The Griswolds formed in February 2012. The band's single "Heart of a Lion", reached #12 on the
We Are Hunted emerging artists list. The Griswolds became a
Triple J Unearthed feature artist after winning a slot on the 2012 Parklife Festival line-up alongside
Passion Pit and
The Presets. Their
Heart of a Lion EP, released in 2012, received positive reviews, and helped start their touring career. After success touring in their native Australia, the band made their first live appearance in
New York City on 11 May 2013 at the
Brooklyn Bowl. The band began recording their debut album with producer
Tony Hoffer in January 2014. The official music video for "Red Tuxedo" premiered on the
VICE Noisey website on Valentine's Day (14 February), 2014. The band's song "Beware the Dog" is the first song vocalist Chris Whitehall and lead guitarist Daniel Duque-Perez wrote together. Whitehall described it as being "about losing someone we were really close with to heavy drug use. [... It's] about that journey – the good and the bad times." In March 2015, the band confirmed that once they return to Australia, following their tour alongside
Passion Pit, they were going to commence work on their second album. In September 2016, the band was picked as
Elvis Duran's
Artist of the Month in the United States and was featured on
NBC's
Today show hosted by
Kathie Lee Gifford and
Hoda Kotb and broadcast nationally where they performed live the single "Out of My Head". On 16 March 2017, Tim John, their bass player, left the band. On 30 August 2019, the band released "Nice To Meet Ya!", the lead single off of their second EP and first release since 2016. In September 2020, lead singer Chris Whitehall was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple underage fans. Whitehall apologized and admitted to the allegations, saying "It is with a heavy heart that I am confirming that the statements I have read are true and I am here to take full responsibility and ownership of my actions." ==Discography==