The Bizarre Rise and Fall of The Band Perry

Today's video is about a band that "died" young—The Band Perry. Technically, the band is just on a "creative break" as Kimberly Perry pursues a solo career, but their journey from the top of country music with "If I Die Young" and "Better Dig Two" to the fringes of the pop and EDM world is one of the most fascinating trajectories of any band in modern music. Why did they derail their own career? And were their musical endeavors outside of country actually good? Let's talk about it!

00:00 - The Band Perry's "creative break"
01:20 - The Debut Era & "If I Die Young"
03:44 - The Follow-Up Era
05:36 - The Pop Crossover "Live Forever" Yellow Era
07:55 - The Attempted "Comeback"
10:22 - "Stay in the Dark" Goth Era
12:59 - Independent EDM Album
15:25 - Kimberly Perry Solo & Band Hiatus

Find Grady:

[GradySmith]

If you ever wonder what I'm thinking about throughout the day, it's usually the yellow era.

[MorganeWelsh]

The band Perry always struck me as an emo band who accidentally stumbled into saloon and decided to make the most of their situation 😬

[visigoda]

I was obsessed with this band. I loved their whole _yallternative_ vibe.

[Southernsommer]

I met them in 2018 at a pop up “yard sale” event they did when they sold their East Tennessee home, I think they said they were moving to Nashville. Kimberly was so sweet and noticed me being shy and lurking when people were asking her for pictures and autographs. I didn’t want to be rude by approaching her but she saw me and immediately offered to take a picture and sign my magazine. She even pulled her brothers to sign it as well. It was such a positive experience. There’s no way she could’ve known the hurt I was going through at the time but for her to take time to not just notice, but engage and compliment a wallflower like me was just amazing.

[kelsoncamp]

Thank you to all who have ever supported the band or ever came out to shows. I loved drumming for the band and for you all.

[jjolla]

Grady is the internet's foremost scholar on The Band Perry

[timothys]

They weren’t even regular country music. They were on a different level. They took country, folk and bluegrass and mixed it all together to perfection. They were born to make that kind of music.

[calebc.]

The Band Perry, at their country peak, could really stand out from the rest of mainstream radio. "Better Dig Two" was one of the better singles that year and one of my favorites from them.

[trishhayes]

The Band Perry's song "If I die young" means a lot to me. My youngest daughter died in 2019 at the age of 24. A friend made a beautiful video for me with a moving graphic of my daughter to that song for my daughter's first angelversary. 💕

[evarashid]

as a young preteen hearing ‘if I die young’, the song holds such a special place in my heart & feels so nostalgic. but I genuinely had no idea it was actually one of their first songs ever released & just assumed they were a full fledged existing country band at the time because of how talented they were. i’m also sooo shocked that I didn’t know anything about the rest of their career like them trying out so many different music genres & styles over the years

[thearmchairanthropologist]

In college, I would get paid $200 a day to be concert production’s runner in my city and do tasks such as; grocery shop, pick up meals, take in laundry, coffee runs. Basically, a local personal assistant for the talent performing at the arena.
The Band Perry was THE NICEST talent that I worked with in those 4 years of shows. Specifically, Kimberly was an absolute sweetheart. To this day I’m still a diehard fan because of how kind these three were kind to me when I was their production runner for their arena tour in like 2011.

In general, the country singer concert productions that came through town were so much nicer than other genres of music to work with. By that I mean, more realistic requests and kinder people in general.

[ajb]

They were an extremly good Country group. It's a shame it didn't last longer.

[ladychelseatheundead]

I had no idea they ever did any of this! I thought they vanished after "If I Die Young." I can't believe they went through all of these transitions. It is SO hard to make it in the music industry; I can't believe they got this many chances to completely throwaway their current image for a new one after several flops. Thanks for covering this - it was super interesting!

[nicholasi]

Their initial run from Hip to My Heart to Postcard from Paris is one of the best stretches of country music I’ve heard. Each song was so good and unique. I loved the gothic, gypsy vibe they had going. If Kimberly Perry starts making similar music again I’d happily come back and listen but wow just what a crazy fall. I keep wondering why they even started out as country when they clearly had no desire to stay there

[brianthrom]

Her voice fits that slow country aesthetic which is hard to pull off. I think that’s why If I Die Young took off. It’s stripped down with a voice pure enough to keep you interested.

All the other forays didn’t put her voice forward and the rest of it all wasn’t to the same level

[MegaRobo]

Your point about Taylor transitioning to pop was an excellent point. It basically took her a decade to get to pop. Makes me wonder about how Shaina's transition went

[brothernature]

'Bloom' is an outstanding EP. Beautiful songwriting.

I hope all of you listen to it start to finish. Way to go, Kimberly!

[Easternoregon]

I miss The Band Perry. They were good for country music. I think they were the hardest working band in country music. I say that because I saw them many times in concert because it was like they opened for everyone at the time. That's why I was so puzzled how they could just leave us like nothing ever happened. 😥

[hannahhelton]

“If I Die Young” was super popular at the time we were coming home from a funeral of a friend who unalived themselves, and it came on the radio. It really hit me.

[mamaya]

I LOVE her voice. I’m not a huge country music listener but I’ll listen to her. It’s so weird how perfectly they fit the country mold but obviously had no desire to stay there. It’s a shame, but also I can respect it.