Fountains of Wayne Announce First Reunion Shows Since Adam Schlesinger’s Death

Fountains of Wayne are reuniting for their first full performances since the passing of founding member Adam Schlesinger in 2020.

The power pop band—best known for hits like “Stacy’s Mom”—has announced appearances at Milwaukee’s Summerfest over the July 4 weekend and the Oceans Calling Festival in Ocean City, Maryland, on Sept. 26. Eve 6’s Max Collins will step in on bass for the performances.

The upcoming shows mark the band’s first proper reunion in over a decade. Before this, the remaining members—Chris Collingwood, Jody Porter, and Brian Young—briefly came together for a one-off performance (their first in seven years) to pay tribute to their late band member Adam Schlesinger, who passed away due to complications from COVID-19 at the age of 52. Prior to Schlesinger’s passing, the band’s last official tour wrapped in 2013.

Fountains of Wayne formed in 1995 and gained a cult following, their mainstream breakthrough came in 2003 with “Stacy’s Mom,” which peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, earned them a Grammy nomination and became a pop culture staple. The track also reached No. 3 on Alternative Airplay in 2003, while their album Welcome Interstate Managers reached No. 115 on the Billboard 200.

Despite the song’s success, Schlesinger downplayed its impact in a 2007 interview with The A.V. Club, saying, “Most people in the world still don’t have any idea who sang ‘Stacy’s Mom.’ Everybody knows that song, but most people don’t know who we are.”

Beyond his work with Fountains of Wayne, Schlesinger had a prolific career in film, television, and theater, writing songs for That Thing You Do!, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Music & Lyrics, among many others. His unexpected passing due to complications from COVID-19 in 2020 was a devastating loss for the music community, prompting an outpouring of tributes from artists across the industry.

Following his death, Saving for a Custom Van, a 31-track tribute album, was released in 2020, featuring covers of Schlesinger’s work from artists such as Nada Surf, Motion City Soundtrack, Rachel Bloom, and Sarah Silverman. The album raised funds for COVID-19 relief efforts through the MusiCares Foundation.

While it remains unclear whether these upcoming performances will lead to further touring or new music, fans eager to celebrate Schlesinger’s legacy will finally have the chance to see Fountains of Wayne live again.