John O'Callaghan (singer)

John Cornelius O'Callaghan V[1] (born August 4, 1988) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known for being the lead vocalist, guitarist and pianist of American rock band The Maine which he joined in 2007.[2] He debuted a solo project under the name John the Ghost in 2016.[3]

John O'Callaghan
O'Callaghan performing at the 2018 Rock am Ring
O'Callaghan performing at the 2018 Rock am Ring
Background information
Birth nameJohn Cornelius O'Callaghan V
Born (1988-08-04) August 4, 1988
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
Years active2007–present
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
Labels8123
Member ofThe Maine

Early life

O'Callaghan was born in Phoenix, Arizona and was raised there most of his life.[4] He went to ASU for two semesters and then dropped out to join The Maine. Before turning to music, O'Callaghan used to play baseball.[5]

Career

O'Callaghan began his career by auditioning for The Maine with no prior vocal experience.[6] The group has released nine studio albums including You Are OK that reached number one on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.[7] They were featured in various Punk Goes Pop compilation albums.[8] The band won the "Power of Music Award" in 2017 and O'Callaghan spoke about winning the award stating, "For me, awards are never something you should think about unless it's directly impacting you as far as being voted by the people that dig what you do, but for me it's really special because you guys are acknowledging the people that make it all possible for us."[9]

O'Callaghan performing with The Maine in 2012

In 2014, he formed a side project along with guitarist Jared Monaco called Eagles in Drag.[10][11] Their self-titled EP was released in 2014 and peaked at number 35 on the US Heatseekers Albums chart.[12]

In 2016, he began a solo project under the moniker John the Ghost releasing his first single titled, "Sour Grapes" on April 12, 2016.[10] He released his debut extended play, Sincerely, John the Ghost on April 29, 2016.[13] In 2020, O'Callaghan returned to the solo project and released his comeback single "Rolled Down Window".[14] On January 15, 2021, he released his single "Drive" and announced the upcoming release of his debut album, I Only Want to Live Once.[15] Days before the release of his album, he released another single "The Patterns" that featured other previous singles such as "Drive" and "Live Once".[16] O'Callgahn released his debut album, I Only Want to Live Once on February 12, 2021.[17]

In 2017, he was nominated at the Alternative Press Music Awards for "Best Vocalist" but lost to Lynn Gunn of Pvris.[18] O'Callaghan has worked as a composer and songwriter for the band Grayscale.[19] In 2010, O'Callaghan collaborated with photographer Dirk Mai in the creation of Exaltation, a book containing 15 poems written by O'Callaghan complemented by nine accompanying photographs by Mai.[20] He also released a book of poetry titled Sincerely, John The Ghost in 2016 to accompany his solo EP of the same name.[21]

In 2020, O'Callaghan was featured in the Mayday Parade's cover of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles.[22] In 2023, O'Callaghan was featured in a song "ALL CAPS" by Weathers. O'Callaghan also co-produced the track.[23]

Personal life

O'Callaghan got married in October 2020 to Megan Harder.[24][25] They had their first child, a daughter, the following year in November.[26]

Musical influences

O'Callaghan cites Arizona as his inspiration for music. He stated, "I think Arizona has a heavy effect on everything that I write about. Having the experience of being able to leave Arizona and see other parts of the world made me really appreciate what I have here — the sunsets, the weather and, of course, family and friends. It’s really just a long way of saying that I love Arizona and I feel like I was very fortunate to have been born here and to live here."[4]

Discography

with The Maine

See also: The Maine discography

with Eagles in Drag

  • Eagles in Drag (2014)

Albums
List of studio albums with selected details
Title Album details
I Only Want to Live Once

Extended plays
List of extended plays with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Alt.
[27]		 US
Rock
[28]		 US
Heat.
[29]
Sincerely, John the Ghost 25409

Singles
List of singles
Title Year Album
"Sour Grapes"[30] 2016 Sincerely, John the Ghost
"Rolled Down Window"[31] 2020 I Only Want to Live Once
"Live Once"[32]
"Drive"[33] 2021
"The Patterns"[34]
"Young at Heart"[35] 2022 Non-album singles
"Lately"[36]
(featuring Worry Club)
List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Alt.
[37]
"ALL CAPS"
(Weathers featuring John the Ghost)		 2023 15 Are We Having Fun?
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other appearances
Title Year Artist Album Notes
"In Violet"[38] 2019 Grayscale Nella Vita Songwriter
"I Want to Hold Your Hand" 2020 Mayday Parade N/A Vocals
"ALL CAPS"[23] 2023 Weathers Are We Having Fun? Vocals, co-producer
"I Should Call My Friends"[39] Hey Violet N/A Producer

Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2017 Alternative Press Music Awards Best Vocalist Himself Nominated [18]

References
  1. "The Maine - Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  2. "Dissecting a Decade With a Band Called The Maine". Billboard. April 5, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  3. James Christopher Monger. "John the Ghost Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  4. "Living for the Moment: John O'Callaghan releases his first solo record". Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  5. @themaineband (August 15, 2019). "#throwbackthursday - Tonight we find out if @thefifthjohn made right choice in playing music instead of baseball" – via Instagram.
  6. "Music: The Maine". Youthradio.org. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013.
  7. "The Maine – Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  8. "Nine of The Maine's Best and Most Surprising Covers". Rock Sound. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  9. "The Maine's John O'Callaghan: "Music Has Always Been There"". Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  10. Caitlyn Ralph (April 14, 2016). "Listen to the Maine frontman's new project John The Ghost". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  11. Rachel Campbell (December 5, 2016). "17 solo projects to check out from 2016". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  12. "Eagles in Drag Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  13. "Sincerely, John the Ghost - EP by John the Ghost". Apple Music. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  14. Koltan Greenwood (April 17, 2020). "Hear John O'Callaghan energetically change gears with his new solo single". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  15. "John The Ghost Announces New Album Only Want to Live Once, Drops New Song Drive". Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  16. Holly Holtzclaw (February 11, 2021). "John the Ghost Releases "The Patterns" Ahead of Debut LP". Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  17. "I Only Want to Live Once - John the Ghost". Apple Music. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  18. "And the winners of the 2017 APMAs are…". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  19. "John O'Callaghan - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  20. "Exaltation". YouTube. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  21. Sincerely, John The Ghost. ISBN 1733820418.
  22. "Mayday Parade Assembles Supergroup to Cover of The Beatles' I Want To Hold Your Hand". 21 July 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  23. Sadie Bell (February 23, 2023). "John O'Callaghan joins alt-rock trio WEATHERS on their latest single ALL CAPS". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  24. "John O'Callaghan Talks John The Ghost, The Maine's New Record, And More". Substream Magazine. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  25. @megan.o.callaghan (October 16, 2020). "Last night as a Harder! O'Callaghan here I come!" – via Instagram.
  26. @thefifthjohn (November 29, 2021). "The first day of your life. xoxo Milo Marie O'Callaghan 11/27/21" – via Instagram.
  27. "Top Alternative Albums - Billboard". Billboard. May 21, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  28. "John The Ghost Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. May 21, 2016. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  29. "Heatseekers Albums - Billboard". Billboard. May 21, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  30. "Sour Grapes - Single by John the Ghost". Apple Music. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  31. "Rolled Down Window - Single by John the Ghost". Apple Music. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  32. "Live Once - Single by John the Ghost". Apple Music. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  33. "Drive - Single by John the Ghost". Apple Music. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  34. "The Patterns - Single by John the Ghost". Apple Music. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  35. "Young at Heart - Single by John the Ghost". Apple Music. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  36. "Lately - Single by John the Ghost". Apple Music. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  37. "Alternative Airplay: Week of October 21, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  38. "Grayscale - Nella Vita". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  39. @thefifthjohn (October 13, 2023). "Had the pleasure of working with the wonderful @heyviolet and the legend @matthewkelleryes on HV's new tune!" – via Instagram.
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