6 episodes

20 years ago I helped start a band that was going to be the next big thing on a tiny indie record label out of Gainesville, Florida. 10 years later Fueled By Ramen Records had set the music industry on fire, but our band had burned itself out. Alternative Press said we made one of the ten most influential records of 1999, and members of incredibly successful, multi-platinum acts like Fall Out Boy and Fun. sang our praises, but most people have never even heard of us. So what happened? This is the story of THE STEREO.

Kings of No Hope: The Story of The Stereo Rory Phillips

    • Music
    • 4.9 • 44 Ratings

20 years ago I helped start a band that was going to be the next big thing on a tiny indie record label out of Gainesville, Florida. 10 years later Fueled By Ramen Records had set the music industry on fire, but our band had burned itself out. Alternative Press said we made one of the ten most influential records of 1999, and members of incredibly successful, multi-platinum acts like Fall Out Boy and Fun. sang our praises, but most people have never even heard of us. So what happened? This is the story of THE STEREO.

    Bonus LIVE Episode: The End is the Beginning - New album THIRTEEN out now!

    Bonus LIVE Episode: The End is the Beginning - New album THIRTEEN out now!

    Join Scott Heisel (former Managing Editor, Alternative Press) and The Stereo for a special LIVE Bonus Episode to celebrate the release of their new album, THIRTEEN - available now on all major streaming platforms. 

    Host: Scott Heisel 

    The Stereo: Chris Serafini, Sam Hardwig, Rory Phillips, and Jamie Woolford 

    Producer: Jonathan London 

    Executive Producer: Rory Phillips 

    Twitter:@RoryATX Instagram:@RoryATX 

    You can find the The Stereo at thestereorock.com and on all major music streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.

    • 1 hr 43 min
    Episode Five: Just Let Go

    Episode Five: Just Let Go

    Series Finale

    The Stereo return to Europe, this time with a completely different line-up. The first trek across the Atlantic had ultimately led to Jamie firing all the other members and rebuilding the band from scratch, and this was a chance to rewrite some of that painful history. Unfortunately, new obstacles would replace the old ones, and the band would find itself coming to terms with unexpected chaos and gut wrenching decisions. Decisions that, despite being designed to shore up the band’s foundation, could only delay its inevitable collapse.



    Hosted, Written and Produced by Rory Phillips

    Twitter:@RoryATX Instagram:@RoryATX



    You can find the The Stereo at thestereorock.com and on all major music streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.



    This episode features excerpts from interviews with Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Andrew Dost (Fun.), Ryan Seaman (I Don't Know How But They Found Me), Scott Heisel (former Managing Editor, Alternative Press), Adam Samiljan (former VP Digital Marketing, Fueled By Ramen), and Vinnie Fiorello (Less Than Jake, Co-founder of Fueled By Ramen).

    • 35 min
    Episode Four: Pay No Attention

    Episode Four: Pay No Attention

    After its most significant lineup change to date, The Stereo were now ready to move on and release new music with bassist Chris Serafini and drummer BJ Wuollet. The title of their next record - Rewind + Record - was a not particularly subtle allusion to the idea of starting over. The last time The Stereo made an album, Jamie ended up releasing a record he couldn’t even listen to. This was a chance to erase that past, go back to the beginning, and get it right.



    Hosted, Written and Produced by Rory Phillips

    Twitter:@RoryATX Instagram:@RoryATX



    You can find the The Stereo at thestereorock.com and on all major music streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.

    • 28 min
    Episode Three: Please Don’t Break My Heart

    Episode Three: Please Don’t Break My Heart

    After Rory got kicked out, The Stereo became Jamie Woolford, the two Jeremys - Bergo and Tappero - and a revolving door of rhythm guitar replacements. After seeing some success from the release of the “New Tokyo is Calling” EP, The Stereo’s next album seemed like it would be the one that finally broke through. Jamie shares how his relentless ambition and the conflict that it caused turned the band members away from being a winning team, and Jeremy Tappero provides the context on how a new musical endeavor would lead them to becoming bitter adversaries.



    Hosted, Written and Produced by Rory Phillips

    Twitter:@RoryATX Instagram:@RoryATX



    You can find The Stereo at thestereorock.com and on all major music streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.

    • 32 min
    Episode Two: You Can’t Go Home Again

    Episode Two: You Can’t Go Home Again

    In 1999 The Stereo released the debut album Three Hundred on Fueled By Ramen Records. Born of humble means in a basement in Minneapolis, Three Hundred culled together the best new songs from two idiosyncratic songwriters and forged it into what felt like the launching point for an unstoppable rise to power pop fame and fortune. The next step would be putting the band together and then hitting the road for a never-ending string of tours - but one member of the original power duo would ultimately not end up coming with.



    Hosted, Written and Produced by Rory Phillips

    Twitter:@RoryATX Instagram:@RoryATX



    You can find the The Stereo at thestereorock.com and on all major music streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.



    This episode features excerpts from interviews with Scott Heisel (former Managing Editor, Alternative Press), and Jeff Rosenstock.

    • 30 min
    Episode One: Devotion

    Episode One: Devotion

    20 years ago I helped start a band that was going to be the next big thing on a tiny indie record label out of Gainesville, Florida. 10 years later Fueled By Ramen Records had set the music industry on fire, but our band had burned itself out. It was a cautionary tale of bad blood and missed opportunities, but music icons like Jack Antonoff took note of our influence on the scene. Alternative Press said we made one of the 10 most influential records of 1999, and members of incredibly successful, multi-platinum acts like Fall Out Boy and Fun. sang our praises, but most people have never even heard of us. So what happened? This is the story of THE STEREO.



    Hosted, Written and Produced by Rory Phillips

    Twitter:@RoryATX Instagram:@RoryATX



    You can find The Stereo at thestereorock.com and on all major music streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.



    This episode features excerpts from interviews with Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional), Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Ryan Seaman (I Don't Know How But They Found Me), Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory), Adam Samiljan (former VP Digital Marketing, Fueled By Ramen), and Vinnie Fiorello (Less Than Jake, Co-founder of Fueled By Ramen).

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
44 Ratings

44 Ratings

damnedcat777 ,

Found this band on complete accident…

I was living across the street from UNLV in 2000, having just completed a one year contract drumming in a casino band (The Wild Celts), when I noticed a bunch of traffic (foot & car) at the strip mall on the corner. Feeling intrigued, I pulled in, parked, and walked into a packed all-ages club right before this band stepped up, plugged in, and ripped through their entire set. I bought the CD (Three Hundred) on the spot and I’ve been a huge fan ever since.

Finally, with this podcast, I can get the whole backstory. Because, for the life of me, I still can’t figure out how these guys didn’t become unbelievably huge…

TMCarren ,

Better than any VH-1 Behind the Music

As someone who has always been obsessed with The Stereo, Rory’s podcast is an incredible gift. It was always apparent that there was turmoil behind the scenes but the band didn’t exist in the era we’re in now, where information and news is everywhere. After all these years, to get the juicy gossip and everything that went down is unbelievable. And the way Rory has edited it all together just adds to the entertainment. Thank you Rory! And thank you, Jamie, for humbly sharing your disasters with us!

claudiorivera ,

Awesome band with quite a legacy

Only one episode in, but this is really well done! Anyone who’s a fan of Fall Out Boy or Panic At The Disco should do themselves a favor and hear who those bands owe huge parts of their sound to.

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