The Stereotypes were formed in 2001 by John Finkbiner (vocals) and Mike Kamoo (guitar) and has featured players such as Dante Conti (guitar), Tim Hines (bass), Steve Blake (keyboards), and Charlie McCree(drums). Their first EP, 1 Red, earned much critical acclaim.
Their second release, 2 Brown, ended up on John D. Luerssen's Billboard/Rolling Stone Top 10 for 2004. He wrote "Garage-punk fireworks and Aussie-like Rickenbacker pop collide with exhilarating results." The number/color name system had remained intact for subsequent releases.
As of late 2007, the Stereotypes were down to a trio, but the loss of three members hadn't slowed them down. Built around singer John Finkbiner, multi-instrumentalist/producer Mike Kamoo, and bassist Tim Hines, the group lost guitarist Dante Conti, who relocated to Austin, while drummer Charlie McCree and keyboardist Steve Blake left to work on their own projects.
The band's endorsement contract with Coleman camping gear runs through 2010. Coleman has used their songs "New Situation," "Stars," and "International" in its marketing campaigns.
The Stereotypes' fifth album, Black & White 5, was released on Kamoo's Earthling Records label in 2008. ABC-TV's sci-fi drama Kyle XY used the songs "All My Life," "The Lines," and "Did You Know" in three consecutive episodes.
Stereotypes guitarist Mike Kamoo also owns a local recording studio and runs a record label, Earthling Records. In 2004, Earthling was signed as a subsidiary of Boston's Wishing Tree Records. Wishing Tree distributes nationally to over 15,000 retail outlets. The first three Earthling CDs to ship to stores through this network featured the bands Mango of San Diego, Greater California (formerly of Long Beach), and the Stereotypes. All were at least partially recorded at Kamoo's Earthling Studios in El Cajon
In January 2007, Kamoo performed in a Wiggles tribute band, joined by guitarist Dylan Martinez (Rookie Card), keyboardist Kelly Duley (the Kite Flying Society), and bassist Justin Bryant (Static Halo) to perform a back-yard show dedicated to the Australian quartet known for its kid-friendly music.
The Stereotypes song "Need Some Action" was heard on the October 9. 2008, episode of NBC TV's Knight Rider.
In late 2010, their song “Hold You In My Heart” from the album 8 was selected to soundtrack two new commercials; in the U.S. for an E-Harmony spot, while in Canada the song was part of an Orville Redenbacher popcorn ad campaign.
The following year, their song “Big Love” was heard in an Australian ad campaign for VW Golf Cabriolet, and their song “Perfect Girl” was heard on the TV show Suits. In 2012, “If you see this goofy Hershey’s commercial on TV with the tune ‘I Just Want to Celebrate,’” says band bassist/singer Tim Hines, “that would be my mates the Stereotypes and I.”
Their summer 2018 single "Creator/Destroyer" was recorded by Kamoo at Earthling Studios. The following May, Kamoo reported "Well, the Stereotypes finally did it. We landed a song in a motion picture [Universal Pictures' A Dog’s Journey]. I recorded ‘Redhead’ 17 years ago at Earthling with John Finkbiner and William Skoff in one evening. I distinctly remember playing Dylan Martinez's guitar for this track. Out of 18+ releases, it’s the only Stereotypes recording that uses a Les Paul."