Yeah yeah yeahs

Yeah Yeah Yeahs (often abbreviated as YYYs) are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000 by Karen O (vocals), Nick Zinner (guitars, keyboards), and Brian Chase (drums, percussion). They rose to fame during the 2000s garage rock and post-punk revivals, noted for their evolving musical style and energetic performances.

After earning positive reviews for their 2001 debut EP, Yeah Yeah Yeahs achieved commercial success with their acclaimed debut album, Fever to Tell (2003), placing them at the forefront of the 2000s rock revival. The album produced the single "Maps", which became their best-known song. Their next two albums, Show Your Bones (2006) and It's Blitz! (2009), drew further acclaim and produced the singles "Gold Lion" and "Heads Will Roll". Their fourth album, Mosquito (2013), earned lukewarm reviews but reached number five on the US Billboard 200. After a hiatus, their fifth album, Cool It Down (2022), marked a critical resurgence and produced the single "Spitting Off the Edge of the World".

Yeah Yeah Yeahs have received several accolades, including nominations for five Grammy Awards—four of which are for Best Alternative Music Album—and seven MTV Video Music Awards. Rolling Stone has Fever to Tell on their list of "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" and "Maps" on their "500 Greatest Songs of All Time"; the same publication ranked Karen O and Zinner among the greatest singers and guitarists in history, respectively.

History

2000–2003: Formation and Fever to Tell

In early 2000, singer/songwriter Karen Orzolek—henceforth known as Karen O—and guitarist Nick Zinner founded the acoustic duo Unitard. Later that year, they changed their name to Yeah Yeah Yeahs and shifted towards a "trashy, punky, [and] grimy" sound inspired by the contemporary Ohio music scene. In September 2000, the band was invited to open for the White Stripes at the Mercury Lounge in Manhattan. As Karen O did not want to use a drum machine live, she enlisted drummer Brian Chase a day before the show. He became a permanent fixture of their lineup, making Yeah Yeah Yeahs a trio.

In late 2001, Yeah Yeah Yeahs hired Jerry Teel, a former guitarist for the punk rock band Boss Hog, to co-produce a demo intended to secure more shows. This ultimately developed into their self-titled debut EP, a decision that Zinner attributes to their desire to share their music. It was recorded and produced at Funhouse Recording Studio in New York, which doubled as their rehearsal space. They self-released the EP on their own label, Shifty, in July 2001. They gained significant media coverage after Albert Hammond Jr. of the Strokes wore a Yeah Yeah Yeahs pin while performing on Saturday Night Live, as well as a high-profile performance at South by Southwest, leading to the EP's reissue by Touch and Go Records in the United States and Wichita Recordings in the United Kingdom in 2002. Their first royalty payment from the latter label, who signed them after hearing "Bang", was $32. The EP topped the UK Indie Chart and, according to Nielsen SoundScan, has sold over 71,000 copies.