Several song titles on Matchbox Twenty’s debut album, Yourself or Someone Like You, could have summed up the record’s fateful release day: “Damn,” “Shame,” “Real World,” and “Busted.” The band awoke on Oct. 1, 1996, as 20-something rockers proudly dropping their first album, but the revelry was short-lived. In an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone, Doucette and Thomas shared that the intimate Oct. 12 event at the Fonda Theatre will see them perform the 12-times-platinum album in its entirety. Fans can register to buy tickets during on-sales on Oct. 8 and 9.
It was a few miles from the Fonda where Thomas and Doucette (besties who formed Florida band Tabitha’s Secret with Brian “Pookie” Yale, before recruiting Kyle Cook and Adam Gaynor to become Matchbox Twenty) were so captivated by a Café Largo performer dedicating a song to “you, or someone like you” that they stopped the presses of their CD debut, originally called Woodshed Diaries, for a new title. The name change caused a six-week delay, after which Atlantic Records imprint Lava Records imploded on the album’s scheduled drop date. It was an especially shaky period given debut single “Long Day” wasn’t performing well, and it would be months before “Push” took off (eventually landing YOSLY top 10 spots in the U.S., New Zealand and Australia).
Many more hurdles rained down in the three decades that followed — music industry changes, family demands, divorces, the pandemic, microphone mishaps, and recently, a management switch. Editor’s picks The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century However, the greatest cracks emerged as Thomas’ solo career took flight following his 2005 debut …Something to Be. The chart-topping album was followed by 2009’s Cradlesong, before Matchbox reunited for 2012’s North.
As 2016 neared, Thomas’ bandmates expected to reconvene for a 20th anniversary tour, however he was focused on 2015’s The Great Unknown, largely inspired by wife Marisol’s grueling health battles. Although his tour wrapped in early 2016, the band never pulled together a summer jaunt. I’ve just got to get through 2014 and 2015, then I’m going to tour.
I’ve got that to look forward to.’ Then you’ve got a kid and a house, so you start organizing your life thinking this big thing’s going to happen. That was breaking point.” “We’d managed to ride the wave of Rob’s solo career for a long time,” Doucette, 54, continues. I remember one particularly big fight between Rob and I in Mexico City that was not fun.
And we don’t ever fight about personal things — it’s always about scheduling and direction. We’d managed until 2016, then everything broke apart for a minute.” The band learned Cook had quit the group through a social media post in which he cited communication issues, touring disagreements, and a breakdown of democracy. Thomas, 54, is quick to note Cook’s exit came while Matchbox wasn’t active and that he returned in time for their next project.
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