30 Seconds to Mars, fronted by vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Jared Leto, is currently in the studio in Los Angeles recording their third album with acclaimed producer Flood, known for his work with U2, Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, and Smashing Pumpkins. Due this fall, the as-yet-untitled album is the follow-up to 2005’s platinum-selling A Beautiful Life, which sold more than three million albums and singles worldwide and spawned two Top 10 Modern Rock singles, “From Yesterday” and “The Kill.” The latter set a radio record for the longest-running hit in the history of Modern Rock radio play when it remained on the national airplay chart for more than 50 weeks following its No. 3 peak in 2006. “From Yesterday” was the band’s first No. 1 at the format. Its epic video was the first American music video ever shot in the People’s Republic of China.
30 Seconds to Mars’ new album is a collection of the thoughts and ideas that the band (which also includes drummer Shannon Leto and guitarist Tomo Miličević) have experienced after spending several years on the road. The songs reflect a willingness to take chances and create a pivotal, game-changing album. As Flood recently told Billboard.com: “These guys wanted to move into a different place and that’s always a big challenge. They had established themselves very firmly in one arena when Jared first talked to me. It was about trying to make a ‘classic album,’ and that’s by pushing themselves and me to a place that you may not have expected to go, so it requires truth, honesty, and a lot of hard work. Those sorts of things I find very rewarding.”
“It’s great to finally move forward and focus on what’s most important to us all— the music,” says Jared Leto. “We are excited about starting over with the many talented people at Virgin/EMI, and to sharing our new music with the fans in the very near future. We will never forget the unrelenting support from all our friends, family, and fans around the world.”
“We are thrilled to have set aside our differences and signed a new agreement with 30 Seconds to Mars,” says Nick Gatfield, EMI Music’s President of A&R Labels – North America & the UK. “Our relationship has been extremely rewarding and successful, and we’re eager to move forward and put our global team to work on the brilliant new album they are recording with Flood.”
“I am excited to be a part of 30 Seconds to Mars’ next chapter,” says Rob Stevenson, President of Virgin A&R Labels. “Not only are they one of the most important bands in rock music today, but I admire their commitment to the online world. It has made them digital pioneers in terms of reaching fans where they live and breathe music.”
Formed by Jared and Shannon Leto in 1998, 30 Seconds to Mars have won numerous awards and accolades, including an MTV Video Music Award, three MTV EMA, an MTV Latin and Asia Award, a Fuse Award, and three Kerrang! awards. They have nearly 500 live performances under their belts since the release of A Beautiful Life, which has earned them a growing, loyal, global fan base. The band is also known as one of the world’s most progressive online. Their fans — dubbed The Echelon — participate in both band and charity-driven activities. Thirty Seconds to Mars now boast more than 28 million plays on MySpace, more than one million fans on iLike/Facebook and have received more than 100 million views on YouTube.
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