The Driver Era

The Driver Era (TDE) (stylized as THE DRIVER ERΛ) is an American music duo consisting of brothers Rocky and Ross Lynch. Both are former members of the now defunct R5.^[4][5]

The Driver Era
The Driver Era performing in Melbourne, Australia in 2022
Background information
Also known as	THE DRIVER ERΛ
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock^[1] funk^[2] R&B^[3]
Years active	2018–present
Labels	TOO Records BMG
Members	Ross Lynch Rocky Lynch
Website	www.thedriverera.com

History

2018–present: R5 to The Driver Era and Preacher Man

On March 1, 2018, R5's Instagram and Twitter handles were changed to The Driver Era and all of R5's previous posts were deleted. On March 2, 2018, Ross announced via Instagram story that The Driver Era would be a band consisting of him and his brother Rocky.^[6] On the same day as their social media changes, previews of their debut single "Preacher Man" were posted on Twitter and Instagram.^[7] The name 'The Driver Era' came from a conversation between Rocky and Ross during a car ride to a party, and the brothers agreed that this name encompassed where their music was headed.^{[8][9][failed verification]}

On March 16, 2018, they released "Preacher Man", along with its video a few weeks later. This single was met with high amounts of praise from the alternative/indie music scene. The video was based around a mixture of religions and sins. "Preacher Man" became the band's iconic song from the offing, the band having only released that song for a long period of time. The band also teased "Mary Jane", a song which was performed by Rocky but has never been released. This song was suspected to be their next single but that never came around.

On May 25, 2018, The Driver Era released two special remixes of "Preacher Man". On August 24, 2018, The Driver Era released a new single, "Afterglow", originally being released via YouTube before eventually being put onto Spotify. Along this period, the band also leaked their own song "My Silver Lining Is Overdue", a track which was due to be used in the film "Turnover" featuring band member and brother, Riker Lynch.

On October 26, 2018, The Driver Era released a new single, "Low ", followed by a special remix a few months later. "Low" was popular for being the band's first official single that was sung by guitarist and producer Rocky Lynch, as opposed to by being sung by vocalist Ross Lynch.

On March 29, 2019, The Driver Era released a new single, "Feel You Now", followed by its video a few weeks later. This came after the band teased multiple songs throughout a YouTube video titled "Haven't left the garage" including "Feel You now", "Welcome To The End Of Your Life", "San Francisco" and "Scared of Heights". Alongside those 4 songs was a unnamed song that is yet to be revealed.

On April 26, 2019, The Driver Era released a new single, "Welcome to the End of your Life", followed by its video a few weeks later. This was a song the band had teased multiple times throughout 2019 up until the point of release, revealing how it was a song that excited them during the production.

On June 13, 2019, The Driver Era premiered their new music video for "Low" and announced their debut studio album, titled "X".^[10][11] The album was released on June 28, 2019, including the previous singles and a handful of new songs that had previously been performed on the tour.

On October 25, 2019, The Driver Era released two singles, "A Kiss" and "Forever Always".^[12][13]

On April 2, 2020, The Driver Era released more two singles "OMG Plz Don’t Come Around" and "Flashdrive", from their upcoming second album, rumored to be released in the late summer, which would later be delayed primarily due to the Covid-19 pandemic putting strains on the band's 'creative juices'.

On April 23, 2021, during a Youtube Live dedicated to MTV Friday Livestream's 1st birthday, The Driver Era announced their new single "Heaven Angel", to be released within the following four weeks. Weeks later, the band released "#1 Fan" and "Leave Me Feeling Confident" before finally announcing and then releasing "Girlfriend", their second studio album. Following by "The Girlfriend Tour" with dates in US, Asia, Australia and Europe in both 2021 and 2022.

On June 30, 2022, The Driver Era released a new single, "Keep Moving Forward" featuring Nikka Costa, and "Malibu" on July 28, 2022. On August 4, 2022, The Driver Era announced their third studio album, titled "Summer Mixtape", which released on September 16, 2022.

Band members

Current members

• Ross Lynch (2018–present) – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Rocky Lynch (2018–present) – lead guitar, vocals

Touring members

Current

• Riker Lynch (2018–present) – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Dave Briggs (2022–present) – drums
• Garrison Jones (2022–present) – keyboards

Former

• Ellington Ratliff (2018–2019; 2022) – drums, percussion, backing vocals
• Rydel Lynch (2018–2021) – keyboards, backing vocals
• Chase Meyer (2020–2021) – drums, percussion

Discography

The Driver Era discography
Studio albums	3
Music videos	18
EPs	3
Singles	19
Promotional singles	2

Studio albums

Title	Album details
X	Released: June 28, 2019^[14] Formats: Digital download, streaming Label: BMG
Girlfriend	Released: October 15, 2021^[15] Formats: CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl Label: BMG
Summer Mixtape	Released: September 16, 2022^[16] Formats: CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl, cassette Label: TOO Records

Extended plays

Title	EP details
A Kiss / Forever Always	Released: October 25, 2019^[17] Formats: Digital download, streaming Label: BMG
Some Remixes of X	Released: January 10, 2020^[18] Formats: Digital download, streaming Label: BMG
OMG Plz Don’t Come Around / Flashdrive	Released: April 2, 2020^[19] Formats: Digital download, streaming Label: BMG

Singles

Title	Year	Album
"Preacher Man"^[20]	2018	X
"Afterglow"^[21]
"Low"^[22]
"Feel You Now"^[23]	2019
"Welcome to the End of Your Life"^[24]
"A Kiss"^[25]		Girlfriend
"Forever Always"^[26]
"OMG Plz Don't Come Around"^[27]	2020
"Flashdrive"^[28]
"Take Me Away"^[29]
"Places"^[30]
"Fade"^[31]
"Heaven Angel"^[32]	2021
"#1 Fan"^[33]
"Leave Me Feeling Confident"^[34]
"Heart of Mine"^[35]
"Keep Moving Forward"^[36] (featuring Nikka Costa)	2022	Summer Mixtape
"Malibu"^[37]
"Fantasy"
"Rumors"	2023	TBA

Promotional singles

Song	Year	Album
"Nobody Knows"	2019	X
"Slowdown" (The Driver Era Remix)^[38] (with Smallpools and Morgxn)	2020	Non-album promotional single

Guest appearances

Title	Year	Other artist(s)	Album
"Cool Girl"	2018	New Beat Fund	Chillanthrophy^[39]

Music videos

Title	Year	Director(s)	Ref.
"Preacher Man"	2018	Unknown	^[40]
"Feel You Now"	2019	Gordy De St. Jeor	^[41]
"Welcome to the End of Your Life"		Stefano Bertelli	^[42]
"Low"		Ross Lynch and Gordy De St. Jeor	^[43]
"Forever Always"		Gordy De St. Jeor, Ross Lynch and Ryland Lynch	^[44]
"A Kiss"		Ryland Lynch and Gordy De St. Jeor	^[45]
"OMG Plz Don't Come Around"	2020	Amber Robb	^[46]
"Flashdrive"		Gordy De St. Jeor	^[47]
"Take Me Away"		Ross Lynch, Ryland Lynch, Gordy De St. Jeor and Rocky Lynch	^[48]
"Places"		Ross Lynch	^[49]
"Fade"		Amber Robb	^[50]
"Heaven Angel"	2021	Gordy De St. Jeor and Ryland Lynch	^[51]
"#1 Fan"		Ross Lynch and Rocky Lynch	^[52]
"Leave Me Feeling Confident" (Live)		Jesse DeFlorio	^[53]
"Heart of Mine"		Riker Lynch	^[54]
"Keep Moving Forward"	2022	Tate Warner	^[55]
"Malibu"			^[56]
"Fantasy"		Gordy De St. Jeor	^[57]

Tours

Headlining

• The Driver Era Live! (2019)
• The Girlfriend Tour (2021–2022)
• Summer Tour 2022 (2022)

References

1. "Who (And What) Are THE DRIVER ERA? We Find Out in Our Latest Interview - Magnetic Magazine". Magnetic Magazine.
2. "The Driver Era: "Music is a lifelong companion for us" | Dork". 18 October 2021.
3. "Q&A: THE DRIVER ERA discusses musical trajectory, shares themes of album 'Girlfriend'".
4. "Official Biography".
5. "Preacher Man - Single by The Driver Era on Apple Music". Apple Music. 16 March 2018.
6. "Ross's note to R5 Family". Shine On Media. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
7. "The Driver Era Previews First Single "Preacher Man" – Listen!". Shine On Media. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
8. Ross & Rocky Lynch talk The Driver Era, R5 & The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Retrieved 2020-03-10 – via YouTube.
9. "Press". thedriverera.com. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
10. "TR5 Members Ross & Rocky Lynch Talk New Project The Driver Era". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
11. "The Driver Era's New Song 'Preacher Man' Makes Us Wanna Dance". Paper Magazine. 17 March 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
12. The Driver Era - A Kiss (Official Video). Retrieved 2020-03-10 – via YouTube.
13. The Driver Era - Forever Always (Official Video). Retrieved 2020-03-10 – via YouTube.
14. "X by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. June 28, 2019.
15. "Girlfriend by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. October 15, 2021.
16. "Summer Mixtape by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. September 16, 2022.
17. "A Kiss / Forever Always - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. October 25, 2019.
18. "Some Remixes of X - EP by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. January 10, 2020.
19. "OMG Plz Don't Come Around / Flashdrive - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. April 2, 2019.
20. "Preacher Man - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. March 16, 2018.
21. "Afterglow - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. July 3, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
22. "Low - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". Spotify. October 26, 2018.
23. "Feel You Now - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". Spotify. March 29, 2019.
24. "Welcome to the End of Your Life - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". Spotify. April 26, 2019.
25. "A Kiss / Forever Always - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. October 25, 2019.
26. "A Kiss / Forever Always - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. October 25, 2019.
27. "OMG Plz Don't Come Around / Flashdrive - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. April 2, 2020.
28. "OMG Plz Don't Come Around / Flashdrive - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. April 2, 2020.
29. "Take Me Away - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. July 10, 2020.
30. "Places - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. August 7, 2020.
31. "Fade - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. September 25, 2020.
32. "Heaven Angel - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. July 9, 2021.
33. "#1 Fan - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". Spotify. August 5, 2021.
34. "Leave Me Feeling Confident - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". Spotify. September 15, 2021.
35. "Heart of Mine". Twitter. October 27, 2021.
36. "Keep Moving Forward (feat. Nikka Costa) - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. June 30, 2022.
37. "Malibu - Single by THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. July 28, 2022.
38. "slowdown (The Driver Era Remix) - Single by Smallpools, morgxn & THE DRIVER ERA". iTunes. June 26, 2020.
39. "Chillanthropy - EP by New Beat Fund". iTunes. July 20, 2018.
40. THE DRIVER ERA - Preacher Man (Official Video). March 21, 2018 – via YouTube.
41. The Driver Era - Feel You Now (Official Video). April 16, 2019 – via YouTube.
42. The Driver Era - Welcome to the End of Your Life (Official Video). April 30, 2019 – via YouTube.
43. The Driver Era - LOW (Official Video). June 6, 2019 – via YouTube.
44. The Driver Era - Forever Always (Official Video). November 8, 2019 – via YouTube.
45. The Driver Era - A Kiss (Official Video). December 3, 2019 – via YouTube.
46. The Driver Era - OMG Plz Don't Come Around. April 1, 2020 – via YouTube.
47. The Driver Era - flashdrive. April 21, 2020 – via YouTube.
48. THE DRIVER ERA - Take Me Away (Official Video). July 24, 2020 – via YouTube.
49. THE DRIVER ERA - Places (Official Video). August 27, 2020 – via YouTube.
50. THE DRIVER ERA - Fade. September 25, 2020 – via YouTube.
51. THE DRIVER ERA - Heaven Angel (Official Video). July 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
52. THE DRIVER ERA - #1 Fan (Official Video). August 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
53. THE DRIVER ERA - Leave Me Feeling Confident (Live). October 11, 2021 – via YouTube.
54. THE DRIVER ERA - Heart Of Mine (Official Video). October 27, 2021 – via YouTube.
55. THE DRIVER ERA - Keep Moving Forward ft. Nikka Costa (Official Video). July 7, 2022 – via YouTube.
56. THE DRIVER ERA - Malibu (Official Video). August 4, 2022 – via YouTube.
57. THE DRIVER ERA - Fantasy (Official Video). September 16, 2022 – via YouTube.