Neon Trees is an American alternative rock band from Provo, Utah, with origins in Murrieta, California. The band received nationwide exposure in late 2008 when they opened several North American tour dates for the band The Killers. Not long after, the band was signed by Mercury Records and released their first full length album, Habits, in 2010. Their first single "Animal" climbed to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Alternative rock Chart.

Formed initially by neighbors Tyler Glenn (vocals, keyboards) and Chris Allen (guitar, vocals) the band made its first home in Provo, eventually adding Branden Campbell (bass guitar, vocals) and Elaine Bradley (drums, percussion, vocals) to the lineup. David Charles also plays with the band as touring guitarist. They first started playing under the name Neon Trees in late 2005 with five original members. The band's name originates from the lighted trees on the In-N-Out Burger signs, which inspired Tyler Glenn. In a strange twist of fate, it was later learned that Branden Campbell's father, who designed neon lights in Las Vegas, helped design the very lights that inspired Glenn. The band is well-known throughout Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah, where it was formed. All four members of Neon Trees are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

They released an EP called Becoming Different People in 2006 during the time of their first tour through California. The EP featured promising songs like "Snap the Flash", "Sister Stereo", "Modern Romantics", "Ashley Stevenson". They also recorded other unreleased tracks during the "Treehouse Sessions" in 2006.

The band's lineup soon narrowed down to four members with Branden Campbell and Elaine Bradley joining the group on bass and drums, respectively. Shortly thereafter, The Killers' drummer, Ronnie Vannucci Jr., went to watch the band play at a small club in Las Vegas as he had been in a Ska band called "Attaboy Skip" with Neon Trees bassist Branden Campbell prior to joining The Killers. Ronnie was impressed, and as a result they were chosen to open for The Killers for a string of dates on their 2008 North American tour. Vannucci later helped the band sign to major label Mercury Records, which was announced in late 2008. Additionally, the group was voted Band of the Year in 2009 by City Weekly, a popular Salt Lake City publication.

Although they had several prior independent releases, the band released its debut album at Mercury/Def Jam, Habits, on March 16, 2010."Animal" was chosen as the lead single and was shortly thereafter featured as the Free Single of the Week on iTunes in March 2010. They performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live on March 23, 2010, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on May 14, 2010, Lopez Tonight on October 18, 2010, Live! with Regis & Kelly on November 4, 2010, and TBS' Conan on November 24, 2010. They performed second single 1983 on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on January 13, 2011 and another stint on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Jan 18, 2011. They performed third single "Your Surrender" on Late Show with David Letterman on May 5, 2011 and a third appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Jun 10, 2011. Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 selected Animal as his Spin Magazine Pick of the Week. The song has also been featured on a commercial for Las Vegas and remixed by popular American DJ, Kaskade. The group has also released a digital EP of four remixes of the song, one of which by Tyler Glenn.

In 2010 the band covered Justin Bieber's song "Baby" as well as Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" Throughout the Spring of 2010 the band, along with Mutemath and Street Drum Corps, opened for the 30 Seconds To Mars tour Into The Wild. Subsequently, they headlined the Summer 2010 Bang The Gong Tour with Paper Tongues, MeTalkPretty, and Civil Twilight, performed a set to 7,000 at Lollapalooza, and are heading back out on tour with 30 Seconds To Mars in the Fall.

In November 2010, the band released a Christmas single called "Wish List". It was available for free on iTunes the first week it was released.[citation needed] In November 2010, Tyler and Elaine appeared as Neon Trees on Daryl Hall's monthly Internet concert series Live From Daryl's House. They performed four songs from "Habits", including "Animal" and "1983", as well as the Fleetwood Mac hit "Dreams" and Hall & Oates songs "Head Above Water" and "Adult Education".

Neon Trees released a live album "iTunes Live From SoHo" in November 2010 featuring eight live tracks: Calling My Name, Animal, Your Surrender, Never Tear Us Apart, In The Next Room, 1983, Love And Affection, and Sins Of My Youth.

From March 31, 2011 to April 23, 2011, they are also expected to open for My Chemical Romance during the North American leg of their World Contamination Tour. In September and October 2011, they opened for Duran Duran on the North American leg of the All You Need Is Now tour.

The band's song "Animal" was also performed by the cast of Glee in season two, episode fifteen, entitled "Sexy".

On November 11, 2011 Neon Trees posted a picture stating that they were working on a new album.

On December 7, 2011, an article published by Rolling Stone's website streamed the band's new song "Everybody Talks". On February 11, 2012, a video was posted on their official YouTube page, titled Neon Trees - Picture Show Teaser One / The New Album April 17, advertising their new album is to be released on April 17, 2012.

In March 2012, Neon Trees and their single "Everybody Talks" were featured in a commercial for the 2012 Buick Verano.

Neon Trees are the subject of a forthcoming episode of BYUtv's AUDIO-FILES.

From ArtistFacts.com:

According to drummer, Elaine Bradley, "Tyler's the quirky serious type who is really a goofball. Branden's the musical history encyclopedia. Chris is the manual labor. Being in this band is like an arranged marriage where divorce is not an option, and I'm OK with that."


Singer/guitarist, Tyler Glenn on warming up before shows: "I always warm up, something I learned from singing as a kid. I always do a lot of weird screams and yelps in the bathroom. We always get together and focus our energy before we go on. It's important that we're on the same page."

The members of Neon Trees are all big fans of Lady Gaga. Of the controversial star, Tyler Green said, "I think the band collectively enjoys her, but I myself am actually really inspired and moved by her as an artist. She is smarter than anyone really thinks, and she depends on her fans and bleeds for them. There isn't enough of that genuine spirit in music."

Although a well known band in Provo, Utah, the band didn't receive nationwide exposure until late 2008 when they were chosen as openers for several of The Killers' North American tour dates. Not long after, the band was signed by major record label Mercury Records and released their first full length album, Habits, in 2010.

The Neon Trees song, "Animal" was performed by the cast of the TV show, Glee. According to Tyler Glenn, "We think Glee is hilarious, gives an important focus back to the arts in school, and in an ever changing musical industry, promotes music in an interesting way. We're happy they love 'Animal.'"

Their debut album Habits is filled with '80s pop meshed with bombastic alt-rock choruses — like the Killers playing backup for Duran Duran. "Your Surrender" is a U2-style singalong, "1983" is a bratty dose of keyboard-driven pop punk and Hot 100 single "Animal" is an irresistibly catchy lovesick dance tune. The band's is pretty clear about its inspiration: "New Wave is basically all I listen to," says singer and guitarist Tyler Glenn.

The band doesn't preach their Mormon teachings in their songs, but none of them drink or party. "It's funny how backstage, if you say you're doing it for God or doing it for morals or for health, people say, 'That's stupid' or 'lame.' But if you say you've been sober for 10 years, they respect you because you've been through AA," Glenn says. "Half the people think I'm on drugs anyway, I've always had a drone-y southern California voice and worn sunglasses in an airport when I shouldn't."