Manchester Derby

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The band's origins trace back to Kenyon College, where Petricca formed Walk the Moon in 2006. Their early breakthrough came with the independent debut album *I Want! I Want!* released in November 2010. The track "Anna Sun," written by Petricca and Nick Lerangis as they left college, became a surprise summer hit in 2011 after being featured in an Esquire article titled "30 Summer Songs Every Man Should Listen To." Named after one of their favorite teachers, the song was described by Petricca as being about "maintaining that little bit of being a kid" and not fearing play. Influential blog Neon Gold helped break the band in January 2011, leading to an RCA Records signing in February. During this period, the band adopted a unique live tradition of painting their faces and sharing paint with audience members, a moment captured by Bonnaroo's camera crew in 2011.

In Their Own Story

In 2014, Walk the Moon reached new heights with the release of "Shut Up and Dance" on September 10. The song was inspired by an experience Petricca had at a Los Angeles nightclub when his girlfriend invited him to dance, sparking the idea for an anthem about letting go of frustration. It soared to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Alternative Songs chart. This success culminated in their second major-label album, *Talking Is Hard*, which was surprise-released on Spotify on November 24, 2014, before its official December 2 launch. The band performed "Shut Up and Dance" at the 43rd Annual American Music Awards on November 22, 2015, competing in categories like New Artist of the Year alongside Sam Hunt and Tove Lo. They also appeared on stage with Taylor Swift at Gillette Stadium during her 1989 tour on July 24, 2015.

Reader's Guide

Walk the Moon's discography offers a clear path through their evolution from indie darlings to mainstream rock stars. Start with *I Want! I Want!* (2010) to hear "Anna Sun," which was remixed by Fool's Gold and featured on *The Vampire Diaries*. Follow this with the self-titled major label debut *Walk the Moon* (2012), which included a re-recorded version of "Anna Sun" and singles like "Tightrope" used in an HP commercial. The band's peak era begins with the album *Talking Is Hard* (2014), featuring the hit "Shut Up and Dance" and "Different Colors." Their third studio album, *What If Nothing*, released on November 10, 2017, produced the number-one Alternative Songs chart-topper "One Foot." Fans can also explore their collaboration with Steve Aoki and Boehm on "Back 2 U" (May 2016) or their cover of the "Ghostbusters" theme included in the 2016 film soundtrack.

Did You Know?

• The band's name comes from The Police song "Walking on the Moon."
• "Anna Sun" was named after one of Nicholas Petricca and Nick Lerangis' favorite teachers.
• Walk the Moon adopted a live tradition of painting their faces and sharing paint with fans, documented by Bonnaroo in 2011.
• The album *Talking Is Hard* was surprise-released on Spotify on November 24, 2014, one week before its official release date.
• "One Foot" from the 2017 album *What If Nothing* reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.