Of Montreal

of Montreal
of Montreal performing in Athens, Georgia, on March 24, 2005
Background information
Origin	Athens, Georgia, United States
Genres	Psychedelic experimental rock experimental pop electronic
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Polyvinyl Kindercore Joyful Noise Recordings Bar/None
Associated acts	Elf Power The Olivia Tremor Control Circulatory System Jupiter One Solange Knowles Yip Deceiver
Website	www.ofmontreal.net
Members	Kevin Barnes Clayton Rychlik Jojo Glidewell Nicolas Dobbratz Davey Pierce
Past members	Bryan Poole Derek Almstead Dottie Alexander James Huggins Andy Gonzalez Julian Koster Jason NeSmith Nina Grøttland Matthew Paris Dawson Ahmed Gallab Thayer Sarrano Zac Colwell Kaoru Ishibashi Rebecca Cash Bennett Dean Lewis Bob Parins

Of Montreal (stylized as of Montreal) is an American experimental band from Athens, Georgia. It was founded by frontman Kevin Barnes in 1996, named after a failed romance between Barnes and a woman "of Montreal." The band is identified as part of the Elephant 6 collective. Throughout its existence, of Montreal's musical style has evolved considerably and drawn inspiration from numerous 1960s psychedelic pop acts.

Kevin Barnes founded "of Montreal", allegedly naming it for a failed romance with a woman from Montreal, Quebec. Barnes was the only member of the "group" prior to his relocation to Athens, Georgia. There, he met Derek Almstead (Circulatory System, M Coast, Elf Power) and Bryan Poole, who also performs as The Late B.P. Helium. Together, they recorded their debut album, Cherry Peel, and subsequent releases The Bird Who Ate the Rabbit's Flower and The Bedside Drama: A Petite Tragedy.

After production on The Gay Parade, the band's third album, began in 1998, Poole left the band to focus on his duties with Elf Power, another Elephant Six band. Barnes then recruited James Husband and Dottie Alexander, who had been performing together as Lightning Bug vs. Firefly. Derek moved from drums to bass, and Marshmallow Coast's Andy Gonzales joined soon after. Prior to the release of The Gay Parade in 1999, of Montreal released a number of singles and a re-release of The Bird Who Continues to Eat the Rabbit's Flower.