Maroon 5 prepares for follow-up to ‘Jane’
By KELLY WILSON
Get Out

You can't call Maroon 5 an overnight sensation.

Their 2002 debut album “Songs About Jane” — a sultry CD that combines rock and R&B grooves — has sold nearly 9 million copies and spawned four hit singles: “Harder to Breathe,” “She Will Be Loved,” “Sunday Morning” and “This Love.” The Los Angeles band won a Grammy for best new artist, beating out Kanye West, Joss Stone, Gretchen Wilson and Los Lonely Boys.

“We were not expecting to hear our name,’’ says bass player Mickey Madden. “I think us and everyone there was expecting Kanye West to win. It was genuine surprise.’’

Although it's been nearly three years since the group — which includes singer and guitarist Adam Levine, guitarist James Valentine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael and drummer Ryan Dusick — released “Songs About Jane,” Madden says there was never a hurry to work on a follow-up album.

“We wanted to tour as much as possible and become as good of a band as we could on the road and sort of develop a fan base by touring, rather than going straight to radio and seeing if it's hot,’’ he says.

The group plans to record its sophomore album this summer.
“(‘Songs About Jane’) has surpassed our expectations in terms of success dramatically,’’ he says. “I don't think any of us expect to achieve that again.

‘‘I don't think it's particularly important to us that we have a record that is as or more successful than this one, because it just doesn't seem realistic.’’

Until the next album drops, Madden says the band has included two new songs, “Wasted Years” and “Can't Stop,” in their set.

“Hopefully, we'll add one or two more (songs) this tour,’’ he says. “It's definitely good to get stuff out in front of an audience. You sort of realize what works and what doesn't.’’