Alex Gaskarth
{{short description|British musician from Baltimore, Maryland}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Alex Gaskarth
| image = Alex Gaskarth 2.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Gaskarth performing with All Time Low in 2012
| birth_name = Alexander William Gaskarth
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|12|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Harlow, Essex, England{{cite web |last1=Ableson |first1=Jon |title=INTERVIEW: ALL TIME LOW |url=http://www.alterthepress.com/2010/02/interview-all-time-low.html?m=1 |website=Alter the Press! |access-date=December 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204033253/http://www.alterthepress.com/2010/02/interview-all-time-low.html?m=1 |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |date=February 2010}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Singer
- musician
- songwriter
}}
| years_active = 2002–present
| spouse = {{marriage |Lisa Ruocco |2016}}
| website = {{URL|alltimelow.com}}
| origin = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Pop punk
- emo pop
- {{nowrap|power pop}}
- pop rock
- {{nowrap|alternative rock}}
}}
| instrument = {{flatlist|
- Vocals
- guitar
}}
| current_member_of = All Time Low
| past_member_of = Simple Creatures
}}
Alexander William Gaskarth (born 14 December 1987) is a British-born{{Cite magazine |last=Romaine |first=Jenna |date=2017-02-03 |title=All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth Talks Immigration Ban & ACLU T-Shirt Campaign |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/all-time-low-alex-gaskarth-immigration-ban-aclu-t-shirt-7677985/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |magazine=Billboard}} American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter for the American rock band All Time Low since its formation in 2003.
Early life
Gaskarth was born in Harlow, Essex, England. He spent his childhood in Toot Hill until the age of six, when his father's employment led them to emigrate to the United States. Gaskarth graduated from Dulaney High School{{cite web |title=All Time Low shows love for city in 'For Baltimore' video |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/food-drink/bal-all-time-low-shows-love-for-city-in-for-baltimore-video-story.html|website=Baltimore Sun |date=31 October 2012 |access-date=18 October 2018}} in 2006. Gaskarth has two older half-sisters, Jilan and Helen, and had a half-brother, Tom, who died when Gaskarth was 12. In memory of him, Gaskarth got a rose tattoo on his left hand, and wrote the song "Lullabies".{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}
Career
=All Time Low (2003–present)=
{{Main|All Time Low}}
File:All Time Low Future Hearts 2015.jpg performing in 2015]]
Gaskarth started playing music with bandmate Jack Barakat in eighth grade. In ninth grade, they acquired Zack Merrick and Rian Dawson, forming All Time Low in 2003.{{Citation|last=Allison Thompson|title=All Time Low Documentary Part 1|date=2014-08-17|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK11hNSVRL4|access-date=2016-11-25}} They signed to Emerald Moon Records in 2004 while still in high school and released their debut EP, "The Three Words to Remember in Dealing with the End". In 2005, they released their debut studio album The Party Scene.
In 2006 the band signed with Hopeless Records.{{Cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/archive_581|title=Hopeless signs All Time Low; band touring with Transition - News - Alternative Press|website=Alternative Press|date=30 January 2009|access-date=2016-11-25}} In 2007, they released a single "Dear Maria, Count Me In" that was certified Platinum in 2015{{Cite web|url=http://infectiousmagazine.com/all-time-lows-dear-maria-count-me-in-goes-platinum/|title=All Time Low's "Dear Maria, Count Me In" Goes Platinum – Infectious Magazine|website=Infectious Magazine|access-date=2022-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729201354/http://infectiousmagazine.com/all-time-lows-dear-maria-count-me-in-goes-platinum/|archive-date=2018-07-29|url-status=dead}} and in 2021 it was certified 2x Multi-Platinum.{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=All+Time+Low&ti=Dear+Maria%2C+Count+Me+In&format=Single&type=#search_section|title=Gold & Platinum - RIAA|website=riaa.com|access-date=2022-03-24}} They also released their second studio album, So Wrong, It's Right, in 2007. In 2009, All Time Low released their third studio album Nothing Personal which debuted number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.{{Cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6538547/all-time-low-logs-third-no-1-on-top-rock-albums|title=All Time Low Logs Third No. 1 on Top Rock Albums|newspaper=Billboard|access-date=2016-11-25}} In 2010 the band released two CD/DVD packages, MTV Unplugged and the documentary/live concert Straight to DVD.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/all-time-low-mn0000736318/discography|title=All Time Low {{!}} Album Discography {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2016-11-25}}
In 2011, the band signed with Interscope Records{{Cite web|url=http://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/all-time-low-part-ways-with-interscope-set-to-reveal-new-single-on-friday|title=All Time Low Part Ways With Interscope; Set To Reveal New Single On Friday? - News - Rock Sound Magazine|website=Rock Sound Magazine|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-11-25|archive-date=25 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125111336/http://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/all-time-low-part-ways-with-interscope-set-to-reveal-new-single-on-friday|url-status=dead}} and released their fourth studio album Dirty Work. In early 2012, the band re-signed with Hopeless Records and released their fifth studio album Don't Panic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/interview_all_time_lows_alex_gaskarth_on_signing_with_hopeless|title=Interview: All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth on re-signing with Hopeless - Features - Alternative Press|website=Alternative Press|date=3 July 2012|access-date=2016-11-25}} On 7 April 2015, All Time Low released their sixth studio album Future Hearts which reached number 2 on Billboard Hot 200 Albums Chart with 75,000 copies sold in its first week, and number 1 in the U.K official Album Charts with 19,400 copies being sold. In 2016, Straight to DVD 2: Past Present and Future Hearts was released. This is a sequel to Straight to DVD, documenting the past four years of the band as well as another live concert.{{Cite web|url=http://alltimelow.com/content/straight-dvd-ii-past-present-and-future-hearts-preorder-now|title=Straight To DVD II: Past, Present, and Future Hearts - Preorder Now! {{!}} All Time Low|website=alltimelow.com|access-date=2016-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125111138/http://alltimelow.com/content/straight-dvd-ii-past-present-and-future-hearts-preorder-now|archive-date=25 November 2016|url-status=dead}} In 2017, the band released a new song entitled "Dirty Laundry" and also reveals that they had left Hopeless Records and has signed with Fueled by Ramen one year prior.{{cite web|url=http://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/all-time-low-its-about-leaving-the-past-where-it-belongs|title=All Time Low: "It's About Leaving The Past Where It Belongs"|work=rocksound.tv|access-date=22 February 2017|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120192239/https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/all-time-low-its-about-leaving-the-past-where-it-belongs|url-status=dead}} On 2 June 2017 the band released its seventh studio album Last Young Renegade. In the summer of 2018, the band released two new singles, Everything Is Fine and Birthday.{{fact|date=October 2023}}
In 2023, on Valentine's Day, the band released a song ‘Modern Love,’ a new anti-dating anthem from their upcoming album, Tell Me I'm Alive.{{Cite web |last=Sound |first=Rock |date=2023-02-14 |title=All Time Low release new single 'Modern Love' on Valentine's Day |url=https://rocksound.tv/artists/all-time-low-release-new-single-modern-love-on-valentines-day |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Rock Sound |language=en-GB}}
Gaskarth has written songs with other bands such as 5 Seconds of Summer,{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicconnection.com/all-time-low-touring-songwriting-social-media/2/|title=All Time Low on Touring, Songwriting and Social Media - Page 2 of 4 |work=Music Connection Magazine|date=30 March 2015|access-date=2016-11-25}} McBusted,{{Cite news|url=http://www.kerrang.com/24364/mark-hoppus-rivers-cuomo-alex-gaskarth-mcbusted/|title=Mark Hoppus, Rivers Cuomo And Alex Gaskarth On McBusted Album - Kerrang!|date=2014-10-24|newspaper=Kerrang!|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-25}} and Simple Plan.{{Cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/simple_plan_writing_new_song_with_blink_182s_mark_hoppus_and_all_time_lows|title=Simple Plan writing new song with Blink-182's Mark Hoppus and All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth - News - Alternative Press|website=Alternative Press|date=17 September 2014|access-date=2016-11-25}} He hosted the podcast Full Frontal with bandmate Jack Barakat from 2013 to 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://fullfrontalradio.com|title=Full Frontal Radio Show|website=fullfrontalradio.com|access-date=2016-11-25|archive-date=2 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002202911/http://fullfrontalradio.com/|url-status=dead}} Full Frontal was rebranded as Crash Test Live per an announcement via Twitter in May 2020{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/crashtestlive/status/1265321238609747969|title=Crash Test Live on Twitter|website=Twitter|date=2020-05-26|language=en-US|access-date=2022-03-19}} and transitioned to Twitch (service) as the show's live streaming platform while the show would remain available in audio-only format as well as in video format following each taping.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/crashtestlive/status/1266104132806553601|title=Crash test Live on Twitter|website=Twitter|date=2020-05-28|language=en-US|access-date=2022-03-19}}
Gaskarth also hosted the 2015 and 2016 Alternative Press Music Awards along with bandmate Jack Barakat.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/announcing_the_2015_journeys_ap_music_awards_hosted_by_alex_jack_of_all_tim |title=Announcing the 2015 Journeys AP Music Awards, Hosted by Alex & Jack of All Time Low! |magazine=Alternative Press |date=8 January 2015 |access-date=6 May 2019 }}
=Simple Creatures (2019–2020)=
{{Main|Simple Creatures}}
On 24 January 2019, Gaskarth announced he was forming a new group with Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 called Simple Creatures. A debut song named "Drug" was released with news of an upcoming EP slated for March.{{Cite web|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2019/01/25/blink-182s-mark-hoppus-and-all-time-lows-alex-gaskarth-debut-new-band/|title=blink-182's Mark Hoppus and All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth debut new band|last=brownypaul|date=2019-01-24|website=Wall Of Sound|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-24}} A single named "Strange Love" was also released. Since 2020 the project has been on hiatus.
Instruments
During 2004–2008, Gaskarth used a variety of Gibson SG-X's. Around mid-2013, Gaskarth used a variety of custom-made Paul Reed Smith guitars, most notable the Mira. He stated in a Reddit AMA that he abandoned the instruments due to difficulties replacing parts while overseas.
Gaskarth currently uses Fender guitars, most notable the Mustang 90 models, although he has been seen using Telecasters, as well as some of their acoustic models.
Gaskarth has also been seen using Gibson electric guitars.{{cite web|url=http://equipboard.com/pros/alex-gaskarth|title=Alex Gaskarth|author=Equipboard Inc.|work=Equipboard|access-date=24 April 2016}}
Vocal style
Gaskarth has a tenor vocal style. His vocal range is F2 to G5.
Personal life
Gaskarth married his long-time girlfriend Lisa Ruocco on 9 April 2016.{{cite web | last=Chiu | first=Melody | title=All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth Marries His High School Sweetheart Lisa Ruocco | website=People | date=23 April 2016 | url=http://www.people.com/article/all-time-low-wedding-alex-gaskarth-lisa-ruocco | access-date=24 April 2016}}
During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Gaskarth, Jack Barakat and fellow crew members of All Time Low, started a live podcast on YouTube called Crash Test Live.{{Cite web |title=Crash Test Live - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/c/crashtestlive |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=www.youtube.com}}
Discography
{{Main|All Time Low discography}}
=As lead artist=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of albums, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | Album details |
| scope="row"| The Party Scene
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Put Up or Shut Up (EP)
|
|
| scope="row"| So Wrong, It's Right
|
|
| scope="row"| Nothing Personal
|
|
| scope="row"| Dirty Work
|
|
| scope="row"| Don't Panic
|
|
| scope="row"| Future Hearts
|
|
| scope="row"| Last Young Renegade
|
|
| scope="row"| Wake Up, Sunshine
|
|
| scope="row"| Tell Me I'm Alive
|
|
=As featured artist=
=As songwriter=
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3jk52QtJvGoC&pg=PA98 | title=Zoo zoo zoo zoo zoo zooooo zooooo. | magazine=Spin | date=December 2007 | access-date=24 April 2016 | pages=98}}
- {{cite magazine | last=Weatherby | first=Taylor | title=All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth talks 'Future Hearts': 'We wanted to tell a story' | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=6 April 2015 | url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/04/06/all-time-lows-alex-gaskarth-talks-future-hearts-and-more | access-date=24 April 2016}}
- {{cite web | title=All Time Low lead singer Alex Gaskarth said Larry Flynt tried to send cease-and-desist letters | website=The Washington Times | date=10 October 2014 | url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/16/all-time-low-lead-singer-alex-gaskarth-praises-fan/ | ref={{sfnref | The Washingtion Times | 2014}} | access-date=24 April 2016}}
- {{cite web | last=Chew | first=Cohan | title=All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth and friends record Christmas charity song | website=Gigwise | date=December 2015 | url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/104448/all-time-low-alex-gaskarth-friends-record-christmas-charity-song-5sos | access-date=24 April 2016}}
- {{cite web | last=Hall | first=Mackenzie |date=9 October 2015| title="It was rad to be a part of." Alex Gaskarth talks "Fan Girl" movie | website=Alternative Press | url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/it_was_rad_to_be_a_part_of_alex_gaskarth_talks_fan_girl_movie | access-date=24 April 2016}}
- {{cite web | title=Alex Gaskarth and Jack Barakat to run for president of the 2016 APMAs |author=Whitt, Cassie |date=11 April 2016 | website=Alternative Press | url=http://www.altpress.com/aptv/video/alex_gaskarth_and_jack_barakat_to_run_for_president_of_the_apmas | access-date=24 April 2016}}
External links
- {{cci}}
{{All Time Low}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaskarth, Alex}}
Category:British expatriate musicians in the United States
Category:English male musicians
Category:English people of Welsh descent
Category:English singer-songwriters
Category:Musicians from Baltimore
Category:People from Towson, Maryland
Category:Singer-songwriters from Maryland
Category:21st-century British male singers