From "Highway Tune" to The Battle At Garden's Gate, Greta Van Fleet has provided an ethereal rock n roll journey.
The Beginning
The journey for Greta Van Fleet began in 2012 in Frankenmuth, Michigan, but they've been in the spotlight since their break-out debut single "Highway Tune'' which celebrated its five year anniversary on March 31st. A demo of "Highway Tune" was featured on HBO's 'Shameless' in January 2017, gaining the band exposure for the first time ever. After its initial single release on March 31, 2017, Loudwire exclusively debuted the music video which features the band as a garage-band aesthetic and introduces the world to lead vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist and keyboardist Sam Kiszka and drummer Danny Wagner. The band's first ever EP, Black Smoke Rising, was digitally released April 21 and physically released August 7 via Republic Records and featured album artwork Josh created. The four-track EP featured their first number one "Highway Tune", "Flower Power," "Safari Song," and the title track. In October, "Safari Song" was released as a single and reached number two on the rock charts.
From The Fires
On November 10, the band's double-sided EP featured additional four brand new tracks as well as the previous EP's songs. The brand new EP featured "Edge Of Darkness," Talk On The Street," and two covers - Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," and Fairport Convention's "Meet On The Ledge." From The Fires reached number 36 on US Billboard 200, number four on Billboard's US Top Rock Albums, and number one on Billboard's US Top Hard Rock albums. From The Fires title and album artwork was inspired by the band's childhood camping trips. Josh states, "Our extended families and friends spent part of every summer at a place called Yankee Springs. We were out in the middle of the woods and every night we'd sit around the campfire, play music and tell stories. And that's what inspired the title and artwork." As of August 2019, From The Fires sold 500,000 copies in the US, becoming certified gold. Although From The Fires gained the band a tremendous amount of success, it was only the beginning…
Greta Van Fleet was on their way to their top due to From The Fires outstanding success and stars such as Elton John were noticing there was a rock revival happening. The band was contacted personally by Elton when he invited them to his Aids Foundation Oscar Party, where the two artists collaborated onstage for Elton’s “Saturday’s Alright For Fighting” and GVF’s “You’re The One.” The event gained the band more success and respect with a nod from Sir Elton John.
Anthem Of The Peaceful Army
“When The Curtain Falls” began the next era for Greta Van Fleet, being released as a single on July 17, 2018. Peaking at number nine on Billboard’s US Hot Rock + Alternative Songs, and reaching number one on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Charts, the track became an instant fan-favorite, as it was performed prior to its release. The single was also featured in video games such as NHL ‘19 and MLB The Show ‘19. The band performed the track on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon who praised them and noted they received a standing ovation. The vertical music video features the band plugging into rocks in the desert of California, with Jake physically plugging his guitar into a rock. Presenting themselves with hippie vibes as day turns into night with a purple night sky aesthetic, the bridge is enough to take you into transcendental escapism.
Following the release of “When The Curtain Falls,” was the announcement of Greta Van Fleet’s debut album, “Anthem Of The Peaceful Army” on September 6, 2018. Along with the announcement came highly-anticipated fan favorite “Watching Over,” which was performed live for years. Following the single release came another round of singles including “Lover, Leaver”, “Anthem” and their fourth number one-hit “You’re The One.” “You’re The One” is the earliest track on ATOPA, written in 2013 “inspired by 1960s folk music taking inspirations from Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez.”, Jake states on the song. The song is essentially a fan-favorite ballad and was performed during the band’s appearance on Saturday Night Live, along with “Black Smoke Rising.” On October 18, GVF released a promotional track for the album “Age Of Man,” but with a twist - you could only listen to it if you were in a park. If you traveled to a park, you were presented with a link in order to listen to the song. The band wanted you to be in nature as you embraced the track. On October 19, 2018 Anthem Of The Peaceful Army was yours to hold forever as it sold 87,000 copies in its debut week and reached number one on Billboard’s Top US Rock Albums.
2019 was the year Greta Van Fleet headlined world tours, played festivals overseas and even headlined their own arena tour. Everyone wanted a piece and glimpse of their magic as they expressed their love for fans on their March Of The Peaceful Army Tour. Throwing white roses to the crowd at the beginning of every show, performing covers of classic songs such as The Troggs’ “Wild Thing” and Cream’s “White Room” amongst others, GVF had the world in their hands and held fans close at life before the pandemic had ended so perfectly.
A New Era
Although the band was quiet for most of 2020, October held a new era for the band as they released their fifth number one hit, “My Way, Soon.” Preparing fans by sending out previously taken performance photos with numbers and parts of letters on the back, the band anxiously awaited their new era. “My Way, Soon” graced fans with a GVF comeback of choosing the road, living your life and taking risks. The song was much needed and reminisced on touring life as well as performing for fans around the world. The visual for the single featured clips from the band’s collection of footage filmed on super 8 in which they edited and created themselves.
“Age Of Machine” dropped in December along with the announcement of GVF’s sophomore album, The Battle At Garden’s Gate. The announcement also featured a mysterious and breathtaking music video for the new single that captured the essence of society manipulation and wanting to break free. Greta Van Fleet is known to be silent during the winter months, but in February 2021, “Heat Above” was released and would change the GVF world forever. What was once a tune performed countless times in their salad days instantly became the band’s fifth #1 hit. On April 16, Greta Van Fleet introduced their cinematic world of The Battle At Garden’s Gate highlighting key tracks “Broken Bells,” “Light My Love,” “The Barbarians” and “The Weight Of Dreams.” The album debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200 and hit number 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums. Selling double of what was expected, the band was once again humbled by their fan’s exceptional amount of gratitude.
Strange Horizons
While everyone was still reveling in all the glory of TBAGG, Greta Van Fleet announced they were performing their first shows since the pandemic in select cities. Not only were these special shows in select cities, they also raised the stakes by brewing their own beer. In each city, a local brewery collaborated with the band to grasp the taste of IPA with specially designed beer cans as collectibles to hold forever. Selling out each individual show in Nashville, Bridgeport, Chicago and Los Angeles, it was like nothing you’d ever seen before in your life. It was as if the band was reintroducing themselves and rebirthing. Fans who have been reveling in concerts for five decades stating that was the greatest concert they’d been to, friends reuniting and meeting for the first time, the peaceful army gravitating towards the band to welcome them home.
There’s nothing like being at a Greta Van Fleet show in general, but there’s something even more special to welcome them back to where they belong for their very first show back. Having the pleasure of seeing the band at their return show since the pandemic and first show of Dreams In Gold, was an absolute honor. The energy levels are higher than expected and everyone feels infatuated with what they put so much love and effort into. Greta Van Fleet has created an entire universe filled with peace, love, acceptance and more. Although times are tough, concerts have been postponed, plans have changed, we will overcome.
“The only fun that must be had is too much. People need people. Enjoy all of it. Always. And remember that all you have is special.” - Josh Kiszka