Evan Dando American musician, member and creator of the alt-rock band “The Lemonheads” Date of Birth: 04.03.1967 Country: USA

1. Biography of Evan Dando
2. Formation of The Lemonheads
3. Solo Career and Return to The Lemonheads
4. Success and Personal Struggles
5. Comeback and Solo Releases

Biography of Evan Dando

Evan Dando is an American musician and the founder of the alternative rock band "The Lemonheads." He is the only current member of the band who has been with them since their formation in 1986 as the lead vocalist. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Dando developed a passion for punk music from a young age and was a devoted fan of bands like Hüsker Dü and The Replacements. After finishing high school, he enrolled in college but soon realized that his true calling was in music, so he dropped out to pursue a career as a musician.

Formation of The Lemonheads

The early roots of The Lemonheads can be traced back to Dando's school years when he formed the band with his friend Ben Deily in 1986. Initially playing punk rock, they were known as Whelps, but in 1987, they changed their name to The Lemonheads. The band's name was inspired by Dando's favorite candy, which was sweet on the outside and sour on the inside, mirroring the group's music in a metaphorical sense. They self-produced and released their first recording, "Laughing All the Way to the Cleaners," which caught the attention of the local label "Taang!" Their first albums, "Hate Your Friends" and "Creator," were released under the patronage of "Taang!"

Solo Career and Return to The Lemonheads

Dando and Deily co-wrote and performed songs together until 1989 when Evan left the band. However, his solo career did not take off as expected, while The Lemonheads received an invitation to tour Europe. This prompted Dando to return to the band as a guitarist. Unfortunately, their friendship could not be rebuilt, and soon after, Deily also left the group. Evan assembled a new lineup and established connections with record labels, leading The Lemonheads towards success. The band's music ranged from punk and rock to country and metal, and their albums sold tens of thousands of copies.

Success and Personal Struggles

Dando then decided to leave everything behind and traveled to Australia to write songs with his friends. The songs they wrote eventually became "It's a Shame About Ray," a breakthrough album for The Lemonheads. Evan started appearing on magazine covers, was nominated as one of the fifty most beautiful people, and made headlines in 1993 with his admission of cocaine addiction. Until 1997, the band released several more albums, but Evan's drug problems led him to permanently depart from the group.

Comeback and Solo Releases

Evan Dando made a comeback in the early 2000s, performing live with Juliana Hatfield in 1999 and Blake Babies in 2000. In 2001, his first solo release, "Live at the Brattle Theatre," came out in Australia. His debut solo album, "Baby I'm Bored," was released in 2003 and was considered a successful return to his roots by many fans. In 2005, Evan formed a new lineup of The Lemonheads and released two new albums in 2006 and 2008. In 2015, Dando performed solo concerts across the United States.