more electric sound were frustrated with the band's decision to scrap the work of The Lillywhite Sessions . Many of the songs from The Lillywhite Sessions would, however, eventually be officially released. In response to overwhelming fan support, coupled with
7896-493: The words of Morgan Delancey, "a time of trial and incubation." Beauford would later recall that, "It started out as a three-piece thing with Dave and Leroi...working on some of Dave's songs. He only had four songs at the time...And it didn't work out with the three of us." Matthews said, "The first time we played together...we were awful. Not just kind of bad, I mean heinously bad. We tried a couple of different songs and they were all terrible...Sometimes it amazes me that we ever had
7990-524: Was a benefit for the Middle East Children's Alliance and, according to Lessard, included the following songs: "Typical Situation", "Best of What's Around", "I'll Back You Up", "Song That Jane Likes", "Warehouse", "Cry Freedom", and "Recently". The show included only Matthews, Lessard, Beauford, and Moore. Local weekly appearances soon followed, and word of the band's sound spread within a short time. The band considered calling itself "Dumwelah", which
8084-538: Was a major donor to the 2017 gubernatorial campaign of progressive Charlottesville politician Tom Perriello . On October 30, 2021, Matthews performed at a Democratic get out the vote event in Charlottesville, Virginia with gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe . During the 2022 election campaign, Matthews performed at campaign events for Democratic candidates Tim Ryan in Ohio and John Fetterman in Pennsylvania. During
8178-617: Was a product of Matthews and Ballard and that it did not showcase the rest of the band. The February 27, 2001, release of Everyday was a huge commercial success. The singles " I Did It ", "Everyday" , and " The Space Between " all charted on many Billboard charts , including the Hot 100. In March 2001, the Lillywhite studio sessions from the previous year were leaked over the internet. The tracks spread quickly over established channels like Napster . Collectively known as The Lillywhite Sessions ,
8272-753: Was also the fourth time the Dave Matthews Band appeared on the show), he made an appearance as Ozzy Osbourne in a skit called "The Mellow Show". Bill Hader impersonated Matthews in the same skit. Matthews was also a cast member and performer in the popular music documentary Before the Music Dies . In 2018, Matthews guest-starred on Pete the Cat as the voice of Gustavo's father, a platypus. In 1999, Matthews purchased more than 10 acres of land in Albemarle County, Virginia, known as Blenheim Farm, to preserve its historical significance. He later decided to plant grapes on
8366-474: Was born on January 9, 1967 in Johannesburg , the third of four children born to South African parents, John and Val Matthews. At age two, Matthews moved with his family to Yorktown Heights, New York , where his father, a physicist, started working for IBM . In 1974, the Matthews family moved to Cambridge, England , for a year, then returned to New York, where his father died from lung cancer in 1977 when Matthews
8460-559: Was released as both a CD and a DVD. The Gorge , a combination 2-CD/1-DVD set with highlights from their three-night 2002 tour-closing stand at The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington , was released on June 29, 2004. On August 8, 2004, DMB was at the center of a controversy when about 800 pounds of human waste was dumped from Tinsley's tour bus through the grate in the Kinzie Street Bridge in Chicago and onto passengers aboard
8554-438: Was released on May 10, 2005, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard charts with sales of 465,000. Stand Up spawned the singles "American Baby", " Dreamgirl ", and "Everybody Wake Up". The band also released a video for "Dreamgirl", featuring Julia Roberts , a long-time fan of the band. Another song from the album, "Steady As We Go", was featured in an episode of Everwood , and was cited by former campaign aide Andrew Young to be
8648-408: Was revealed that the band had been working with Rob Cavallo on their next album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King . It was also mentioned that guitarist and longtime friend Tim Reynolds would be recording with the band on the new studio album. On May 27, 2008, three days before the band embarked on their annual summer tour, it was announced that keyboardist Butch Taylor , who had toured with
8742-466: Was ten years old. At some point, while residing in New York, Matthews attended his first concert, when his mother took him to a performance by Pete Seeger . The family returned to Johannesburg in 1977. Matthews naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1980. Upon Matthews's graduation from secondary school in 1985, he was faced with conscription into the South African military just as civil disobedience to
8836-470: Was working as a bartender at Miller's Bar in Charlottesville, Virginia , became a friend of a lawyer named Ross Hoffman. Hoffman convinced Matthews to record a demo of the few songs Matthews had written and encouraged him to approach Carter Beauford , a local drummer on the Charlottesville music scene. Beauford had been in several bands and was then playing on a jazz show on BET . After hearing Matthews's demo, Beauford agreed to spend some time playing
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