The All-American Rejects is a four-piece American rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist and bass guitarist Tyson Ritter, guitarists and vocalists Nick Wheeler and Mike Kennerty, and drummer Chris Gaylor. The All-American Rejects have released three studio albums, three EPs, and nine singles. Their debut self-titled studio album, The All-American Rejects, was originally released in 2002, producing the successful single "Swing, Swing".The album went on to sell over one million records in the United States and was certified platinum by the RIAA.

The band's second album, Move Along (2005), brought the band more mainstream success. The album produced three hit singles; "It Ends Tonight", "Dirty Little Secret" and "Move Along". "Dirty Little Secret" and "It Ends Tonight" reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, with "Move Along" peaking at number 15. "Dirty Little Secret" was also accredited platinum with one million sales in the US. The album Move Along, was certified double platinum in the US by the RIAA.

The All-American Rejects' third album, When the World Comes Down, was released in December 2008. The first single "Gives You Hell" garnered much attention, with the song peaking Number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Number 2 on Pop 100 charts, as well as in the top twenty of the UK Singles chart and number three on the Australian ARIA Singles chart.

Formation and first releases (2001–2004)

The band formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 2001. At a party where future vocalist / bassist Tyson Ritter was serving as a bouncer, he saw Nick Wheeler's band playing, and noticed that it lacked a bass player. Ritter falsely informed Wheeler that he could play the bass in order to join the band, and hastily learned to play the instrument. Ritter and Wheeler later went on to form their own band, which would become the present incarnation of The All-American Rejects. In 2002, they were joined by guitarist Mike Kennerty and drummer Chris Gaylor, who have remained in the band since.

In 2001, with producer Tim O'Heir (Superdrag, Sebadoh, Juliana Hatfield),Fact: date=February 2009 they recorded their self-titled debut album, The All-American Rejects. Mike Kennerty joined the band in the summer of 2002, while Chris Gaylor replaced drummer Tim Campbell shortly before the release of the first album. The band's first single, "Swing, Swing", was released in 2002 and peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #60. In 2003, the All-American Rejects released, Live from Oklahoma... The Too Bad for Hell DVD!, their first live DVD - which was later Gold Certified by the RIAA.

Move Along (2005–2006)

In 2005, the group released their second album, Move Along, which featured the singles "Dirty Little Secret", "Move Along", and "It Ends Tonight". The music video for Dirty Little Secret features images from the collective art project PostSecret.