Jimmy Eat World: Bleed American 25th Anniversary

US quartet Jimmy Eat World draw on first-wave emo, pop punk and classic indie to create earnest, hook-laden alt rock. The band broke through to the mainstream with their seminal 2000 album Bleed American and hit single ‘The Middle’.

Jimmy Eat World formed in Mesa, Arizona in 1993, taking their name from a drawing by guitarist Tom Linton’s younger brother Ed that depicted a third brother Jim eating the world. Linton teamed up with bassist Mitch Porter, vocalist/guitarist Jim Adkins and drummer Zach Lind to record a demo, followed by their debut EP One, Two, Three, Four in 1994.

Porter was replaced by Rich Burch ahead of the band signing with Capitol Records for their 1996 debut album Static Prevails. Adkins took over sole frontman duties for the 1998 follow-up Clarity, which saw the band start to grow in popularity, partly thanks to the inclusion of the single ‘Lucky Denver Mint’ on the soundtrack to the film Never Been Kissed.