Maple Mars

Formed in Los Angeles, the psychedelic pop outfit Maple Mars centers on guitarist, singer, and songwriter Rick Hromadka together with drummer Mike Fletcher. Its origins trace to New Haven, Connecticut, where Hromadka launched his songwriting efforts in 1993, drawing from the classic power pop lineage of Big Star, Cheap Trick, Jellyfish, and the Beatles. He soon moved to L.A., assembled the Visionaries, and issued their album Every Other Saturday that same year through the Wrecking Ball imprint, an effort singled out by BAM magazine among its “Top Local Releases for 1993.” Hromadka next turned to scoring material for the television series Breaker High, Sweet Valley High, and Power Rangers. In time the Visionaries evolved into Double Knaught Spies, which unveiled The Shoephone Conspiracy during the summer of 1999. One year afterward Hromadka exited the band to pursue an independent path, linking with Fletcher to establish Maple Mars. The duo made its first public appearance at the International Pop Overthrow Festival and delivered the debut album Welcome to Maple Mars in July 2001.