Planes Mistaken for Stars

American rock band

Planes Mistaken for Stars was an American rock band formed in Peoria, Illinois in 1997. Working with several different labels, they released three studio albums and four EPs before breaking up in 2008. While rooted in the post hardcore and emo scenes of the turn of the century, Planes Mistaken for Stars developed a distinctive musical style strongly influenced by heavy metal and rock and roll. Reuniting for live performances in 2010, they went on to release their fourth album Prey in 2016.

In 1997, lead singer and guitarist Gared O'Donnell started the band with guitarist Matt Bellinger, bassist Aaron Wise and drummer Mike Ricketts. Shortly after the band self released a self titled EP in 1998, Wise was replaced by Jamie Drier. They also made festival appearances at Skate and Surf Fest, Strhess Fest, and Hellfest. In 2005, Planes completed three additional headlining tours; one in the United Kingdom, and two in the United States. In early 2006, Planes' original guitarist Matt Bellinger parted ways with the band to pursue other musical endeavors starting with Ghost Buffalo and Il Cattivo. Despite rumors of the band signing with metal label Relapse Records, they announced a deal with Abacus Recordings/Century Media Records in late 2005 and planned to release a new record mid 2006. Planes Mistaken for Stars toured the US East Coast in mid 2012, and the US West Coast in mid 2014. Following a series of cryptic online videos with testimonials from Brann Dailor (Mastodon), Ryan Patterson (Coliseum), Nate Newton (Converge, Old Man Gloom) and Jeremy Bolm (Touché Amoré), the indie label Deathwish Inc. announced it would reissue Planes Mistaken for Stars' 2006 final album Mercy on July 14, 2015, which was followed by a short promotional East Coast US tour. Along with the announcement of the reissue, the band also revealed they had been "quietly and persistently working on new music" for a near future release also on Deathwish. On September 19, 2017, an article from Westword by Jason Heller confirmed that guitarist Matt Bellinger had died on September 7. Bellinger was imprisoned in Douglas County Jail for charges including vehicle trespass, theft, possession of a weapon, and obstructing the police. According to CBS4, the death was ruled as a suicide by hanging, although an investigation was opened to determine the cause of death. On November 25, 2021, the band confirmed that O'Donnell had died from esophageal cancer. In a statement, they confirmed that the final Planes Mistaken For Stars album had been completed and would be released:

as of 2024, no further projects have been announced or released by the band.

According to The A. V. Club, Planes Mistaken for Stars have "always excelled" in a "space between classic rock, stoner metal, and discordant hardcore". Stereogum called them one of the "heaviest" groups of the "post hardcore underground of the '00s"; similarly, Metal Hammer called them one of few good bands of the "post hardcore/emo boom of the early part of the millennium", stating that their "gritty, rough and discordant punk always came laced with melody and imbued with the spirit of classic rock'n'roll". Punknews. org wrote that they are "one of the few [bands] who could mix genres such as metal, hardcore, punk and post hardcore all together, to such great effect". According to SLUG Magazine, they have existed "on the periphery of emo, punk, hardcore and rock n' roll".