Upon the release of their debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You, in fall 1996, Matchbox Twenty was pigeonholed as one of the legions of post-grunge guitar bands that roamed the American pop scene. As their first single, "Push," climbed the charts, it was widely assumed (at least by cynical critics) that they were a one-hit wonder, but Yourself or Someone Like You continued to spin off singles well into 1998. By that time, the group's blend of '70s arena rock and early-'90s American alt-rock -- closer to Pearl Jam and maybe R.E.M. than Nirvana -- had become the sound of mainstream American rock. Yourself or Someone Like You sold millions of copies without ever truly dominating the charts -- by 1998, it had gone platinum five times; by 2000, ten times.

Early in 1998, the group was named Best New Band by Rolling Stone's annual reader's poll -- proof that, even if Matchbox Twenty wasn't winning critics, they were winning over a wide, mainstream audience. Throughout it all, Matchbox Twenty stayed on the road, at home and abroad.

Matchbox Twenty reserved 1999 as the year to record their eagerly anticipated second album, but they didn't disappear from the spotlight, due to the unexpected success of "Smooth," a Santana song co-written and sung by Rob Thomas. Throughout the second half of 1999, "Smooth" was inescapable, as it and Supernatural sat on the top of the pop charts. Its success brought more attention to Matchbox Twenty, and Yourself or Someone Like You rocketed to over ten million copies sold -- which now qualified it for the RIAA's Diamond Award.

All of this success happened as Matchbox Twenty was recording their second album. The success raised expectations for the new album, entitled Mad Season, which was released in May 2000. Two years later, the band emerged with its third album, More Than You Think You Are. Despite, or perhaps because of, the band's success and frequent touring, Matchbox Twenty decided to take a break from recording and in 2005 Thomas released his debut solo album, Something to Be. Featuring a more polished funk and dance-influenced sound, the album sold well and spawned several hit songs, including "Lonely No More" and "This Is How a Heart Breaks." In 2007, the reunited Matchbox Twenty -- with Doucette now on guitar replacing Gaynor, who left the band in 2005, and Push Stars's Ryan MacMillan on drums -- delivered the hits collection Exile on Mainstream which included a bonus EP of new tracks.

The members of Three Days Grace began bashing punk chords when they were in their teens, carving a derivative yet energetic sound that fueled their live performances. Formed in Norwood, Ontario, Canada, in 1997, they were originally called Groundswell, a five-piece that lasted from 1992 until transforming to a trio five years later. Many of their songs were inspired by living in a place with a population of around 1,500. The bandmembers were still in high school when they had their first gig, and they performed anywhere that would accept them -- including opening for a movie.

They eventually relocated to Toronto and recorded "(I Hate) Everything About You." The tune got them a publishing deal with EMI, and they soon were signed to Jive after being courted by the company's president. They were sent to a studio in Boston, MA, to start the group's debut album. The band completed its self-titled full-length in Woodstock, NY, at an isolated location free from big-city distractions.

Heavily influenced by Kyuss and Sunny Day Real Estate, the dark, angst-ridden tales of small-town love and hate on Three Days Grace brought the group a Next Big Thing tag.

Getting back to their roots by writing their follow-up record in the Ontario countryside, One-X was released in June 2006.

Originally called Chin Up, Switchfoot was formed in 1996 in San Diego, CA, by singer/guitarist Jonathan Foreman and his bassist brother Tim Foreman. With the addition of drummer Chad Butler, the band's name switched to Switchfoot (a surfing term) and they recorded their debut LP, 1997's The Legend of Chin. New Way to Be Human followed two years later; it was a huge hit. Keyboardist Jerome Fontamillas joined up for 2000's Learning to Breathe, which found Switchfoot taking more steps toward mainstream modern rock.

Breathe would prove to be a transition album for the group, and their first to sell over 500,000 copies. Its success, together with their set Switchfoot up for a major-label run. The Beautiful Letdown dropped in spring 2003; it represented the quartet's full evolution toward a more accessible mainstream sound. The album eventually went double platinum on the strength of constant touring and the radio hits "Dare You to Move" and "Meant to Live." In September 2005 Switchfoot returned with their fifth album, Nothing Is Sound, their first Top Ten hit on the Top 200 (debuting at number three); the album went gold. It sparked another radio hit in "Stars," and was the first Switchfoot recording to include the work of additional guitarist Andrew Shirley, who had been a touring member of Switchfoot since 2003.

Wasting little time, the band was soon back in the studio with veteran U.K. producer Tim Palmer (U2, the Cure, etc.) to begin work on their sixth album, one that found the guys broadening their musical scope; Oh! Gravity. then appeared at the tail end of 2006.

 The Stone Temple Pilots were one of the first bands to make alternative rock into stadium rock.  Not really appreciated by the critics (who insisted they were pilfering from Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains) the band became major stars in 1993.  Their closest antecedents are not the Sex Pistols or Hüsker Dü; instead the band resembles arena rock acts from the '70s -- it's popular hard rock that sounds good on the radio and in concert. No matter what the critics might say, Stone Temple Pilots have undeniably catchy riffs and production; there's a reason why over three million people bought their debut album, Core, and why their second album, Purple, shot to number one when it was released.

Following Scott Weiland's stint in rehab, the Stone Temple Pilots recorded their third album. Released in the spring of 1996, Tiny Music...Songs From the Vatican Gift Shop, entered the charts at number four.  The band grew apart, fueled by Scott Weiland's demons but then reunited, although shortly after completing 1999's No. 4. A newly rejuvenated Stone Temple Pilots and a sober Weiland emerged stronger than ever during the new millennium. The band got back to basics on Shangri-La Dee Da, released in summer 2001. Two years later, STP issued the ambitious greatest-hits package Thank You. The audio-only edition featured 15 tracks -- 13 hits spanning the group's entire career, an acoustic version of "Plush" dating from 1992, and the new track "All in the Suit That You Wear." Thank You also appeared in a CD/DVD format that included three hours of videos, live performances, and behind-the-scenes footage.

The Boston-based alternative metal group comprised Sully Erna, Tony Rambola, Robbie Merrill, and Tommy Stewart. After debuting in 1997 with All Wound Up, Godsmack signed with Universal, which in 1998 reissued the LP as a self-titled effort with a handful of new tracks; at that point Stewart -- who'd left the group in mid-1997 and was replaced by drummer Joe d'Arco -- returned to the lineup on a permanent basis.

The band's audience built slowly but surely, and Godsmack was certified gold in 1999, the same year the group was invited to join the ~Ozzfest tour; by the next year, it had sold over three million copies, thanks to hit singles like "Whatever" and "Keep Away." In 2000, the group again played ~Ozzfest, and released their second proper album, Awake, that fall. In January 2001, Awake earned the band a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for the song "Vampires," and by March, it had sold two million copies.

Hot on the heels of their continuing success, their single "I Stand Alone" propelled the hype of the movie #The Scorpion King in March 2002. As the single maintained Godsmack's strong presence at modern rock radio into the summer, founding member Tommy Stewart left the band in June. The David Bottrill-produced (Peter Gabriel, Tool, Mudvayne) album Faceless appeared in April 2003. It also marked the debut of ex-Amen drummer Shannon Larkin. The all-acoustic Other Side arrived in spring 2004. In 2006, Erna stepped behind the board to helm IV, a collection of new material that reached number one while both retaining the group's trademark heft and expanding their sonic palette.

Originally a cover band with a taste for power pop and classic rock, the Goo Goo Dolls were formed in 1985 by Johnny Rzeznik, Robby Takac, and George Tutuska.  Initially named the Sex Maggots, their early sound recalled the Replacements origins as a bratty punk band - melodic, snotty, and a little bit thrashy. That sound was the reason the band attracted the interest of the heavy metal label Metal Blade, which issued their debut album in 1987 (known either as The Goo Goo Dolls or First Release). 1989's Jed continued in a similar vein; the college radio breakthrough came with 1990's Hold Me Up, a Replacements-ish power pop record.

1993's Superstar Car Wash was the Goo Goo Dolls' artistic breakthrough. Still, Superstar Car Wash wasn't the commercial force the band hoped it would be. That all changed with 1995's A Boy Named Goo, Name was eventually released as a single nationwide, and went Top Five late in the year; platinum sales for the album followed close behind.

Somewhat drained, Rzeznik and the band shook off a case of writer's block to contribute the ballad "Iris" to the soundtrack of the 1998 mvoie City of Angels. The song was a monster smash.  The band's next album, Dizzy Up the Girl, was released in September and sold over three million copies. The Goo Goo Dolls revamped their sound for 2001's career retrospective, Ego, Opinion, Art & Commerce. A year later, the trio hit the charts with "Here Is Gone" from their seventh studio album, Gutterflower. The CD/DVD combo Live in Buffalo: July 4, 2004 helped fans endure the long wait for the band's next studio album, Let Love In, which didn't appear until 2006.

On November 13, 2007, the Goo Goo Dolls released a greatest hits album entitled Greatest Hits Volume One: The Singles.  Greatest Hits Volume Two: B-sides and Rarities is due to hit stores June 17, 2008.  They've begun sessions for a new album as well.

In a decade fueled by party anthems and power ballads, Poison found a high amount of popularity. While the group had a long string of hits, they soon became just as renowned for their stage show, and continued to be a major attraction throughout their first three albums.

Formerly known as Paris, Poison was formed in 1984 by singer Bret Michaels, bassist Bobby Dall, and drummer Rikki Rockett. After traveling from Harrisburg, PA, to Los Angeles, CA, the band added guitarist C.C. Deville to their lineup.

1986 saw the release of Look What the Cat Dragged In.  While the band was already quite popular by the end of 1987, 1988's Open Up & Say...Ahhh! was their commercial breakthrough, due to the massive hits "Fallen Angel," "Nothin' But a Good Time," and "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." The group returned to the studio to record Flesh and Blood in 1990. The album, which included the upbeat "Unskinny Bop" and the sentimental "Something to Believe In," was another major success. The dynamic tour supporting the record brought on the release of Swallow This Live, a double-disc set which included live versions of their biggest hits, along with four new studio tracks.

Since then, members left and returned, done time on reality TV and found out that they really do work better together than as individuals.  Their reunion tour was a smash hit and every time they come to Fest, it turns into Nothin' But a Good Time.

The Santa Barbara, CA, band Dishwalla made a big splash in 1996 with their catchy pop single "Counting Blue Cars." With the gritty heart and soul of those who came before them, Dishwalla's hard rock sound was enough for fans to make "Counting Blue Cars" one of the most-requested songs of that year. The song also garnered the band a Billboard award for Rock Song of the Year and allowed their debut album, Pet Your Friends, to sell more than a million copies.

Dishwalla, which emerged out of the early stages of post-grunge, spent the mid-'90s touring with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Blind Melon, and the Goo Goo Dolls in support of Pet Your Friends. Prior to making a second album, the band was caught in the middle of the Polygram/Universal merger and such a move left Dishwalla pondering what to do next. Their second album And You Think You Know What Life's About was released in 1998; promotion and sales were lackluster due to label downsizing.

Dishwalla's time with A&M was shortlived and exhausting because of such corporate behavior, but they stuck it out to contribute their cover version of "Policy of Truth" for the Depeche Mode tribute album For the Masses. By the new millennium, Dishwalla left behind major-market America for a third album. They signed with Immergent while Pendergrast left the band. Pete Maloney, a drummer picked up on the 1998 tour, resumed percussion duties. In 2002, Dishwalla appeared sound and sane, issuing the experimental third album Opaline. A self-titled album followed in 2005. 

Getting their start in 1990, the founding members of Jackyl shared an enthusiasm for AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and other like-minded artists, and were soon crafting their own blend of hard rock and Southern boogie around their native state of Georgia. Record executives got hip to their live show, which included chain saws among other things, and soon they got their first record deal.

A self-titled debut enjoyed several hit rock singles, including "When Will It Rain," "I Stand Alone," and "Down on Me." But the most attention was drawn by "The Lumberjack," an ode to burly chain-saw wielders that witnessed a power tool solo by Dupree. His chain-saw abilities became their recognized gimmick, and equally gimmick-crazy guitarist Ted Nugent took the band on the road for a tour that included his own archery display as well.

Fest Favorites Jackyl return to the main stage Friday at 4:30.  Get ready for Jeff Worley, Chris Worley, Roman Glick and the one and only Jesse James Dupree to tear it up.

Born in the suburbs of Chicago, lead singer Tom Higgenson was originally fascinated with the drums, performing in various pop and rock bands in high school. One of these groups was Harvey's Daughter, where he met bass player Ken Fletcher. The group disbanded but another was re-formed, with Higgenson taking over lead duties as songwriter and singer. Friend and drummer Dave Tirio joined and, in the fall of 1997, the pop-punk group was formed.

The group self-released Come on Over in 2001 followed by the 2002 LP Stop. Plain White T's struggled with lineup shifts even as they toured heavily in support of the album, but were able to muster up the record All That We Needed, released in early 2005. By that point the band's roster had solidified with vocalist Higgenson, Tirio and Tim Lopez on guitar, drummer De'Mar Hamilton, and bassist Mike Retondo.

The enhanced EP Hey There Delilah was released that May; it contained various versions of the popular acoustic ballad "Hey There Delilah" (from All That We Needed), along with four new songs and music videos. Most of the following summer was then spent on Warped Tour before Every Second Counts, their hook-laden major-label debut for Hollywood, appeared in early September. The guys then hit the road on the popular Nintendo Fusion Tour.

Made up of consisting of Wesley Scantlin (guitar and vocals), Paul Phillips (guitar), Douglas Ardito (bass), and Greg Upchurch (drums), Puddle of Mudd will be making their second appearance at Rock Fest in 2008.

While their songs expectedly contain the rage of such contemporaries as Korn and Rage Against the Machine, Scantlin's voice at times is eerily similar to Nirvana's late, great frontman, Kurt Cobain, containing unmistakable elements of traditional hard rock (unlike the other aforementioned band's penchant for rap). August 2001 saw the release of their major-label debut, Come Clean which was preceded by the independent release Abrasive), as they embarked on a European tour with Godsmack a month later, before touring the U.S. as part of the Family Values 2001 tour, alongside Stone Temple Pilots, Linkin Park, and Staind. The band subsequently remained somewhat busy, releasing Life on Display in 2003 and Famous in 2007.

Trixter formed in Paramus, New Jersey in 1984.  The band's self-titled debut album attained gold status, reaching #28 on the Billboard 200 in 1990 and spawned three singles: Surrender, One In A Million, and Give It To Me Good. Despite the fact that none of the singles made the Top 40, the videos for all three tunes were in heavy rotation on MTV... especially "Give It To Me Good", which was #1 on the channel for several weeks. Trixter's second album, Hear, was released in 1992, but was not as successful on MTV or in record shops.

They stated on VH1's Top 40 Hair Band Countdown that their goal was to play the arena near their hometown, Continental Airlines Arena, in East Rutherford, New Jersey: they achieved this when Trixter opened for the Scorpions in 1991.

The band recorded an album of cover songs, Undercovers, in 1994, which garnered little commercial success and Trixter broke up shortly after its release. The former Trixter members worked on various solo projects, while drummer Mark Scott owns a successful restaurant, The Copper Bottom, in Florida, New York. Peter Loran released a solo record in 2000.  PJ Farley played bass for the band RA. Steve Brown was the lead vocalist/guitarist of Stereo Fallout and was in two previous bands to feature PJ Farley which were Throwan Rocks and 40 Ft. Ringo.  PJ and Steve also played in a New Jersey based cover band called Sugarbelly. In 1995 when Mark scott left Trixter he was replaced by Mike Luciano.

On December 1st, Steve Brown announced Trixter would be reuniting in 2008 for the Give It To You Good Tour.

As part of the mid-'90s revival of roots-rock, the Wallflowers held a special connection to one of the original inspirations: vocalist/songwriter/guitarist Jakob Dylan. Though he is the son of a legend, Jakob's similarities to his father are occasional -- in fact, the Wallflowers are more influenced by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers than original '60s folk-rock, though lyrically, Jakob remains a close companion to the original Dylan.

Born in 1970, Jakob Dylan studied at private schools in L.A. and New York, and decided to follow in his father's footsteps by the late '80sand formed the Wallflowers.  Released in August 1992, the Wallflowers' self-titled debut album sold poorly, and Virgin soon dropped the band. Undaunted, Dylan assembled a new Wallflowers -- guitarist Michael Ward, bassist Greg Richling, and drummer Mario Calire -- keeping only Rami Jaffee. The group signed to Interscope and recorded its second album with producer T-Bone Burnett, a longtime friend of the Dylan family. Bringing Down the Horse was released in May 1996, producing the alternative radio hit "6th Avenue Heartache." Late in 1996, the single "One Headlight" was released, and by the spring of 1997, it had become a Top Ten hit, pushing Bringing Down the Horse into the upper reaches of the charts, as well.

Bringing Down the Horse was a big seller throughout 1997, thanks to "6th Avenue Heartache," "One Headlight," and "The Difference," the third single pulled from the record. Early in 1998, "One Headlight" won Grammys for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal. Settling down from the rush of success, the Wallflowers rightfully took a long four-year break from recording. The new millennium sparked new creativity, and the Wallflowers returned in October 2000 to release the excellent Breach. The album went largely ignored, leading to the more mainstream Red Letter Days the following year. After a two-year hiatus the band returned with Rebel, Sweetheart. 

Live first came together for a middle-school talent show in the Pennsylvania blue-collar town of York. The group remained together throughout high school, going through a handful of band names (such as First Aid, Club Fungus, Paisley Blues, Action Front, and Body Odor Boys) and new-wave covers before settling on the moniker Public Affection  In 1991, frequent trips into New York City to play at CBGB helped net the band a record deal and a new name... Live.

Fueled by touring and a string of hit singles ("I Alone," "All Over You" and the #1 Modern Rock hits "Selling the Drama" and "Lightning Crashes"), Live's  album, Throwing Copper, gave the band the breakthrough it desired. To date, it is their best-selling album and often most highly regarded album by fans and critics.

While Live remains only moderately popular in terms of record sales in the United States, much of their current sales come from places in Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Ed Kowalczyk has said that "Holland is the center of the Live universe."

We saw Live at Rock Fest 2006.  Sicne then they have announced a full length concert DVD to be released this year and their new album, "Radiant Sea: A Collection of Bootleg Rarities and Two New Songs", available exclusively via their online store and at their live performances.

Most every classic rocker knows the story of Boston, a band who began in Tom Scholz's basement and whose rise to success was nothing short of record-breaking.  Let's leave the past behind and start late 2007.

A concert in honor of Delp named Come Together: A Tribute to Brad Delp occurred on August 19, 2007 at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, MA. The concert included, in order of appearance, Ernie and the Automatics, Beatlejuice, Farrenheit, Extreme, Godsmack, RTZ, and, of course, Boston. All of the original surviving members of Boston performed in the concert.

According to the band website, Scholz said that he has been keeping busy remastering the Greatest Hits album for compact disc, and is preparing to mix an album of live Boston performances. Scholz also hinted that the band Boston may continue on with a new unnamed vocalist, stating on the website that he is currently working on new Boston studio material.

In late January 2008, an partial interview with Michael Sweet was published on some fan sites, which gave insight about his possible future with Boston. Michael stated that Tom asked him to do some recording and possibly tour with the band in the near future. He showed an interest and said this was a strong possibility. There is also rumor that if this does happen, he might be sharing lead vocals with Tommy DeCarlo as well.

Although Tesla emerged during the glory days of hair metal, they never completely fit the spirit of the times. Instead, Tesla's music was bluesy, no-frills, '70s-style hard rock; it concentrated more on solid musicianship than enormous, arena-ready choruses, and it had a noticeable grit -- not so much the urban sleaze of Guns N' Roses, but a grounded attitude and a genuine affection for old-school hard rock.

In 1986, Their debut album, Mechanical Resonance, produced the hit "Modern Day Cowboy," reached the Top 40 on the album charts, and eventually went platinum. However, it was the follow-up, 1989's The Great Radio Controversy, that truly broke the band. The first single, "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)," was another hit with hard rock audiences, setting the stage for the second single, a warm, comforting ballad called "Love Song" which substituted a dash of hippie utopianism for the usual power ballad histrionics.  The follow-up single, "The Way It Is," was also a hit.

In keeping with their unpretentious, blue-collar roots, Tesla responded to stardom not by aping the glam theatrics of their tourmates, but by stripping things down. The idea behind 1990's Five Man Acoustical Jam was virtually unheard of -- a pop-metal band playing loose, informal acoustic versions of their best-known songs in concert, plus a few favorite covers.  Included in that was an idealistic bit of hippie outrage by the Five Man Electrical Band -- Signs which became another Top Ten hit.

Tesla attempted to continue as a quartet for a time, but broke up in 1996. Most of the bandmembers began playing with smaller outfits, none of which moved beyond a local level. The band staged a small-scale reunion in 2000, which quickly became full-fledged. In the fall of 2001, the group released a two-disc live album, Replugged Live, which documented their reunion tour. Into the Now appeared in March 2004. A collection of '70s covers called Real to Reel arrived in 2007.