5 Seconds of Summer
Biography
5 Seconds of Summer, often abbreviated as 5SOS, is an Australian pop-rock band that was formed in Sydney, New South Wales, in 2011. The group consists of four members: Luke Hemmings as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Michael Clifford on lead guitar and vocals, Calum Hood on bass guitar and vocals, and Ashton Irwin on drums and vocals. Initially, the members gained a following on YouTube by posting cover versions of popular songs. Their international fame skyrocketed after they toured with the boy band One Direction on their "Take Me Home Tour".
Formation and Early Years
The band's origins trace back to when Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, and Calum Hood, all students at Norwest Christian College, began uploading videos of their musical covers to Hemmings' YouTube channel. In December 2011, they invited drummer Ashton Irwin to join, completing the lineup. The band's name was conceived by Michael Clifford. Their first live performance was at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney, where they reportedly played for an audience of just 12 people.
Rise to Fame and Debut Album
The band's online presence caught the attention of major music labels, leading to a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. A significant boost in their popularity came when Louis Tomlinson of One Direction shared a link to one of their YouTube videos. This exposure led to 5SOS being invited to open for One Direction on their worldwide "Take Me Home Tour" in 2013. In February 2014, 5SOS released their debut worldwide single, "She Looks So Perfect," which topped the charts in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Their self-titled debut album, "5 Seconds of Summer," was released in June 2014 and debuted at number one in 11 countries. The album is described as having a pop-punk, pop-rock, and power-pop sound.
Band Members
The band is comprised of four members. Luke Hemmings is the lead vocalist and a rhythm guitarist for the band. Michael Clifford plays lead guitar and also provides vocals. Calum Hood is the band's bassist and contributes to vocals. Ashton Irwin is the drummer and also a vocalist.
Musical Style and Evolution
5 Seconds of Summer's musical style has been characterized as pop-rock, pop, pop-punk, and power-pop. Over the years, their sound has evolved. Their second album, "Sounds Good Feels Good" (2015), leaned more into a pop-punk style. With their third album, "Youngblood" (2018), they explored a new-wave and pop sound, which resulted in significant commercial success. Their fourth album, "Calm" (2020), and their fifth, "5SOS5" (2022), continued to show their musical evolution, incorporating a blend of their pop-punk roots with more mature pop and rock influences.
Subsequent Albums and Success
Following their debut, 5SOS released "Sounds Good Feels Good" in 2015, which also topped charts in multiple countries. Their third album, "Youngblood," released in 2018, made them the first Australian act to have three number-one albums on the Billboard 200 chart in the US. The single "Youngblood" was a massive international hit. Their fourth album, "Calm," was released in 2020, followed by "5SOS5" in 2022, which was released independently. The band has sold over 10 million albums and has billions of streams worldwide, making them one of Australia's most successful musical exports.