Five for Fighting is the stage name of American singer-songwriter and pianist Vladimir John Ondrasik III, born January 7, 1965, in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from UCLA in 1988 and playing in the pop metal band John Scott, Ondrasik signed with EMI Records in 1995 and adopted the pseudonym at the label's suggestion, inspired by a hockey penalty. His style centers on piano-based soft rock with introspective lyrics. Breakthrough came with the 2000 album America Town, featuring the hit 'Superman (It's Not Easy),' which earned a Grammy nomination. Subsequent releases include The Battle for Everything (2004), Two Lights (2006), and Slice (2009), with hits like '100 Years,' 'The Riddle,' 'World,' and 'Chances.' He has sold over 3 million records across six studio albums. Live, Ondrasik performs solo, with a rock band featuring musicians like guitarist Pete Thorn, or with string quartets and full symphonies, adapting his songs to orchestral arrangements.