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Friday Pilots Club

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday Pilots Club
OriginChicago, Illinois, US
Genres
Years active2017–present
Label
  • Big Machine
Members
  • Caleb Hiltunen
  • Drew Polovick
  • Sean Burke
  • James Kourafas
  • Eric Doar
Past members
  • Mike Fornari
  • Spencer Rydholm
  • Ethan Mole
Websitewww.fridaypilotsclub.com

Friday Pilots Club is an American alternative rock band formed in Chicago, in 2017 by Caleb Hiltunen and Drew Polovick. As of 2026, the band has released three EPs and one album.

History

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Early years (2017–2018)

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The precursor to Friday Pilots Club was formed by vocalist Caleb Hiltunen and bassist Drew Polovick, who had formed a duo after meeting at a party in Chicago.[1][2] The current lineup came to be when the duo joined forces with guitarists Sean Burke and James Kourafas and drummer Eric Doar, originally as touring artists, although the three would slowly become full-time members of the band.[2] All five members had previously performed in various bands at Columbia College, having crossed paths several times.[3][4]

After forming the touring lineup of five, the band release their singles "End of It", "Bad As Hell", "Would You Mind", "Gold and Bones", and "PRBLM".[5]

Big Machine Records and debut EPs (2019–2023)

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In 2019, Friday Pilots Club signed to Big Machine Records and released the John Fields-produced single "Glory".[6][7] On October 11, 2019, they released their first EP entitled While You Wait.[8] Following on from 2020's "Breaking My Bones" and "Look Better In Gold" and 2021's "I Don't Care", the band released their self-titled second EP Friday Pilots Club on May 7, 2021. In the fall of 2021, FPC left their then label Big Machine Records shortly before their fall 2021 tour, citing creative differences and a lack of creative control.[9]

With the single "For the Wicked" in September 2021, the group announced that they are working on their third EP.[10] The band turned a new leaf in 2022, starting with the release of their new single "Hot Mess". On October 27, 2022 the band released their third EP, I LOVE YOU, ROBOT SUPERSTAR!.[11]

Nowhere (2024–present)

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Friday Pilots Club released their debut album, Nowhere, on May 9, 2024.[12] In an interview regarding the album's release, Polovick stated:[2]

We used to be a two-piece, and then we were a two-piece with these three guys. They started writing with us and playing on the songs, but it still didn't quite feel like a band. We finally feel like this album is an amalgamation of what all of us like and what all of us believe in.

Following the release, the band kicked off the Nowhere Tour to support the album, performing in the United Kingdom, as well as 28 cities across the United States and Canada.[13][14][15] The band also co-headlined a tour with Circa Waves from April to May of 2025.[16][17]

Friday Pilots Club served as a supporting act for The Maine during their North American tour in April 2026.[18] On April 23, 2026, Friday Pilots Club released their first single after their album debut, "Big Money".[19]

Timeline

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Discography

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Albums

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Year Title Details
2024 Nowhere
  • Release Date: May 9, 2024[12]
  • Format: Digital
  • Label: Independent

EPs

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Year Title Details
2019 While You Wait
2021 Friday Pilots Club
  • Release Date: May 6, 2021
  • Format: Digital
  • Label: Big Machine Records
2022 I LOVE YOU, ROBOT SUPERSTAR!
  • Release Date: October 27, 2022
  • Format: Digital
  • Label: Independent

Singles

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List of singles
Title Year Album/EP
"End of It" 2017 Non-album single
"Bad As Hell" 2018
"Would You Mind"
"Gold and Bones"
"PRBLM"
"Glory" 2019
"Heartbreak Beat" While You Wait
"Lips Like Sugar"
"Real Wild Child (Wild One)"
"Look Better in Gold" 2021 Friday Pilots Club
"For the Wicked" Non-album single
"Hot Mess" 2022 I LOVE YOU, ROBOT SUPERSTAR!
"Better With"
"Never Say No"
"Life Support" 2023 Non-album single
"Ms. Supernova"
"Sleeping on the Ceiling"
"Pushing Daisies (Oh My My)"
"Vampire Disco" 2024 Nowhere
"Big Money" 2026 Non-album single

References

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  1. ↑ "INTERVIEW: Friday Pilots Club". HEART EYES MAGAZINE. 2020-08-16. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  2. 1 2 3 "Friday Pilots Club". First Avenue. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  3. ↑ "MOKB Presents". MOKB Presents. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  4. ↑ Johnson, Ruth. "Columbia-alumni band Friday Pilots Club sits down with the Chronicle". The Columbia Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  5. ↑ "Friday Pilots Club Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  6. ↑ Naranjo, Jacqueline (2019-01-31). "Friday Pilots Club Signs with Big Machine/John Varvatos Records - Music Connection Magazine". Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  7. ↑ "Glory - Interview with Friday Pilots Club". Rock Your Lyrics. 2019-02-18. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  8. ↑ Jacqueline Naranjo (2019-04-12). "Signing Story: Friday Pilots Club - Music Connection". Music Connection Magazine. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  9. ↑ "Friday Pilots Club returns to Chicago with two new singles, Lincoln Hall show". www.dailyherald.com. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  10. ↑ Kevin (2021-01-18). "Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Friday Pilots Club". Pop-Culturalist.com. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  11. ↑ Zhou, Gomi (2022-11-02). "Friday Pilots Club releases explosive new EP, 'I LOVE YOU, ROBOT SUPERSTAR'". EARMILK. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  12. 1 2 Rayder, Emma (2024-05-17). "Interview: Friday Pilots Club Discuss Compromise, Criminal Careers, & Their Debut Album 'Nowhere'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  13. ↑ Pritchard, Alycia (2024-05-10). "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Friday Pilots Club On Their Debut Album Nowhere And Much More". The Honey POP. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  14. ↑ Dunn, Mariah (2024-05-15). "Friday Pilots Club are going everywhere on "Nowhere Tour"". // MELODIC Magazine. Retrieved 2026-08-11.
  15. ↑ "Friday Pilots Club Set the Bar for 2024 at 'Nowhere' Bottom Lounge Album Release Show". 312 Noise. 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  16. ↑ "Friday Pilots Club Lands In Toronto". Off the Record Press. Retrieved 2026-08-16.
  17. ↑ "Circa Waves and Friday Pilots Club ★ First Avenue". First Avenue. Retrieved 2026-08-16.
  18. ↑ "Pittsburgh Chose The Maine on the "I Love You, But I Chose The Maine" Tour". Pittsburgh Music Magazine. 2026-04-20. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  19. ↑ Serra, Maria (2026-04-23). "Friday Pilots Club Talk "Big Money" On New Single". idobi. Retrieved 2026-08-12.