History of Semisonic in Timeline
Semisonic is an American rock band formed in Minneapolis in 1995, composed of Dan Wilson, John Munson, and Jacob Slichter. They are primarily recognized in the United States for their 1998 hit song, "Closing Time", which reached the top 20.
1995: Semisonic Formation
In 1995, Semisonic was formed in Minneapolis with members Dan Wilson, John Munson, and Jacob Slichter.
1995: Name change to Semisonic and EP Release
In 1995, the band changed their name to Semisonic and released an EP, Pleasure, on CherryDisc.
1996: Release of 'Great Divide'
In 1996, Semisonic released their full-length studio album 'Great Divide' on MCA.
1998: Release of "Closing Time"
In 1998, Semisonic released "Closing Time" which became a top-20 single in the U.S.
1998: Feeling Strangely Fine Album Success
In 1998, Semisonic's second album, Feeling Strangely Fine, reached the Top 50 chart, driven by the hit single "Closing Time".
1999: "Secret Smile" UK Radio Success
In the summer of 1999, Semisonic's song "Secret Smile" became a UK radio favorite, eventually reaching No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
2001: Munson Joins The Flops
In 2001, John Munson joined Matt Wilson to form a side project called The Flops.
2001: Release of All About Chemistry Album
In early 2001, Semisonic released its third album, All About Chemistry. Also in 2001, the song "Over My Head" was used in the movie Summer Catch.
2004: Publication of Slichter's Book
In 2004, Jacob Slichter's book So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star was published, detailing the band's touring experiences.
2005: Expected Final Performance of The Flops
In early 2005, it was expected that The Flops would make a final performance.
2005: Munson Joins The New Standards
In late spring of 2005, John Munson began playing in a new jazz trio, The New Standards.
October 2007: Wilson's Solo Album Release
In October 2007, Rick Rubin's label American Recordings released Dan Wilson's solo album, Free Life, which featured collaborations with Munson and Slichter.
2008: Wilson Reveals Meaning of "Closing Time"
During a 2008 performance at Harvard's Sanders Theatre, Dan Wilson shared that "Closing Time" was originally written about the birth of his first child.
2009: Munson and Wilson Form The Twilight Hours
In 2009, John Munson and Matt Wilson reunited to form a new band called The Twilight Hours.
2016: The Twilight Hours Release Black Beauty
In 2016, The Twilight Hours, featuring John Munson and Matt Wilson, released their second album, Black Beauty.
June 2017: Great Divide Anniversary Shows
In June 2017, Semisonic reunited for a series of three shows to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of their first album, Great Divide.
December 2017: Feeling Strangely Fine Anniversary Shows
In December 2017, Semisonic played shows in the Twin Cities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their second album, Feeling Strangely Fine.
2017: New Songs Performed
From 2017 to 2019, the band performed new, unreleased songs, including "Basement Tapes", "All It Would Take", and "You're Not Alone".
2018: Feeling Strangely Fine Rerelease
In 2018, Feeling Strangely Fine was re-released for its twentieth anniversary, including its first vinyl pressing and four additional songs.
July 2019: Summerfest and Basilica Block Party Performances
In July 2019, Semisonic performed at Summerfest in Milwaukee and at the Basilica Block Party in Minneapolis.
June 26, 2020: Release of "You're Not Alone" Single
On June 26, 2020, Semisonic released the single "You're Not Alone", which was their first new material in 19 years.
September 18, 2020: Release of You're Not Alone EP
On September 18, 2020, Semisonic released the full You're Not Alone EP.
2020: Release of You're Not Alone EP
In 2020, Semisonic released the You're Not Alone EP, marking their first studio release in many years.
June 2, 2023: Start of Last Summer on Earth Tour
On June 2, 2023, Semisonic began supporting Barenaked Ladies on the Last Summer on Earth 2023 tour.
June 26, 2023: End of Last Summer on Earth Tour
On June 26, 2023, Semisonic finished supporting Barenaked Ladies on the Last Summer on Earth 2023 tour.
November 3, 2023: Release of Little Bit of Sun Album
On November 3, 2023, Semisonic released its full album, Little Bit of Sun, featuring twelve songs.
2023: First Avenue Anniversary Shows
In 2023, on January 27th and 28th, Semisonic played two shows at First Avenue to celebrate the 18th anniversary of Twin Cities public radio station The Current.
2023: Release of Singles from Little Bit of Sun
In the summer of 2023, Semisonic began releasing singles from its upcoming album, Little Bit of Sun, including "Little Bit of Sun," "Grow Your Own," and "The Rope."
