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If you landed on this page, odds are you were looking up Highly Suspect and stumbled your way to this rag-tag of a page. Good on ya!

We've answered a few of the most frequently asked questions about Highly Suspect below, so get to know them and their tunes - and scroll down further to see the latest content and updates about the band.

Highly Suspect are touring NZ this November

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7 June 2023

Highly Suspect are made up of three band members:

Johnny Stevens (vocals, guitar)
Rich Meyer (bass, backing vocals)
Ryan Meyer (drums, backing vocals)

Highly Suspect got their name from a line in a song called "Highly Suspicious" by the band My Morning Jacket. According to an interview with the band, they were listening to that song and misheard the lyrics as "highly suspect" instead of "highly suspicious." They found the phrase intriguing and decided to adopt it as their band name, feeling that it had a mysterious and edgy quality that suited their music and image.

As of today (7 June 2023), Highly Suspect have released four studio albums - Mister Asylum (2015), The Boy Who Died Wolf (2016), MCID (2019) and their most recent album, The Midnight Demon Club (2022).

Prior to that, the band released four EPs - First Offense (2009), The Gang Lion (2010), The Worst Humans (2012) and Black Ocean (2013).

Some of Highly Suspect's most popular songs include: "My Name Is Human", "Lydia", "16", "Bloodfeather", "Natural Born Killer", "Little One", "These Days", "Serotonia", "Wolf", "Bath Salts", "Look Alive, Stay Alive", and "Upperdrugs".

The story of Highly Suspect begins in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where brothers Rich Meyer (bass) and Ryan Meyer (drums) grew up. They had a deep passion for music and played in various bands throughout their youth. In 2009, they met Johnny Stevens (vocals, guitar) when he moved to Cape Cod. The three musicians quickly bonded over their shared love for rock music and decided to form a band together.

Highly Suspect started playing gigs at local venues, honing their sound and building a dedicated local following through their energetic live performances. Their music drew influences from alternative rock, blues rock, grunge, and post-grunge, creating a unique and captivating style. The band's raw and powerful sound, along with Stevens' emotionally charged vocals, set them apart and helped them gain attention.

In 2012, Highly Suspect self-released their debut EP, "The Worst Humans," which showcased their talent and caught the attention of record labels. They signed with 300 Entertainment and released their breakthrough debut album, "Mister Asylum," in 2015. The album received critical acclaim, featuring hits like "Lydia" and "Bloodfeather." It earned them a nomination for Best Rock Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards.

With their growing success, Highly Suspect embarked on extensive touring, captivating audiences with their electrifying live performances. They continued to release music that resonated with fans, including their sophomore album, "The Boy Who Died Wolf," in 2016, which featured the chart-topping single "My Name Is Human."

Throughout their career, Highly Suspect has garnered a dedicated fanbase and achieved significant milestones. They have received multiple Grammy nominations, won various awards, and toured globally, sharing their music with audiences around the world. Their albums and singles continue to receive critical acclaim, and they have collaborated with other notable artists, further expanding their musical reach.

Yes. "16" tells the heartbreaking true story of Highly Suspect frontman Johnny Stevens falling in love for the first time when he was 16 years old. After seven years together, his girlfriend told him that she was pregnant but upon the baby's birth, he found out the baby was of a different race and therefore wasn't his. His world came crashing down in the space of one minute. Ouch.

It took me 16 years to find ya
One second to love ya
Seven years to hold ya
One minute to lose ya
Oh, God
Where did I go wrong?

Highly Suspect are known for their raw and powerful sound, characterized by gritty guitars, intense vocals, and emotionally charged lyrics. Their music often combines elements of rock, blues, and grunge, creating a unique and captivating style.

Highly Suspect has won several awards throughout their career. Here are some notable awards they have received:

Grammy Awards:
Nominated for Best Rock Album for "Mister Asylum" (2016)

Boston Music Awards:
Rock Artist of the Year (2016)
Rock Artist of the Year (2015)
Album of the Year for "Mister Asylum" (2015)
Song of the Year for "Lydia" (2015)

iHeartRadio Music Awards:
Best Rock Song for "16" (2020)

Kerrang! Awards:
Best International Newcomer (2017)

And of course, the best award of them all - The Rock 2000. Since 2015, Highly Suspect have been stalwarts in The Rock 2000 countdown, with 14 songs appearing in The Rock 2000 2022 countdown. Notable Rock 2000 achievements include: 

"My Name Is Human"
#10 in 2017  |  #17 in 2018  |  #16 in 2019  |  #42 in 2020  |  #50 in 2021  |  #26 in 2022

"16"
#206 in 2019  |  #53 in 2020  |  #66 in 2021  |  #83 in 2022

"Lydia"
#22 in 2015  |  #28 in 2016  |  #28 in 2017  |  #19 in 2018#53 in 2019  |  #75 in 2020  |  #76 in 2021 |  #65 in 2022

Yes they are! Highly Suspect are returning to New Zealand for five shows this November 2023. They'll be playing shows in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch - check out The Rock presents Highly Suspect NZ Tour for more details.

Highly Suspect - latest news and updates