The Neighbourhood is an American alternative rock band that formed in Newbury Park, California, in 2011. The original lineup consisted of vocalist Jesse Rutherford, guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, bassist Mikey Margott, and drummer Bryan "Olivver" Sammis. They are known for their black-and-white imagery and a musical style that blends rock instruments with R&B and hip-hop aesthetics.
Formation and Breakthrough
The band gained attention online in early 2012 with the track "Female Robbery". They chose the British spelling of "neighbourhood" to distinguish themselves from another band. Their debut EP, "I'm Sorry...", was released in May 2012, followed by the "Thank You," EP in December of the same year. The single "Sweater Weather" from their debut album became a major hit, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 2013 and experiencing a resurgence in popularity on TikTok years later. Their first full-length album, "I Love You.", was released on April 22, 2013, and debuted at number 39 on the US Billboard 200.
Subsequent Releases
In January 2014, drummer Bryan Sammis departed from the band and was replaced by Brandon Fried. The band released the mixtape "#000000 & #FFFFFF" in November 2014. Their second studio album, "Wiped Out!", was released on October 30, 2015. It peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard 200. The song "Daddy Issues" from this album later went viral on TikTok. The band's third, self-titled album was released on March 9, 2018. This was preceded by the EPs "Hard" and "To Imagine". These releases were later compiled into the album "Hard to Imagine The Neighbourhood Ever Changing".
Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones and Hiatus
In 2020, the band introduced a new persona, "Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones," for their fourth album of the same name, released on September 25, 2020. This project saw frontman Jesse Rutherford embodying the silver-painted character Chip Chrome. In February 2022, The Neighbourhood announced they were taking a hiatus to focus on their health and well-being. Later that year, in November, drummer Brandon Fried was removed from the band following sexual assault allegations. While the band has been inactive, frontman Jesse Rutherford has pursued a solo career.