The Bizarre Rise and Fall of The Band Perry

[@GradySmith]

If you ever wonder what I'm thinking about throughout the day, it's usually the yellow era.

[@brockfehr]

& what I imagine haunts you through the night as well.

[@Sam_guitar1999]

@@brockfehr some of their photos from over the years are very unsettling

[@n2091m]

They were always weird

[@tamaraeellis6314]

That's where they lost me and I was a diehard fan!! 😂😂 And their damned SM wipeouts. Ugh!

[@willthomascalcote2495]

Can we talk about Collin Stough

[@MorganeWelsh]

The band Perry always struck me as an emo band who accidentally stumbled into saloon and decided to make the most of their situation 😬

[@thisisbrad]

😂😂

[@emilypaige732]

This is accurate 😂

[@seedsandsanity5525]

That is an absolutely wonderfully accurate description! Same feels.

[@timcooper62]

I love Kim Perry's voice in songs like Pioneer and When I die young. That's her wheelhouse.

[@HearMe2008]

Accurate hahaha

[@visigoda]

I was obsessed with this band. I loved their whole _yallternative_ vibe.

[@supakawaii69]

Oh my god Yallternitive. That’s meeeee. As a Texan emo kid. Preciate the new vocabulary.

[@paisleepunk]

i'm more into _y'allvant-garde_ myself

[@Rosecoloredstitches]

Y’allternative YES this is exactly the subgenre of country that I’m obsessed with. If that term isn’t already in wider use it needs to be.

[@CyTolliver]

Yallternative = alt country (Old 97s, whiskeytown, uncle Tupelo, drive by truckers, killbilly, Wilco, Gillian Welch, Alejandro Escovedo, Slaid Cleaves etc) is not this but if you’re into that you should check out some of the bands that actually pioneered that scene.

[@Studio23Media]

Yallternative is life.

[@Southernsommer]

I met them in 2018 at a pop up “yard sale” event they did when they sold their East Tennessee home, I think they said they were moving to Nashville. Kimberly was so sweet and noticed me being shy and lurking when people were asking her for pictures and autographs. I didn’t want to be rude by approaching her but she saw me and immediately offered to take a picture and sign my magazine. She even pulled her brothers to sign it as well. It was such a positive experience. There’s no way she could’ve known the hurt I was going through at the time but for her to take time to not just notice, but engage and compliment a wallflower like me was just amazing.

[@kevinbrooks1104]

Yeah anyone who says bad stuff about them are not very nice. Because I still listen to the stuff they made.its a shame people just cancel bands , brands and people.

[@veronicamichalewicz8839]

Love the Band Perry hope all of them individual success

[@michaelsix9684]

great story, thanks for sharing

[@massey3129]

Awww. How boring

[@minttjulep]

@@massey3129 way to advertise how miserable you are to the world 💀

[@kelsoncamp]

Thank you to all who have ever supported the band or ever came out to shows. I loved drumming for the band and for you all.

[@lunacyandlaceee]

Bro why you lying?

[@sappyxsam]

It’s funny bc he’s not lying 😭😭

[@Anonymous-lq2bs]

Gayest comment 🌈

[@candynickel]

​@Anonymous-lq2bs yes, you win

[@kelsoncamp]

Damn, just trying to be nostalgic and sweet. And got roasted 😂

[@calebc.7818]

The Band Perry, at their country peak, could really stand out from the rest of mainstream radio. "Better Dig Two" was one of the better singles that year and one of my favorites from them.

[@bthnystrt]

I very much dislike pop country but was obsessed with Better Dig Two. It’s still one of my favorite songs to rediscover every few years. Even though I don’t like or listen to modern/pop country aside from the occasional angry Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood song, I think they could have done a lot for the genre by singing about real feelings with an edge. Country is known for men singing about beer, trucks, and ‘Mericuh, and women getting revenge, and the angsty intensity is what pulls people who dislike the genre in (meaning it’s the woman-fronted acts that are able to cross genres more easily IMO, based on those stereotypes). That’s what calls to people who think or feel more deeply and think all country music is the same these days. I personally love unhinged songs like Better Dig Two and Miranda’s Mama’s Broken Heart. On my wedding day I walked down the aisle to Little Green Cars’ The Consequences of Not Sleeping and our first dance was to Hozier’s Like Real People Do. We like creepy love in my house, and songs like that captured my feelings better than something sappy. The music itself leaning more traditional instruments that get lost in most pop music (the mandolin is front and center!) helps a lot, too. Feels like O Brother, Where Art Thou? had a teen in an emo phase and it just really worked for them. I’m all for bands exploring and growing, people changing, but it’s a loss for sure when bands like TBP move on.

[@erichinkle7891]

Better dig two is one of the best opening songs in a concert I’ve seen. In 2021 they played the Marion county fair. Kimberly came out wearing an undertaker hat and sunglasses and sang better dig two, it still gives me goosebumps to this day. One of the best concerts I’ve been too tbh

[@jobivuvuvfvi605]

I thought they were an emo band back in the day and I got made fun of for trying to play “if I die young” at a party that’s when I found out they weren’t an emo band with country accents.

[@DddDdd-tl7jp]

E

[@kevinjoseph517]

YES GREAT SONG

[@evarashid]

as a young preteen hearing ‘if I die young’, the song holds such a special place in my heart & feels so nostalgic. but I genuinely had no idea it was actually one of their first songs ever released & just assumed they were a full fledged existing country band at the time because of how talented they were. i’m also sooo shocked that I didn’t know anything about the rest of their career like them trying out so many different music genres & styles over the years

[@sleepy580]

Have you seen Kimberly’s If I Die Young Part II? It’s beautiful.

[@jjolla19]

Grady is the internet's foremost scholar on The Band Perry

[@GradySmith]

I really might be.

[@jjolla19]

This saga went on for several chapters longer than I was expecting 😂

[@Mountainmanmark]

I'm here for it!

[@brigglerintune]

Haha

[@nicolaxoxo1]

@@GradySmith can you do a video on the Civil Wars?

[@timothys3119]

They weren’t even regular country music. They were on a different level. They took country, folk and bluegrass and mixed it all together to perfection. They were born to make that kind of music.

[@WinterBornActual]

But they walked away from it. Very sad

[@RochellB46]

Sounded country to me down to the words they sang

[@timothys3119]

@@RochellB46 read my comment again. I said they were country, bluegrass and folk mixed.

[@trishhayes3520]

The Band Perry's song "If I die young" means a lot to me. My youngest daughter died in 2019 at the age of 24. A friend made a beautiful video for me with a moving graphic of my daughter to that song for my daughter's first angelversary. 💕

[@Jsarmy87124]

Lord but why this song is associated with death i discovered them yesterday watching a mom Talking about how the song push is son to death 😢 in 2018 I am sorry for your loss i hope she rest in peace ❤

[@jamesadamgleason9471]

Yeah thats a tough song​@Jsarmy87124

[@quintingreen3489]

Makes me want to cry sorry for your loss

[@thearmchairanthropologist1683]

In college, I would get paid $200 a day to be concert production’s runner in my city and do tasks such as; grocery shop, pick up meals, take in laundry, coffee runs. Basically, a local personal assistant for the talent performing at the arena. The Band Perry was THE NICEST talent that I worked with in those 4 years of shows. Specifically, Kimberly was an absolute sweetheart. To this day I’m still a diehard fan because of how kind these three were kind to me when I was their production runner for their arena tour in like 2011. In general, the country singer concert productions that came through town were so much nicer than other genres of music to work with. By that I mean, more realistic requests and kinder people in general.

[@spaceylacey83]

Country and blues. They're basically siblings if you go far enough back, though. BB King was one of the kindest people I ever worked for even though he was so old and famous by then that we wouldn't have thought twice if he'd ignored us while he was being pushed around in his wheelchair backstage.

[@CurmudgeonExtraordinaire]

Back in my day, that was called being a "gopher" -- "go for" this, "go for" that... I was one for an Alice Cooper concert back in the mid-'70s... Got to meet him and the rest of the band and a backstage pass (without having to pay for a concert ticket) and the only thing that I did (that I remember) was driving to a local grocery / convenience store and literally filling up my car with bags of ice... The ice was dumped in large trash cans to cool the beer, sodas, and whatever... He was drinking a fifth of Seagram's VO back then before/during the concert and I don't remember him actually mixing it with anything... Surprisingly, he never came across as drunk on stage...

[@thearmchairanthropologist1683]

YES!! omg i forgot the name, but YES I was called a Gopher as well! Watching the concert from the wings was always worth the long 14 hour days! those grocery store runs were always fun! I will never forget when I was a gopher for Elton John and before I went to the store to pick up the bands groceries, Elton came up and met me and made sure that I understood he wanted the Extra Crunchy Jif and not just Crunchy Jif. Then after the show, he was walking back to the green room and he stopped and said "I hope you enjoyed the show, and thank you for the peanut butter", which was so awesome! Blake Sheldon did have me drive 2.5 hours both ways for an Applebee's salad, so him and LMFAO were the only two talents I had any sort of problem with.@@CurmudgeonExtraordinaire

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

@@thearmchairanthropologist1683 So strange for a British person to like peanut butter.

[@AJLinthe5D]

​@@thearmchairanthropologist1683Somehow that doesn't surprise me about Blake Shelton at all. Now he's got Gwen Stefani who requires extra attention too.

[@nicholasi3535]

Their initial run from Hip to My Heart to Postcard from Paris is one of the best stretches of country music I’ve heard. Each song was so good and unique. I loved the gothic, gypsy vibe they had going. If Kimberly Perry starts making similar music again I’d happily come back and listen but wow just what a crazy fall. I keep wondering why they even started out as country when they clearly had no desire to stay there

[@MACMAMI]

For me it was "If I Die Young" to "Don't Let Me Be Lonely". 🙂 "Chainsaw" was the first single I felt was a bit contrived (it sounded okay, but it just felt a bit forced lyrically)

[@karr072]

She just put out a new song titled, "If I Die Young Pt. 2". I really like it. I wonder if her brothers wanted to stray from the country sound and it wasn't her idea?

[@devy024]

I don't know why the band started out as country (usually it's the final genre), but it may have been because of living in Eastern Tennessee: they probably grew up in it and their fans were country. Country isn't usually my first choice, but there are a lot of artists I love who have covered lots of different music. Including country. The whole music industry is done, in my opinion. Memphis shouldn't be a place you go to "make it". We know too much about what these artists go through, the costs, the drugs, the exhaustion, the touring, the club they have to join... Exactly who has the talent? The record company executives or the entertainers? Being a "star" means abuse in my opinion. Abuse close to slavery. And don't bother with concerts at $4,000 a ticket. Shania.... The videos are made for the club members, the imagery is vile and I just want to listen to the beautiful, harmonic voices minus the production. And the artist pays for that production, pays for the management, pays for their flights, pays for their food....see what I mean? In the end most bands don't even own their music. I would love to hear from these band members in any arrangement they desire. Please don't use the word brand though, or I won't listen to a word, or a sound.

[@JillCheese]

My theory was that it was a label thing. Execs were actually pushing for them, and it made sense (vocally, production-wise, image-wise, and most importantly for execs financially). They were from East Memphis and weren't flashy, so country made the most sense. They blew up, and I think they tried to crossover too forcefully and too fast to capitalize on the moment (aka make more money). When it didn't work, they got desperate to prove everyone wrong while trying not to be stuck in country in a time where country started to fade, and they just continued to chase trends that were already dying (or no one cared enough to hear from them) by the time they hopped on them. They wanted to work with labels who didn't want to tie them down to a "dying" genre, and labels could sell them empty promises while still taking advantage of them (since artists pretty much pay for everything). I also think Kimberly especially did not vocally sound as well in genres outside of country, bluegrass, etc., and now she knows that for her to shine brightest as an artist, she has to do what works best. Hopefully, this time she will learn that she can experiment by adding to her own sound without completely changing it! I'm rooting for her!

[@ladychelseatheundead]

I had no idea they ever did any of this! I thought they vanished after "If I Die Young." I can't believe they went through all of these transitions. It is SO hard to make it in the music industry; I can't believe they got this many chances to completely throwaway their current image for a new one after several flops. Thanks for covering this - it was super interesting!

[@karinaashmon]

What flops

[@ajb5119]

They were an extremly good Country group. It's a shame it didn't last longer.

[@lilpoohbear653]

doggone shame :(

[@marcw5288]

They blew that up

[@blaisemacpherson7637]

They had technical chops that a lot of acts don't.

[@AnimeLover4Life3395]

Im not a country fan but I still liked listening to them

[@forTehMemes]

It’s unfortunate that after 13 years we didn’t get anything. I hope all of them do well on their own

[@brianthrom6858]

Her voice fits that slow country aesthetic which is hard to pull off. I think that’s why If I Die Young took off. It’s stripped down with a voice pure enough to keep you interested. All the other forays didn’t put her voice forward and the rest of it all wasn’t to the same level

[@MegaRobo25]

Your point about Taylor transitioning to pop was an excellent point. It basically took her a decade to get to pop. Makes me wonder about how Shaina's transition went

[@AmberMKestner]

Shania Twain had no issue since she started out as a Country Pop in her career early then transitioned slowly to Pop like Taylor Swift did.

[@fantasyfiction101]

Shania was always country pop, so she never had a hard time to crossover

[@kittymaya4615]

I feel like Shania was country and stumbled into pop because people liked a song or two. Then remixes started happening, she booted Bryan White from “From This Moment” and it just grew from there. Her first album was Country. Slide gee-tar and all. Come On Over was just a good album. Poppy without offending country music. Mutt Lange worked his magic and he’s a crappy person but he knew how make people famous

[@ericpeterson8732]

She didn't crossover. She just added more pop to her country. To crossover, you have to do what Taylor did, what Amy Grant did, and tell your fans that you made a different style album. Otherwise you're just Garth Brooks and so popular they played you on pop radio as well. He had a lot of rock in his country and many of his songs worked on both sides. When he did go exclusively rock/pop, he had to invent a persona to distinguish himself from Garth Brooks. And it flopped. So I don't understand why you have to announce it. "This is exclusively a pop album". Artists are weird.

[@archer1949]

I think Folklore and Evermore to be more “country” than 99 percent of the plastic stuff Nashville has been churning out for the last couple decades.

[@gantmj]

I toured with The Band Perry back in 2010 when they opened for Alan Jackson. I had never heard of them, and their style of music wasn't normally my thing, but I liked them, aesthetically, musically, and personally. Once that tour ended, I went on to another artist (as roadies do). I never kept up with what they were doing, but I started hearing that first album in stores and was happy for them because they deserved recognition and success. The last memory I have of them was when I was doing some work in a recording studio in Nashville, and as I was leaving, I walked upon the three of them standing side-by-side at the front door, watching a huge downpour. You can recognize all that hair, even from behind. They were even standing in the same order that they stood in on stage. From looking at their release history, they must've been recording "All Your Life" at the time. I said "Hello, Perrys", and the four of us silently stood there waiting for the rain to slow. I had to get to work at a different building, so I was the first to relent and run into the rain to my car. I could see their faces behind the glass, through the rain, as I drove off. Since I wasn't aware of their other chapters before seeing this video that came up in my recommendations, I'll always remember them from their Debut (and I think their best) era.

[@GlenMirinda]

lol wtf

[@Easternoregon1]

I miss The Band Perry. They were good for country music. I think they were the hardest working band in country music. I say that because I saw them many times in concert because it was like they opened for everyone at the time. That's why I was so puzzled how they could just leave us like nothing ever happened. 😥

[@judyholleman1521]

I agree

[@jamesadamgleason9471]

2010s country was peak. It was evolving but not full POP/hip hop how it is now

[@hannahhelton3789]

“If I Die Young” was super popular at the time we were coming home from a funeral of a friend who unalived themselves, and it came on the radio. It really hit me.

[@SilentKnight43]

"Unalived themselves" Sounds like an odd turn-of-phrase. Aside...condolences.

[@hannahhelton3789]

@@SilentKnight43 that’s just what I see everyone else call it online. We all know what it really is. Thank you.

[@kydrasims9734]

@@SilentKnight43 Its usually used by people that are willing to talk about tragedy but they don't want to lose their monetization for doing so. True Crime and such.

[@jalapeno1119]

​@@hannahhelton3789You don't have to censor yourself.

[@mamaya311]

I LOVE her voice. I’m not a huge country music listener but I’ll listen to her. It’s so weird how perfectly they fit the country mold but obviously had no desire to stay there. It’s a shame, but also I can respect it.

[@SamReed333]

'Bloom' is an outstanding EP. Beautiful songwriting. I hope all of you listen to it start to finish. Way to go, Kimberly!

[@amandamccourt5377]

I LOVED LOVED LOVED The Band Perry back in their beginning. I actually completely forgot about them after their second album because they took such a curveball that I couldn’t keep up with all the changes. “All your Life” will forever be one of my all time favorite songs (going to listen to it right now!). Something tells me Kimberly wanted to stay in the country lane but the boys didn’t and she was trying to appease them the whole time since they are family and found fame together.

[@maxi-me]

Fame is very tricky. You have a cooked up artistic image, fanbase identity and then press and critics playing _pin the tail_ . Not to mention the finicky tides of popular culture. If you're not fully centered going in, you're never gonna be. Always best to follow one's passion on a straight path; if fame diminishes, you'll still know your passion.....

[@savannah115]

Because we're all so used to her, I don't think we realize Taylor Swift's success at switching genres and crushing both equally is a rare thing, and that she's really the exception to the rule. The reason the switch worked for her and not the Band Perry is that her songs were already BARELY country (not an insult, just an observation; don't come for me, Swifties) and all of them were huge crossover hits. Since half her fans from the start weren't country fans, it wasn't much of a leap for them when she went full pop rock--her music didn't actually change all that much, she just took out the country elements. (I don't particularly care for her, but Taylor Swift is an absolute genius for figuring out how to straddle and exploit that country pop line to the extent she did, and leverage it into full on superstardom.) The Band Perry came onto the scene not just as a country act, but as a borderline folk/bluegrass act...nearly as country as country gets. Their biggest fans were likely more attached to a traditional country sound than Taylor's were. They should have been smart enough to plan for this and sloooooooowly transitioned to pop country, then made the switch. I'm with you that artists should do what makes them happy, but imo they are being brats about their fans abandoning them.. I'll betcha most of their country fans still listen to their country albums, so to be all petty about the lack of support in their new songs is pretty douchey.

[@automnejoy5308]

You're absolutely right. Taylor was always hovering over the pop/country line from the very beginning. I remember when I first heard about her. Girls were gushing over her "Love Story" song. (Wow, I just looked it up and that was 13 years ago.) Her videos from that era were very cute and wholesome, but there was nothing specifically "country" about them. I'm especially thinking of "You Belong with Me." If you muted these songs, you would assume these were just teen pop videos. The lyrics were simple and had broad appeal, though of course most relatable to young girls, and again with nothing specifically "country" about them. It was really only her vocals that were country. A few years later she had her Red album, and this album was 80% pop. A big transition was happening with her vocal style, but there were still nods to country. She definitely eased into it, until people didn't even remember when exactly she became a "pop" star. The truth is, she always was one. It was not a huge leap to go from "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" to "Shake If Off" a few years later. Not at all.

[@annaewickham]

Totally agree, that jab was uncalled for. I understand as a creator that it's easy to blame the audience when things don't go as you planned, but the audience does nothing wrong just because they didn't do what you wanted them to do 😊 "Failure is feedback" comes to mind: don't take it personally, as they seemed to. Use it as data to know what resonates with the audience.

[@jalapeno1119]

Yeah because Tim McGraw and Our Song and Mean and White Horse and The Best Day and Picture To Burn aren't country. There is a reason Swifties get mad - it's because if you truly don't follow her music or career you truly have no idea what you're talking about.

[@savannah115]

@jalapeno1119 I'll give you Tim McGraw and also Teardrops on my Guitar were pure country. The rest are pop-country to pop. I like pop music and I'm not insulting her, so no need to get angry. Your response is pretty on par for what I was talking about regarding Swifties overreacting, by the way.

[@dynaa4168]

This is definitely false. I was a fan since Love Story and the switch from that to We Are never getting back together was huge even for her fans. Her songs were very country especially Love Story

[@Calypso-rb9sf]

I loved both of their initial albums. It was a country sound but sounded somehow different, thanks to Kimberly's down-home voice. I always wondered what happened to them because i just stopped hearing them. I had no idea they tried rebranding so many times and actually put out music. Ive literally never heard those later songs until now. Great video! Hope they (or she by herself) comes back onto the scene, because im here for it!

[@mwilliamshs]

Both initial? Two firsts? Seems impossible.

[@Calypso-rb9sf]

@mwilliamshs On second read through, it's quite impossible. Lol. Edit: I loved their first two albums.

[@DrewBlankMusic]

Great music, "Better Dig Two" will always be one of my favorites. Thanks for your report.

[@tmamone83]

Also, I didn't know they did "Stay in the Dark." I used to hear it all the time when I worked at a grocery store. Grocery store soundtracks are where minor adult contemporary hits finally receive heavy rotation.

[@swordguy2001]

it was on the radio station at my old job and i hated it so much

[@jamesadamgleason9471]

Jack Johnson been in rotation for 20 years now lol

[@nataliebenne6862]

One of those bands that sometimes you sit and wonder about when you hear an old song out of nowhere. Now we know where they went! Excited to hear new music from Kimberly!

[@gothard5]

absolutely loved The Band Perry when they were a country group. I don’t know how many times I listened to that Pioneer album.

[@1997LeAnn]

Both their debut and ‘Pioneer’ were sonically different from one another, but both were solid albums as far as a debut and follow-up go. I was obsessed with both when they were released and got my mom to start listening to them. I really wish all of the members the best, and I’m looking forward to Kimberly’s new EP. They were solid writers and had a great team behind them too in the country days.

[@katiecarter4838]

I was OBSESSED with their first album and it's still to this day one of my favorites of all time (LOVED All Your Life & Independence). I thought they had such a unique and fresh sound at the time (and even if it were present day) and was so disappointed when they strayed from that. Such an interesting video of everything! Thanks for putting it all together!

[@Ta12dankdiscoveries]

If I Die Young is one of my favorite all time modern country songs. I adore their first two albums. Its a shame where it all went. Praying for Kimberly to go back to her roots as a solo artist.

[@TheActualHelloKitty]

idk if you know or not but a second part was released to if i die young!!

[@markholle3450]

Saw them in Nashville back in 2015. I definitely wasn’t their target audience, but I was impressed. It’s hard to keep your core audience if your sound is continually changing. Their early success gave them the leeway to branch out. Ultimately, we will let them decide if they made the right choices.

[@AndrewKerr5]

Was going through my Spotify tonight for a 11hour country playlist I’ve got for when I’m out running. Saw The Band Perry, and thought “what happened to these guys”. Then tonight you released this video, timing couldn’t be better. I miss them, they deserve to be happy in whatever they do now. They tried to ride the Taylor Swift coat tails, and could have landed on the moon, but kinda never made it there. I think Kimberly will try to get back on the Country band waggon, it could be difficult for her as the genre has changed so much in the past decade or so. Even the past 2-3 years has seen change. I wish her the best, if she makes it to where she wishes to go. As fans, we have to give her a chance, but that chance will be guarded as to not loose trust.

[@GizStudPrez]

People always screw up a band thinking they are more important than the others, but chemistry is hard to find, and generally not repeatable.

[@h.b16]

Taylor is a not only a musical genius, but a business genius. I think what TBP did wrong was completely wipe their identity and abandon and forgot where they came from. In that one song Comeback Kid or whatever it’s called she sings about people forgetting where they, the band, came from…they are the ones who erased their own past with all these “rebrands”. What Taylor has done is rebranded herself multiple times but pays homage to her earlier albums, her fans, her childhood and family, and has gradually grown. Not just taken breaks from everything, wiped away her entire image then tried to come back with a drastically different look. That’s what makes her so smart.

[@Lindsey-ml3xv]

Right but Taylor has full control over her music I’m sure they didn’t and maybe wanted a different style and sound. The label was probably controlling their creativity. That’s why Taylor isn’t on that label anymore.

[@janetlee648]

😊

[@bfsgman]

Taylor is a product rather than an artist. She's the musical equivalent of junk food, and we all know how popular and well marketed junk food is. I thought she was rather mediocre when she burst on the country music scene in 2006, but I can look past that because she was just 16. At least she seemed like an earnest singer/songwriter. Once she turned to pop, her marketing team went to work and the transformation into a soulless mainstream pop star was complete. Why care how shitty your music is as long as the money's rolling in? She could sing gibberish, and her fans would still eat it up as long as the beat was catchy. And don't forget her commercials, which further cements her place as a product and a piece of marketing.

[@taleytaleytaley]

@@bfsgman Omg you're so uneducated. Please don't speak on things you don't understand.

[@copocopocopocopo]

​@@bfsgmanUnironically, I think Taylor Swift sounded better as a country artist. She was much more... authentic. And I remember when she was country, I didn't like her then, but in hindsight, that's how I prefer her.

[@ehiggin]

I met them in late 2019 during the EDM phase. I personally loved that style, and I told them I liked it. Kimberly told me they were working on a new rock album, but it never came out. They are relaunching now and are starting a new tour as the band Perry.

[@quinnmcm]

I think about this constantly! Their self-titled album and Pioneer still hold up today. I also met them when I was in high school at a small NYC concert I won tickets to and found them to be incredibly kind. They hold such a special place in my heart!

[@shawnharris4689]

Live Forever is my favorite song by TBP. Talented group, hope to hear more of them, I am most familiar with their country side. The amount of hair between them is crazy, wonderful, fascinating and even a little odd. Wish them them best in all they choose to do. Thanks Grady, great episode.

[@TheKatyTemple]

I’m super excited about her going solo! I agree completely about Pioneer. It’s soooo good! I loved their country goth vibe and was sorely disappointed at their rebrand attempts. I’ve seen her and Ashley Monroe post stories when they’ve had writing sessions…that was a couple of years ago, but I was intrigued. If she wants to come back to country, I’m all for it! Great video! I had quit keeping up with them around 2015 or so, so I appreciate the education on what they had been up to since then

[@audibletapehiss3764]

I have no stake in country music gatekeeping but I am a musician, and the thing that never quite rang true for me was - they felt like a photoshoot band, not 3 kids who grew up writing and playing together and building their sound. What worked for them was all the things that *were* real, which could be summed up as Kimberly. Her voice, her honesty as a songwriter, and her relatable image as the girl you wish lived next door. She could've gone as mainstream (pop or country) as you like, so long as those didn't waver.

[@maddieb.4282]

They’re all related though so they did grow up together…. Lol

[@audibletapehiss3764]

@@maddieb.4282 I know. It just didn't come across like the typical family band.

[@benjohnson9224]

While I do think they could be lumped in to the Mumford-like bands, I've always felt like The Band Perry had a unique Southern-gothic vibe in their early albums that no one else has replicated. They were unique, which is why I will never understand why they threw that away to try to be a generic pop act. I mean, I guess it's what they wanted, but man, they threw away a special niche.

[@Lindsey-ml3xv]

Remember a lot of this has to do with the label and them not having creative control over their music

[@Tenebarum]

​​@@Lindsey-ml3xv Yeah, but a lot of artists are self produced now. Hanson dropped their label and went Indie back in the '90's. It sounds like they just kept hopping onto the next thing. And I would say pop isn't cool or edgy at all. I guess contriving to contrive was just too meta.

[@katieLavo]

No one talking how Taylor Swift looked similar to her and did a similar thing back then...maybe her management payed them off

[@EmwithanE03]

As someone who has met them before and they’re parents they are the kindest people ever! I got to speak to them for about an hour between all three of them and their music is the soundtrack of my middle school years. I’ll forever love them! ❤

[@JPPW1982]

I'm so glad you posted this video. The band Perry made me like country music again. This video renewed my interest in the group and so glad that Kimberly Perry re-emerged as a solo country artist.

[@lucascarter5595]

They were fierce and gave some of the best live performances at country award shows. I felt like they didn't wanna be country but that's what led to their success. They hated being straddled to fiddles and violins. They wanted to do what they wanted. I live for them though. They're very talented

[@seanezekielsmith]

this band has always fascinated me

[@shaydowney1477]

Saw them in concert opening for Brad paisley back in the day. They came out on stage and said that everyone one there is who made them what they are and they would be in a certain section after the show and anyone who wanted to meet them could. I stayed to the end and was the last person she hugged me and signed my hat, she was so sweet and down to earth. Still makes my day when I think about it.

[@ThumperCat01]

I'm the weirdo who loved both their country and edm stuff and now I'm super excited to see Kimberly's solo career. It feels like coming home to an old friend 😊

[@NiaNicholls]

Same girl 😂

[@Bella_Mami]

Sad they broke up. She had a beautiful voice and the song was beautiful. It was a great band. All the best to them.❤️👏🎶⭐️👍

[@ThomasLiljeruhm]

I wrote this yesterday on your latest video: "Please, do a video about Kimberly Perry's solo country debut/comeback. Personally, I believe that starting with "If I Die Young Pt. 2" is the smartest musical move since "Tim McGraw" by Taylor Swift."

[@GradySmith]

Hahah I saw that, and was like, just you wait. lol

[@ThomasLiljeruhm]

@@GradySmith Great minds think alike!

[@kittymaya4615]

Uh, why was a song about a popular country music singer smart? It could’ve gone cringe but people ate up the cute blonde high schooler pining away for some awkward kid named Drew. She had rhinestones glued to her face in the video and people still fell in love with her. It was her gift of writing lyrics that reminded people of their first crushes rather than how obnoxious high school really was. It had nothing to do with Tim McGraw. Speaking of cringe, ever see that video of her singing the song to Tim McGraw? He looks ready to crawl under his seat. Faith us gripping his hand like the cute girl singing her little sing is going to lure her husband away with the pick of her guitar. And everyone sitting around them looked ready for the Most Awkward Moment of 2006 to be over so they can go home and have a snack because no one eats before award shows because they want to look skinny. TL;DR I mixed up Tim McGraw and Teardrops on my Guitar earlier but I think both involved rhinestones at some point so it’s ok

[@ThomasLiljeruhm]

@@kittymaya4615 I stand by my belief 100%. And, whatever you think of her and that song, it obviously launched her career. The song also receive positive reviews from music crirics. Plus, all career starting songs are genius of it own accord (Baby one more time, Genie in a bottle, Whenever wherever, New rules, If I die young). And, just like you said, the song isn't a trivial tribute to Tim McGraw, but she rather used his good name in a clever way (and that also later led to future collabs). And no offense, but I believe that it's you that need to rewatch her videos.

[@christianmulvey7396]

Excellent overview of the rise and fall of the Band Perry. I loved them as country but as they turned to rock and rebranding themselves my interest waned. I think Kimberly will be successful with her new album and albums to follow as long as she stays true to her country roots and doesn't try continuously rebranding as something she's not.

[@HansdeBruin]

I love their country era, all of it is just perfect; sound, songs, voice of Kimberly, lyrics, videos, etc. Hopefully the solo comeback is more of that.

[@allison7483]

I'm excited to see what Kimberly's solo career brings, and I'm glad she's going back to her roots here. I hope its authentic to her. I think all the rebrands of The Band Perry just felt inauthentic. I totally agree that Taylor Swift's transition from country to pop was very gradual, and thats why she was successful at it. It felt authentic because it felt like we were growing up with her. With The Band Perry, it felt like they were just chasing trends.

[@LordHeisinger]

I love this group. You never turn your back on where you came from. It happens all the time in music, tv and well, really any form of entertainment.

[@deannascott8050]

I miss them. They were one of the better groups out at the time and even my husband, who is definitely a metalhead, loved their music.

[@reprintranch]

I'm a metalhead who listens to country music radio from time to time, and I always said "You Lie" was one of the best Aerosmith songs that Aerosmith didn't write.

[@readmorebemore]

Would love to see more of these "evolution of the band" videos! Specifically, the Avett Brothers, who I absolutely loved in their early years, but something changed for me around Magpie and the Dandelion and I can't quite put my finger on what it is, but I just fell out of love with them around then. I'd like to hear your take on it!

[@GradySmith]

My fave band, and I don't disagree. The HBO-ificiation of the Avett Brothers!

[@benjohnson9224]

I 100% agree with you and now need Grady to do a similar deep-dive into their demise as well.

[@AdministrativeFinance]

@@GradySmith don’t know much abt them but Rick Ruben on joe rogan (produced their ‘09 album) said they were the nicest people he’d ever met

[@kelleyconwaytowe8306]

@@GradySmithplease do a deep dive on them! They’re my favorite and I just haven’t felt the same about them for several albums now. 😢

[@kelleyconwaytowe8306]

Same!! 😢 it’s so sad, they were my favorite for a long time

[@bricook6489]

When artists go a different direction in music, most fans are typically interested in seeing the boundaries of their sound be furthered, you touched on a wonderful point of how quickly they tried this maneuver and how other successful people, like Taylor, have done this process slowly. When you “rebrand” and delete everything you were previously, it leaves your fans feeling some whiplash. Most people don’t view their favorite artists rebranding the same way you’d view a company rebranding and it made everything feel rehearsed and transactional to me. On top of that, I feel like a lot of their lyrics within these separate rebrands were exceptionally complicated and hard to follow. Pop music you hear charting typically is a bit more simple. It won’t stick in your head if it’s overly complicated. I really enjoyed the sound of Coordinates (her voice with the electronic sound actually goes well together in my opinion) but it didn’t feel revolutionary nor catchy enough to make it into any of my core playlists.

[@K9_NINA]

This group helped me so much during my time undergoing experimental medical treatment. I miss them 💙

[@blairberry3555]

I live in Greeneville, TN where they came from when they became famous. I would often see Neil and Reed at the YMCA or the grocery store and they were so approachable and kind. The whole town loves them, early on they closed Main Street and had free outdoor concert for the Town And it was great. I wish they'd stayed in that original genre because they truly are nice people

[@mc39S686]

I'm so glad you did this video because I've been wanting it for a while. Some thoughts: I think it was a Rolling Stone article that mentioned creative differences between the band and their label. They wanted to be themselves and make new music, but their label said no, so they left. Nobody ever mentions how they went after what they wanted (besides you). They didn't care what people thought and freaking did it anyway. Did it work out? No, but they made the music they wanted. So many country artists tend to not make the music they want to because they wanna make money. Luke Bryan, Chris Young, all people who said yes to a sound they didn't fully want in order to be successful, and TBP said no. That takes HUGE guts, and I'm really proud of them for that. I'm also really excited to see what Kimberly does. If I Die Young pt 2 seems really country/folk, but we could also be getting some Kacey Musgraves-esque pop stuff too, or stuff that's more rock; there are a million options for her to take. I feel like since she's not attached to anything, she can do whatever, and there's no way for it to be out of character or different. For the first time, it's a legit reset, and I'm all here for it.

[@GradySmith]

You always got the most thoughtful commentary!

[@mc39S686]

Thank you! I really love videos like this and like to use the comments as a place to let out my thoughts

[@ohio-e1n]

man. Well done on your research and delivery of this project. I did wonder what happened to this band. I now know. thanks!

[@melissaku394]

I remember meeting them at a fan club party during the Pioneer album with my mom, and we had the loveliest chat about our moms and the song they wrote for theirs on the album. I definitely miss their original sound! I also seem to have blocked out eras 3 to 5, so this was fascinating to watch

[@elkaywilson]

The Band Perry was my first concert when I was about 12! They’ll always have a place in my heart

[@Spudeaux]

Yeah, I think if they had been a bit more patient, they could have eventually made it into the pop scene. Their country stuff had plenty of pop appeal. My mom didn’t think “If I Die Young “ really was country because she didn’t hate it! What’s really wild though is that their grandfather was the minister that performed my parents’ wedding in 1978.

[@stansoffthewall]

Good ‘ole grandpapa Perry

[@Dontworryboutit315]

How is that really wild? Who gives af who married your parents

[@chrismccall2122]

The Grand Perry.

[@dougmasters4561]

Its not about patience. They started this akward period where they were like... shopping a sound and an image and they just came off as a buncha posers. If they woulda just dropped a whole album and went into it then maybe it woulda worked out but nobody likes it when it lacks that much authenticity.

[@andrewjones7011]

Thanks for explaining them to me. I've never heard them before but I always came across their guitar tablature when I was looking to learn songs by The Band.

[@WREDog]

I remember hearing them all the time on the radio back then, Pioneer was truly inescapable. My guess is they thought they built up a loyal fanbase that would follow them no matter where they went. I do hope Kimberly has success in her solo career, I really did enjoy thier songs when ever they came on.

[@EmmaOnAdventure]

Fun fact the song “If I Die Young” WAS inspired to the poem “Lady of Shallott” which is why it reminds you of the painting done of the same poem. 8-9 years ago I used to use this song to teach how to write “inspired” poetry/art

[@benjaminzabriskie5729]

6:25 “loose illusions to choreography ” - that is one heck of a line between the alliteration and the backward play on the literal meaning of choreography - it’s masterful writing you should be proud of. Someday someone will make a top 20 Grady smith one liners and this will be on it

[@patchworkgutterpup]

I've been following since the beginning, Grady, but I never really comment. Thank you for this! I've watched you actually become a forerunner in this avenue, congrats dude

[@James_Nathaniels_Kitchen]

I remember when I was just becoming a country fan, and I came across "When I die young" and was like cool song and band. Then one of their weird not pop, but not country, albums dropped, and I was like "What happened"... now I know. Also, love your videos! It's always a great day when I see a new video from you!

[@gracieaustell4689]

I think Reid and Neil were the ones that were leading them astray. I always thought this, but now that Kimberly has come back on her own to continue the gothic country sound, I think it makes it obvious that her brothers wanted different things than her.

[@CyrusWaugh]

Honestly your country career dipping drastically should be referred to as perrying from now on

[@ajb5119]

There ya go. XD

[@breathJONNYstay]

I totally forgot about this band and all their songs 😱 what a great reminder !! Awesome video!

[@maxxxbeecher77]

Saw them in concert a few times and they are amazing, so sad to see them disappear the way they did

[@thomashernandez9067]

Interesting video that kept me on for almost 20 minutes longer than all of the Perry band music I’ve ever heard. Solid storytelling.

[@anngrace5050]

This was so interesting and very well done. Thanks for putting this together.

[@dextr79]

Thanks for making this video. I feel so lucky I got to see TBP live over here in Amsterdam in what turned out to be their only headlining European tour ever. And even though country music is not a thing in Europe at all, I convinced my local bar to play 'DONE' in medium rotation for a while and the audience liked it. I finally stopped following them when they decided to autotruin Kimberly's voice in 'Stay in the dark', but always kept hoping they'd put out something worthwile again. This video just triggered me to go listen to Kimberly's new EP.

[@futureprez19]

I think her solo career is gonna get off to a big start with big artists taking her out as an opener because they know she will play the massive hits

[@Here4theComments9]

Wow, great video. I didn’t think at all I’d watch the whole video but it was genuinely entertaining and informative with a bit of humor. Well done 👍

[@bob_kazamakis]

2:48 the first thing to come to mind is when Theo Von was asked what his demographic was and he said “Rural emo. The kinda people that would build a treehouse but tear up in it”. I get the same vibe from this band

[@cristelaflores7757]

Thanks for the recap. I had no idea about the changes. I loved When I Die Young.

[@david_blancett]

Young people can’t yet comprehend how aging changes you. Everyone must follow their own heart. There’s more to life than acceptance. The music industry is brutal. It takes more than it gives.

[@slaugmromni6743]

When I think of “eerie”, “creepy”, or “crazy” music I definitely think of middle-brow, safe, pop-country tripe like TBP.

[@GettingOverYouAgain]

Thank you so much for covering this topic! I enjoyed their music SO much back then and they are one of the reasons why I fell in love with country music in the first place. The way they more or less self-sabotaged their career still makes me sad to this day - just as much as the downfall of Hunter Hayes does. I also do love the song „Pioneer“ A LOT. Caitlyn Smith recently released a song called „Mississippi“ with Garth Brooks as backing vocalist, which reminds me a lot of „Pioneer“. I‘m very excited to see where Kimberley‘s fresh start is going to land and I hope she goes back to her country roots. Her voice suits country music just so well!

[@Patrick3183]

“….”

[@maddieb.4282]

@@Patrick3183what does this even mean

[@davidgraham2673]

She has a great voice. She can make any song sound great. I only knew one of their songs, but find myself loving most of the ones highlighted here.

[@AcaTea]

I admire that they tried to make the music they wanted to. Even if most of it was bad, I still think that artists of any medium or genre should be able to let their inspiration drive their art, rather than let the art determine how their inspiration gets used. I hate that we categorize musicians and artists into genres. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for them to take that initial risk with the yellow era. I admire that they stuck to their hearts and pursued what they wanted. It would have been worse to see them continue to make songs they didn’t want to. Their other music may not be very good, but you can tell that at least they enjoyed making it. As artists, that’s the biggest thing you hope for. That after all the work and all the critique, at least you yourself can look to your art with the same love and pride that a parent shares for their child.

[@ericfeezell2830]

The don't think it was the music they wanted honestly.

[@williamlorson8530]

Thank you for the education. I'm not too much in to country, maybe more lately....but it's fascinating to hear the stories of these artists. AND.... now i wanna go check out all that music you talked about!

[@steffiparsons]

I’ve always thought that Kimberly wanted to stay in country, but her brothers wanted to take the band in a different direction… and she had to come along given she’s the voice of the band, but they were the majority. Now she’s independent, she’s come back to the country sound that she never wanted to leave. I’m obviously speculating, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were true.

[@missamy261]

You did a really good job with this story. This is very well organized and informative. Thank you. I enjoyed this video.

[@CullodenCowboy]

The Perry’s are family friends with mine, and I credit them with bringing me into country when my music tastes were just forming. While my music taste has certainly moved towards more traditional country and red dirt, I still miss TBP’s music. It’s still disappointing that they cut their career as a band short by trying to jump ship to pop music.

[@AnimeLover4Life3395]

Any idea on how their doing now?

[@tod3msn]

You are over thinking the lyrics. "If I Die Young" is capturing of the melancholy aspects of life that we all feel from time to time. Yet, the power of the song can be found in the family dynamic between the three siblings. They support each other in an authentic way. I think Kimberly Perry needs to join back with her brothers because that is where her music can be best voiced. They just are dynamic as a musical family. They need to be in that country pop lane.

[@purplew93]

Loved their first two albums and always wondered what the heck happened... I have a feeling Kimberly's solo career could be very successful.

[@cadencewishes]

I found out about The Band Perry because of Cady Groves' cover of “If I Die Young”. So I went and listened to the original version, and I loved it! I listened to more songs and I loved them as well. I really like the approach they were taking with songs like "Done.", I think that was their best sound. :) I am so excited for Kimberly's solo career! I listened to her EP and the song "Cry At Your Funeral" is my favorite so far. Kimberly is so kind, too. I haven't met her in person, but I had uploaded a cover of If I Die Young Pt2, she saw it and reacted to it💜

[@heymistercarter.]

To me, the problem with The Band Perry going pop and then electro-pop is that they didn't really ease into it. I've seen a few country musicians try easing themselves into more pop-leaning stuff. Taylor Swift is one of the biggest examples. But when she did albums like RED and 1989, she slowly eased into more pop-leaning material. She eventually leaned too far into it with Reputation and LOVER, but she later course-corrected at the right time with Folklore and Evermore. Those were albums that showed she could go back to basics and retain what helped her work in the first place, but keep the brighter parts of her that worked before. The Band Perry, on the other hand, after making two folk/country-leaning albums (although that Better Dig Two song straight-up sounds like Undo It by Carrie Underwood), them outright abandoning their original sound and going into straight-up pop was an out-of-nowhere left turn. I could see how their fanbase was left stunned by that change. It was about as bizarre as Jewel going from a folky singer/songwriter type into a Britney Spears knockoff with Intuition and the 0304 album. And then all these different eras of trying all these new pop sounds out felt more and more desperate attempts to stay relevant than something creative or passionate from them.

[@Cooldudewhotellsamazingjokes]

T swift is a washed up has been singer. She is trying to revive her career by going woke. It is a well known fact that when a singer uses politics to stay relevant in music, they are no longer viable as musicians.

[@larryterry4337]

Well done, sir. Erudite and insightful commentary.

[@ThomasLiljeruhm]

"You Lie" will always be my favorite Band Perry song.

[@jamesbrent2504]

One day they'll do a "back to our roots" type of album & all the missteps will be forgotten. The talent and persistence are what matters, and they've got plenty. Fans still love them too.

[@capencowl]

I remember hearing ‘If l die young’ on the radio and being mesmerized by how different and sweet and country it sounded and thought I hope this band makes it but I’ll probably never hear anything from them again. I was delighted to buy their 1st two albums but put off by their third. I knew the brothers had other musical interests and it seemed that Kimberly pulled them into country success and wondered how long they could stay together. Could you do a what happened to a trick pony video too?

[@Heaven_v]

In my opinion their first album has the best song lyrics I have heard in the whole country genre. Their words are so beautiful and her voice is so unique. It’s sad to see the mass production operation that is the music industry just chew them up and spit them out. The aesthetic change ups came off so phony and no doubt they would have been so much more successful had they stayed true to their original sound. I’m afraid her credibility is shot at this point. I hope that’s not the case though because I saw them live at a fair last year and she’s definitely still got it. Hopefully going back to her roots pays off !

[@nicksteffysoccer]

Fun fact: Brad Paisley wrote one of the songs on Pioneer called “Forever Mine Nevermind”

[@allisonmoon2536]

man, i didn’t realize how much I heard them on the radio in the 2013-14 era before the crossover!! 🔥 thanks for this video.