Imagine Dragons head to Birmingham Genting Arena

Dan Reynolds and co were named Billboard’s Biggest Band of 2017 after their third album, Evolve, hit number two on the chart and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. It helped take their total record sales to more than 12 million albums and an astonishing 35 million singles – not bad for a band who formed just ten years ago at Brigham Young University.

The band are presently on the road with a huge world tour that arrives at Birmingham’s Genting Arena tomorrow before heading into South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Fans can look forward to hits from the band’s three albums, with Evolve playing a major part. That record was launched with the lead single Believer, which was used as a Super Bowl ad.

Dan says the song is important to the band.

He told Billboard Magazine: “Believer means a lot to me because it really signifies a big step for me as a human being as well as a step forward sonically from Smoke + Mirrors. I was in a low state dealing with depression for a year straight and then I came home, reconnected with family and friends, did self-help and reached out to a therapist.

“We worked through a lot of things I had been dealing with, and I think it gave me new perspective to reflect on the band and see it with more clear eyes. I just had a lot of gratitude for the low points and highs of my life. That’s what Believer is about, and the fact that it’s resonating with people is really rad.”

Dan is a Mormon and he married Aja Volkman in 2011 and they have three daughters together. But he has spoken out against religious bigotry and encouraged people to be more accepting and tolerant of one another. He has been an advocate for the LGBT community and has spoken up in support of fans who are struggling to come to terms with their sexuality.

He adds: “These last couple years, I’ve felt a burning inside of me, especially after talking to a therapist about things I felt guilt about. One thing that has been on my heart heavily for quite a while has been this: Even though my faith isn’t always the strongest and my beliefs are more of my own, the world typically thinks of me as a Mormon, so I feel like I’m an activist for bigotry in some way. One of those ways is that mormons believe the doctrine is if you are gay and acting upon it, that is sinful.

“That is a very dangerous and hurtful and hateful thing to preach and to teach our children. To be gay is beautiful and right and perfect; to tell someone they need to change their inner-most being is setting up someone for an unhealthy life and unhealthy foundation. I know a lot of Mormon youth who are gay and hide it because they feel as though God hates them or God is judging them.

“In Utah, the number one reason for death among teenagers is suicide. On top of that, the Family Acceptance Project just put out research showing a child not accepted at home or in the community is eight times more likely to attempt suicide, three times more likely for risky drug behavior and risky sexual behavior than their peers. These statistics are speaking loudly. There’s a problem with this being taught to our youth.”

The band enjoyed a sabbatical before the release of Evolve, which Dan thought was necessary. His band had been on the road for around seven years so he felt the need to switch off, reconnect with family life and get grounded.

He had also had to overcome a bout of depression which came about after his band enjoyed great success and he married and became a father.

The band’s rise to the top has been accompanied by endless hard work as well as a fair degree of luck. And Dan and co believe it’s still possible for others to follow in their footsteps, as long as they are dedicated and willing to put in the hard yards.

For now, they’re in a good place with three successful albums behind them and happiness borne of companionship with other band members and lessons learnt from experience. They’re on top of the world.