Imagine Dragons
Biography
Imagine Dragons is an American pop rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, that formed in 2008. The current lineup consists of lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, and bassist Ben McKee. The band first gained major exposure in 2012 with their debut album Night Visions and the single "It's Time."
Formation and Early Years
The band was formed when lead singer Dan Reynolds met drummer Andrew Tolman at Brigham Young University in 2008. They recruited several other members, but the lineup went through many changes. In 2009, Wayne Sermon and Ben McKee joined the band. Their big break came when they filled in for the band Train at the Bite of Las Vegas Festival, performing for a crowd of over 26,000 people. They released several EPs independently before signing with Interscope Records in 2011.
Breakthrough with Night Visions
Imagine Dragons' debut album, Night Visions, was released in 2012 and became a huge commercial success. The album included the chart-topping singles "Radioactive" and "Demons." "Radioactive" was named the "biggest rock hit of the year" by Rolling Stone and went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance. The album reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified multi-platinum. The success of this album established them as a major force in the music industry, with Billboard naming them the "Breakthrough Band of 2013".
Continued Success and Musical Style
The band followed up their debut with several successful albums, including Smoke + Mirrors (2015), which debuted at number one in the US, Canada, and the UK. Their third album, Evolve (2017), produced three major hit singles: "Believer," "Thunder," and "Whatever It Takes." They continued to release albums with Origins (2018), the double album Mercury – Acts 1 & 2 (2022), and Loom (2024). Imagine Dragons' musical style is described as pop rock with elements of electropop, arena rock, and alternative rock.
Musical Style and Influences
The band's sound is known for its blend of rock, pop, and electronic elements. They have been praised for their genre-bending style and for keeping arena rock popular. Dan Reynolds has cited bands like U2, Coldplay, The Beatles, and Nirvana as influences.
Awards and Recognition
Imagine Dragons has sold over 74 million albums and 65 million digital songs worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists. They have won numerous awards, including a Grammy Award, three American Music Awards, and nine Billboard Music Awards. The band is also the first rock act to have four songs—"Radioactive," "Demons," "Believer," and "Thunder"—surpass one billion streams each on Spotify.
Philanthropy
In 2013, the band founded the Tyler Robinson Foundation in memory of a young fan who passed away from cancer. The foundation provides financial and emotional support to families affected by pediatric cancer.