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| 30 Second To Mars |
30 Seconds to Mars' Origins:
30 Seconds to Mars started in 1998 as a collaboration between Jared Leto and his drummer brother Shannon. As the band began work on their debut album, their lineup also included guitarist Solon Bixler. (Later, Bixler would leave the band, paving the way for current guitarist Tomo Milicevic.) Leto serves as the group’s singer and principal songwriter.
A Mild Debut:
The band’s 2002 debut, 30 Seconds to Mars, was a decent amalgam of alt-rock sonic staples, including the polished aggression of the moody mid-tempo number “Echelon” and the streamlined guitar attack of “Capricorn (A Brand New Name).” As a vocalist, Leto demonstrated real presence without over-emoting, but the music felt a little too disposable to make much of an impression. Ultimately, 30 Seconds to Mars failed to wow radio, and critics enjoyed making snide comments about Leto’s career as a pretty-boy actor, suggesting that this band was just a vanity project for him.
Finding Success With 'A Beautiful Lie':
Leto responded to that criticism three years later with A Beautiful Lie, a stronger collection of modern rock that embraced arena anthems (“From Yesterday”) and atmospheric postpunk (“The Story”). Leto’s songwriting still veered toward the melodramatic and familiar, but singles like “The Kill” and “From Yesterday” were a hit with rock radio, and A Beautiful Lie went platinum. 30 Seconds to Mars hadn’t yet won over music critics, but the average listener was starting to warm up to the band.
'This Is War':
30 Seconds to Mars wouldn’t release another album until 2009’s This Is War. In August 2008, the band got involved in a heated legal battle with their label, Virgin/EMI, over a contract dispute regarding how many albums the group still owed the label. The dispute was eventually settled, and 30 Seconds to Mars put out This Is War through Virgin/EMI.
30 Seconds to Mars Lineup:
Jared Leto - vocals, guitar
Shannon Leto - drums
Tomo Milicevic - guitar, keyboards
