Post by sacrilegend on Jun 10, 2007 12:32:36 GMT -5
Placebo is an alternative rock band consisting of Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Hewitt. The band was founded in London in 1994 when Brian and Stefan, who went to the same school but apparently never spoke, met again by chance in London and subsequently formed 'Ashtray Heart'.
History
Early years
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. They attended the European School of Luxembourg.
While briefly known as Ashtray Heart, the band quickly settled on the name Placebo - when they were choosing a name for the band, they noticed that many bands at this time had a drug name. So they decided to name the band after the drug that doesn't work. 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. The band officially says "personal demons" were the reason for his absence - Robert was very homophobic and didn't really fit in. When it all became unbearable for them, they asked Robert to leave the band. As the other band members were having difficulty getting on with Robert Schultzberg, they persuaded Hewitt to rejoin the band in 1996.
Hewitt returned to the band after the departure of Schulzberg. The band gained some measure of notoriety for the sexualities of its members (Olsdal is homosexual, Hewitt is heterosexual and Molko is bisexual), Molko's androgenous image, and their excessive lifestyles, often chronicled in their songs. Placebo encountered resistance from the British music industry upon release of the single "Special K" from their third album Black Market Music (2000) due to its use of a Ketamine high as a metaphor for love.
Middle years
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 received less positive coverage from the British music press, who on occasion have mocked the perceived pretentiousness of its lead member, Brian Molko. However, the band retained a huge popular and critical following in continental Europe. By way of their English-accented fluent French, 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. 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".
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 1997. 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. The song "Without You I'm Nothing" from this album has had a version released in which David Bowie duets with Molko.
Brian Molko has been open about his use of recreational drugs; in a 1997 interview with New York Doll, admitting at one point that heroin was "probably the only drug on this planet I haven’t tried". However, he later admitted to experimenting with heroin as well.
Recent years
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 (see Live 8 concert, Paris). Their 2006 tour of the UK sold out in one weekend.
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. The album was mastered from October to January.
Two songs feature duets with American singers. "Meds" with Alison Mosshart of The Kills and "Broken Promise" with Michael Stipe of REM.
The band's fifth album Meds was leaked over the Internet on January 17, 2006. No details are available on how the album was leaked. The official release date of Meds was March 13, 2006, making the leak almost two months early. 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.
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 October 2006, their debut, self titled first album Placebo was digitally remastered and re-released with the title "10th Anniversary collectors edition". The box set includes a DVD containing music videos, concerts and TV performances.
End of March 2007, Placebo announced they were recruiting fans to star in the video for their newest single "Running Up That Hill", a cover of the famous Kate Bush song.
According to Joe Hahn, Linkin Park's DJ, Placebo will join Linkin Park and various other acts, including My Chemical Romance, HIM, Saosin, and Taking Back Sunday for this year's Projekt: Revolution tour. Check Linkin Park's official website for tour dates.
During a Radio Bam show which aired on May 28, 2007, Bam Margera revealed Placebo had written a track for the second Viva la Bands compilation which is scheduled to be released through Filthy Note Records during 2007. A tour of the bands featured on the compilation is due to be scheduled alongside the release, but it is not yet known if Placebo will be taking part in this.
Members
Current members
As of 2007, the band consisted of:
Brian Molko (1994–present) – Vocals, lead guitar, harmonica, keyboards, saxophone
Stefan Olsdal (1994–present) – Bass guitar, Keyboards, vocals, Second guitar
Steve Hewitt (1996–present) – Drums, percussion
And live lineup had the addition of:
William (Bill) Lloyd – Keyboards
Alex Lee (from 2006) – Guitar and keyboards, former keyboardist with Strangelove and Suede
Former members
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.
Discography:
1. Placebo
(July 17, 1996)
(September 18, 2006)
Virgin Records
2. Without You I'm Nothing
(October 12, 1998)
Virgin Records
3. Black Market Music
(October 9, 2000)
Virgin Records
4. Sleeping with Ghosts
(March 24, 2003)
Virgin Records
5. Meds
(March 13, 2006)
Virgin Records
Kayla's select Placebo song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPvCOdPABkQ (Oh my word, orgasm)
History
Early years
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. They attended the European School of Luxembourg.
While briefly known as Ashtray Heart, the band quickly settled on the name Placebo - when they were choosing a name for the band, they noticed that many bands at this time had a drug name. So they decided to name the band after the drug that doesn't work. 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. The band officially says "personal demons" were the reason for his absence - Robert was very homophobic and didn't really fit in. When it all became unbearable for them, they asked Robert to leave the band. As the other band members were having difficulty getting on with Robert Schultzberg, they persuaded Hewitt to rejoin the band in 1996.
Hewitt returned to the band after the departure of Schulzberg. The band gained some measure of notoriety for the sexualities of its members (Olsdal is homosexual, Hewitt is heterosexual and Molko is bisexual), Molko's androgenous image, and their excessive lifestyles, often chronicled in their songs. Placebo encountered resistance from the British music industry upon release of the single "Special K" from their third album Black Market Music (2000) due to its use of a Ketamine high as a metaphor for love.
Middle years
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 received less positive coverage from the British music press, who on occasion have mocked the perceived pretentiousness of its lead member, Brian Molko. However, the band retained a huge popular and critical following in continental Europe. By way of their English-accented fluent French, 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. 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".
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 1997. 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. The song "Without You I'm Nothing" from this album has had a version released in which David Bowie duets with Molko.
Brian Molko has been open about his use of recreational drugs; in a 1997 interview with New York Doll, admitting at one point that heroin was "probably the only drug on this planet I haven’t tried". However, he later admitted to experimenting with heroin as well.
Recent years
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 (see Live 8 concert, Paris). Their 2006 tour of the UK sold out in one weekend.
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. The album was mastered from October to January.
Two songs feature duets with American singers. "Meds" with Alison Mosshart of The Kills and "Broken Promise" with Michael Stipe of REM.
The band's fifth album Meds was leaked over the Internet on January 17, 2006. No details are available on how the album was leaked. The official release date of Meds was March 13, 2006, making the leak almost two months early. 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.
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 October 2006, their debut, self titled first album Placebo was digitally remastered and re-released with the title "10th Anniversary collectors edition". The box set includes a DVD containing music videos, concerts and TV performances.
End of March 2007, Placebo announced they were recruiting fans to star in the video for their newest single "Running Up That Hill", a cover of the famous Kate Bush song.
According to Joe Hahn, Linkin Park's DJ, Placebo will join Linkin Park and various other acts, including My Chemical Romance, HIM, Saosin, and Taking Back Sunday for this year's Projekt: Revolution tour. Check Linkin Park's official website for tour dates.
During a Radio Bam show which aired on May 28, 2007, Bam Margera revealed Placebo had written a track for the second Viva la Bands compilation which is scheduled to be released through Filthy Note Records during 2007. A tour of the bands featured on the compilation is due to be scheduled alongside the release, but it is not yet known if Placebo will be taking part in this.
Members
Current members
As of 2007, the band consisted of:
Brian Molko (1994–present) – Vocals, lead guitar, harmonica, keyboards, saxophone
Stefan Olsdal (1994–present) – Bass guitar, Keyboards, vocals, Second guitar
Steve Hewitt (1996–present) – Drums, percussion
And live lineup had the addition of:
William (Bill) Lloyd – Keyboards
Alex Lee (from 2006) – Guitar and keyboards, former keyboardist with Strangelove and Suede
Former members
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.
Discography:
1. Placebo
(July 17, 1996)
(September 18, 2006)
Virgin Records
2. Without You I'm Nothing
(October 12, 1998)
Virgin Records
3. Black Market Music
(October 9, 2000)
Virgin Records
4. Sleeping with Ghosts
(March 24, 2003)
Virgin Records
5. Meds
(March 13, 2006)
Virgin Records
Kayla's select Placebo song: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPvCOdPABkQ (Oh my word, orgasm)