James Laurie better known by his stage name Jonny 5, is the singer and founder of the American musical group, Flobots

Flobots

The Flobots are a political rock and hip hop musical group from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2000 by Jamie Laurie. Flobots found mainstream success with their major label debut Fight with Tools , featuring the single "Handlebars", which became a popular hit on Modern Rock radio in April 2008.-Early...

. He is the only member who has been with the band since its inception in 2000. His rap influences include Andre 3000

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.

He was a para at East High School in Denver, Colorado, tasked with the management of the school's tutoring center; he left East High School when the Flobots became signed. While still working at East High School, Jamie was involved in many clubs and activities including PeaceJam and a hip-hop club. He also graduated from East High.

Career with Flobots

Jonny 5 formed the Flobots in 2000 while teaming up with producer Farhad Ebrahimi a.k.a. Yahktoe. Together they released the independently released album Onomatopoeia in 2001, and the title track ended up in a compilation by the MIT Songwriting Club (Yahktoe's alma mater). The title track featured guitar player David Gralow, cello player Terrence Favors, and bass player Jaymz Haynes.

After the release of Jonny 5 and Yak's Onomatopoeia album, the Jonny 5 went on an extended hiatus. It was 2005 that Jonny 5 decided to form a new band with another lead MC, Brer Rabbit. Instead, he (along with Brer Rabbit) decided to keep the Flobots name, adding five new members Mackenzie Gault on viola, Jesse Walker on bass, Andy Guerrero (from funk band Bop Skizzum) on guitar, Joe Ferrone (also from Bop Skizzum) on trumpet, and Kenny Ortiz on drums. In October 2005, the revamped Flobots released their second album, Flobots Present...Platypus

Flobots Present...Platypus

Flobots Present... Platypus is the first EP by the band Flobots, released in 2005.The song "Handlebars" was re-recorded and re-released two years later for their next album, Fight with Tools...

, which went on to sell over 3000 copies over the next two years.

Flobots are currently signed to Universal Republic, who re-issued their second album, Fight with Tools

Fight with Tools

Fight with Tools is the debut album by Flobots released in October 2007 and re-released on May 20, 2008. It features the single "Handlebars", which became a popular hit on Modern Rock radio the following April...

, which was originally released in October 2007. The album sold very well, due to the success of its lead single "Handlebars

Handlebars (song)

"Handlebars" is a song by Flobots. It was released as the first single from their debut album, Fight with Tools and is the group's largest success, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks in just less than three weeks after the single's release....

", which became a popular hit on Modern Rock radio

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 in the spring of 2008. In the week of June 7, 2008, the album jumped on the Billboard 200 chart 168 places and peaked at #15, proving to be the band's most successful album to date.

The 2010 Flobots album, Survival Story

Survival Story

-Singles:"White Flag Warrior" was the first single from the album, released digitally on 2 February 2010.-Personnel:Group members*Jamie Laurie – vocals, songwriter, guitar, drums, bass, keyboard*Andy Guererro – guitars, background vocals*Kenny Ortiz – drums...

, produced by Mario Caldato (of Beastie Boys

Beastie Boys

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fame), was released on March 16, 2010.