Placebo (band)
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Image:Placebologo.jpg
<tr style="text-align: center;"><td colspan="3"> </td></tr> | ||
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| Background information
<tr><td>Origin</td><td colspan="2">Image:Flag of England (bordered).svg London, England</td></tr><tr><td>Genre(s)</td><td colspan="2">Rock |
Placebo are an alternative rock band consisting of Brian Molko (vocals, guitar), Stefan Olsdal (bass) and Steve Hewitt (drums). The band was founded in London in 1994.
Contents |
[edit] History
Placebo was founded when former Luxembourg schoolmates Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal met by accident at South Kensington tube station in 1994 and decided to form a band. While briefly known as Ashtray Heart, the band quickly settled on the name Placebo. The band could not decide on a drummer at first with Steve Hewitt and Robert Schultzberg alternating on the spot. While Hewitt was the preferred choice, he also had other commitments as drummer for London band Breed, leading to Schultzberg being the drummer when the band signed its contract with Caroline Records[citation needed]. The band officially say that "family commitments" was the reason for his absence. As the other band members were having difficulty getting on with Robert Schultzberg, they persuaded Hewitt to rejoin the band in 1996. The band gained some measure of notoriety for the sexualities of its members (Olsdal is gay, Hewitt is straight and Molko is bisexual) and their excessive lifestyles, often chronicled in their songs (the title of the track "Special K" from Black Market Music, for instance, is a reference to the drug ketamine).
The singles "Nancy Boy", from Placebo (1996), and "Pure Morning", from Without You I'm Nothing (1998), were the peak of their British success, both charting in the top ten. Since Without You I'm Nothing the band have fallen out with the British music press, who regularly mock the personality and pretentiousness of its lead member, Brian Molko.[citation needed] However, the band retained a huge popular and critical following in continental Europe. By way of their English-accented fluent French and, lately France has become their very first target market in Europe - which has led them to gain huge popularity there, in excess of even their British fan base
Their style altered little from Placebo through Black Market Music (2000), based around fairly straightforward guitar playing, often influenced by the style of 1970s British and American rock, and Molko's high-pitched vocals.
The band was asked to play at David Bowie's fiftieth birthday party at Madison Square Garden. Placebo played "20th Century Boy" live with David Bowie at the Brit Awards show in 1999. The band's glam connections continued in 1998 when they recorded a cover of T. Rex's "20th Century Boy" for the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack. The band also appeared in this film. In the same year, their peak album Without You I'm Nothing was recorded and released. In this album, the song Without You I'm Nothing features a David Bowie duet.
Sleeping with Ghosts (2003) was more adventurous, experimenting with dance tunes, electronic music influences and a less polished rocky guitar sound, though keeping the traditional sound for several songs, including the first single "The Bitter End".
In the autumn of 2004, Placebo released the Singles Collection Once More with Feeling (on both CD and as a DVD featuring the band's videos) and played a one-night-only gig at Wembley Arena. Robert Smith of The Cure guested with them on two tracks, "Without You I'm Nothing" and a cover of the Cure's "Boys Don't Cry". This performance was to be their last UK gig until 2006. After the Wembley gig, Placebo went on a short "Once More With Feeling" tour in South America. On July 2, 2005, the group performed "Twenty Years" and "The Bitter End" at the Live 8 concert, at the Palais de Versailles in France. Their 2006 tour of the UK sold out in one weekend, and certainly lived up to expectations, as their single London date at Alexandra Palace had fans queuing up from 8pm, ready for the doors to be opened at 6pm the next day.
[edit] Meds
In September 2005, the band finished the recording phase of their new album with Daniel Waite formerly of K.D.E, which was released on March 13 (Delayed in U.S. until April 4th). The first single on the new album to be released in the UK on March 6th was titled "Because I Want You". The band will be working with Timo Maas for some songs as Brian has also worked with Timo for his new album, with his vocals featuring on the single "First Day", which was released in May 2005.
In November 2005, Molko revealed in an interview that they had been working on 15 new songs since the June of 2004 in the South of France, and had been in the studio recording since August of 2005, working with French Producer Dimitri Tokovoi, who is a friend of the band and has produced the songs "The Ballad of Melody Nelson" and "Running Up That Hill" for the band in the past. They have also been recording tracks at RAK studios in London earlier in 2005. Molko said that the new songs are sounding more guitar based, like "The Bitter End" off their latest album and like many of the songs on their first album. Most of the tracks are based on 2 guitars, drums and a piano. Recording has been finished and they have been mixing since October 29th 2005. Two duets with American singers were also confirmed, who are Alison Mosshart (from the band The Kills) and Michael Stipe (from the band REM).
Meds was leaked over the Internet on January 17, 2006. No details are available on how the album was leaked. However, the official release date of Meds was March 3, 2006, making the leak almost two months early. The album contains 13 tracks, different from their last three albums which have only contained 12 tracks, but Meds has no 'hidden tracks'. The video for the single "Because I Want You" was shot on the 24th of January at Koko in Camden, London. The leak was projected by the band's record label to potentially cause a very dangerous loss of profit upon the albums release, although this has proved to be wrong in most countries with the album debuting at #4 in Australia, and #7 in the UK. The second single from Meds was "Infra-Red", it was released on June 19, 2006 in the UK.
A limited edition U.S. Meds was released on April 4th, making the gap between the leak of the album and the official release date even longer. The reason for the delay was what the band called "extended manufacturing needs". The limited edition U.S. "Meds" features a DVD in the NTSC format compatible with U.S. DVD players, plus the CD. The limited edition U.S. Meds is not the 'deluxe' version with 40 page booklet. It comes in a standard jewel case and regular CD booklet.
With Meds being the last album on Placebo's contract with Virgin Records and the title track said to be the last single it is rumoured that a B-Side album is to be released due to the sudden release of 2 brand new B-Sides (Lazarus and UNEEDMEMORETHANINEEDU, being the only B-Sides to be released since Detox-Five in 2004), all depending on whether Placebo renew their contract with Virgin or move on to another label for their next album (to be released in 2 to 3 years as said by Brian Molko).
In 2006 October, their debut album Placebo digitally remastered and re-released with the title 10th Anniversary collectors edition that the box set includes a DVD containing official video clips, concerts and TV performances.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current
As of 2005, the band consisted of:
- Brian Molko (1994–present) – Lead vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards, Saxophone
- Stefan Olsdal (1994–present) – Bass guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
- Steven Hewitt (1996–present) – Drums, Percussion
And live lineup had the addition of:
- William (Bill) Lloyd – Bass guitar and Keyboards
- Alex Lee (from 2006) – Guitar and Keyboards, former keyboardist with Strangelove and Suede
[edit] Former
Xavior Roide joined for live performances between 2003 and 2005 performing keyboards and additional vocals.
Robert Schultzberg was also a member of the band between 1994 and 1996, playing drums.
Backing vocalist Andrea o'Mara suffered a major setback on tour after running out of ketamines.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
 <center>(July 17, 1996) (September 18, 2006)<center>Virgin Records<center> |
 <center> (October 12, 1998) <center>Virgin Records<center> |
 <center> (October 9, 2000) <center>Virgin Records<center> |
 <center> (March 24, 2003) <center>Virgin Records <center> |
 <center> (October 25, 2004) <center>(Compilation 1996-2004) <center>Virgin Records<center> |
 <center> (March 13, 2006) <center>Virgin Records<center> |
[edit] Singles
From Placebo:
- "Bruise Pristine" (1995 - Split vinyl with Soup)
- "Come Home" (1996) #103 UK
- "36 Degrees" (1996) #83 UK
- "Teenage Angst" (1996) #30 UK
- "Nancy Boy" (1997) #4 UK
- "Bruise Pristine" (1997 re-release) #14 UK
From Without You I'm Nothing:
- "Pure Morning" (1998) #4 UK, #49 Australia, #19 US Modern Rock Tracks, #40 US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart
- "You Don't Care About Us" (1998) #5 UK
- "Every You Every Me" (1999) #11 UK, #49 Australia
- "Without You I'm Nothing (featuring David Bowie)" (1999)
- "Burger Queen Français" (1999) #78 France
From Black Market Music:
- "Taste In Men" (2000) #16 UK, #54 France
- "Slave To The Wage" (2000) #19 UK, #63 France, #92 Germany
- "Special K" (2000) #50 Australia, #60 France
- "Black Eyed" (2001) #94 Germany
From Sleeping with Ghosts:
- "The Bitter End" (2003) #12 UK, #1 Portugal, #19 Finland, #31 France, #47 Australia, #53 Switzerland, #34 Germany
- "This Picture" (2003) #23 UK, #63 France, #75 Germany
- "Special Needs" (2003) #27 UK, #67 France, #71 Germany
- "English Summer Rain" (2004) #23 UK, #98 Switzerland
From Once More with Feeling:
- "Twenty Years" (2004) #18 UK, #50 Switzerland, #54 France, #59 Austria, #52 Germany
- "Protège-Moi" (2004) #26 Switzerland, #18 France
From Meds:
- "Because I Want You" (2006) #13 UK
- "Song to Say Goodbye" (2006) #30 Australia, #35 Germany, #6 Greece, #8 Finland, #20 Italy, #38 Switzerland, #41 France, #44 Austria
- "Infra-Red" (2006) #42 UK, #35 US Modern Rock Tracks, #75 Germany, #52 Australia
- "Meds" (2006) #35 UK
[edit] EPs
- Slave to the Wage (2000)
- Taste in Men (2000)
- Special K (2001)
- Live At La Cigale (2006) Exclusive Live Album Download on iTunes and 7Digital
[edit] DVDs
- Soulmates Never Die (Live in Paris 2003)
- Once More With Feeling (video collection)
- Meds Special Edition
[edit] Trivia
- The backing track to "Pure Morning" came about when the band were looping some feedback they liked when recording another song in the studio, with the rest of the song being subsequently written on the spot.
- Molko wrote "Infra-Red" backwards, starting with the last line and working his way to the start.
- A different X-rated video was originally shot for the song "Protège Moi" but could not be officially released because it was too explicit; however, copies can be found on the internet.
- In various demos, ("Hang On To Your IQ", "Flesh Mechanic"), Molko uses the lyrics "Careful not to give your favours to your lonesome (housewife/fucked-up) neighbours/I had one who sent me her heart in a tupperware container". These lyrics didn't actually make it to any songs on any of their studio albums, even though Molko seemed so determined to use them.
- The band's music features prominently in the Korean film Tell Me Something, about a serial killer. The killer videotapes his crimes and at one point holds a copy of Without You, I'm Nothing up to the camera before killing his victim.
- Brian Molko was once mistaken for a female sex worker.
- Molko used to play harmonica in a blues bar
- Molko also has replaced the gutair solo in Taste In Men with a Saxophone solo as seen in the MCM Cafe Bootleg.
- If the band ever were to get tattoos this is what they were quoted as saying they'd like:
Steve: I was going to have a Prince symbol done once, but I’m bloody glad I changed my mind. I’d love one of those old sailor busty maidens. Tits everywhere. Be fucking ace.
Brian: I’d probably have a little demon tattooed on my shoulder.
Stefan: I’d probably have a snake on my shoulder blade.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Placeboworld: Official Site
- Official French Site
- XS of Placebo: French Fansite
- Shoulders Toes and Knees :: Mexican Official Fan club
- SUCKERLOVE: soulmates never die- Popular Site in english, News, Media, Forum & more
- Placebo.Br: Brazilian Fansite
- PlaceboNet: Unofficial Fansite
- Placebo City: Biggest fans community over the World
- Concert photos by Laurent Orseau (Black Session)
| Placebo |
| Brian Molko | Stefan Olsdal | Steven Hewitt |
| Live members: William (Bill) Lloyd | Alex Lee |
| Discography |
| Studio albums: Placebo | Without You I'm Nothing | Black Market Music | Sleeping with Ghosts | Meds |
| DVDs and compilations: Soulmates Never Die (Live in Paris 2003) | Once More With Feeling (video collection) | Once More with Feeling |
| Singles: "Bruise Pristine" | "Come Home" | "36 Degrees" | "Teenage Angst" | "Nancy Boy" | "Pure Morning" | "You Don't Care About Us" | "Every You Every Me" | "Without You I'm Nothing" | "Burger Queen Francais" | "Taste In Men" | "Slave To The Wage" | "Special K" | "Black Eyed" | "The Bitter End" | "This Picture" | "Special Needs" | "English Summer Rain" | "Twenty Years" | "Protège-Moi" | "Because I Want You" | "Song to Say Goodbye" | "Infra-Red" | "Meds" | "Follow The Cops Back Home" |
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