Photo: (Getty Images)
30 Seconds to Mars is all about go hard -- and then go home. After two years of nonstop touring around the globe, the tenacious trio lands tonight at NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom to mark a major musical milestone: their 300th show and a Guinness World Record!
Back in October, the band announced that it was planning to perform the most shows during a single album cycle to earn the title, “We’ve been virtually everywhere — not only once but twice and sometimes three times,” frontman Jared Leto told EW. ”It’s been the journey of a lifetime.”
The stats speak for themselves: A sunrise in Lebanon followed by a concert for 10,000. Their first concert in the People’s Republic of China. Playing their biggest gig ever to a 100,000-strong audience at a German music festival. Performing in Abu Dhabi amidst the Arab Spring uprisings.
And get this: to date, music’s most epic Martians have reached an estimated 3 million people. These boys are NOT messing around.
Photo: Concert poster for 30 Seconds to Mars' 300th show. (MTV)
It’s no wonder that rock’s hardest working hotties have spawned a worldwide fan phenomenon: The Echelon, an international army of 30STM devotees who live for the fiery lead singer, his older brother Shannon (the band’s drummer), and guitarist Tomo Miličević.
“We’re very much a live band. It’s a core element of what we do,” Leto explained to EW, “to travel the world and to share it with this community of really passionate believers.” These hardcore followers come together to support the band in big ways that go way beyond selling out shows -- it’s about giving back to celebrate all that this special band has given them.
When J. Leto turned the big 4-0, The Echelon Donates honored his bday by planting trees in earthquake-devastated Haiti – and now a new effort is organizing more 30STM-inspired do-goodery.
Photo: The Echelon reaches out for 30 Seconds to Mars' Jared Leto in Mexico. (Getty Images)
Echelon Takes Action was founded last week by Yes This Is A Cult – a fan group and website that was created to unite The Echelon, or in their words “this great dysfunctional family that Thirty Seconds to Mars has created,” around organized projects like the Faces of Mars Worldwide Poster and the Mars Book Collection.
The first Echelon Takes Action project is a donation drive for Charity:Water – they’ve raised $492 already to help provide clean water -- pretty rad considering they started this on Thanksgiving and their goal is $500, riiiight?!
One lucky Yes This Is A Cult gal from Montreal, Canada is actually traveling to tonight’s show – which will also be live-streamed across the world. At the band's meet and greet today she'll present the band with a booklet of all the donors’ names and to explain what this new fan fundraising effort is all about -- so if you want to be a part of this historic 30STM moment, take Action after the jump!
actTAKE ACTION!
Join Echelon Takes Action!
Donate to their Charity:Water drive and have your name presented to 30STM at their 300th show!
