When It Became Real
gary-wiseman
Gary points to one week in 2003 as the moment he fully understood that Bowling For Soup had reached another level.
The band flew to California to perform at Wango Tango at the Rose Bowl, where KISS headlined.
Later that same week, they flew to New York and performed at Zootopia at Giants Stadium, with Aerosmith at the top of the bill.
Bowling For Soup played early in the day at both events.
That did not matter.
Within a single week, the band had shared two enormous stages with some of the most recognizable artists in the world.
Things were getting legitimate.
That same era brought one of the band’s defining career achievements: a Grammy nomination for “Girl All the Bad Guys Want.”
Attending the Grammy Awards was surreal in ways Gary had not anticipated. He expected to see famous musicians.
He was less prepared to find himself surrounded by people such as Michael J. Fox, Evander Holyfield and Robin Williams.
Bowling For Soup left the ceremony early because there was no beer.
As they stepped out of an elevator, the doors opened to reveal Vince Vaughn.
Vaughn looked at them and said:
“Hey, it’s Bowling For Soup.”
That was a different kind of award.
Gary has never been overly impressed by plaques, nominations or acknowledgements. He appreciates them for what they are—a welcome pat on the back and proof that the work reached people.
What makes him proud is that Bowling For Soup is still here.
Not merely surviving.
Growing.
The band continues recording new music, receiving stronger festival billing and performing some of the largest shows of its career.
In December 2025, Bowling For Soup headlined London’s OVO Arena Wembley.
The band had played to larger crowds as part of festivals and other events, but Wembley belonged to them.
For Gary, it felt like a triumphant celebration and an acknowledgement of what decades of dedication had created. It was also a milestone people outside the band’s immediate world could easily understand.
Bowling For Soup had headlined Wembley Arena.
No explanation was necessary.
Gary allowed himself to take it in.
