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Fightstar

October 15, 2023

Fightstar are a British rock band from London that formed in 2003. The band is composed of lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Simpson, guitarist and co-vocalist Alex Westaway, bassist Dan Haigh and drummer Omar Abidi. Generally considered a post-hardcore band as a whole, Fightstar are known to incorporate metal, alternative rock and other genres into their sound. During the band's early days, they were viewed sceptically by critics because of Simpson's former pop career with Busted. Their live shows got a more positive reaction, and their 2005 debut EP, They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, was a critical success.

Fightstar
Frontman Charlie Simpson (left) and bassist Dan Haigh in 2010
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active
  • 2003–2010
  • 2014–2015 (hiatus)
Labels
Members
Websitefightstarmusic.com

The band released their debut studio album, Grand Unification, the following year; Kerrang! editor Paul Brannigan called it "one of the best British rock albums of the last decade".[1] Fightstar received a nomination for Best British Band at the 2006 Kerrang! Awards before releasing their second album, One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours, in 2007. A compilation album including B-sides and rarities, Alternate Endings, was released the following year. The band self-funded and co-produced their third album, Be Human (2009), which featured orchestral and choral elements. It was their highest-charting album, peaking at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart.

Fightstar went on hiatus in 2010, allowing its members to concentrate on other projects. This included two folk-oriented solo records by Simpson and a synthwave side project operated by Westaway and Haigh called Gunship. Fightstar reunited in 2014 and released their fourth studio album, Behind the Devil's Back, the following year. The record added electronic elements to their eclectic sound. All four studio albums have charted in the top 40 and received critical praise.[2] In November 2015, Fightstar once again went on hiatus, with Simpson rejoining Busted for the first time in over a decade.

History Edit

Origins (2003–2004) Edit

In 2003, when Charlie Simpson was still a member of the pop punk band Busted, he met fellow songwriter-guitarist Alex Westaway and drummer Omar Abidi at a party.[3] During the party, an impromptu jam session took place. Simpson, Westaway and Abidi played a loop of Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name", and agreed to attend a gig a few days later. After the show, they returned to Simpson's flat and played guitars and a v-drum kit; they then wrote their first song, "Too Much Punch".[4] Westaway later invited his school friend Haigh to practise with the band, and they began booking rehearsal sessions.[3] Abidi was studying sound engineering at college, and guitarist Alex Westaway had recently moved to London after dropping out of university. Future bassist Dan Haigh, also based in London, worked for a game development company.[4]

Simpson was becoming increasingly frustrated with Busted's music because he could not explore his own creative desires. The music he wrote did not fit Busted's established pop style.[3] Simpson's time with Fightstar reportedly caused tension in Busted,[5] which was amplified when Fightstar announced a 14-date UK tour.[6] Simpson told Busted's manager in December 2004 over the phone that he was leaving the pop trio to focus on Fightstar,[7] and wanted to do something his "heart was in".[8] At a press conference at the Soho Hotel in London on 14 January 2005, Busted's record label announced that the band had split up after Simpson's departure several weeks earlier.[5][9]

They Liked You Better When You Were Dead (2004–2005) Edit

Main article: They Liked You Better When You Were Dead

After Simpson's decision to focus on Fightstar, the band entered Criterion Studios in London with producer Mark Williams to begin work on their first EP, They Liked You Better When You Were Dead.[10] It was released as a mini-album, containing nine tracks written during the six months Simpson and Westaway lived together.[3] Recording sessions were often interrupted, since Simpson was in the midst of a sold-out series of Wembley shows with Busted.[11]

They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, released on 28 February 2005 after a brief UK promotional tour.[12] It was a critical success,[1][12][13] though Punknews.org reviewed it negatively.[14] Alex Westaway, the band's lead guitarist and co-lyricist, drew its artwork (based on Edward Norton) for the booklet;[15] the EP's lead single, "Palahniuk's Laughter", was inspired by David Fincher's film Fight Club (1999), which in turn was based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk.[4] "Palahniuk's Laughter" received heavy rotation on music-video channels and spent many weeks on charts based on video and radio requests.[16] The track, originally entitled "Out Swimming in the Flood", was renamed after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.[17] The EP's UK version contained five tracks (including a sixth hidden track), and was ineligible for the UK Singles Chart. It was released the following year in North America as an extended mini-album by Deep Elm Records. The release was praised by critics, despite initial scepticism due to Simpson's former pop career with Busted.[18]

Grand Unification (2005–2006) Edit

Main article: Grand Unification (Fightstar album)

After the release and promotion of They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, the band were approached by their management about whom they wanted to produce their debut full-length album.[19] They requested Colin Richardson; initially sceptical about their chances, Richardson agreed to collaborate after he listened to their demos. Fightstar entered studios in west London and Surrey with Richardson in October 2005.[20] Richardson, who had previously produced albums for Funeral for a Friend, Machine Head and Fear Factory, was meticulous during pre-production and took five days to tune the drums.[11] When recording began, he called the band "very focused" and said that there was a "real buzz because nobody knows what to expect."[20] Grand Unification is a loose concept album, influenced by and based on the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series. With lyrics loosely based on the personal experiences of Charlie Simpson and Alex Westaway, its underlying concept revolves around two people who experience the last few days of their lives before the end of the world.[21]

 
The band at an in-store autograph session

Grand Unification was released in the UK on 13 March 2006 by Island Records, preceded by the single releases of "Paint Your Target", "Grand Unification Pt. I" and "Waste a Moment". The album debuted at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart, and its first single ("Paint Your Target") reached number nine on the Singles Chart.[22] That month, Fightstar were listed by the US rock magazine Alternative Press as one of 100 bands to watch in 2006[23] and Kerrang! editor Paul Brannigan called the album "one of the best British rock albums of the last decade".[1] The band played at the Download Festival at Donington Park,[24] and followed Biffy Clyro and Funeral for a Friend at the Full Ponty festival in Wales.[25] Fightstar toured several countries, including Australia, Japan and the UK, with Funeral for a Friend for three months in 2006.[26] The band released Grand Unification in North America on 17 April 2007 on Trustkill Records. This version was different from the British and Japanese versions because it features "Fight For Us" (the B-side of the fourth single "Hazy Eyes") as a bonus track.[27]

One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours (2007–2008) Edit

Main article: One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours

After leaving Island Records due to a disagreement over the band's artistic direction,[28] Fightstar signed with the independent label Institute Records (a division of Gut Records) for their second album.[29] According to Charlie Simpson, the band and Island had come to a "cross road" when the label began pushing Fightstar to create a more "mainstream" record.[30] The band recorded One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours in Los Angeles with Matt Wallace, who had produced Angel Dust (1992) by Faith No More[30] (one of Simpson's favorite groups).[3]

To promote the album, Fightstar initially released the free downloadable single "99" in May 2007. The track, about being haunted by the loss of a loved one, was made available on the band's microsite with a music video.[31] Its first official single, "We Apologise for Nothing", was released in September and reached number 63 on the UK Singles Chart.[22] The third single, "Deathcar", was the first official UK VinylDisc release.[32] The song, inspired by a harrowing documentary about Chinese execution vans[33] and the end of Simpson's romantic relationship, produced a low-fi music video which cost £500 to make.[33] The VinylDisc single reached number 92 on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number two on the Indie and Rock Charts in its first week.[22] The fourth single, "Floods", was released the following March. The band wrote it amid growing concern about global warming after they saw Al Gore's documentary, An Inconvenient Truth.[34] Fightstar performed the song on Colin Murray's BBC Radio 1 live sessions.[35] The band went on a 10-date UK tour in May 2008,[36] supported by the London four-piece Brigade.[37] The tour included dates at the Leeds Slam Dunk Festival on 25 May and Carling Academy Islington on 29 May.[38] One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours' last single, "I Am The Message", was released on 16 June 2008[39] as a double A side single; the other side was a cover of The Flaming Lips' "Waitin' for a Superman", recorded for the Colin Murray Radio 1 show.[40]

Alternate Endings and Be Human (2008–2010) Edit

Main articles: Alternate Endings and Be Human (album)

On 11 August 2008 Fightstar released the B-sides album Alternate Endings, with live radio sessions, covers and a previously-unreleased track.[41] When Gut Records went into administration at the end of 2008[42] the band decided to release their next album, Be Human, in a joint venture with their management company (Raw Power) on the Search and Destroy label. The album was distributed by PIAS Records.[43] Fightstar released their first single from Be Human, "The English Way", on 3 November 2008 and it topped the UK rock chart. Its video was played on Kerrang! and Scuzz T.V., and topped the MTV2 top 10. The album was co-produced by the band and Carl Bown at Treehouse Studios, Bown's Chesterfield studio. In interviews before its release, Fightstar called the new album "quite different" from their previous releases; Charlie Simpson said that they wanted to experiment with a "rock opera" sound, including strings and a choir. Simpson said that although it might be different, it would still be a Fightstar album with their trademark dark, heavy elements.[44] The band supported Feeder for the first part of their UK tour, which began on 21 October 2008.[45] Drummer Jason Bowld of the British metal band Pitchshifter filled in for Omar Abidi on their UK tour while Abidi recovered from a broken wrist; Abidi returned to touring with the band in early 2009.[46] Due to the drummer's injury, Simpson played drums on six tracks of the new album while Abidi wrote the drum parts and oversaw Simpson's playing.[47]

 
Fightstar performing in 2009

On 4 February 2009, Fightstar announced a 12-date UK tour supported by In Case of Fire and Laruso.[48] Two weeks before the release of Be Human, "Mercury Summer" was released as the next single;[49] its video debuted on the band's MySpace page on 25 February.[50] "Mercury Summer" was well-received, reaching the A List of the Radio 1 Playlist;[51] the band was featured on the BBC2 music show, Sound. "Mercury Summer" was added to the daytime playlist at XFM Radio and picked as Ian Camfield's Record of the Week. Emma Scott and Kerrang Radio also made "Mercury Summer" her Record of the Week. Be Human was released on 20 April 2009, reaching the highest chart peak of any Fightstar album: number 20 on the UK Albums Chart.[22]

The band introduced "A City on Fire" during Fearne Cotton's Radio 1 show on 19 October;[52][53] its video, directed by Sitcom Soldiers, premiered on 24 October.[54] The single was released as a digital download on 20 December[55] and peaked at numbers four and ten on the UK Rock and Indie charts, respectively.[56][57] Fightstar released a deluxe edition of Be Human on 1 March 2010 with five new tracks, including "A City on Fire" and a live cover of Jordin Sparks' "Battlefield" on the iTunes edition.[58]

Hiatus and side projects (2010–2014) Edit

In 2010, Fightstar announced that they were going on hiatus to focus on separate projects.[59] Westaway and Haigh worked on Gunship, a synthwave group devoted to film music,[60] and completed production of the score to Grzegorz Jonkajtys and Bastiaan Koch's short film, The 3rd Letter, with Audrey Riley. The film received several awards from film festivals worldwide.[61] Simpson began work on solo material. In December 2010 he released an EP entitled When We Were Lions through PledgeMusic, an organisation which helps artists raise money to record music from fans.[62] His debut album, Young Pilgrim, was released in August 2011.[63] Simpson's solo work differed from his previous efforts, featuring a sound described as closer to folk music than to rock or pop.[64]

He said that Fightstar would record another album, but he first planned to record another solo album while Westaway and Haigh worked with Gunship.[65] In a December 2012 Digital Spy interview, Simpson confirmed his plan to finish writing (and record) the second solo album in February 2013. After an intended US release and tour in the summer of 2013 promoting the album, he planned that Fightstar would reunite and begin writing for their fourth album.[66] Simpson's second solo album, Long Road Home, was released in August 2014.[67]

Return from hiatus and Behind the Devil's Back (2014–present) Edit

Main article: Behind the Devil's Back

[Busted are] the ones who sell millions of records. Fightstar were never selling millions of records. The rest of Fightstar work for a living (Haigh and Westaway run a production company, Abidi works as a tour manager), and now Simpson does as well, it’s just that he works for Busted.

—Teamrock.com journalist Tom Bryant, 11 November 2015[68]

On 24 September 2014, the band's website was updated to include a countdown timer accompanied by text reading "News ...".[69] The timer ended on 13 October with the announcement of a ten-year anniversary show at the Forum in London. A statement from the band followed: "It has been 10 years since the inception of this band and we wanted to celebrate it with a bang. We want to thank you all for your love and support over the past ten years and we can't wait to commemorate this milestone with you guys."[70] The concert sold out in minutes; due to demand a second concert was scheduled at O2 Academy Brixton for December,[71] which was later postponed until February 2015.[72] With news of the postponement came an announcement of additional dates in Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester.[72] On 25 February, it was confirmed that the band would be third-stage headliners at the 2015 Download Festival.[73]

On 12 May 2015, Simpson posted on Instagram that Fightstar had returned to the studio to work on new material with producer Carl Bown and began using Twitter for updates on the progress of the album.[74] On 22 July it was announced that the band would release Behind The Devil's Back on 16 October, with a string of UK dates promoting the album to follow.[75] On 26 July the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show introduced "Animal", the band's first new song in five years[76] which was released digitally on iTunes on 7 August.[77]

On 10 November 2015 Simpson reunited with Busted to record new music and tour,[78] saying that Fightstar would continue to tour and release music as a "passion project" for its members.[79] Some music journalists, such as Team Rock's Tom Bryant, speculated that it was due to Fightstar never being particularly financially successful (while Busted remained profitable),[68] but in a Newsbeat interview, Simpson stated that he was swayed due to the chemistry in the studio.[80]

In an interview in April 2019, Simpson confirmed that Fightstar will return at some point in the future, and that he'd also been writing some material for it recently.[81]

Musical style and influences Edit

 
"Sleep Well Tonight"
Sample of "Sleep Well Tonight", described as a good example of Fightstar's musical dynamics blending "thoroughly heavy metal sections" with "widescreen rock"[82]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Fightstar has been described as post-hardcore,[83][84][85] alternative rock,[86][87] emo,[17][88] and alternative metal.[89][90] According to Kerrang!, the band's influences are post-rock, heavy metal and hardcore punk.[11] Simpson echoed this, describing their musical aim as trying to "combine the light and dark shades, to make something utterly brutal and really heavy and on the other side have something really delicate and beautiful. The fusion of those things is what Fightstar does."[91]

Though the band have been labelled emo, they have tried to avoid writing in that fashion.[92] Grand Unification and One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours' themes were apocalyptic,[93][94] and subsequent work varied from patriotism ("The English Way")[95] to self-loathing ("Damocles" and "Animal").[96] Fightstar have been influenced by the works of author Chuck Palahniuk, as well as films and comics such as the Neon Genesis Evangelion series.[21]

In his review of Grand Unification (2006), Vik Bansal of musicOMH wrote about their varied dynamics: "Where others are happy to be one-dimensional, Fightstar are not content unless a song moves fluidly through seemingly incongruous but ultimately coherent moods and musical dynamics. The interspersion of thoroughly heavy metal sections within the otherwise widescreen rock of 'Grand Unification Pt I' and 'Sleep Well Tonight' encapsulates this perfectly".[82] One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours showed the band expanding their sound and pushing further into both lighter and heavier territories, with a mixture of more melodic soundscapes and heavier metallic styles.[97] According to Q magazine, "The intricate instrumental passages, multi-tracked vocal harmonies and pounding riffs hint at Muse-scale ambition and intellect".[98]

Fightstar's third album, Be Human (2009), featured choral and orchestral elements.[99] Emma Johnston of Kerrang! emphasised this in her review: "Fightstar throw as many orchestral and choral flourishes at their muscular, solemnly heavy rock as it could take without drowning".[100] Anton Djamoos of AbsolutePunk wrote that the album has a "certain symphonic quality" which is "a departure from the general body of work we've seen in the past. They break from their own norm with several orchestral elements to make the album sound more full and let the music hit even harder".[101] Matt Shoemaker of 411mania.com described the album as typical Fightstar ("[a] range from pure metal to alternative rock to bordering on emo at times"), influenced by progressive rock, acoustic and country pop in addition to its orchestral and choral elements.[86]

Behind the Devil's Back (2015) was noted for a heavier use of electronics than in the past, said by some critics to be reminiscent of Westaway and Haigh's side project Gunship.[102][103] The Edge and Rocksins.com reviewers remarked in particular the album's 1980s-style synths,[102][103] while NE:MM writer David Smith drew comparisons to American alternative rock supergroup Angels & Airwaves.[104]

Fightstar have said that they are influenced by a variety of music (particularly film scores),[4] citing Nirvana, Deftones, Radiohead, Silverchair, Pantera, Thrice, Mono, Explosions in the Sky, Elliott Smith, Funeral for a Friend, The Cure and Jeff Buckley as inspirations.[89][105][106] Abidi called Deftones the band with whom he would most like to perform: "If I got to play with (them), that'd be it, you could stick a fork in me."[47]

Members Edit

Discography Edit

Further information: Fightstar discography

Kerrang! Awards Edit

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2006 Fightstar Best British Band Nominated[107]

References Edit

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External links Edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fightstar.
  • Official website
  • Fightstar at AllMusic  

October 15, 2023
fightstar, british, rock, band, from, london, that, formed, 2003, band, composed, lead, vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, charlie, simpson, guitarist, vocalist, alex, westaway, bassist, haigh, drummer, omar, abidi, generally, considered, post, hardcore, band, . Fightstar are a British rock band from London that formed in 2003 The band is composed of lead vocalist guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Simpson guitarist and co vocalist Alex Westaway bassist Dan Haigh and drummer Omar Abidi Generally considered a post hardcore band as a whole Fightstar are known to incorporate metal alternative rock and other genres into their sound During the band s early days they were viewed sceptically by critics because of Simpson s former pop career with Busted Their live shows got a more positive reaction and their 2005 debut EP They Liked You Better When You Were Dead was a critical success FightstarFrontman Charlie Simpson left and bassist Dan Haigh in 2010Background informationOriginLondon EnglandGenresPost hardcore alternative rock emo alternative metalYears active2003 2010 2014 2015 hiatus LabelsPIAS Gut Island Trustkill Deep ElmMembersCharlie Simpson Alex Westaway Dan Haigh Omar AbidiWebsitefightstarmusic wbr comThe band released their debut studio album Grand Unification the following year Kerrang editor Paul Brannigan called it one of the best British rock albums of the last decade 1 Fightstar received a nomination for Best British Band at the 2006 Kerrang Awards before releasing their second album One Day Son This Will All Be Yours in 2007 A compilation album including B sides and rarities Alternate Endings was released the following year The band self funded and co produced their third album Be Human 2009 which featured orchestral and choral elements It was their highest charting album peaking at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart Fightstar went on hiatus in 2010 allowing its members to concentrate on other projects This included two folk oriented solo records by Simpson and a synthwave side project operated by Westaway and Haigh called Gunship Fightstar reunited in 2014 and released their fourth studio album Behind the Devil s Back the following year The record added electronic elements to their eclectic sound All four studio albums have charted in the top 40 and received critical praise 2 In November 2015 Fightstar once again went on hiatus with Simpson rejoining Busted for the first time in over a decade Contents 1 History 1 1 Origins 2003 2004 1 2 They Liked You Better When You Were Dead 2004 2005 1 3 Grand Unification 2005 2006 1 4 One Day Son This Will All Be Yours 2007 2008 1 5 Alternate Endings and Be Human 2008 2010 1 6 Hiatus and side projects 2010 2014 1 7 Return from hiatus and Behind the Devil s Back 2014 present 2 Musical style and influences 3 Members 4 Discography 5 Kerrang Awards 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditOrigins 2003 2004 Edit In 2003 when Charlie Simpson was still a member of the pop punk band Busted he met fellow songwriter guitarist Alex Westaway and drummer Omar Abidi at a party 3 During the party an impromptu jam session took place Simpson Westaway and Abidi played a loop of Rage Against the Machine s Killing in the Name and agreed to attend a gig a few days later After the show they returned to Simpson s flat and played guitars and a v drum kit they then wrote their first song Too Much Punch 4 Westaway later invited his school friend Haigh to practise with the band and they began booking rehearsal sessions 3 Abidi was studying sound engineering at college and guitarist Alex Westaway had recently moved to London after dropping out of university Future bassist Dan Haigh also based in London worked for a game development company 4 Simpson was becoming increasingly frustrated with Busted s music because he could not explore his own creative desires The music he wrote did not fit Busted s established pop style 3 Simpson s time with Fightstar reportedly caused tension in Busted 5 which was amplified when Fightstar announced a 14 date UK tour 6 Simpson told Busted s manager in December 2004 over the phone that he was leaving the pop trio to focus on Fightstar 7 and wanted to do something his heart was in 8 At a press conference at the Soho Hotel in London on 14 January 2005 Busted s record label announced that the band had split up after Simpson s departure several weeks earlier 5 9 They Liked You Better When You Were Dead 2004 2005 Edit Main article They Liked You Better When You Were Dead After Simpson s decision to focus on Fightstar the band entered Criterion Studios in London with producer Mark Williams to begin work on their first EP They Liked You Better When You Were Dead 10 It was released as a mini album containing nine tracks written during the six months Simpson and Westaway lived together 3 Recording sessions were often interrupted since Simpson was in the midst of a sold out series of Wembley shows with Busted 11 They Liked You Better When You Were Dead released on 28 February 2005 after a brief UK promotional tour 12 It was a critical success 1 12 13 though Punknews org reviewed it negatively 14 Alex Westaway the band s lead guitarist and co lyricist drew its artwork based on Edward Norton for the booklet 15 the EP s lead single Palahniuk s Laughter was inspired by David Fincher s film Fight Club 1999 which in turn was based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk 4 Palahniuk s Laughter received heavy rotation on music video channels and spent many weeks on charts based on video and radio requests 16 The track originally entitled Out Swimming in the Flood was renamed after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami 17 The EP s UK version contained five tracks including a sixth hidden track and was ineligible for the UK Singles Chart It was released the following year in North America as an extended mini album by Deep Elm Records The release was praised by critics despite initial scepticism due to Simpson s former pop career with Busted 18 Grand Unification 2005 2006 Edit Main article Grand Unification Fightstar album After the release and promotion of They Liked You Better When You Were Dead the band were approached by their management about whom they wanted to produce their debut full length album 19 They requested Colin Richardson initially sceptical about their chances Richardson agreed to collaborate after he listened to their demos Fightstar entered studios in west London and Surrey with Richardson in October 2005 20 Richardson who had previously produced albums for Funeral for a Friend Machine Head and Fear Factory was meticulous during pre production and took five days to tune the drums 11 When recording began he called the band very focused and said that there was a real buzz because nobody knows what to expect 20 Grand Unification is a loose concept album influenced by and based on the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series With lyrics loosely based on the personal experiences of Charlie Simpson and Alex Westaway its underlying concept revolves around two people who experience the last few days of their lives before the end of the world 21 nbsp The band at an in store autograph sessionGrand Unification was released in the UK on 13 March 2006 by Island Records preceded by the single releases of Paint Your Target Grand Unification Pt I and Waste a Moment The album debuted at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart and its first single Paint Your Target reached number nine on the Singles Chart 22 That month Fightstar were listed by the US rock magazine Alternative Press as one of 100 bands to watch in 2006 23 and Kerrang editor Paul Brannigan called the album one of the best British rock albums of the last decade 1 The band played at the Download Festival at Donington Park 24 and followed Biffy Clyro and Funeral for a Friend at the Full Ponty festival in Wales 25 Fightstar toured several countries including Australia Japan and the UK with Funeral for a Friend for three months in 2006 26 The band released Grand Unification in North America on 17 April 2007 on Trustkill Records This version was different from the British and Japanese versions because it features Fight For Us the B side of the fourth single Hazy Eyes as a bonus track 27 One Day Son This Will All Be Yours 2007 2008 Edit Main article One Day Son This Will All Be Yours After leaving Island Records due to a disagreement over the band s artistic direction 28 Fightstar signed with the independent label Institute Records a division of Gut Records for their second album 29 According to Charlie Simpson the band and Island had come to a cross road when the label began pushing Fightstar to create a more mainstream record 30 The band recorded One Day Son This Will All Be Yours in Los Angeles with Matt Wallace who had produced Angel Dust 1992 by Faith No More 30 one of Simpson s favorite groups 3 To promote the album Fightstar initially released the free downloadable single 99 in May 2007 The track about being haunted by the loss of a loved one was made available on the band s microsite with a music video 31 Its first official single We Apologise for Nothing was released in September and reached number 63 on the UK Singles Chart 22 The third single Deathcar was the first official UK VinylDisc release 32 The song inspired by a harrowing documentary about Chinese execution vans 33 and the end of Simpson s romantic relationship produced a low fi music video which cost 500 to make 33 The VinylDisc single reached number 92 on the UK Singles Chart peaking at number two on the Indie and Rock Charts in its first week 22 The fourth single Floods was released the following March The band wrote it amid growing concern about global warming after they saw Al Gore s documentary An Inconvenient Truth 34 Fightstar performed the song on Colin Murray s BBC Radio 1 live sessions 35 The band went on a 10 date UK tour in May 2008 36 supported by the London four piece Brigade 37 The tour included dates at the Leeds Slam Dunk Festival on 25 May and Carling Academy Islington on 29 May 38 One Day Son This Will All Be Yours last single I Am The Message was released on 16 June 2008 39 as a double A side single the other side was a cover of The Flaming Lips Waitin for a Superman recorded for the Colin Murray Radio 1 show 40 Alternate Endings and Be Human 2008 2010 Edit Main articles Alternate Endings and Be Human album On 11 August 2008 Fightstar released the B sides album Alternate Endings with live radio sessions covers and a previously unreleased track 41 When Gut Records went into administration at the end of 2008 42 the band decided to release their next album Be Human in a joint venture with their management company Raw Power on the Search and Destroy label The album was distributed by PIAS Records 43 Fightstar released their first single from Be Human The English Way on 3 November 2008 and it topped the UK rock chart Its video was played on Kerrang and Scuzz T V and topped the MTV2 top 10 The album was co produced by the band and Carl Bown at Treehouse Studios Bown s Chesterfield studio In interviews before its release Fightstar called the new album quite different from their previous releases Charlie Simpson said that they wanted to experiment with a rock opera sound including strings and a choir Simpson said that although it might be different it would still be a Fightstar album with their trademark dark heavy elements 44 The band supported Feeder for the first part of their UK tour which began on 21 October 2008 45 Drummer Jason Bowld of the British metal band Pitchshifter filled in for Omar Abidi on their UK tour while Abidi recovered from a broken wrist Abidi returned to touring with the band in early 2009 46 Due to the drummer s injury Simpson played drums on six tracks of the new album while Abidi wrote the drum parts and oversaw Simpson s playing 47 nbsp Fightstar performing in 2009On 4 February 2009 Fightstar announced a 12 date UK tour supported by In Case of Fire and Laruso 48 Two weeks before the release of Be Human Mercury Summer was released as the next single 49 its video debuted on the band s MySpace page on 25 February 50 Mercury Summer was well received reaching the A List of the Radio 1 Playlist 51 the band was featured on the BBC2 music show Sound Mercury Summer was added to the daytime playlist at XFM Radio and picked as Ian Camfield s Record of the Week Emma Scott and Kerrang Radio also made Mercury Summer her Record of the Week Be Human was released on 20 April 2009 reaching the highest chart peak of any Fightstar album number 20 on the UK Albums Chart 22 The band introduced A City on Fire during Fearne Cotton s Radio 1 show on 19 October 52 53 its video directed by Sitcom Soldiers premiered on 24 October 54 The single was released as a digital download on 20 December 55 and peaked at numbers four and ten on the UK Rock and Indie charts respectively 56 57 Fightstar released a deluxe edition of Be Human on 1 March 2010 with five new tracks including A City on Fire and a live cover of Jordin Sparks Battlefield on the iTunes edition 58 Hiatus and side projects 2010 2014 Edit In 2010 Fightstar announced that they were going on hiatus to focus on separate projects 59 Westaway and Haigh worked on Gunship a synthwave group devoted to film music 60 and completed production of the score to Grzegorz Jonkajtys and Bastiaan Koch s short film The 3rd Letter with Audrey Riley The film received several awards from film festivals worldwide 61 Simpson began work on solo material In December 2010 he released an EP entitled When We Were Lions through PledgeMusic an organisation which helps artists raise money to record music from fans 62 His debut album Young Pilgrim was released in August 2011 63 Simpson s solo work differed from his previous efforts featuring a sound described as closer to folk music than to rock or pop 64 He said that Fightstar would record another album but he first planned to record another solo album while Westaway and Haigh worked with Gunship 65 In a December 2012 Digital Spy interview Simpson confirmed his plan to finish writing and record the second solo album in February 2013 After an intended US release and tour in the summer of 2013 promoting the album he planned that Fightstar would reunite and begin writing for their fourth album 66 Simpson s second solo album Long Road Home was released in August 2014 67 Return from hiatus and Behind the Devil s Back 2014 present Edit Main article Behind the Devil s Back Busted are the ones who sell millions of records Fightstar were never selling millions of records The rest of Fightstar work for a living Haigh and Westaway run a production company Abidi works as a tour manager and now Simpson does as well it s just that he works for Busted Teamrock com journalist Tom Bryant 11 November 2015 68 On 24 September 2014 the band s website was updated to include a countdown timer accompanied by text reading News 69 The timer ended on 13 October with the announcement of a ten year anniversary show at the Forum in London A statement from the band followed It has been 10 years since the inception of this band and we wanted to celebrate it with a bang We want to thank you all for your love and support over the past ten years and we can t wait to commemorate this milestone with you guys 70 The concert sold out in minutes due to demand a second concert was scheduled at O2 Academy Brixton for December 71 which was later postponed until February 2015 72 With news of the postponement came an announcement of additional dates in Birmingham Glasgow and Manchester 72 On 25 February it was confirmed that the band would be third stage headliners at the 2015 Download Festival 73 On 12 May 2015 Simpson posted on Instagram that Fightstar had returned to the studio to work on new material with producer Carl Bown and began using Twitter for updates on the progress of the album 74 On 22 July it was announced that the band would release Behind The Devil s Back on 16 October with a string of UK dates promoting the album to follow 75 On 26 July the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show introduced Animal the band s first new song in five years 76 which was released digitally on iTunes on 7 August 77 On 10 November 2015 Simpson reunited with Busted to record new music and tour 78 saying that Fightstar would continue to tour and release music as a passion project for its members 79 Some music journalists such as Team Rock s Tom Bryant speculated that it was due to Fightstar never being particularly financially successful while Busted remained profitable 68 but in a Newsbeat interview Simpson stated that he was swayed due to the chemistry in the studio 80 In an interview in April 2019 Simpson confirmed that Fightstar will return at some point in the future and that he d also been writing some material for it recently 81 Musical style and influences Edit nbsp Sleep Well Tonight source source Sample of Sleep Well Tonight described as a good example of Fightstar s musical dynamics blending thoroughly heavy metal sections with widescreen rock 82 Problems playing this file See media help Fightstar has been described as post hardcore 83 84 85 alternative rock 86 87 emo 17 88 and alternative metal 89 90 According to Kerrang the band s influences are post rock heavy metal and hardcore punk 11 Simpson echoed this describing their musical aim as trying to combine the light and dark shades to make something utterly brutal and really heavy and on the other side have something really delicate and beautiful The fusion of those things is what Fightstar does 91 Though the band have been labelled emo they have tried to avoid writing in that fashion 92 Grand Unification and One Day Son This Will All Be Yours themes were apocalyptic 93 94 and subsequent work varied from patriotism The English Way 95 to self loathing Damocles and Animal 96 Fightstar have been influenced by the works of author Chuck Palahniuk as well as films and comics such as the Neon Genesis Evangelion series 21 In his review of Grand Unification 2006 Vik Bansal of musicOMH wrote about their varied dynamics Where others are happy to be one dimensional Fightstar are not content unless a song moves fluidly through seemingly incongruous but ultimately coherent moods and musical dynamics The interspersion of thoroughly heavy metal sections within the otherwise widescreen rock of Grand Unification Pt I and Sleep Well Tonight encapsulates this perfectly 82 One Day Son This Will All Be Yours showed the band expanding their sound and pushing further into both lighter and heavier territories with a mixture of more melodic soundscapes and heavier metallic styles 97 According to Q magazine The intricate instrumental passages multi tracked vocal harmonies and pounding riffs hint at Muse scale ambition and intellect 98 Fightstar s third album Be Human 2009 featured choral and orchestral elements 99 Emma Johnston of Kerrang emphasised this in her review Fightstar throw as many orchestral and choral flourishes at their muscular solemnly heavy rock as it could take without drowning 100 Anton Djamoos of AbsolutePunk wrote that the album has a certain symphonic quality which is a departure from the general body of work we ve seen in the past They break from their own norm with several orchestral elements to make the album sound more full and let the music hit even harder 101 Matt Shoemaker of 411mania com described the album as typical Fightstar a range from pure metal to alternative rock to bordering on emo at times influenced by progressive rock acoustic and country pop in addition to its orchestral and choral elements 86 Behind the Devil s Back 2015 was noted for a heavier use of electronics than in the past said by some critics to be reminiscent of Westaway and Haigh s side project Gunship 102 103 The Edge and Rocksins com reviewers remarked in particular the album s 1980s style synths 102 103 while NE MM writer David Smith drew comparisons to American alternative rock supergroup Angels amp Airwaves 104 Fightstar have said that they are influenced by a variety of music particularly film scores 4 citing Nirvana Deftones Radiohead Silverchair Pantera Thrice Mono Explosions in the Sky Elliott Smith Funeral for a Friend The Cure and Jeff Buckley as inspirations 89 105 106 Abidi called Deftones the band with whom he would most like to perform If I got to play with them that d be it you could stick a fork in me 47 Members EditCharlie Simpson vocals rhythm guitar piano Alex Westaway vocals lead guitar Dan Haigh bass guitar Omar Abidi drums percussionDiscography EditFurther information Fightstar discography Grand Unification 2006 One Day Son This Will All Be Yours 2007 Be Human 2009 Behind the Devil s Back 2015 Kerrang Awards EditYear Nominee work Award Result2006 Fightstar Best British Band Nominated 107 References Edit a b c Interview Fightstar Yorkshire Evening Post Archived from the original on 15 February 2009 Retrieved 29 January 2009 I Am Fightstar Archived from the original on 14 August 2009 Retrieved 5 August 2009 a b c d e Guest Los I Am Fightstar Kerrang Radio Archived from the original on 14 August 2009 Retrieved 5 August 2009 a b c d Fightstar Liverpool 02 05 09 Crowdsurfer net Archived from the original on 21 February 2013 Retrieved 2 May 2009 a b Boy band Busted decide to split BBC News 14 January 2005 Archived from the original on 10 January 2016 Retrieved 29 July 2009 Fightstar tour Busted don t Drowned in Sound 12 January 2005 Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 29 July 2009 Charlie Simpson Would Quit Busted If Forced To Choose malextra com Archived from the original on 31 October 2016 Retrieved 31 October 2016 Alexis Petridis 17 February 2006 Busted It was like torture The Guardian Archived from the original on 10 February 2017 Retrieved 12 February 2012 Busted Press Conference On Friday PopDirt Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 29 July 2009 They Liked You Better When You Were Dead Digipack Sandwich Leg Records 2005 CID887 a b c Charlie Simpson s Treasure Chest An Intimate Portrait of A Life In Rock Kerrang No 1264 3 June 2009 p 40 a b Bansal Vik Fightstar They Liked You Better When You Were Dead EP Sandwich Leg MusicOMH Archived from the original on 14 December 2006 Retrieved 28 May 2005 Collar Cammila Fightstar They Liked You Better When You Were Dead AllMusic Archived from the original on 11 June 2016 Retrieved 9 June 2017 Shultz Brian 14 April 2006 Fightstar They Liked You Better When You Were Dead Punknews org Archived from the original on 25 December 2015 Retrieved 25 December 2015 Fightstar s Making Palahniuk s Laughter Post production Fightstarmusic Archived from the original on 16 April 2016 Retrieved 19 September 2006 Band Biography for Fightstar Leeds Gig Guide Archived from the original on 17 July 2011 Retrieved 25 October 2009 a b Smith Kelly 28 October 2008 Fightstar Interview pennyblackmusic co uk Archived from the original on 31 March 2017 Retrieved 31 March 2017 Knott Adam Fightstar They Liked You Better When You Were Dead Sputnikmusic Archived from the original on 2 February 2013 Retrieved 8 July 2007 Steffen Chris August 2007 Fightstar Metal Edge pp 78 79 ISSN 1068 2872 Archived from the original on 15 June 2011 Retrieved 19 July 2010 a b Garner George 22 October 2005 Fightstar Get Down To Work On Debut Album Kerrang No 1079 p 30 ISSN 1740 9977 Archived from the original on 15 June 2011 Retrieved 19 July 2010 a b K Johnny March 2006 The Science of Things Big Cheese No 73 p 52 ISSN 1365 358X Archived from the original on 15 June 2011 Retrieved 19 July 2010 a b c d Fightstar Official Charts Official Charts Company Retrieved 20 June 2017 Byrne Mike Post hardcore foursome just full of surprises Express amp Echo Archived from the original on 9 January 2014 Retrieved 1 May 2009 Woodman Chay 29 March 2006 Download Festival 2006 More Band Added Skiddle com Archived from the original on 20 June 2017 Retrieved 20 June 2017 The Full Ponty 06 eFestivals Retrieved 20 March 2006 Colothan Scott Fightstar To Support Funeral for a Friend Gigwise Archived from the original on 19 September 2012 Retrieved 13 March 2006 Roth Kaj Fightstar Signs With Trustkill And Releases Grand Unification With Bonus Track Melodic net Archived from the original on 9 November 2007 Retrieved 23 February 2007 Regan Susanna 8 September 2006 Fightstar end Island Records contract Digital Spy Retrieved 20 June 2017 Fightstar Biography NME Archived from the original on 19 February 2009 Retrieved 15 July 2009 a b DeAndrea Joe Fightstar 06 04 07 Interview AbsolutePunk Archived from the original on 12 January 2013 Retrieved 6 May 2007 Fightstar return with free single NME Archived from the original on 23 May 2007 Retrieved 21 April 2007 Allen Katie 15 October 2007 Half vinyl half CD all new format The Guardian London Archived from the original on 4 December 2013 Retrieved 15 October 2007 a b Smith Kelly Fightstar Interview Penny Black Music Archived from the original on 18 November 2008 Retrieved 28 October 2008 Fightstar Rock Global Warming Rock Sound Archived from the original on 24 October 2009 Retrieved 11 February 2008 Fox Al BBC Review of Fightstar Alternate Endings British Broadcasting Corporation Archived from the original on 9 January 2016 Retrieved 25 October 2016 Fightstar announce May UK tour NME 28 March 2008 Retrieved 20 June 2017 Marcus Triggs Alternative Vision www alternativevision co uk Where Alternative Music Meets Your Vision www alternativevision co uk Retrieved 20 June 2017 Fightstar announce May UK tour NME 28 March 2008 Archived from the original on 26 October 2016 Retrieved 25 October 2016 Crowther Tom 22 June 2008 I Am The Message Fightstar Single Review allgigs co uk Archived from the original on 12 November 2016 Retrieved 11 November 2016 I Am the Message CD Sleeve Norfolk UK Gut Records 2008 7INSREC09 Fightstar to release Alternate Endings Album Melodic net Archived from the original on 17 May 2008 Retrieved 3 May 2008 Pakinkis Tom 14 August 2008 Gut Records status in question Music Week Archived from the original on 2 April 2012 Fightstar will Never Change The Music Fix Archived from the original on 25 October 2009 Retrieved 7 June 2009 Harrison Ruth 27 October 2008 Fightstar do it The English Way Female First co uk Retrieved 20 June 2017 Fightstar Confirmed As Feeder Tour Support News Rocklouder Retrieved 20 June 2017 Jason Bowld amp Fightstar The English Way live YouTube Archived from the original on 13 December 2021 Retrieved 10 May 2008 a b Lee Simon Fightstar Interview on Spoonfed Things to do in London Spoonfed co uk Archived from the original on 12 March 2012 Retrieved 7 December 2011 Fightstar Announce UK Tour rocklouder co uk 4 February 2009 Archived from the original on 20 December 2016 Retrieved 12 December 2016 Single Reviews Released 6 April 2009 Top40 Charts com Archived from the original on 20 December 2016 Retrieved 5 January 2017 Mercury Summer Video Is Here myspace com 25 February 2009 Archived from the original on 28 February 2009 Retrieved 28 December 2016 BBC Radio 1 Playlist British Broadcasting Corporation 15 April 2009 Archived from the original on 21 April 2009 Retrieved 28 December 2016 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original on 24 April 2009 Retrieved 19 April 2009 a b Whitehead Philip 13 October 2015 Fightstar Behind the Devil s Back rocksins com Retrieved 3 November 2016 a b Cooper Smith Lizzie 20 October 2015 Review Fightstar Behind The Devil s Back The Edge Wessex Scene Archived from the original on 20 January 2017 Retrieved 3 November 2016 Smith David 14 October 2015 Behind The Devil s Back Fightstar nemm org uk Retrieved 3 November 2016 Fightstar London Band Ready To Rock America AMP Archived from the original on 15 June 2011 Retrieved 1 September 2009 On The Record Fightstar Rocksound Archived from the original on 3 March 2012 Retrieved 1 September 2009 Fightstar up for best band award CBBC 10 August 2006 Archived from the original on 21 February 2007 Retrieved 15 July 2009 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fightstar Official website Fightstar at AllMusic nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fightstar amp oldid 1177089605, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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