This article is about the band. For the article on the suborder of bats, commonly refered to as fruit bats, see Megabat
Fruit Bats are an American band originally from Chicago, but now based in Seattle.
Fruit Bats were formed in 1999 by guitarist, piano player and singer Eric Johnson, the band's main songwriter and only constant member. Originally part of short-lived Chicago group I Rowboat, Johnson and two of his fellow Rowboat members, guitarist Dan Strack and drummer Brian Belval, created Fruit Bats as a side-project. When I Rowboat split up Fruit Bats became Johnson's main focus and, spurred on by Califone/Perishable Records honchos Tim Rutili and Ben Massarella, the group recorded their first album, Echolocation, released in 2001.
After tours with Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Modest Mouse and The Shins, Fruit Bats signed with Sub Pop in late summer 2002, recording their second album, 2003's Mouthfuls.
The group released their third album, Spelled in Bones, in 2005.