5 Seconds of Summer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 5 Seconds of Summer
5 Seconds of Summer at B96 Pepsi SummerBash 2019. From left to right: Calum Hood, Michael Clifford, Luke Hemmings, and Ashton Irwin.
Background information
Also known as	5SOS
Origin	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Pop rock pop pop punk power pop new wave
Years active	2011–present
Labels	BMG Capitol Hi or Hey Interscope
Members	Luke Hemmings Calum Hood Ashton Irwin Michael Clifford

5 Seconds of Summer, often called 5SOS, is a popular Australian pop rock band. They formed in late 2011 in Sydney, New South Wales. The band members are Luke Hemmings (lead singer, rhythm guitar), Michael Clifford (lead guitar), Calum Hood (bass guitar), and Ashton Irwin (drums).

They started by posting videos of themselves singing cover songs on YouTube. They became famous around the world when they toured with the English-Irish band One Direction. This was during One Direction's Take Me Home Tour.

Since 2014, 5 Seconds of Summer has sold over 10 million albums. They have also sold more than 2 million concert tickets worldwide. Their songs have been streamed over 7 billion times online. This makes them one of Australia's most successful music groups ever.

In early 2014, they released "She Looks So Perfect". This song became number one in four countries. Their first album, 5 Seconds of Summer, came out in 2014. It reached number one in 11 countries. Their second album, Sounds Good Feels Good, was released in 2015. It topped the charts in 8 countries.

The band's third album, Youngblood, came out in 2018. It was a huge hit and their third number one album in Australia. In the US, 5 Seconds of Summer was the first Australian group to have three number one albums on the Billboard 200 chart. They were also the first band (not a vocal group) to have their first three albums debut at number one in the US.

The song "Youngblood" from the album is very popular. It's the fourth best-selling Australian song of the 2010s. It's also the eleventh best-selling song in Australian history. It sold over five million copies worldwide in its first six months. With "Youngblood," 5 Seconds of Summer was the first Australian group in 13 years to top the ARIA year-end chart.

In 2020, the band released their fourth album, Calm. This album was also very successful. It was praised by critics and charted in over 25 countries. It reached the top 10 in 17 countries and debuted at number one in 4 countries. With Calm, 5 Seconds of Summer became the second Australian band to have their first four albums debut at number one in Australia.

All the songs released from their four albums have charted in many countries. They have received many official sales awards. The band has also won many awards. This includes the APRA Outstanding International Achievement Award in 2019. They were also listed on Billboard's Top Artists of the 2010s chart.

History

2011–2014: How they started

5 Seconds of Summer played their first show at the Annandale Hotel in December 2011.

5 Seconds of Summer formed in late 2011. Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, and Calum Hood went to the same high school. They started posting videos of themselves singing popular songs on Hemmings' YouTube channel. In December 2011, they asked drummer Ashton Irwin to join. This completed the four-person band. Clifford came up with the band's name.

On December 3, 2011, the band played their first show. It was at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney. Only about 12 people reportedly came to watch. In 2020, the band showed respect to their first performance. Their "Old Me" music video included a clip from that show. It also showed a recreation of it.

5 Seconds of Summer at their EP launch show at The Metro Theatre in November 2012.

Music companies became interested in the band. They signed a deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Even without much advertising, their first music release did well. It was an EP called Unplugged. It reached number 3 on the iTunes chart in Australia. It also made it into the Top 20 in New Zealand and Sweden.

In late 2012, 5 Seconds of Summer worked on their music. They wrote songs with Christian Lo Russo and Joel Chapman. These musicians are from the Australian band Amy Meredith. They wrote two songs for 5SOS's second EP, Somewhere New. The band released their first single, "Out of My Limit," in November 2012. Its music video got over 100,000 views in one day. In December 2012, the band went to London. They wrote songs with many artists there.

As the band became more famous, the members left school. Clifford had left school two years earlier. Hood dropped out in 2012 to move to London. Irwin had already finished high school. He left college to focus on the band. Hemmings studied from home until 2013. He then left school in his final year for the band.

On February 14, 2013, it was announced that 5 Seconds of Summer would open for One Direction. This was for their worldwide Take Me Home Tour. The tour started in London in February 2013. 5 Seconds of Summer joined One Direction in the UK, US, Australia, and New Zealand. This included seven shows in their hometown of Sydney.

During a break from the tour, 5 Seconds of Summer returned to Australia. They played their own shows there. All the tickets sold out in minutes. This is when the band started to become very well-known. In November 2013, the band announced they signed with Capitol Records. In February 2014, they released their first major single, "She Looks So Perfect". In March 2014, it was announced that 5 Seconds of Summer would join One Direction again. They supported them on their Where We Are Tour in the US, Canada, UK, and Europe.

2014: First albums

In March 2014, "She Looks So Perfect" was released in the UK. 5 Seconds of Summer became the fourth Australian band to have a UK number-one song. They were the first to do so in 14 years. In April 2014, their EP She Looks So Perfect debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200 Chart. In May 2014, they released their second single, "Don't Stop". It reached number one in 4 countries.

5 Seconds of Summer performing at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney, Australia in April 2014.

In May 2014, the band announced their first album. It was called 5 Seconds of Summer. It was released in June 2014. The album debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 Chart. It reached number one in 13 countries. In July 2014, they released their third single, "Amnesia". In October 2014, the band released their fourth single, "Good Girls". Its music video got over two million views in two days. The band released their first live album, LIVESOS, in December 2014.

2015–2016: Sounds Good Feels Good

In May 2015, the band started their first world tour. It was called the Rock Out With Your Socks Out Tour. They played in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.

In July 2015, the band released "She's Kinda Hot". This was the first song from their second album. In August, they announced the album's name: Sounds Good Feels Good. This album was released worldwide in October 2015. It became the band's second number one album in Australia. It was their first number one in the UK. In the US, 5 Seconds of Summer was the first band to have their first two albums debut at the top of the charts. The band released their third single, "Jet Black Heart", in December 2015. Its music video featured some of their fans.

5 Seconds of Summer performing in Verona, Italy during their 2016 tour.

In 2016, the band went on their Sounds Live Feels Live World Tour. They played in sold-out stadiums and arenas. These were in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. In June 2016, the band announced their song "Girls Talk Boys". This song was on the Ghostbusters (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). In December 2016, the band released old songs and rare tracks. It was called This Is Everything We Ever Said. This celebrated their fifth anniversary as a band.

After many years of touring, the band took a break. They wanted to rest and work on new music. This break lasted almost two years. Hood later said they needed to "get our heads right for the longevity of the band." Hemmings said the band even thought about breaking up. This was because of their busy schedules. But they decided to keep making music and try new styles.

2017–2018: Youngblood album

In January 2017, the band was featured on a song. It was "Take What You Want" by Japanese rock band One Ok Rock. In May 2017, the band announced they would play at music festivals. These were in Asia, Europe, and South America. They included Brazil's Rock in Rio. The band spent the rest of the year making their third album. They worked with many writers and producers. Irwin said they also spent time "redefining who [they were] as adult men."

In February 2018, the band released "Want You Back". This song charted in over 15 countries. It reached the top 40 in thirteen charts. After this, the band announced a tour called 5SOS III. The tickets sold out in about three minutes. The tour started in March 2018. They played in smaller venues in Europe, the US, and other countries. They also performed at festivals and on TV shows.

In April 2018, the band announced their third album. Youngblood was released in June 2018. The band also announced their fourth world tour. It was called the Meet You There World Tour. It took place in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, and Europe.

In May 2018, the album's main song, "Youngblood", was released. It became a huge worldwide hit. It was number one in Australia for eight weeks. It also stayed at number one in New Zealand for four weeks. It reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. It was the band's first song to reach the Top 5 in Canada. It also made it into the Top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. "Youngblood" became the band's first song to reach number one on US Pop Songs radio. This made 5 Seconds of Summer the first Australian band to top that chart in 21 years.

As of 2020, "Youngblood" has received many awards. It is 11 times platinum in Australia. In June 2018, the album's release date was moved up. Youngblood was a big success. It debuted at number one in Australia and on the US Billboard 200. This was their third number one album in both countries. It reached the top 3 in the UK and seven other countries. Overall, the album reached the top 10 in 20 countries.

The band performed "Want You Back" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. They also performed on The Voice (U.S. season 14). In May, they played for fans at a Spotify event in Sydney. The band performed "Youngblood" on The Voice Australia. They also played it on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. In June 2018, Apple Music released a documentary. It was called "On the Record: 5 Seconds of Summer – Youngblood". It showed the band's two-year break and return.

In August 2018, the band released a Spotify-only version of "Lie to Me". They also covered Post Malone's song "Stay". In October 2018, the band talked about "Youngblood" on Billboard's Pop Shop podcast. They also discussed their upcoming song "Valentine". In December, they performed at the 2018 ARIA Awards in Australia. They won three awards there. In December 2018, the band was listed on several Billboard year-end charts. This included being in the Top 10 of "Top Artists - Duo/Group".

"Youngblood" was the top selling song in 2018 in Australia. The Youngblood album was the most-streamed Australian album of 2018. In the 2018 Guinness World Records, 5 Seconds of Summer was named the most popular group on Snapchat. "Youngblood" was Australia's 2018 song of the year. It won the ARIA Award for Song of the Year. 5 Seconds of Summer was the first Australian group in 13 years to top the ARIA year-end chart. The song was ranked number seven in the UK's "Official Top 40 Biggest Song of the Summer 2018."

In 2019, "Youngblood" appeared on over 10 year-end charts. It has received many official platinum and gold awards in over 15 countries. "Youngblood" was the fourth highest selling Australian song of the 2010-2019 decade. In Australia, it is the eleventh best-selling song of all time. It is also the most streamed Australian song ever on Apple Music. In February 2020, 5 Seconds of Summer was honored in the APRA AMCOS' The 1,000,000,000 List. This was for "Youngblood" being streamed over 1 billion times.

2019–2022: Calm album

In February 2019, the band shared teasers for their song "Who Do You Love". This was a song with American DJ duo The Chainsmokers. The song was released in February. It charted in several countries. In March, the band performed the song with The Chainsmokers. The official music video was released in March 2019. The band later joined The Chainsmokers on their North American World War Joy Tour.

In May 2019, the band released "Easier". This was the first song from their fourth album. It was also their first song with their new label, Interscope Records. The song charted in many countries. "Easier" was nominated for the ARIA 2019 Song of the Year Award. Billboard included the song on their "100 Best Songs of 2019" list. The next song, "Teeth", was released in August 2019. It was featured in Season 3 of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. The song features Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine. In 2020, "Teeth" was nominated for the Song of the Year award at the APRA Music Awards of 2020. It won the ARIA 2020 Song of the Year Award.

In February 2020, the band announced their fourth album, Calm. They also released "No Shame", the third song from the album. In February 2020, the band performed at Fire Fight Australia. This was a concert to raise money for bush-fire relief. Their performance was highly praised. In February 2020, the band released "Old Me". This was a promotional song from Calm. It later became the album's fourth single. In March 2020, the band released "Wildflower". This was the fifth and final song from Calm.

In March 2020, the band released their fourth album Calm. The album was a big success. Critics liked it and praised the band's growth. The album charted in over 25 countries. It debuted at number one in Australia, the UK, and Scotland. It reached the top 10 on 17 charts. In the US, due to a shipping error, some copies were released early. This caused Calm to debut a week early on the Billboard 200 chart. If not for this, Calm would have been number one in the US. Despite the error, the album reached number two in the US. This gave the band their fifth top 10 album on the Billboard 200 chart.

With Calm being number one in Australia, 5 Seconds of Summer made history. They became the second Australian band to have their first four albums debut at number one. Calm was the best-selling cassette album of 2020 in the UK. The No Shame Tour was planned for May 2020. It was later renamed the Take My Hand World Tour. It had to be moved to 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In September 2020, Irwin announced his first solo album. It was called Superbloom. It was released in October 2020. He is the first band member to release a solo project. Irwin said he was happy to be in a band that lets him create music outside of it.

In August 2021, Hemmings released his first solo album. It was When Facing the Things We Turn Away From.

In December 2021, the band celebrated their ten-year anniversary. They released the song "2011". They also released The 5 Seconds of Summer Show - A 10 Year Celebration. This was a long YouTube video with live performances and interviews.

2022–present: 5SOS5 album

In March 2022, the band released "Complete Mess". This was the first song from their fifth album. The second song, "Take My Hand", came out in April 2022. In April 2022, the band started their Take My Hand World Tour. This tour had been postponed from 2020. The third song, "Me, Myself & I", was released in May 2022.

In May 2022, the band announced their fifth album, 5SOS5. It was released in September 2022. This album was the band's first released independently. It was released through BMG Rights Management. The fourth song, "Blender", came out in July 2022. The fifth song, "Older" (with Sierra Deaton), was released in September 2022.

Before the album came out, the band performed a concert. It was called The Feeling of Falling Upwards. They played at the Royal Albert Hall in London with a choir and orchestra. The concert was also streamed online. 5SOS5 charted in many countries. It debuted at number one in Australia, the UK, Scotland, and the Netherlands. It reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart. The album was praised for its lyrics and maturity. It also honored their past albums while trying new things.

In November 2022, the band started the Australian part of their Take My Hand World Tour. It ended with two concerts at the Sydney Opera House in December 2022.

Band members

• Luke Hemmings – lead and backing vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, keyboards (2011–present)
• Michael Clifford – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing and lead vocals (2011–present)
• Calum Hood – bass guitar, keyboards, backing and lead vocals (2011–present)
• Ashton Irwin – drums, percussion, keyboards, backing and lead vocals (2011–present)

Their Music Style

Musical style

5 Seconds of Summer has tried different music styles over the years. The band has said they don't want to stick to just one type of music. In a 2019 GQ interview, they said:

It doesn't really matter what genre [our music] fits in, if it's fitting in an area that works for people who connect to it than that's all that matters.

5 Seconds of Summer's music has been called pop rock, pop, pop punk, power pop, and new wave. In 2015, Rolling Stone magazine called them "emo-gone-pop." John Feldmann of Goldfinger said they were "the best pop-punk band I've ever heard." In 2017, Matt Collar of AllMusic said their sound reminded him of "'90s punk-pop" and "2000s boy band pop."

With their albums Youngblood and Calm, the band changed their sound. They moved from their pop-punk beginnings. They explored pop, new wave, rock, and pop rock. Their new sound is described as "classic pop-rock feelings setting up the layering for the catchy hook."

For their first album, the band said they were influenced by many groups. These included Sum 41, Blink-182, Green Day, All Time Low, Good Charlotte, Nirvana, and My Chemical Romance. In one of their first interviews, 5 Seconds of Summer said All Time Low was a big inspiration. In 2020, All Time Low was the opening act for 5 Seconds of Summer's No Shame Tour in Europe.

For their second album, Sounds Good Feels Good, they were influenced by All Time Low, The Used, Yellowcard, and Good Charlotte.

Media often called 5 Seconds of Summer a boy band. This was mainly because they toured with One Direction. Also, they used to have mostly female fans. But the band members have always said they are not a boy band. Irwin once compared their fans to Fall Out Boy, who also have many female fans. Hemmings said the band is a pop rock band with a boy band fanbase. In a 2018 interview, Irwin said:

Some of the bands we look up to have been amazing vocalists but I think the term boyband" embodies youth. And when we're not a youthful band anymore, that's when we'll have problems. Labels are for people who are scared of themselves, and we're not".

The band's third album, Youngblood, was inspired by Gorillaz, The Beatles, and Queen. Hemmings said the song "Youngblood" was about the band's life at that time. The band wanted to try new sounds. Clifford said they had to push themselves to "make something new."

For their fourth album, Calm, the band wanted a "darker sound." They were inspired by "dark, synth-heavy groups of the Eighties and Nineties." These included Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, and Nine Inch Nails' song "Closer". They also listened to Gesaffelstein, Health, and St. Vincent. The song "Easier" was inspired by Nine Inch Nails' "Closer." The song "Teeth" featured Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine. He played a guitar solo on the track.

Hemmings talked about the band's changing music style. He said:

I think all artists change their sound because they're not satisfied in the art they're making. We started out, very angsty, trying to get out of the hometown, and people called us a boy band, but we played pop punk music, it was written like that. As you get older, your music taste becomes more diverse and you get a bit smarter about it. You just bring in those kind of elements and you want to remain happy in what you're making.

Hi or Hey Records

In January 2014, the band announced they would start their own record label. It was called Hi or Hey Records. Fans chose the name on Twitter. The band said they would release their music through this label. It would be with Capitol Records. They also planned to sign other bands. In March 2015, they signed the pop rock band Hey Violet.

5 Seconds of Summer's first three albums were released through Hi or Hey Records. These were 5 Seconds of Summer (2014), Sounds Good Feels Good (2015), and Youngblood (2018).

In May 2019, 5 Seconds of Summer left Hi or Hey Records/Capitol Records. They signed with Interscope Records for their fourth album, Calm. Their fifth album, 5SOS5, was released independently. It came out through BMG Rights Management in September 2022.

As of 2020, Hi or Hey Records is still active. Hey Violet's music is released through it.

Helping Others

In October 2018, 5 Seconds of Summer covered the Queen song "Killer Queen". All the money from this song went to the Mercury Phoenix Trust. This group helps fight HIV/AIDS. Queen's manager thanked the band for their support.

In December 2018, the band appeared on 24 Hours of Reality. This was a TV event by The Climate Reality Project. It helps people learn about climate change.

In June 2019, 5 Seconds of Summer was on Celebrity Family Feud. This is a TV game show where celebrities play for charity. The band played against The Chainsmokers. They played for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This group grants wishes to children with serious illnesses.

In February 2020, the band performed at Fire Fight Australia. This was a concert to raise money for Australian bushfire relief. The concert raised $9.85 million (AUD). The band's performance was highly praised. In March 2020, a collection album was released. It included 5 Seconds of Summer's live performance of "Youngblood."

For their album Calm in March 2020, the band sold special items. A part of the money from US sales went to the PLUS1 COVID-19 Relief Fund. A part from UK sales went to the NHS charity, COVID-19 Urgent Appeal. In April 2020, 5 Seconds of Summer worked with Universal Music Group. They made reusable face masks with band logos. All the money went to MusiCares for COVID-19 relief. They also gave 50,000 masks to frontline workers.

In April 2020, 5 Seconds of Summer sang in a BBC Radio 1 "Live Lounge" cover. It was "Times Like These". This was part of their Stay at Home project during the COVID-19 pandemic. Money from the song went to charities like Children in Need and Comic Relief. The song reached number one in the UK.

In May 2020, 5 Seconds of Summer helped The Big Band Bus Raffle. This raffle helped NHS staff during the pandemic. The band gave four concert tickets and a soundcheck experience for the raffle. In May 2020, 5 Seconds of Summer took part in the NBC "Sixth Annual Red Nose Day Special." This event raises money for children in need. The band was the final act. They were praised for their performance of "Best Years."

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the band helped. They joined Global Citizen's "Stand Up for Ukraine" campaign. In September 2022, the band released a music video for "Bad Omens." It was made by a Ukrainian crew. The band thanked the crew for making the video possible.

Friends of Friends

In May 2019, the band started their charity brand, Friends of Friends. They released a limited-edition clothing line. All profits from this went to Safe Place for Youth. This group helps homeless youth in Los Angeles. In May 2019, the band announced their first charity concert. It was held in Venice, California. 5 Seconds of Summer was the main act. All Time Low and Sierra Deaton also performed. All money went to Safe Place for Youth.

In June 2019, Friends of Friends released another clothing line. They also announced a second charity concert. This one was in Sydney, Australia. 5 Seconds of Summer was the main act. Amy Shark and Genesis Owusu also performed. All money went to Blacktown Youth Services Association. This Australian group helps young people in their community.

In January 2020, the band responded to the 2019-20 Australian bushfires. They released a special clothing line. All money went to the Australian Red Cross.

In July 2020, during the George Floyd Protests, the band worked with artist Sanyu Nicolas. They released a charity clothing collection. All money went to The Marsha P. Johnson Institute. This group supports the Black transgender community. The band also shared information about the Black Lives Matter Movement and LGBT Movement.

For the 2020 American presidential election, Friends of Friends released a clothing collection. They asked people to vote. All money went to Vote Save America. This group helps ensure fair access to voting.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Friends of Friends started a fundraiser. They released a tote bag and stickers designed by Ukrainian artist Ulyana Nesheva. All donations went to Voices of Children. This group helps children affected by armed conflict. The band also encouraged people to protest and contact their leaders.

Awards

5 Seconds of Summer has won many awards. These include ten MTV European Music Awards. They also won five ARIA Awards, three APRA Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards. In 2019, the band won the APRA Music Awards' Outstanding International Achievement Award. This was for their worldwide success in music sales and radio play. In 2020, 5 Seconds of Summer was honored in the APRA AMCOS' The 1,000,000,000 List. This list recognizes Australian songwriters who have achieved huge international success. The band was honored for their song "Youngblood" reaching over a billion streams. Only 16 artists in history have been on this list.

Videography

Filmography

Television Appearances

Discography

• 5 Seconds of Summer (2014)
• Sounds Good Feels Good (2015)
• Youngblood (2018)
• Calm (2020)
• 5SOS5 (2022)

Tours

Headlining Tours

• Mini Australian Tour (2012)
• Twenty Twelve Tour (2012)
• Pants Down Tour (2013)
• UK Tour (2014)
• 5 Countries 5 Days European Tour (2014)
• Stars, Stripes and Maple Syrup Tour (2014)
• There's No Place Like Home Tour (2014)
• Rock Out with Your Socks Out Tour (2015)
• Sounds Live Feels Live World Tour (2016)
• Meet You There Tour (2018)
• Take My Hand World Tour (2022)
• The 5 Seconds of Summer Show (2023)

Promotional Tours

• 5SOS III Tour (2018)

Opening Act for Other Bands

• Hot Chelle Rae – Whatever World Tour (2012)
• One Direction – Take Me Home Tour (2013)
• One Direction – Where We Are Tour (2014)
• One Direction – On the Road Again Tour (2015)
• The Chainsmokers – World War Joy Tour (2019)

See also

In Spanish: 5 Seconds of Summer para niños