Ben Gibbard Says The O.C. Was Death Cab for Cutie’s Ticket from Bleach to Nevermind Status
Ben Gibbard says being featured on the teen drama *The O.C.* brought Death Cab for Cutie to a much wider audience, while upsetting some long-standing fans. He compared the band’s shift from underground favourite to broader recognition with Nirvana’s move from *Bleach* to *Nevermind*, while stressing it happened on a much smaller scale.
The band was named as character Seth Cohen’s favourite, had two songs used in the first season and later appeared performing at a concert venue. Gibbard said audiences included both established indie fans and people introduced to the band by the show; creator Josh Schwartz recalled a fan asking him to stop playing their music. *The O.C.* also helped bring wider attention to acts including the Killers, Modest Mouse and Imogen Heap.
- *The O.C.* expanded Death Cab for Cutie’s audience.
- Some devoted fans objected to the band’s TV exposure.
- Ben Gibbard likened the shift to Nirvana’s rise, on a smaller scale.
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Death Cab for Cutie are an American indie rock band fronted by singer and songwriter Ben Gibbard. In the early 2000s, they were best known among listeners of independent music, while The O.C. was a popular television drama about teenagers in California.
The show’s character Seth Cohen was a fan of the band, and its first season featured two of their songs. The band later appeared performing on the programme, which also introduced some viewers to other acts such as the Killers, Modest Mouse and Imogen Heap.
The comparison with Nirvana refers to how a band can move from a smaller following to wider recognition: Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind brought them a much larger audience than their earlier record Bleach. Gibbard said The O.C. had a similar effect for Death Cab for Cutie on a smaller scale, though some existing fans disliked the increased exposure.