I See Stars

History

Brothers Devin and Andrew Oliver played music together since they were young children and lived in the same neighborhood as guitarist Brent Allen. Devin stated: "me, Brent, the drummer's my brother, and the bass player, Jeff, we all lived on the block from each other since we were kids, [in] elementary school." The group officially started in 2006 under the name I See Stars—which according to Devin there isn't any meaning behind the name other than the fact that they "needed a title" and someone brought it to the table.

The group released its debut EP Green Light Go! in 2007 and several raw demo tracks onto their MySpace profile before signing with Sumerian Records in 2008. Their debut album, 3-D, was recorded in 2008 at Chango Gridlock Studios in Orlando, Florida, with producer Cameron Mizell. The album featured Zach Johnson as the screamer and keyboardist. Johnson left the band soon after the album's release on April 14, 2009, due to personal problems he felt interfered with him while on tour.

Chris Moore, formerly of We Came as Romans and a merchandise salesman for the group, joined as the new screamer and keyboardist. In August 2009, I See Stars embarked on the second annual "Artery Foundation Across the Nation" tour, headlined by Emarosa with supporters Our Last Night, In Fear and Faith, Burden of a Day and Broadway. In 2010, I See Stars finished touring with Attack Attack!, Breathe Carolina, Asking Alexandria and Bury Tomorrow for the third annual Artery Foundation Across the Nation tour.

On June 14, 2010, Chris Moore announced his departure from the band, citing "artistic differences". After being asked to re-join, Zach Johnson returned to the band and joined them on Warped Tour 2010. The group entered the studio in March 2010 to begin writing and recording their sophomore studio album called The End of the World Party with Sumerian Records and 3-D producer Cameron Mizell. Almost immediately after finishing the album, the band played Vans Warped Tour from June 24 to July 18, 2010.

The band released a preview of their second album's title track, "The End of the World Party", on November 4, 2010, to Sumerian Records' YouTube page. The full version of the title track was released to iTunes on December 7, 2010. The band revealed the album's track listing on January 2, 2011. On February 1, 2011, Alternative Press started streaming a new song from the album entitled "Wonderland".

The full album was released on February 22, 2011. On May 31, 2011, the band made their national television debut, while performing the songs "Glow" and "What This Means to Me" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The band's third studio album, Digital Renegade, was released on March 14, 2012, produced by Joey Sturgis. On August 30, 2012, all members of the band were arrested in Saline County, Kansas, for possessing and intending to use "hallucinogenic drugs", though it was not specified which drugs.

Lead vocalist Devin Oliver commented on Twitter that he "just had the worst 13 hours of [his] life". After the band's release from jail, a new single titled "The Hardest Mistakes" was released on October 9, 2012, featuring Cassadee Pope. The band's fourth studio album, New Demons, was released on October 22, 2013, produced by Joey Sturgis. Klayton of Celldweller programmed four tracks on the album.

The band later announced that they recorded a "heavier" song featuring vocalist Frank Palmeri of Emmure and a cameo appearance by Mattie Montgomery of For Today. That song, "Can We Start Again", was released on YouTube on May 12, 2013. On June 17, 2013, Alternative Press published an exclusive premiere of the first single from New Demons entitled "Violent Bounce (People Like ¥øμ)". During Warped Tour 2013, the band played "Ten Thousand Feet" as a preview to New Demons.

On September 24, the band released the second single titled "Murder Mitten". On October 8, I See Stars released the title track "New Demons" as a free song to those who pre-ordered the album. On August 27, 2013, the band announced their North American headlining tour Started From The Bottom Now We Here with The Word Alive, Crown the Empire, and guests Dayshell, Get Scared, and Palisades, beginning in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the Historic Sunshine Theater on October 29 and ending in St. Louis on November 24.

In 2015, the band released a remix album, titled Phases. The band's lineup remained unchanged (excluding the brief departure of keyboardist and vocalist Zach Johnson in 2009, who returned the following year) from their formation in 2006 up until mid-2015, when the group announced the departure of Johnson and rhythm guitarist Jimmy Gregerson. Their fifth studio album and the first album featuring the new lineup, Treehouse, was released in 2016. They released an EP, Treehouse (Acoustic), in 2018.

After nearly a seven-year hiatus, I See Stars teased their return by posting a polaroid picture on their Instagram account featuring a lyric to their song "Drift", which later dropped in the single "Split" in August 2024. In September 2025, they released their sixth studio album titled The Wheel.