MGMT

MGMT () is an American rock band formed in 2002 in Middletown, Connecticut. The group consists of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, and was originally known as the Management before rebranding as MGMT in 2005. Both members are composers and multi-instrumentalists, while VanWyngarden is the group's lead vocalist and lyricist.

MGMT was formed while its members were attending Wesleyan University. Originally signed to Cantora Records by the label's co-founder, New York University undergraduate Will Griggs, MGMT later signed with Columbia and RED Ink in 2006 and released their debut album Oracular Spectacular the next year. Oracular Spectacular was supported by three successful singles: "Time to Pretend", "Electric Feel", and "Kids". At the 51st Grammy Awards, the Justice remix of "Electric Feel" won the Grammy Award for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical. The group was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and "Kids" was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 52nd Grammy Awards. They soon released "Pursuit of Happiness", a collaboration with Kid Cudi and Ratatat, which was notably remixed by Steve Aoki.

After the release of Oracular Spectacular, James Richardson, Will Berman and Matthew Asti joined the core band in the studio for Congratulations, which was released on April 13, 2010. In January 2011, they began work on their eponymous third studio album. It was released in September 2013. The group's fourth studio album, titled Little Dark Age, was released in 2018 and marked the end of their contract with Columbia. In 2024, the band released their fifth studio album Loss of Life.

History

Formation (2002–2005)

Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden formed the band while attending Wesleyan University during their freshman year. "We weren't trying to start a band, we were just hanging out and showing each other music that we liked." Goldwasser remarked about this in 2007. They experimented with noise rock and electronica before settling on what Paco Alvarez of Spin calls "their current brand of shape-shifting psychedelic pop". In 2002, the duo attended the inaugural Bonnaroo together as fans. The band formed under the name The Management and released two demo albums, We (Don't) Care and Climbing to New Lows, under that name; but since the name was already being used by another band, they later changed it to MGMT, an abbreviation of the original band name. While at Wesleyan, they were schoolmates of Francis and the Lights, with whom they have since toured. VanWyngarden and Goldwasser graduated in 2005 and toured extensively in support of the Time to Pretend EP released in the same year, opening for indie pop band of Montreal.

Oracular Spectacular (2006–2009)

In the autumn of 2006, Maureen Kenny signed the band to Columbia Records. When the band received a call from the A&R department of Columbia Records saying they were interested in their music, they thought it was a joke. The duo recorded with Flaming Lips/Sleater-Kinney music producer Dave Fridmann in 2007 for their major label debut, Oracular Spectacular. MGMT opened for Of Montreal on tour in autumn 2007 as a five-piece touring band including Matthew Asti (bass), James Richardson (drums), and Hank Sullivant (guitar). In November 2007, they performed for the first time in Europe, supporting the band Samantha and The Courteeners at Koko in London, England. After March 2008, Hank Sullivant left the band to pursue his own band, Kuroma. Will Berman joined as the new drummer, James Richardson switched from drums to guitar, and Matthew Asti remained on bass.