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"Ashtray Heart" redirects here. For the American alt-country band see The Ashtray Hearts. The Ashtray Hearts are a US band originally from Minneapolis.
For other uses, see Placebo (disambiguation).
Placebo
Placebo at the Radar Festival, Zagreb, 2007.
Placebo at the Radar Festival, Zagreb, 2007. Zagreb (ˈzɑːgrɛb is the Capital and the largest city of Croatia.
Background information
Origin London, England
Genre(s) Alternative rock, indie rock
Years active 1994–Present
Label(s) EMI
Virgin Records (current), Hut Records, Caroline Records
Associated acts Hotel Persona
Website Placeboworld.co.uk
Members
Brian Molko
Stefan Olsdal
Former members
Robert Schultzberg (1994–1996)
Steve Hewitt (1996–2007)

Placebo is an alternative rock band formed in London in 1994. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of Indie rock is genre of Alternative rock that primarily exists in the independent Underground music scene In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music The EMI Group is a British music company comprising the major record company EMI Music – which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in Virgin Records is a British Record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell VC Recordings trading as Hut Records was a British Record label brand which was started in 1990 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Virgin Records Caroline Records started out as a subsidiary of Richard Branson 's Virgin Records label during the early to mid 1970s Brian Molko (born December 10, 1972, in Belgium) is a Songwriter, Lead vocalist and Guitarist of the band Placebo Stefan Olsdal (born Stefan Alexander Bo Olsdal) is the Bassist / Guitarist of the Alternative rock band Placebo and is part of Robert Schultzberg was the original Drummer for Alternative rock band Placebo. Steve Hewitt (born 22 March, 1971) was the drummer for the band Placebo between mid-1996 and October 2007 Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The band currently is comprised of Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal. Brian Molko (born December 10, 1972, in Belgium) is a Songwriter, Lead vocalist and Guitarist of the band Placebo Stefan Olsdal (born Stefan Alexander Bo Olsdal) is the Bassist / Guitarist of the Alternative rock band Placebo and is part of The band formed when Molko and Olsdal, who went to the same school but apparently never spoke, met again by chance in London and subsequently formed 'Ashtray Heart'. Drummer Steve Hewitt left the band on October 1, 2007, citing "personal and musical differences". Steve Hewitt (born 22 March, 1971) was the drummer for the band Placebo between mid-1996 and October 2007 Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. [1]

Contents

History

Early years

Placebo was founded when former Luxembourg schoolmates Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal met by chance at South Kensington tube station in 1994; they had previously attended the American International School of Luxembourg together (and Molko had also attended the European School of Luxembourg). Luxembourg (Groussherzogtum Lëtzebuerg Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small Landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by Brian Molko (born December 10, 1972, in Belgium) is a Songwriter, Lead vocalist and Guitarist of the band Placebo Stefan Olsdal (born Stefan Alexander Bo Olsdal) is the Bassist / Guitarist of the Alternative rock band Placebo and is part of South Kensington is a London Underground station in Kensington, west London. Molko was performing at a local bar and invited Olsdal to watch him one night. On the strength of Molko's performance, Olsdal decided they should form a band.

While briefly known as Ashtray Heart,[2] 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. They decided to name the band after a drug with no effect. The band could not decide on a drummer at first with Steve Hewitt and Robert Schultzberg alternating on the spot. Steve Hewitt (born 22 March, 1971) was the drummer for the band Placebo between mid-1996 and October 2007 Robert Schultzberg was the original Drummer for Alternative rock band Placebo. 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. Caroline Records started out as a subsidiary of Richard Branson 's Virgin Records label during the early to mid 1970s The band officially says "personal demons" were the reason for his absence. As Molko was having difficulty getting on with Schultzberg, they persuaded Hewitt to rejoin the band in 1996. [3]

Hewitt returned to the band after the departure of Schultzberg. The band gained some measure of notoriety for the sexualities of its members (Olsdal is homosexual, Hewitt is heterosexual and Molko is bisexual) as well as for their excessive lifestyles and Molko's androgynous image, which were often referred to in their songs. Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. Heterosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the opposite sex or to a heterosexual orientation Bisexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of both sexes or to a bisexual orientation Androgyny is a term derived from the Greek words ανήρ ( anér, meaning man and γυνή ( gyné, meaning woman that can refer to either of two

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. " Nancy Boy " is a song by Placebo, released as the third single from their self-titled album Placebo is the self-titled debut album by Alternative band Placebo, released on the Virgin Records label on 16 July 1996 Pure Morning was a single by Alternative band Placebo, taken from their second album Without You I'm Nothing. Without You I'm Nothing is the second Album by Alternative band Placebo, released in 1998 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 frontman 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. [4]

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. Placebo is the self-titled debut album by Alternative band Placebo, released on the Virgin Records label on 16 July 1996 Black Market Music is an album by Alternative band Placebo, released in 2000 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. Sleeping with Ghosts is the fourth album released by European Alternative rock band Placebo in 2003 "The Bitter End" is a single by alternative rock band Placebo.

The band was asked to play at David Bowie's fiftieth birthday party at Madison Square Garden. David Bowie (ˈboʊiː born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947 is an English Musician, actor producer, and arranger. Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, and known colloquially as The Garden, has been the name of four Arenas in New York City. Placebo played "20th Century Boy" live with David Bowie at the BRIT Awards show in 1997. The BRIT Awards, often simply called The BRITs, are the British Phonographic Industry 's annual pop music awards 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. TRex (occasionally spelled T Rex or T-Rex) were an English rock band fronted by guitarist singer and songwriter Marc Bolan. Velvet Goldmine is a 1998 film directed and co-written by Todd Haynes. The band also appeared in this film. In the same year, their peak album Without You I'm Nothing was recorded and released. Without You I'm Nothing is the second Album by Alternative band Placebo, released in 1998 The song Without You I'm Nothing from this album has had a version released in which David Bowie duets with Molko. Without You I'm Nothing was a single by British Alternative rock band Placebo.

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". Heroin ( INN: diacetylmorphine, BAN: diamorphine) is a semi-synthetic opioid synthesized from Morphine, a derivative [5] However, he later admitted to experimenting with heroin as well. [6]

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. Black Market Music is an album by Alternative band Placebo, released in 2000 Ketamine is a drug for use in human and veterinary medicine developed by Parke-Davis (today a part of Pfizer) in 1962 The 'single' was released in Australia before eventually being made available in the UK as an EP featuring the b-sides and remixes that would have filled out a conventional two disc single release. At the time the band claimed this was due to dissatisfaction with the two disc single format, a claim somewhat undermined by their subsequent single releases all being made available in two cd formats accompanied by a 7inch vinyl.

Recent years

Stefan Olsdal performing in Collegno
Stefan Olsdal performing in Collegno

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. Collegno is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 9 km west of Turin Wembley Arena is a famous Entertainment venue located in Wembley, London, UK. 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". The Cure are an English rock band that formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976 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. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a 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). Events 310 - Pope Miltiades is elected 626 - In fear of assassination Li Shimin ambushes and kills his rival Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Live 8 was a string of Benefit concerts that took place on 2 July, 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. The Palace of Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal Château in Versailles, in France 's Île-de-France region This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. On 2 July, 2005, a Live 8 concert was held at the Palais de Versailles, Paris, France. 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 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 Kills is an Indie rock band formed by American Vocalist Alison "VV" Mosshart and British Guitarist Jamie "Hotel" The Kills is an Indie rock band formed by American Vocalist Alison "VV" Mosshart and British Guitarist Jamie "Hotel" John Michael Stipe (born January 4 1960 in Decatur Georgia) is an American singer who is the lead vocalist for the Alternative rock band R REM is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe ( lead vocals) Peter Buck ( Guitar

The band's fifth album Meds was leaked over the Internet on January 17, 2006. Meds is Placebo 's fifth album The album was released in most countries on 13 March 2006, although it was released three days earlier in Events 38 BC - Octavian marries Livia Drusilla. 1287 - King Alfonso III of Aragon invades Minorca Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 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. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 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, nevertheless in most countries the album debuted relatively well, 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. Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

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). Placebo are currently looking for a new record label.

In October 2006, their debut, self titled first album Placebo was digitally remastered and re-released with the title "10th Anniversary collectors edition". Placebo is the self-titled debut album by Alternative band Placebo, released on the Virgin Records label on 16 July 1996 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. " Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God " was the first single from Kate Bush 's 1985 Album Hounds of Love. Kate Bush (born Catherine Bush on 30 July 1958 is an English singer songwriter musician and Record producer. [7] Placebo joined Linkin Park and various other acts, including My Chemical Romance, Julien-K, HIM, Saosin, and Taking Back Sunday for 2007's Projekt: Revolution tour. My Chemical Romance (often shortened to MCR or' My Chem') is an American alternative / post-hardcore quintet that formed in 2001 Julien-K began as a side project for electronic music created by Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck from Orgy, with the later addition of Brandon Belsky and HIM is a rock band from Finland formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo, guitarist Mikko Lindström, Saosin is a five-piece band from Newport Beach, California. They formed during the summer of 2003 and are characterised by their powerful high-pitched vocals Taking Back Sunday is a band from Amityville New York, Long Island, New York.

On 1 October 2007, Steve Hewitt left Placebo due to personal and musical differences. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Placebo have stressed that the parting with Hewitt was amicable, but that the band members "can no longer live under the same roof, so to speak. . . Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal will begin work on Placebo’s 6th studio album next Spring 2008, and are in no rush to find an immediate replacement for Steve". 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common [8]

Members

Current members

As of 2008, the band consists of:

Additional live lineup members are:

Former members

Discography

Main article: Placebo discography

Albums

Compilations

Placebo tracks in film, television & video games

References

  1. ^ “News”, Placebo World (official band site), <http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/news/index.html>. Retrieved on 1 October 2007 
  2. ^ Hightower, Laura, “Placebo”, Musician Guide, <http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608002511/Placebo.html>. Retrieved on 10 February 2008 
  3. ^ Always on the Run (Retrieved 2007-03-07)
  4. ^ Gabriella (April 2001), “Interview with Brian Molko”, NYRock, <http://www.nyrock.com/interviews/2001/placebo_int2.asp>. Retrieved on 7 March 2007 
  5. ^ Kerrigan, “Kerrang Interview”, New York Doll, <http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/archive/doll.htm>. New York Doll is a film based on the life of former New York Dolls member Arthur Kane. Retrieved on 20 December 2006 
  6. ^ “I Thought I Was Good at Handling Pussy”, Select Magazine, <http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/archive/selpussy.htm>. Retrieved on 15 April 2007 
  7. ^ “Placebo wants you in their video!”, Side-line, April 5, 2007, <http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=21961_0_2_0_C>. Side-Line was an online music magazine History Side-line was started in 1989 by two university students David Noiret and Seba Dolimont who noticed that there was a distinctive Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Retrieved on 10 February 2008 
  8. ^ “Placebo drummer quits the band”, Side-line, <http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=26206_0_2_0_C>. Side-Line was an online music magazine History Side-line was started in 1989 by two university students David Noiret and Seba Dolimont who noticed that there was a distinctive Retrieved on 10 February 2008 
  9. ^ IMDB - Cruel Intentions Soudtrack (Retrieved 2007-03-07)
  10. ^ http://www.absolute-playstation.com/api_review/rformula12000.htm (Retrieved 2007-04-05)
  11. ^ http://www.teenagewildlife.com/music/st/TSOGT/Title.html (Retrieved 2008-06-01)

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