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Placebo (band)

August 18, 2023

This article is about the European rock band. For the 1970s jazz-fusion group, see Marc Moulin.

Placebo are a British alternative rock band, formed in London in 1994 by vocalist–guitarist Brian Molko and bassist–guitarist Stefan Olsdal. Drummer Robert Schultzberg joined in late 1994, but left in 1996 shortly after the release of the band's eponymous debut album due to conflicts with Molko, and was replaced the same year by Steve Hewitt. Molko was born in Belgium and Olsdal and Schultzberg in Sweden; remaining members Molko and Olsdal both grew up in Luxembourg before separately relocating to London and are both British citizens.

Placebo
Placebo in 2009, from left to right: Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Steve Forrest.
Background information
Also known asAshtray Heart
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active1994 (1994)–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Websiteplaceboworld.co.uk

Following the release of a demo, a split single, and their eponymous debut album, Placebo gained exposure in 1997 after the single "Nancy Boy" became popular in the UK, a song notorious at the time for its gender-bending content. The band stood out amongst the Britpop scene they were associated with at the time for their androgynous appearance and musical content,[4] as well as Molko's distinctive high registered voice and lyrics which openly discussed sexuality, mental health, and drug use.

Hewitt left Placebo in 2007, due to personal and musical differences. He was replaced the following year by Steve Forrest.[5] Placebo released two albums with Forrest, who left in 2015 to pursue his own musical career. Since 2015, Placebo are officially a duo, though augmented with additional musicians.

Placebo have collaborated with various artists over the years, including David Bowie, Justin Warfield, Michael Stipe and Alison Mosshart. To date, Placebo have released eight studio albums, all of which have reached the Top 20 in the United Kingdom, and have sold around 14 million records worldwide.[6]

History

Formation (1994–1995)

Placebo founders Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal had both attended the American International School of Luxembourg, although they did not interact at the time as they were part of different social circles.[7] The two met by chance in 1994, in London, England. At the time, Olsdal was taking guitar lessons and was on his way home when he met Molko at the South Kensington tube station. Molko, observing that Olsdal had a guitar strapped to his back, invited Olsdal to watch him perform at a local gig.[8] On the strength of Molko's performance, Olsdal decided that they should start a band. The two formed as Ashtray Heart,[9] named after the Captain Beefheart song of the same name.[4] Molko, however, denied in 2009 that Ashtray Heart was the first name of the band, dismissing this as a rumour and claiming that the band had more names initially.[10]

Originally, the two were unable to decide on a drummer. They played for a while with Steve Hewitt, a friend of Molko,[7] but Hewitt had prior commitments to local band Breed.[11] Robert Schultzberg assumed the position of drummer in late 1994.[12]

The band eventually chose the name Placebo, due to its meaning in Latin, "I shall please".[13] Molko has frequently stated in interviews that the name is a rejoinder to the 1990s cliché of naming one's band after a drug.[9] In an interview, Molko stated:

It's a complex question to answer, really. As musicians you try to find a name for your band that represents you and you never really do, because, basically, names for bands lose their meaning after a while. They become a series of sounds that you associate with people in music. The most important thing for a name is that you can imagine forty-thousand people screaming it in unison.[14]

Debut album, line-up change and glam connection (1996–1998)

In October 1995 the band released "Bruise Pristine", a split single with the band Soup, on Fierce Panda.[15] Molko would later speak in negative terms about this release.[16]

By 1996 Placebo were signed with Caroline Records.[17] Their debut album, the self-titled Placebo, was released on 17 June 1996.[18] The album was produced by Brad Wood and was influenced, according to Molko, by Sonic Youth and Depeche Mode.[19] The release peaked at No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart at the height of the Britpop era; their highest-charting album in the country until 2022[20] After the album's release, Placebo got to go on a headlining tour across Europe, performing in countries like France, Italy, and Switzerland.[21] When reviewing a concert, the New York Times compared them to bands of the "first wave of post-punk rock, particularly New Order, the Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, early U2 and Talking Heads".[22]

Tension with Schultzberg and the rest of the group had begun to rise in the previous year. The band initially fired him in September 1995, but he was rehired to record the first seven-inch single "Bruise Pristine". After an argument in August 1996, Molko decided that it would be best for the band if Schultzberg left. The band came to an agreement that Schultzberg would leave once they had finished the promotion of Placebo.[23]

Eventually, Schultzberg did indeed leave the band in September 1996, on a United States tour. Before going on stage for their first show in the state of New York, Olsdal informed Schultzberg that he wasn't going on the tour in Germany that was following the US one. At the manager's request, Schultzberg did two more shows with the band in Paris after the US tour, the last of which was a performance on the French TV show Nulle part ailleurs. According to Schultzberg "Molko said that he was 'tired of being the focus of Robert's rages against the world', and quite frankly, I was tired of being his".[23] While Schultzberg was with the band, several early works were recorded, including their first 7" single "Bruise Pristine", the "Come Home" EP, the single version of "Nancy Boy" (with B-sides "Slackerbitch", "Miss Moneypenny" and the Smiths cover "Bigmouth Strikes Again") and their eponymous debut album. On the track "I Know", Schultzberg played didgeridoo as well as drums.

Steve Hewitt, who had played with the band in 1994, joined Placebo as a full-time member at Molko's request.[11]

The most successful song on the debut album was "Nancy Boy", which peaked at number 4 in the UK Singles Chart upon its release in 1997.[24] The song had been written in 1994, being partially inspired by an infamous quote of Suede's Brett Anderson: "I'm a bisexual man who's never had a homosexual experience."[25] Its lyrics were full of sexual allusions, and Molko admitted at the time: "It's not absurd. It's obscene. A song this rude should not be number four in the charts."[26] Molko would go on to describe his relationship with the song in a 2016 interview as "very ambivalent", adding that, although he appreciates the fact that the song had been instrumental in their development as a band, he considers it immature.[25]

The song attracted the attention of David Bowie,[25] who invited the band to open several of his concerts in early 1996.[27] In the following January, Bowie invited them to play at his 50th birthday celebrations at New York's Madison Square Garden.[28] The party also included Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, Robert Smith of the Cure and Lou Reed.[29]

The band's glam rock connections continued. In 1998, Placebo recorded a cover of T. Rex's "20th Century Boy" for the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack and the band appeared in minor roles in the film.[30] Bowie made a special appearance on-stage with Placebo during a tour stop in New York as part of the band's late February tour with Stabbing Westward.[31] Placebo played "20th Century Boy" live with David Bowie at the BRIT Awards show in 1999.[31]

Placebo were heavily criticised by the media due to their unorthodox attitude and Brian Molko's androgynous appearance.[32] In a 2016 interview related to their early years, Molko commented:

We were reacting very strongly against the machismo, terrace chants and revisionism of Britpop, and the nationalism that we interpreted as xenophobia of the musical kind. We were trying to make a strong political statement about the fluidity of sexuality with the dresses and make-up that we wore. We set out to confuse, and I guess Nancy Boy was the perfect soundtrack to that.[25]

Without You I'm Nothing and Black Market Music (1998–2002)

 
"Pure Morning"
A sample of the track "Pure Morning" from Without You I'm Nothing (1998), which helped expose the band to the US market.

In 1998, Placebo switched to the major label Virgin Records, and issued their follow-up album Without You I'm Nothing on 12 October.[33] The band had a dysfunctional relationship with producer Steve Osborne during the recording of the album, and ended up not speaking to him at all by the time the sessions were over.[19]

The album was another large seller in the UK; the US market embraced the album's lead single "Pure Morning", which appeared on MTV and reached number 20 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart,[34] but subsequent singles and videos failed to match the success of its predecessor.[28][35] "Pure Morning" enjoyed the same success as "Nancy Boy" in the UK, reaching number 4 in the British chart.[36] The video of the song was nominated for the Best British Video award during the 1999 edition of Brit Awards,[37] but lost to Robbie Williams' "Millennium".[38] Molko would subsequently deem the lyrics of "Pure Morning" as unsatisfying, and would refuse to perform the song live for nine years.[19]

The band kept enjoying success in the UK, as the second single, "You Don't Care About Us" reached number 5 in the British chart.[36] The third single released was "Every You Every Me", a number eleven hit.[36] The song appeared on the soundtrack for the film Cruel Intentions,[39] which was inspired by the novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.[40]

The last single on the album, "Without You I'm Nothing" was re-recorded and released as a duet with David Bowie, at Bowie's request. Molko would describe this moment in 2016 as an honour, adding that he realised its importance much later in his career.[19]

 
Placebo in concert at MEO Sudoeste, 2001. Left: Brian Molko. Right: Stefan Olsdal.

The band's third album, Black Market Music, released in October 2000,[33] and produced by Paul Corkett,[41] further experimented with genres outside of regular rock sound. Placebo collaborated with Justin Warfield on "Spite & Malice"[42] and sampled Pavement's "Texas Never Whispers" on "Slave to the Wage".[19] A re-sequenced version released in the US featured a slightly different track listing, adding the aforementioned Bowie version of "Without You I'm Nothing" and the band's cover of Depeche Mode's "I Feel You".

The album created additional UK top 20 hits in "Taste in Men" and "Slave to the Wage", which reached number 16 and 19 in the UK Singles Chart, respectively.[36]

In a 2001 interview, Molko declared:

I think it's the album we always wanted to make. I think without exaggerating even the tiniest bit, we love it and we've never been so happy with an album. Our debut was fast and rough, punk pop, Without You I'm Nothing showed our melancholy, depressed side and Black Market shows a perfect combination of both sides.[41]

The singer would later become more reserved towards Black Market Music, describing it in 2016 as "real somber", and expressing the regret of not having been involved enough during the production phase.[19]

Placebo encountered resistance from the British music industry upon release of the single "Special K" due to its reference of a ketamine high as a simile for love. Due to this metaphor, the song was censored in the UK.[43] In spite of the controversy, Black Market Music reached number 1 in France[44] and number 6 in the UK.[20]

Sleeping with Ghosts and Once More with Feeling (2003–2005)

Placebo released their fourth album, produced by Jim Abbiss[45] and named Sleeping with Ghosts, on 24 March 2003.[33] The sound of the album was described in a Billboard review as being infused with "edgy electronic flourishes".[45]

Molko explained the title of an album in an interview:

It is romantic without being sentimental. It's an album full of colour. It's also the first time when we recorded an album during the summer, after a long break. Before, we were in a sort of rock'n'roll bubble, we were alternating the studio sessions and the live concerts, we were pretty much cut off from the real world. It's dangerous to live too much in this kind of bubble. We had the chance to distance ourselves a bit from everything that happened since 1996 up until now. I also had the occasion to reflect to the montagne russe that is my personal life after these seven years. The ghosts I'm talking about are the people, the events you're wearing into your soul consciously or not.[46]

The album went to No. 11 in the UK[20] and sold 1.4 million copies worldwide.[47] Australian tour dates with Elbow and UK shows with Har Mar Superstar followed in 2004.

First single "The Bitter End" peaked at number 12 in the British single chart.[36] Protège-Moi, the French version of the song "Protect Me From What I Want", was released as a single in France where it reached number 18.[48]

At the end of 2003, the band released Sleeping with Ghosts Special Edition, which was a double-disc release, containing the Sleeping with Ghosts album and a bonus disc with ten covers. The bonus disc was re-released in 2010 as a stand-alone under the name Covers.[49]

On 15 March 2004, the band released their first live DVD, Soulmates Never Die (Live in Paris 2003), from footage recorded in October 2003 and also including a 25-minute documentary.[33]

On 25 October 2004, Placebo released a singles collection, Once More with Feeling: Singles 1996–2004, on both CD and as a DVD featuring the band's videos.[33] The nineteen-song compilation included two new tracks, "I Do" and the single "Twenty Years", which reached number 18 in UK.[36] The compilation was meant to allow the listener to observe Placebo's change of lyrics, music and attitude; Molko was highly critical of his early years, comparing in a 2005 interview the first singles with "bad teenage poetry you made at college".[32]

On 5 November 2004, Placebo played a one-night-only gig at Wembley Arena, in which Robert Smith of The Cure made a guest appearance on two tracks, "Without You I'm Nothing" and a cover of The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry".[50] This performance was to be their last UK gig until 2006.[51] After the Wembley gig, Placebo went on a short Once More with Feeling tour in South America. On 2 July 2005 the group performed "Twenty Years" and "The Bitter End" at the Live 8 concert, at the Palais de Versailles[52] in France.[53]

Meds and Hewitt's departure (2006–2009)

 
Molko and Olsdal at the Coachella Festival in April 2007. Steve Hewitt and most of his drum kit are out of view.

In September 2005 Placebo finished the recording phase of their fifth studio album, Meds, which was produced by Dimitri Tikovoi and released on 13 March 2006.[33] The album was also released in a limited edition, containing a documentary, the lyrics, live videos, three demo versions and the song "Long Division".[33] The version released in the US had two bonus tracks, "Running Up That Hill" and "UNEEDMEMORETHANINEEDU", but did not include "In the Cold Light of Morning" at Molko's demand, who refused to have the song censored.[54] The lead single in the UK market was "Because I Want You", whereas in the rest of the world the first single was "Song to Say Goodbye" .[55] Two tracks are duets with US singers: "Meds" with Alison Mosshart of The Kills and "Broken Promise" with R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe.[56][57]

Meds was leaked to the internet on 17 January 2006,[58] two months before the official release date. The leak was projected to cause a serious loss of profit by the band's record label Virgin Records. Nevertheless, in most countries the album charted well, at No. 1 in France,[59] No. 4 in Australia and No. 7 in the UK.[60][61]

In 2006 Placebo switched labels in the US to Astralwerks and re-released several revisions of their earlier works. In October their debut album Placebo was digitally remastered and re-released on 25 September 2006 with the subtitle 10th Anniversary Collectors Edition;[33] the box set also included a DVD containing music videos, concerts and TV performances.

In 2007 Placebo joined Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday and various other acts for the annual Projekt: Revolution tour.[62] Following the tour, Virgin released the Extended Play '07 EP as a simple introduction for new fans to the band's past decade of music.[63] The compilation featured eight songs: "Nancy Boy", "Every You Every Me", "Taste in Men", "The Bitter End", "Meds", "Pure Morning", "Infra-Red" and "Running Up that Hill".[64]

 
Former drummer Steve Hewitt left the band in 2008 due to personal and musical differences.

The relationship between Steve Hewitt and the rest of the band had become tense during the recording of Meds[19] and eventually, in October 2007, the band announced that Hewitt was no longer in Placebo. Molko commented that "Being in a band is very much like being in a marriage, and in couples—in this case a triple—people can grow apart over the years. To say that you don't love your partner anymore is inaccurate, considering all that you've been through and achieved together. There simply comes a point when you realise that you want different things from your relationship and that you can no longer live under the same roof, so to speak".[65] Olsdal commented "We couldn't go on with Steve Hewitt. We didn't have the same goals, nor the same vision anymore. We had to separate. It all went wrong during the Meds tour. [...] There was no communication between us. Brian and I are one, but at some point we even didn't talk to each other anymore. We realised Placebo was dying. To be able to go on, things had to change."[66] According to Hewitt, "Alex Weston, our manager, [...] called me in to the office and said I was not in the band anymore. And that's it. I was thrown out". Hewitt claims that it was "very hurtful" and "disappointing" to have been ejected in this way after being in the band for over a decade.[67] Early in 2008 Hewitt founded the band Love Amongst Ruin, switching to guitar and singing lead vocals. In August 2012 he became the drummer of the reformed Six by Seven.[68][non-primary source needed]

In August 2008, the band announced their new drummer, Steve Forrest of the band Evaline.[69]

Placebo gave one live performance in 2008, as part of an MTV EXIT event, a campaign against human trafficking held in Angkor Wat in December.[70] Placebo left EMI in 2008, but the label released a ten-disc box set of the complete Placebo recordings on 8 June 2009, including all the studio albums and DVDs as well as a collection of B-sides.[71]

Battle for the Sun (2009–2011)

 
Placebo and their additional live lineup wave goodbye at Sziget Festival 2009. Left from right: Fiona Brice, Steve Forrest, Nick Gavrilovic, Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal and Bill Lloyd.

In January 2009, Placebo announced that they signed with PIAS Entertainment,[72] with Brian Molko commenting: "We were very lucky to have so many great labels interested in signing us, it means a lot, especially after 12 years of releasing records!"[73]

Placebo also confirmed that they had finished working on the follow-up to 2006's Meds and planned to release it on 8 June 2009.[74] The full track list was announced on the band's website in March 2009.[75] The album, Battle for the Sun, was the first to feature new drummer Steve Forrest, and was recorded with producer David Bottrill,[76] also known for his work with Tool, Muse, Peter Gabriel and Silverchair.[77]

The album's title track "Battle for the Sun" debuted on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on 17 March 2009.[78] Subsequently, it became available for free download on the band's official website. On the same day as the track's debut, they played a secret concert in London, performing some of the material from the album, including the tracks "Ashtray Heart", "Julien", "Kitty Litter", "Speak in Tongues" and "Devil in the Details". In their review for the gig, Rock Sound wrote that "the new album is a heavier-sounding record compared to its predecessor" and recalls the atmosphere of Without You I'm Nothing.[79] Molko would describe the album in 2013 as "the sound of a band trying to find a new identity, to find out who they were again".[80]

The first single, "For What It's Worth", made its radio debut on 20 April 2009, with the official release date being 1 June. It became available for download on iTunes and eMusic on 21 April, and the video for the single premiered on MySpace at the same time.[81]

In May 2009, Placebo performed three concerts in the UK, at venues in Sheffield, Bournemouth and London, before attending the festival season in Europe and Asia. When unveiling the new album with a full track-by-track rundown, Molko told the Scottish edition of News of the World: "It feels like a new beginning... we're reinvigorated, refreshed and ready to take on the world".[82]

From 29 to 31 May 2009 fans who signed up for Placebo's official mailing list received a unique code for logging into five listenings of the album in its entirety.[83]

At the beginning of August 2009, Placebo canceled a concert in Osaka, Japan, after singer Brian Molko fainted on stage. The band later explained in an official statement that the singer had picked up a virus, which, combined with jet lag and exhaustion, resulted in him collapsing.[84] Following this incident, Placebo also canceled their North American tour.[85]

On 5 November 2009, Placebo won the MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Alternative.[86]

In December 2009, Placebo released iTunes Live: London Festival '09, a live album recorded at the iTunes Festival at The Roundhouse, Camden on 14 July 2009.[87]

In February–April 2010, the band toured Southeast Asia, Australia and South America.[88] The final leg of the tour saw Placebo play Israel and Lebanon, before returning to Europe for a series of festivals and featured concerts. A performance in Thessaloniki, Greece in September 2010 was poorly received by the crowd, sparking boos from a crowd of thousands after performing a 50-minute set.[89]

On 27 September 2010, Placebo released Battle for the Sun Redux Edition,[90] which included the single version of "Bright Lights" and a bonus disc featuring several re-recorded old tracks and the new songs "Monster Truck" and "Trigger Happy Hands". The last shows of the Battle for the Sun tour took place in London's Brixton Academy on 27–28 September 2010.[91][92]

The band was going to tour Spain, Portugal, Japan and South Korea, but the shows were canceled due to Molko's poor health.[93][94] In August 2011, Placebo went on a mini-tour of two shows in Berlin and Stuttgart.[95]

On 31 October 2011, the band released their second live video album, We Come in Pieces, documenting the live performance at the Brixton Academy on 28 September 2010.[96] The DVD also featured a short movie, "Trigger Happy Hands", and a documentary, "Coming Up for Air", directed by Charlie Targett-Adams.[97]

On 12 December 2011, Placebo released an iTunes exclusive live album, Live at Angkor Wat, which featured the semi-acoustic concert performed at Angkor Wat in 2008.[98]

Also, in 2010, in support for Battle for the Sun, Placebo (band) did a concert at the Brixton Academy. Later in 2015, there was a film named Placebo - We Come in Pieces.

B3, Loud Like Love and Forrest's departure (2012–2015)

On 29 November 2011 Placebo announced they would be headlining the Sundance Film and Music Festival in April 2012.[99] In January 2012 the band confirmed their participation at the Rock im Pott festival scheduled for 25 August 2012 at Arena AufSchalke, Germany, along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.[100][101] Bass player Stefan Olsdal also confirmed for Billboard that the band would return to the studio in 2012 to record the follow-up to Battle for the Sun.[97]

From April to September 2012, Placebo toured Europe.[102] In June and July 2012, Placebo also played exclusive concerts in Madrid, Paris, Rome, Zurich and Hamburg for the launch of the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class.[103] The band canceled a concert during an Austrian festival due to Molko's health problems, leaving the stage after only one song.[104]

In August 2012, Molko revealed on Italy's Rai Radio 2 that a new single titled "B3" would be released in September.[105] A five-track EP titled B3 was released in October 2012.[106] It was reissued on 10" vinyl for Record Store Day 2013.[107]

 
Stefan Olsdal performing in 2014, using a rainbow bass guitar; the rainbow is a well-known LGBT symbol.

During the Battle for the Sun tour, Molko and Olsdal both stated on various occasions that they were working on material for the next studio album.[108]

On 21 May 2013, Placebo announced the release of their seventh studio album, Loud Like Love, and confirmed a tour of the United Kingdom in December.[109] On 12 July, the band released a lyric video for the song "Too Many Friends", the first single on the new album,[110] with the official music video being subsequently released in August and featuring author Bret Easton Ellis.[111]

Produced by Adam Noble, the album was released on 16 September 2013[109] in five different formats.[112] The same day, Placebo streamed live a 90-minute show, Loud Like Love TV, on their official YouTube channel. The show featured interviews with the band and their collaborators, live performances and behind the scenes content.[112]

Brian Molko described the recording of the album as a positive experience, commenting:

...I see this record as a collection of 10 small fictions, based on my own experience and my own feelings around relationships over the past 20 years, I feel that I've been able to use the device [of] storytelling, which I think I've become a little bit more adept at, create songs with characters. Paradoxically, because of that, I've been able to be more honest, more direct and more personal.[113]

 
Steve Forrest, shown here during a concert with Placebo in 2009, left the band in 2015 to pursue his own musical career.

In November–December 2013 the band went on an arena tour in Europe and the United Kingdom to promote the new album.[114] During February–April 2014 Placebo toured Australia, Mexico and South America.[115] Beginning in June 2014, they went on a tour in Russia and Europe. In October 2014, they went on their first full tour of the United States and Canada in six years.[80]

On 2 February 2015, the band announced the departure of drummer Steve Forrest. The end of Forrest's career with the band was "very amicable" and occurred due to the drummer's intention to "pursue his own musical ambitions". Placebo announced that for the planned 2015 gigs a new sideman, Matt Lunn, formerly of the band Colour of Fire, who supported Placebo on tour in 2004, would take the drummer's seat.[116] Lunn continued to perform with Placebo during the A Place for Us to Dream tour.

On 12 February, Placebo announced that they would stream their entire back catalogue for the first time in their history.[117]

In February–March 2015, Placebo toured Ireland and the United Kingdom, culminating with two shows in London's Hammersmith Apollo.[116] During May–July 2015 they toured Europe, Morocco, Russia and Georgia.[118] During the Morocco concert, bassist Stefan Olsdal, who is openly gay, appeared shirtless, having the number 489 crossed out on his torso, as a protest against Article 489 of the Moroccan Criminal Code, which punishes same-sex relationships with imprisonment. Olsdal also used a rainbow guitar on stage, the rainbow being a well-known LGBT symbol.[119]

20 Years of Placebo and A Place for Us to Dream (2015–2018)

Marking twenty years since the release of their debut album, Placebo announced in June 2015 the re-release of their first five albums on 12" coloured vinyl.[120]

On 19 August 2015, Placebo performed an MTV Unplugged concert in London.[121] The setlist for this performance consisted of many older Placebo songs, some of them not played live in a decade.[122] On 27 November 2015, MTV Unplugged was released on CD, DVD, Blu-ray and vinyl.[123]

In March 2016, Placebo announced the anniversary tour "A Place for Us to Dream – 20 Years of Placebo", with the first dates scheduled for December 2016 in the UK and Ireland. Molko stated that the setlist would include songs that he had sworn never to play again, adding: "This tour is very much for the fans and a chance for us to revisit a lot of our early material. So, if you want to see us play songs like 'Pure Morning' and 'Nancy Boy' which we haven't played in almost ten years and may not play again, then you'd better come along to these shows!"[124]

Alt.Russia, a documentary containing scenes from the 2014 Placebo tour in Russia, was released on 10 May 2016.[125] Narrated by Stefan Olsdal, the documentary was also a commentary towards the contemporary social and political issues in Russia, especially homophobia.[126]

On 4 August 2016, Placebo announced the release of a compilation album, A Place for Us to Dream and of an EP, Life's What You Make It, collecting previously unreleased material. The compilation album and the EP were both released on 7 October 2016. Both contained the new single "Jesus' Son", which was released on 19 August 2016, accompanied by a music video.[127]

On 7 October 2016, the band also released a video for the song "Every You Every Me", filmed in 1998 but never shown before to the public.[128]

The band kicked off their 20 Years of Placebo tour in Aarhus, Denmark. The concert was abruptly cut short, however, already two songs into the set, as Molko became incoherent and had to be removed from the stage. An official statement from the band explained that Molko had an adverse reaction to new medication.[129] The tour continued in the next evenings without incidents, the band receiving positive reviews for their performances.[130] During October–November 2016, the band toured Europe and Russia. Placebo's December 2016 concerts in the UK and Ireland featured shoegaze supergroup Minor Victories as the opening act.

In March–April 2017, Placebo toured Mexico. During April–August 2017, they played a string of gigs across Europe, including appearances at Greece's Rockwave Festival and the UK's Latitude Festival. In September 2017, Placebo performed seven shows in Australia.[131] In October 2017, they embarked on a tour of the UK, ending with two shows at the Brixton Academy on 23 and 24 October 2017.

Placebo have participated in the 2018 Meltdown Festival, held at Southbank Centre in June 2018.[132] The festival was curated by long-time Placebo collaborator Robert Smith. In June and July 2018, the band also went on four dates in Italy, Ukraine and Switzerland.

Never Let Me Go (2019–present)

On 25 July 2019, Olsdal revealed that Placebo are working on their eighth studio album.[133][non-primary source needed] In January 2020, Placebo announced a new tour, including festival shows during June–July 2020 in Greece, Spain, Belgium, Ukraine and Russia. In March 2020, Olsdal announced that he and Molko had to put finishing their eighth studio album on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and London being on lockdown, via a post on his official Instagram.[134][non-primary source needed] On 15 September 2020, Dave McLean, one of Placebo's managers at RIVERMAN, tweeted their eighth studio album would be released in early 2021.[135] On 13 September 2021 an announcement was made that the band will release a new single titled "Beautiful James" on 17 September 2021.[136]

On 4 November 2021, Placebo announced their eighth studio album, Never Let Me Go. It was released on 25 March 2022 on the indie label So Recordings. On 23 March 2022, Placebo embarked on the Never Let Me Go tour, starting with four intimate shows across Europe, followed by an extensive headline expedition, including, among other places, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[137]

On 7 September 2022, Placebo released a cover of the song "Shout" by Tears for Fears.[138]

Musical style, influences and lyrics

Placebo's music has typically been labeled as alternative rock.[139][140][141][142][143] They have, however, also incorporated different sounds in their music throughout their career. Critics have also described the band's sound as pop punk,[144][145][146] industrial rock,[147][148][149] Britpop,[150][151][152] glam rock,[153][154] gothic rock,[155][156] electronic rock,[157][158] post-punk revival,[154] and experimental rock.[147] Progressive rock elements in the band's earlier works along with grunge and punk rock influences were also noted.[147][159][160][161]

Placebo's influences include David Bowie,[12] Can,[162] Iggy Pop and the Stooges,[162] Sonic Youth,[162] the Cure, Pixies, Nirvana,[28] the Smiths,[163] PJ Harvey,[164] Depeche Mode[165] and Nine Inch Nails.[149]

Lyrically, Placebo's music contains many references to drugs[166] and sexuality.[167] The title of the song "Special K", for instance, is slang for ketamine. Molko has been open about his use of recreational drugs: in a 1997 interview with Kerrang! magazine he admitted that heroin was "probably the only drug on this planet I haven't tried".[168] However, he later admitted to using heroin as well.[169] Pharmaceutical drugs are also referenced, as evidenced by the band's name as well as the album Meds and its title track. Molko admitted in 2003 that many of his initial excesses were due to his mental issues; he was officially diagnosed with major depressive disorder in his late twenties.[170] The singer claimed in 2016 that he gave up drugs completely after the recording and release of Meds.[19]

Outsider themes are also explored, as evidenced in lyrics such as "the back of the class is where I'm from" on "One of a Kind" and "I'm forever black-eyed/A product of a broken home" on "Black-Eyed". Molko has been quoted as calling the band "for outsiders, by outsiders".[171]

Feud with Limp Bizkit

A feud between Limp Bizkit and Placebo began at a show frontman Fred Durst was hosting at Irving Plaza in December 1998.[172] A side stage spat with Molko led to Durst asking the crowd to chant "Placebo sucks!" prior to Placebo's performance.[172] Molko later commented that nobody had told him that Durst would be hosting the show and that Placebo would have to follow opening act Kid Rock.[173] Prior to introducing Staind as a part of K-Rock’s Dysfunctional Family Picnic in Holmdel, New Jersey in 1999, Durst once again encouraged the crowd to chant "Fuck Placebo".[174] The feud was reignited during Big Day Out 2001, on which Placebo were billed below Limp Bizkit after Hewitt acknowledged the animosity between both bands and claimed Limp Bizkit “was guilty of spreading negativity”.[172] By 2004, the feud had reportedly ended.[175]

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Work Category Result
1997 Kerrang! Awards[176] Themselves Best New British Band Won
NME Awards[177] Best Band Nominated
1999 Nominated
Without You I'm Nothing Best Album Nominated
"You Don't Care About Us" Best Single[178] Nominated
"Pure Morning" Nominated
Brit Awards Best British Video Nominated
2004 Hungarian Music Awards Sleeping with Ghosts Best Foreign Rock Album Nominated
NRJ Music Awards Themselves International Duo/Group of the Year Won
Lunas del Auditorio Best Foreign Rock Artist Nominated
2006 Nominated
Kerrang! Awards Classic Songwriter Award Won
"Infra Red" Best Single Nominated
Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica Themselves Best Rock Artist – International Nominated
2007 ECHO Awards International Rock/Alternative Artist/Group of the Year Nominated
Lunas del Auditorio Best Foreign Rock Artist Nominated
2009 Kerrang! Awards Battle for the Sun Best Album Nominated
"For What It's Worth" Best Single Nominated
Best Video Nominated
MTV EMA Themselves Best Alternative Won
TMF Awards Best Rock International Nominated
Best Live International Nominated
2010 UK Music Video Awards "The Never-Ending Why" The Innovation Award Nominated
ECHO Awards Themselves International Rock/Alternative Artist/Group of the Year Nominated
Lunas del Auditorio Best Foreign Rock Artist Nominated
2014 UK Music Video Awards "Too Many Friends" Best Alternative Video – UK Nominated
ECHO Awards Themselves International Rock/Alternative Artist/Group of the Year Nominated
2015 Artist and Manager Awards Artists' Artist Award Won
2016 ECHO Awards International Rock/Alternative Artist/Group of the Year Nominated
2017 UK Music Video Awards "Life's What You Make It" Best Cinematography Nominated
Ibiza Music Video Festival Best Colourist Nominated

Žebřík Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2000 Black Market Music Best International Album Nominated [179]
2003 Sleeping with Ghosts Won
Themselves Best International Group Nominated
Best International Surprise Nominated
Brian Molko Best International Male Nominated
Best International Personality Nominated
"The Bitter End" Best International Song Nominated
"Special Needs" Nominated
Best International Video Nominated
"This Picture" Nominated
2004 Themselves Best International Group Nominated [180]
Best International Surprise Nominated
Brian Molko Best International Male Nominated
Best International Personality Nominated
"Twenty Years" Best International Song Nominated
Best International Video Nominated
2006 Brian Molko Best International Male Nominated
Meds Best International Album Nominated
"Because I Want You" Best International Song Nominated
Themselves Best International Group Nominated
2008 Nominated
2009 Nominated
Brian Molko Best International Male Nominated
Battle for the Sun Best International Album Nominated

Legacy

Placebo have been cited as an influence on such bands as My Chemical Romance and Panic! at the Disco.[181]

Band members

Current members

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
 
 Brian Molko 1994–present
  • lead vocals
  • guitars
  • bass
  • keyboards
  • harmonica
  • saxophone
  • percussion
 all releases
 
 Stefan Olsdal
  • bass
  • guitars
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals

Current touring musicians[182]

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
 
 Bill Lloyd
  • 1996
  • 1998–present
[183][184]
  • guitar (1996)
  • keyboards
  • bass
 
 Nick Gavrilovic 2008–present[185]
  • guitar
  • lap steel guitar
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
  • MTV Unplugged (2015)
  • iTunes Live: London Festival '09 (2009)
Matt Lunn 2015–present[116]
  • drums
  • percussion
Angela Chan 2017–present[186][187]
  • violin
  • keyboards
  • percussion
  • backing vocals

Former members

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
 
 Steve Hewitt
  • 1994
  • 1995
  • 1996–2007
[7][11][66]
  • drums
  • percussion
Robert Schultzberg
  • 1994–1995
  • 1995–1996
[12][23]
  • Placebo (1996)
  • A Place for Us to Dream (2016)
 
 Steve Forrest 2008–2015[69][116]
  • drums
  • percussion
  • backing vocals

Former touring musicians

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Xavior Roide 2003–2005[188][189]
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
 none
 
 Alex Lee 2006–2007[190][191]
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • backing vocals
 
 Fiona Brice 2008–2017[192][193]
  • violin
  • keyboards
  • theremin
  • percussion
  • backing vocals

Timeline

Discography

Main article: Placebo discography

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External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Placebo (band).
  • Official website

August 18, 2023
placebo, band, this, article, about, european, rock, band, 1970s, jazz, fusion, group, marc, moulin, placebo, british, alternative, rock, band, formed, london, 1994, vocalist, guitarist, brian, molko, bassist, guitarist, stefan, olsdal, drummer, robert, schult. This article is about the European rock band For the 1970s jazz fusion group see Marc Moulin Placebo are a British alternative rock band formed in London in 1994 by vocalist guitarist Brian Molko and bassist guitarist Stefan Olsdal Drummer Robert Schultzberg joined in late 1994 but left in 1996 shortly after the release of the band s eponymous debut album due to conflicts with Molko and was replaced the same year by Steve Hewitt Molko was born in Belgium and Olsdal and Schultzberg in Sweden remaining members Molko and Olsdal both grew up in Luxembourg before separately relocating to London and are both British citizens PlaceboPlacebo in 2009 from left to right Brian Molko Stefan Olsdal and Steve Forrest Background informationAlso known asAshtray HeartOriginLondon EnglandGenresAlternative rockglam rockBritpopYears active1994 1994 presentLabelsHut Virgin Astralwerks Universal Kobalt 1 SO Recordings 2 non primary source needed Rise 3 MembersBrian Molko Stefan OlsdalPast membersRobert Schultzberg Steve Hewitt Steve ForrestWebsiteplaceboworld wbr co wbr ukFollowing the release of a demo a split single and their eponymous debut album Placebo gained exposure in 1997 after the single Nancy Boy became popular in the UK a song notorious at the time for its gender bending content The band stood out amongst the Britpop scene they were associated with at the time for their androgynous appearance and musical content 4 as well as Molko s distinctive high registered voice and lyrics which openly discussed sexuality mental health and drug use Hewitt left Placebo in 2007 due to personal and musical differences He was replaced the following year by Steve Forrest 5 Placebo released two albums with Forrest who left in 2015 to pursue his own musical career Since 2015 Placebo are officially a duo though augmented with additional musicians Placebo have collaborated with various artists over the years including David Bowie Justin Warfield Michael Stipe and Alison Mosshart To date Placebo have released eight studio albums all of which have reached the Top 20 in the United Kingdom and have sold around 14 million records worldwide 6 Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation 1994 1995 1 2 Debut album line up change and glam connection 1996 1998 1 3 Without You I m Nothing and Black Market Music 1998 2002 1 4 Sleeping with Ghosts and Once More with Feeling 2003 2005 1 5 Meds and Hewitt s departure 2006 2009 1 6 Battle for the Sun 2009 2011 1 7 B3 Loud Like Love and Forrest s departure 2012 2015 1 8 20 Years of Placebo and A Place for Us to Dream 2015 2018 1 9 Never Let Me Go 2019 present 2 Musical style influences and lyrics 2 1 Feud with Limp Bizkit 3 Awards and nominations 3 1 Zebrik Music Awards 4 Legacy 5 Band members 5 1 Current members 5 2 Current touring musicians 182 5 3 Former members 5 4 Former touring musicians 5 5 Timeline 6 Discography 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditFormation 1994 1995 Edit Placebo founders Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal had both attended the American International School of Luxembourg although they did not interact at the time as they were part of different social circles 7 The two met by chance in 1994 in London England At the time Olsdal was taking guitar lessons and was on his way home when he met Molko at the South Kensington tube station Molko observing that Olsdal had a guitar strapped to his back invited Olsdal to watch him perform at a local gig 8 On the strength of Molko s performance Olsdal decided that they should start a band The two formed as Ashtray Heart 9 named after the Captain Beefheart song of the same name 4 Molko however denied in 2009 that Ashtray Heart was the first name of the band dismissing this as a rumour and claiming that the band had more names initially 10 Originally the two were unable to decide on a drummer They played for a while with Steve Hewitt a friend of Molko 7 but Hewitt had prior commitments to local band Breed 11 Robert Schultzberg assumed the position of drummer in late 1994 12 The band eventually chose the name Placebo due to its meaning in Latin I shall please 13 Molko has frequently stated in interviews that the name is a rejoinder to the 1990s cliche of naming one s band after a drug 9 In an interview Molko stated It s a complex question to answer really As musicians you try to find a name for your band that represents you and you never really do because basically names for bands lose their meaning after a while They become a series of sounds that you associate with people in music The most important thing for a name is that you can imagine forty thousand people screaming it in unison 14 Debut album line up change and glam connection 1996 1998 Edit In October 1995 the band released Bruise Pristine a split single with the band Soup on Fierce Panda 15 Molko would later speak in negative terms about this release 16 By 1996 Placebo were signed with Caroline Records 17 Their debut album the self titled Placebo was released on 17 June 1996 18 The album was produced by Brad Wood and was influenced according to Molko by Sonic Youth and Depeche Mode 19 The release peaked at No 5 on the UK Albums Chart at the height of the Britpop era their highest charting album in the country until 2022 20 After the album s release Placebo got to go on a headlining tour across Europe performing in countries like France Italy and Switzerland 21 When reviewing a concert the New York Times compared them to bands of the first wave of post punk rock particularly New Order the Cure Siouxsie and the Banshees early U2 and Talking Heads 22 Tension with Schultzberg and the rest of the group had begun to rise in the previous year The band initially fired him in September 1995 but he was rehired to record the first seven inch single Bruise Pristine After an argument in August 1996 Molko decided that it would be best for the band if Schultzberg left The band came to an agreement that Schultzberg would leave once they had finished the promotion of Placebo 23 Eventually Schultzberg did indeed leave the band in September 1996 on a United States tour Before going on stage for their first show in the state of New York Olsdal informed Schultzberg that he wasn t going on the tour in Germany that was following the US one At the manager s request Schultzberg did two more shows with the band in Paris after the US tour the last of which was a performance on the French TV show Nulle part ailleurs According to Schultzberg Molko said that he was tired of being the focus of Robert s rages against the world and quite frankly I was tired of being his 23 While Schultzberg was with the band several early works were recorded including their first 7 single Bruise Pristine the Come Home EP the single version of Nancy Boy with B sides Slackerbitch Miss Moneypenny and the Smiths cover Bigmouth Strikes Again and their eponymous debut album On the track I Know Schultzberg played didgeridoo as well as drums Steve Hewitt who had played with the band in 1994 joined Placebo as a full time member at Molko s request 11 The most successful song on the debut album was Nancy Boy which peaked at number 4 in the UK Singles Chart upon its release in 1997 24 The song had been written in 1994 being partially inspired by an infamous quote of Suede s Brett Anderson I m a bisexual man who s never had a homosexual experience 25 Its lyrics were full of sexual allusions and Molko admitted at the time It s not absurd It s obscene A song this rude should not be number four in the charts 26 Molko would go on to describe his relationship with the song in a 2016 interview as very ambivalent adding that although he appreciates the fact that the song had been instrumental in their development as a band he considers it immature 25 The song attracted the attention of David Bowie 25 who invited the band to open several of his concerts in early 1996 27 In the following January Bowie invited them to play at his 50th birthday celebrations at New York s Madison Square Garden 28 The party also included Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins Robert Smith of the Cure and Lou Reed 29 The band s glam rock connections continued In 1998 Placebo recorded a cover of T Rex s 20th Century Boy for the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack and the band appeared in minor roles in the film 30 Bowie made a special appearance on stage with Placebo during a tour stop in New York as part of the band s late February tour with Stabbing Westward 31 Placebo played 20th Century Boy live with David Bowie at the BRIT Awards show in 1999 31 Placebo were heavily criticised by the media due to their unorthodox attitude and Brian Molko s androgynous appearance 32 In a 2016 interview related to their early years Molko commented We were reacting very strongly against the machismo terrace chants and revisionism of Britpop and the nationalism that we interpreted as xenophobia of the musical kind We were trying to make a strong political statement about the fluidity of sexuality with the dresses and make up that we wore We set out to confuse and I guess Nancy Boy was the perfect soundtrack to that 25 Without You I m Nothing and Black Market Music 1998 2002 Edit Pure Morning source source A sample of the track Pure Morning from Without You I m Nothing 1998 which helped expose the band to the US market In 1998 Placebo switched to the major label Virgin Records and issued their follow up album Without You I m Nothing on 12 October 33 The band had a dysfunctional relationship with producer Steve Osborne during the recording of the album and ended up not speaking to him at all by the time the sessions were over 19 The album was another large seller in the UK the US market embraced the album s lead single Pure Morning which appeared on MTV and reached number 20 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart 34 but subsequent singles and videos failed to match the success of its predecessor 28 35 Pure Morning enjoyed the same success as Nancy Boy in the UK reaching number 4 in the British chart 36 The video of the song was nominated for the Best British Video award during the 1999 edition of Brit Awards 37 but lost to Robbie Williams Millennium 38 Molko would subsequently deem the lyrics of Pure Morning as unsatisfying and would refuse to perform the song live for nine years 19 The band kept enjoying success in the UK as the second single You Don t Care About Us reached number 5 in the British chart 36 The third single released was Every You Every Me a number eleven hit 36 The song appeared on the soundtrack for the film Cruel Intentions 39 which was inspired by the novel Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos 40 The last single on the album Without You I m Nothing was re recorded and released as a duet with David Bowie at Bowie s request Molko would describe this moment in 2016 as an honour adding that he realised its importance much later in his career 19 Placebo in concert at MEO Sudoeste 2001 Left Brian Molko Right Stefan Olsdal The band s third album Black Market Music released in October 2000 33 and produced by Paul Corkett 41 further experimented with genres outside of regular rock sound Placebo collaborated with Justin Warfield on Spite amp Malice 42 and sampled Pavement s Texas Never Whispers on Slave to the Wage 19 A re sequenced version released in the US featured a slightly different track listing adding the aforementioned Bowie version of Without You I m Nothing and the band s cover of Depeche Mode s I Feel You The album created additional UK top 20 hits in Taste in Men and Slave to the Wage which reached number 16 and 19 in the UK Singles Chart respectively 36 In a 2001 interview Molko declared I think it s the album we always wanted to make I think without exaggerating even the tiniest bit we love it and we ve never been so happy with an album Our debut was fast and rough punk pop Without You I m Nothing showed our melancholy depressed side and Black Market shows a perfect combination of both sides 41 The singer would later become more reserved towards Black Market Music describing it in 2016 as real somber and expressing the regret of not having been involved enough during the production phase 19 Placebo encountered resistance from the British music industry upon release of the single Special K due to its reference of a ketamine high as a simile for love Due to this metaphor the song was censored in the UK 43 In spite of the controversy Black Market Music reached number 1 in France 44 and number 6 in the UK 20 Sleeping with Ghosts and Once More with Feeling 2003 2005 Edit Placebo released their fourth album produced by Jim Abbiss 45 and named Sleeping with Ghosts on 24 March 2003 33 The sound of the album was described in a Billboard review as being infused with edgy electronic flourishes 45 Molko explained the title of an album in an interview It is romantic without being sentimental It s an album full of colour It s also the first time when we recorded an album during the summer after a long break Before we were in a sort of rock n roll bubble we were alternating the studio sessions and the live concerts we were pretty much cut off from the real world It s dangerous to live too much in this kind of bubble We had the chance to distance ourselves a bit from everything that happened since 1996 up until now I also had the occasion to reflect to the montagne russe that is my personal life after these seven years The ghosts I m talking about are the people the events you re wearing into your soul consciously or not 46 The album went to No 11 in the UK 20 and sold 1 4 million copies worldwide 47 Australian tour dates with Elbow and UK shows with Har Mar Superstar followed in 2004 First single The Bitter End peaked at number 12 in the British single chart 36 Protege Moi the French version of the song Protect Me From What I Want was released as a single in France where it reached number 18 48 At the end of 2003 the band released Sleeping with Ghosts Special Edition which was a double disc release containing the Sleeping with Ghosts album and a bonus disc with ten covers The bonus disc was re released in 2010 as a stand alone under the name Covers 49 On 15 March 2004 the band released their first live DVD Soulmates Never Die Live in Paris 2003 from footage recorded in October 2003 and also including a 25 minute documentary 33 On 25 October 2004 Placebo released a singles collection Once More with Feeling Singles 1996 2004 on both CD and as a DVD featuring the band s videos 33 The nineteen song compilation included two new tracks I Do and the single Twenty Years which reached number 18 in UK 36 The compilation was meant to allow the listener to observe Placebo s change of lyrics music and attitude Molko was highly critical of his early years comparing in a 2005 interview the first singles with bad teenage poetry you made at college 32 On 5 November 2004 Placebo played a one night only gig at Wembley Arena in which Robert Smith of The Cure made a guest appearance on two tracks Without You I m Nothing and a cover of The Cure s Boys Don t Cry 50 This performance was to be their last UK gig until 2006 51 After the Wembley gig Placebo went on a short Once More with Feeling tour in South America On 2 July 2005 the group performed Twenty Years and The Bitter End at the Live 8 concert at the Palais de Versailles 52 in France 53 Meds and Hewitt s departure 2006 2009 Edit Molko and Olsdal at the Coachella Festival in April 2007 Steve Hewitt and most of his drum kit are out of view In September 2005 Placebo finished the recording phase of their fifth studio album Meds which was produced by Dimitri Tikovoi and released on 13 March 2006 33 The album was also released in a limited edition containing a documentary the lyrics live videos three demo versions and the song Long Division 33 The version released in the US had two bonus tracks Running Up That Hill and UNEEDMEMORETHANINEEDU but did not include In the Cold Light of Morning at Molko s demand who refused to have the song censored 54 The lead single in the UK market was Because I Want You whereas in the rest of the world the first single was Song to Say Goodbye 55 Two tracks are duets with US singers Meds with Alison Mosshart of The Kills and Broken Promise with R E M s Michael Stipe 56 57 Meds was leaked to the internet on 17 January 2006 58 two months before the official release date The leak was projected to cause a serious loss of profit by the band s record label Virgin Records Nevertheless in most countries the album charted well at No 1 in France 59 No 4 in Australia and No 7 in the UK 60 61 In 2006 Placebo switched labels in the US to Astralwerks and re released several revisions of their earlier works In October their debut album Placebo was digitally remastered and re released on 25 September 2006 with the subtitle 10th Anniversary Collectors Edition 33 the box set also included a DVD containing music videos concerts and TV performances In 2007 Placebo joined Linkin Park My Chemical Romance Taking Back Sunday and various other acts for the annual Projekt Revolution tour 62 Following the tour Virgin released the Extended Play 07 EP as a simple introduction for new fans to the band s past decade of music 63 The compilation featured eight songs Nancy Boy Every You Every Me Taste in Men The Bitter End Meds Pure Morning Infra Red and Running Up that Hill 64 Former drummer Steve Hewitt left the band in 2008 due to personal and musical differences The relationship between Steve Hewitt and the rest of the band had become tense during the recording of Meds 19 and eventually in October 2007 the band announced that Hewitt was no longer in Placebo Molko commented that Being in a band is very much like being in a marriage and in couples in this case a triple people can grow apart over the years To say that you don t love your partner anymore is inaccurate considering all that you ve been through and achieved together There simply comes a point when you realise that you want different things from your relationship and that you can no longer live under the same roof so to speak 65 Olsdal commented We couldn t go on with Steve Hewitt We didn t have the same goals nor the same vision anymore We had to separate It all went wrong during the Meds tour There was no communication between us Brian and I are one but at some point we even didn t talk to each other anymore We realised Placebo was dying To be able to go on things had to change 66 According to Hewitt Alex Weston our manager called me in to the office and said I was not in the band anymore And that s it I was thrown out Hewitt claims that it was very hurtful and disappointing to have been ejected in this way after being in the band for over a decade 67 Early in 2008 Hewitt founded the band Love Amongst Ruin switching to guitar and singing lead vocals In August 2012 he became the drummer of the reformed Six by Seven 68 non primary source needed In August 2008 the band announced their new drummer Steve Forrest of the band Evaline 69 Placebo gave one live performance in 2008 as part of an MTV EXIT event a campaign against human trafficking held in Angkor Wat in December 70 Placebo left EMI in 2008 but the label released a ten disc box set of the complete Placebo recordings on 8 June 2009 including all the studio albums and DVDs as well as a collection of B sides 71 Battle for the Sun 2009 2011 Edit Placebo and their additional live lineup wave goodbye at Sziget Festival 2009 Left from right Fiona Brice Steve Forrest Nick Gavrilovic Brian Molko Stefan Olsdal and Bill Lloyd In January 2009 Placebo announced that they signed with PIAS Entertainment 72 with Brian Molko commenting We were very lucky to have so many great labels interested in signing us it means a lot especially after 12 years of releasing records 73 Placebo also confirmed that they had finished working on the follow up to 2006 s Meds and planned to release it on 8 June 2009 74 The full track list was announced on the band s website in March 2009 75 The album Battle for the Sun was the first to feature new drummer Steve Forrest and was recorded with producer David Bottrill 76 also known for his work with Tool Muse Peter Gabriel and Silverchair 77 The album s title track Battle for the Sun debuted on Zane Lowe s BBC Radio 1 show on 17 March 2009 78 Subsequently it became available for free download on the band s official website On the same day as the track s debut they played a secret concert in London performing some of the material from the album including the tracks Ashtray Heart Julien Kitty Litter Speak in Tongues and Devil in the Details In their review for the gig Rock Sound wrote that the new album is a heavier sounding record compared to its predecessor and recalls the atmosphere of Without You I m Nothing 79 Molko would describe the album in 2013 as the sound of a band trying to find a new identity to find out who they were again 80 The first single For What It s Worth made its radio debut on 20 April 2009 with the official release date being 1 June It became available for download on iTunes and eMusic on 21 April and the video for the single premiered on MySpace at the same time 81 In May 2009 Placebo performed three concerts in the UK at venues in Sheffield Bournemouth and London before attending the festival season in Europe and Asia When unveiling the new album with a full track by track rundown Molko told the Scottish edition of News of the World It feels like a new beginning we re reinvigorated refreshed and ready to take on the world 82 From 29 to 31 May 2009 fans who signed up for Placebo s official mailing list received a unique code for logging into five listenings of the album in its entirety 83 At the beginning of August 2009 Placebo canceled a concert in Osaka Japan after singer Brian Molko fainted on stage The band later explained in an official statement that the singer had picked up a virus which combined with jet lag and exhaustion resulted in him collapsing 84 Following this incident Placebo also canceled their North American tour 85 On 5 November 2009 Placebo won the MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Alternative 86 In December 2009 Placebo released iTunes Live London Festival 09 a live album recorded at the iTunes Festival at The Roundhouse Camden on 14 July 2009 87 In February April 2010 the band toured Southeast Asia Australia and South America 88 The final leg of the tour saw Placebo play Israel and Lebanon before returning to Europe for a series of festivals and featured concerts A performance in Thessaloniki Greece in September 2010 was poorly received by the crowd sparking boos from a crowd of thousands after performing a 50 minute set 89 On 27 September 2010 Placebo released Battle for the Sun Redux Edition 90 which included the single version of Bright Lights and a bonus disc featuring several re recorded old tracks and the new songs Monster Truck and Trigger Happy Hands The last shows of the Battle for the Sun tour took place in London s Brixton Academy on 27 28 September 2010 91 92 The band was going to tour Spain Portugal Japan and South Korea but the shows were canceled due to Molko s poor health 93 94 In August 2011 Placebo went on a mini tour of two shows in Berlin and Stuttgart 95 On 31 October 2011 the band released their second live video album We Come in Pieces documenting the live performance at the Brixton Academy on 28 September 2010 96 The DVD also featured a short movie Trigger Happy Hands and a documentary Coming Up for Air directed by Charlie Targett Adams 97 On 12 December 2011 Placebo released an iTunes exclusive live album Live at Angkor Wat which featured the semi acoustic concert performed at Angkor Wat in 2008 98 Also in 2010 in support for Battle for the Sun Placebo band did a concert at the Brixton Academy Later in 2015 there was a film named Placebo We Come in Pieces B3 Loud Like Love and Forrest s departure 2012 2015 Edit On 29 November 2011 Placebo announced they would be headlining the Sundance Film and Music Festival in April 2012 99 In January 2012 the band confirmed their participation at the Rock im Pott festival scheduled for 25 August 2012 at Arena AufSchalke Germany along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers 100 101 Bass player Stefan Olsdal also confirmed for Billboard that the band would return to the studio in 2012 to record the follow up to Battle for the Sun 97 From April to September 2012 Placebo toured Europe 102 In June and July 2012 Placebo also played exclusive concerts in Madrid Paris Rome Zurich and Hamburg for the launch of the new Mercedes Benz A Class 103 The band canceled a concert during an Austrian festival due to Molko s health problems leaving the stage after only one song 104 In August 2012 Molko revealed on Italy s Rai Radio 2 that a new single titled B3 would be released in September 105 A five track EP titled B3 was released in October 2012 106 It was reissued on 10 vinyl for Record Store Day 2013 107 Stefan Olsdal performing in 2014 using a rainbow bass guitar the rainbow is a well known LGBT symbol During the Battle for the Sun tour Molko and Olsdal both stated on various occasions that they were working on material for the next studio album 108 On 21 May 2013 Placebo announced the release of their seventh studio album Loud Like Love and confirmed a tour of the United Kingdom in December 109 On 12 July the band released a lyric video for the song Too Many Friends the first single on the new album 110 with the official music video being subsequently released in August and featuring author Bret Easton Ellis 111 Produced by Adam Noble the album was released on 16 September 2013 109 in five different formats 112 The same day Placebo streamed live a 90 minute show Loud Like Love TV on their official YouTube channel The show featured interviews with the band and their collaborators live performances and behind the scenes content 112 Brian Molko described the recording of the album as a positive experience commenting I see this record as a collection of 10 small fictions based on my own experience and my own feelings around relationships over the past 20 years I feel that I ve been able to use the device of storytelling which I think I ve become a little bit more adept at create songs with characters Paradoxically because of that I ve been able to be more honest more direct and more personal 113 Steve Forrest shown here during a concert with Placebo in 2009 left the band in 2015 to pursue his own musical career In November December 2013 the band went on an arena tour in Europe and the United Kingdom to promote the new album 114 During February April 2014 Placebo toured Australia Mexico and South America 115 Beginning in June 2014 they went on a tour in Russia and Europe In October 2014 they went on their first full tour of the United States and Canada in six years 80 On 2 February 2015 the band announced the departure of drummer Steve Forrest The end of Forrest s career with the band was very amicable and occurred due to the drummer s intention to pursue his own musical ambitions Placebo announced that for the planned 2015 gigs a new sideman Matt Lunn formerly of the band Colour of Fire who supported Placebo on tour in 2004 would take the drummer s seat 116 Lunn continued to perform with Placebo during the A Place for Us to Dream tour On 12 February Placebo announced that they would stream their entire back catalogue for the first time in their history 117 In February March 2015 Placebo toured Ireland and the United Kingdom culminating with two shows in London s Hammersmith Apollo 116 During May July 2015 they toured Europe Morocco Russia and Georgia 118 During the Morocco concert bassist Stefan Olsdal who is openly gay appeared shirtless having the number 489 crossed out on his torso as a protest against Article 489 of the Moroccan Criminal Code which punishes same sex relationships with imprisonment Olsdal also used a rainbow guitar on stage the rainbow being a well known LGBT symbol 119 20 Years of Placebo and A Place for Us to Dream 2015 2018 Edit Marking twenty years since the release of their debut album Placebo announced in June 2015 the re release of their first five albums on 12 coloured vinyl 120 On 19 August 2015 Placebo performed an MTV Unplugged concert in London 121 The setlist for this performance consisted of many older Placebo songs some of them not played live in a decade 122 On 27 November 2015 MTV Unplugged was released on CD DVD Blu ray and vinyl 123 In March 2016 Placebo announced the anniversary tour A Place for Us to Dream 20 Years of Placebo with the first dates scheduled for December 2016 in the UK and Ireland Molko stated that the setlist would include songs that he had sworn never to play again adding This tour is very much for the fans and a chance for us to revisit a lot of our early material So if you want to see us play songs like Pure Morning and Nancy Boy which we haven t played in almost ten years and may not play again then you d better come along to these shows 124 Alt Russia a documentary containing scenes from the 2014 Placebo tour in Russia was released on 10 May 2016 125 Narrated by Stefan Olsdal the documentary was also a commentary towards the contemporary social and political issues in Russia especially homophobia 126 On 4 August 2016 Placebo announced the release of a compilation album A Place for Us to Dream and of an EP Life s What You Make It collecting previously unreleased material The compilation album and the EP were both released on 7 October 2016 Both contained the new single Jesus Son which was released on 19 August 2016 accompanied by a music video 127 On 7 October 2016 the band also released a video for the song Every You Every Me filmed in 1998 but never shown before to the public 128 The band kicked off their 20 Years of Placebo tour in Aarhus Denmark The concert was abruptly cut short however already two songs into the set as Molko became incoherent and had to be removed from the stage An official statement from the band explained that Molko had an adverse reaction to new medication 129 The tour continued in the next evenings without incidents the band receiving positive reviews for their performances 130 During October November 2016 the band toured Europe and Russia Placebo s December 2016 concerts in the UK and Ireland featured shoegaze supergroup Minor Victories as the opening act In March April 2017 Placebo toured Mexico During April August 2017 they played a string of gigs across Europe including appearances at Greece s Rockwave Festival and the UK s Latitude Festival In September 2017 Placebo performed seven shows in Australia 131 In October 2017 they embarked on a tour of the UK ending with two shows at the Brixton Academy on 23 and 24 October 2017 Placebo have participated in the 2018 Meltdown Festival held at Southbank Centre in June 2018 132 The festival was curated by long time Placebo collaborator Robert Smith In June and July 2018 the band also went on four dates in Italy Ukraine and Switzerland Never Let Me Go 2019 present Edit On 25 July 2019 Olsdal revealed that Placebo are working on their eighth studio album 133 non primary source needed In January 2020 Placebo announced a new tour including festival shows during June July 2020 in Greece Spain Belgium Ukraine and Russia In March 2020 Olsdal announced that he and Molko had to put finishing their eighth studio album on hold due to the COVID 19 pandemic and London being on lockdown via a post on his official Instagram 134 non primary source needed On 15 September 2020 Dave McLean one of Placebo s managers at RIVERMAN tweeted their eighth studio album would be released in early 2021 135 On 13 September 2021 an announcement was made that the band will release a new single titled Beautiful James on 17 September 2021 136 On 4 November 2021 Placebo announced their eighth studio album Never Let Me Go It was released on 25 March 2022 on the indie label So Recordings On 23 March 2022 Placebo embarked on the Never Let Me Go tour starting with four intimate shows across Europe followed by an extensive headline expedition including among other places Germany Denmark Norway Sweden Finland Estonia Poland Netherlands Italy Switzerland Czech Republic Austria Luxembourg Belgium France Ireland the United Kingdom and the United States 137 On 7 September 2022 Placebo released a cover of the song Shout by Tears for Fears 138 Musical style influences and lyrics EditPlacebo s music has typically been labeled as alternative rock 139 140 141 142 143 They have however also incorporated different sounds in their music throughout their career Critics have also described the band s sound as pop punk 144 145 146 industrial rock 147 148 149 Britpop 150 151 152 glam rock 153 154 gothic rock 155 156 electronic rock 157 158 post punk revival 154 and experimental rock 147 Progressive rock elements in the band s earlier works along with grunge and punk rock influences were also noted 147 159 160 161 Placebo s influences include David Bowie 12 Can 162 Iggy Pop and the Stooges 162 Sonic Youth 162 the Cure Pixies Nirvana 28 the Smiths 163 PJ Harvey 164 Depeche Mode 165 and Nine Inch Nails 149 Lyrically Placebo s music contains many references to drugs 166 and sexuality 167 The title of the song Special K for instance is slang for ketamine Molko has been open about his use of recreational drugs in a 1997 interview with Kerrang magazine he admitted that heroin was probably the only drug on this planet I haven t tried 168 However he later admitted to using heroin as well 169 Pharmaceutical drugs are also referenced as evidenced by the band s name as well as the album Meds and its title track Molko admitted in 2003 that many of his initial excesses were due to his mental issues he was officially diagnosed with major depressive disorder in his late twenties 170 The singer claimed in 2016 that he gave up drugs completely after the recording and release of Meds 19 Outsider themes are also explored as evidenced in lyrics such as the back of the class is where I m from on One of a Kind and I m forever black eyed A product of a broken home on Black Eyed Molko has been quoted as calling the band for outsiders by outsiders 171 Feud with Limp Bizkit Edit A feud between Limp Bizkit and Placebo began at a show frontman Fred Durst was hosting at Irving Plaza in December 1998 172 A side stage spat with Molko led to Durst asking the crowd to chant Placebo sucks prior to Placebo s performance 172 Molko later commented that nobody had told him that Durst would be hosting the show and that Placebo would have to follow opening act Kid Rock 173 Prior to introducing Staind as a part of K Rock s Dysfunctional Family Picnic in Holmdel New Jersey in 1999 Durst once again encouraged the crowd to chant Fuck Placebo 174 The feud was reignited during Big Day Out 2001 on which Placebo were billed below Limp Bizkit after Hewitt acknowledged the animosity between both bands and claimed Limp Bizkit was guilty of spreading negativity 172 By 2004 the feud had reportedly ended 175 Awards and nominations EditYear Awards Work Category Result1997 Kerrang Awards 176 Themselves Best New British Band WonNME Awards 177 Best Band Nominated1999 NominatedWithout You I m Nothing Best Album Nominated You Don t Care About Us Best Single 178 Nominated Pure Morning NominatedBrit Awards Best British Video Nominated2004 Hungarian Music Awards Sleeping with Ghosts Best Foreign Rock Album NominatedNRJ Music Awards Themselves International Duo Group of the Year WonLunas del Auditorio Best Foreign Rock Artist Nominated2006 NominatedKerrang Awards Classic Songwriter Award Won Infra Red Best Single NominatedLos Premios MTV Latinoamerica Themselves Best Rock Artist International Nominated2007 ECHO Awards International Rock Alternative Artist Group of the Year NominatedLunas del Auditorio Best Foreign Rock Artist Nominated2009 Kerrang Awards Battle for the Sun Best Album Nominated For What It s Worth Best Single NominatedBest Video NominatedMTV EMA Themselves Best Alternative WonTMF Awards Best Rock International NominatedBest Live International Nominated2010 UK Music Video Awards The Never Ending Why The Innovation Award NominatedECHO Awards Themselves International Rock Alternative Artist Group of the Year NominatedLunas del Auditorio Best Foreign Rock Artist Nominated2014 UK Music Video Awards Too Many Friends Best Alternative Video UK NominatedECHO Awards Themselves International Rock Alternative Artist Group of the Year Nominated2015 Artist and Manager Awards Artists Artist Award Won2016 ECHO Awards International Rock Alternative Artist Group of the Year Nominated2017 UK Music Video Awards Life s What You Make It Best Cinematography NominatedIbiza Music Video Festival Best Colourist NominatedZebrik Music Awards Edit Year Nominee work Award Result Ref 2000 Black Market Music Best International Album Nominated 179 2003 Sleeping with Ghosts WonThemselves Best International Group NominatedBest International Surprise NominatedBrian Molko Best International Male NominatedBest International Personality Nominated The Bitter End Best International Song Nominated Special Needs NominatedBest International Video Nominated This Picture Nominated2004 Themselves Best International Group Nominated 180 Best International Surprise NominatedBrian Molko Best International Male NominatedBest International Personality Nominated Twenty Years Best International Song NominatedBest International Video Nominated2006 Brian Molko Best International Male NominatedMeds Best International Album Nominated Because I Want You Best International Song NominatedThemselves Best International Group Nominated2008 Nominated2009 NominatedBrian Molko Best International Male NominatedBattle for the Sun Best International Album NominatedLegacy EditPlacebo have been cited as an influence on such bands as My Chemical Romance and Panic at the Disco 181 Band members EditCurrent members Edit Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions Brian Molko 1994 present lead vocalsguitarsbasskeyboardsharmonicasaxophonepercussion all releases Stefan Olsdal bassguitarskeyboardsbacking vocalsCurrent touring musicians 182 Edit Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions Bill Lloyd 19961998 present 183 184 guitar 1996 keyboardsbass Black Market Music 2000 Sleeping with Ghosts 2003 production Once More with Feeling Singles 1996 2004 2004 Battle for the Sun 2009 MTV Unplugged 2015 Never Let Me Go 2022 Nick Gavrilovic 2008 present 185 guitarlap steel guitarkeyboardsbacking vocals MTV Unplugged 2015 iTunes Live London Festival 09 2009 Matt Lunn 2015 present 116 drumspercussion MTV Unplugged 2015 Never Let Me Go 2022 Angela Chan 2017 present 186 187 violinkeyboardspercussionbacking vocalsFormer members Edit Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions Steve Hewitt 199419951996 2007 7 11 66 drumspercussion all releases from Without You I m Nothing 1998 to Meds 2006 B Sides 1996 2006 2011 A Place for Us to Dream 2016 Robert Schultzberg 1994 19951995 1996 12 23 drumspercussiondidgeridoo Placebo 1996 A Place for Us to Dream 2016 Steve Forrest 2008 2015 69 116 drumspercussionbacking vocals Battle for the Sun 2009 iTunes Live London Festival 09 2009 B3 2012 Loud Like Love 2013 A Place for Us to Dream 2016 Former touring musicians Edit Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsXavior Roide 2003 2005 188 189 keyboardsbacking vocals none Alex Lee 2006 2007 190 191 guitarkeyboardsbacking vocals Fiona Brice 2008 2017 192 193 violinkeyboardsthereminpercussionbacking vocals Meds 2006 Battle for the Sun 2009 iTunes Live London Festival 09 2009 B3 2012 Loud Like Love 2013 MTV Unplugged 2015 Timeline EditDiscography EditMain article Placebo discography Placebo 1996 Without You I m Nothing 1998 Black Market Music 2000 Sleeping with Ghosts 2003 Meds 2006 Battle for the Sun 2009 Loud Like Love 2013 Never Let Me Go 2022 References Edit Leonelli Andrea Placebo to distribute back catalogue through Kobalt Label Services rockol com OFFICIAL PLACEBO INSTAGRAM on Instagram A HISTORIC MOMENT PLACEBO ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT ALBUM 8 WILL BE RELEASED BY sorecordings HOME TO bandofskullsofficial Instagram com Retrieved 21 October 2020 Artist Placebo a b Neugebauer Delvin TrouserPress com Placebo TrouserPress com Retrieved 4 July 2016 Be Infected by Steve Forrest s Optimism Popspoken com 29 August 2013 Dunlop Manufacturing Artists Placebo Dunlop Archived from the original on 22 March 2015 Retrieved 5 July 2013 a b c Straton Sally PLACEBO in conversation with Sally Stratton August 1998 Archived from the original on 29 September 2006 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Note copy stored at Placebo Official Website Bryant Miranda 20 February 2015 Placebo We met by chance at the Tube8 Evening Standard Retrieved 9 July 2017 a b New Music Videos Reality TV Shows Celebrity News Pop Culture You R Here 18 August 2007 Archived from the original on 2 December 2008 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Placebo s battle to find a new identity The Advertiser Adelaide 3 June 2009 Retrieved 9 July 2017 a b c Steve Hewitt drummerszone com Archived from the original on 14 March 2012 Retrieved 9 July 2017 a b c Dave Thompson 2006 Hallo Spaceboy The Rebirth of David Bowie ECW Press ISBN 1550227335 THE PLEASURE PRINCIPAL Melody Maker IPC Media Archived from the original on 29 September 2006 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Note copy stored at Placebo Official Website Placebo Brian Molko Interview 2000 YouTube Archived from the original on 3 November 2021 Retrieved 26 June 2013 via YouTube Placebo Soup 25 Bruise Pristine M E L T D O W N Discogs READY STEADY SPOOK Melody Maker IPC Media Archived from the original on 29 September 2006 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Note copy stored at Placebo Official Website Greg Prato Placebo Biography by Greg Prato AllMusic Reece Doug 14 September 1996 Popular Uprisings Billboard p 28 a b c d e f g h Lindsay Cam 14 October 2016 Rank Your Records Brian Molko Skeptically Rates Placebo s Eight LPs Vice Retrieved 9 July 2017 a b c Placebo Official Charts Retrieved 26 June 2013 Placebo Biography Concerty com Pareles Jon 30 September 1996 A Terse Outsider Enumerates His Woes Placebo The Cooler The New York Times Retrieved 10 June 2013 a b c Exclusive Interview of Robert Schultzberg Forum Placebo City Placebo City 18 November 2007 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Search Results Singles everyhit com Retrieved 9 July 2017 a b c d Hughes Rob 7 December 2016 The Story Behind The Song Nancy Boy by Placebo teamrock com Retrieved 9 July 2017 THE LIFE AND LOVES OF A HE SHE DEVIL Select Emap International Limited Archived from the original on 29 September 2006 Retrieved 7 July 2017 Note copy stored at Placebo Official Website Milliken Alice 21 April 2017 Rare David Bowie video shows the star saying I am never going to die PinkNews Retrieved 9 July 2017 a b c Prato Greg Placebo Music Biography Credits and Discography AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved 26 June 2013 Young Cook 1 September 1997 David Bowie at the Garden with Special Guests NY Rock 76 12 46 30 Archived from the original on 21 August 2017 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Full cast and crew for Velvet Goldmine IMDb Retrieved 9 July 2017 a b David Bowie Joins Placebo Onstage for NYC Show MTV News 1 April 1999 Retrieved 26 June 2013 a b Meadley Phil 24 October 2004 Placebo Accept no substitute The Independent Retrieved 9 July 2017 a b c d e f g h Discography placeboworld co uk Archived from the original on 12 May 2008 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Without You I m Nothing Placebo Awards AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved 4 July 2013 Reece Doug 10 October 1998 Virgin s Placebo Having an Effect in U S Billboard Vol 110 no 41 p 14 ISSN 0006 2510 a b c d e f Search everyhit com Retrieved 9 July 2017 BRIAN AND BOWIE BLAST BRITS WITH BOLAN NME 21 January 1999 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Robbie rules over Brits BBC 17 February 1999 Retrieved 9 July 2017 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Cruel Intentions 1999 Soundtracks IMDb Retrieved 9 July 2017 Kaklamanidou Betty When Pop Culture Meets High Literature The case of Cruel Intentions and the epistolary novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses Offscreen Retrieved 9 July 2017 a b Interview with Brian Molko of Placebo April 2001 NY Rock Archived from the original on 31 October 2016 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Chilling power in a sugary pill The Guardian 6 October 2000 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Downey Ryan 12 May 2001 Sex Drugs And Placebo English rock trio Placebo hit the stages in the states San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved 9 July 2017 Recherche lescharts com Retrieved 9 July 2017 a b Sleeping With Ghosts Billboard 12 April 2003 Retrieved 9 July 2017 L effet Placebo Studyrama Archived from the original on 14 November 2008 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Note copy stored at Placebo City Placebo News placeboworld co uk 27 August 2004 Archived from the original on 24 December 2011 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Recherce lescharts com Retrieved 9 July 2017 Al Fox 2010 Placebo Covers Review BBC Retrieved 9 July 2017 The bitter end BBC 5 November 2004 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Price Simon 5 November 2004 Depeche Mode Wembley Arena London Placebo Empress Ballroom Blackpool The Independent Retrieved 9 July 2017 Placebo Setlist at Palais de Versailles Paris France setlist fm 2 July 2005 Retrieved 11 July 2017 Full Live 8 line up The Daily Telegraph 1 July 2005 Archived from the original on 12 January 2022 Retrieved 11 July 2017 Of Meds and Men An Interview with Placebo s Brian Molko andpop com 27 April 2007 Archived from the original on 21 August 2017 Retrieved 10 July 2017 Legrand Emmanuel 15 April 2006 PLACEBO GETS ROCKIER Billboard Vol 118 no 15 p 52 Meds Media notes Placebo Virgin Records 2006 Retrieved 26 June 2013 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Michael Stipe to Guest on New Placebo Album NME 27 January 2006 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Placebo Meds New Album Leak Music rllmukforum com rllmukforum com 19 January 2006 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Lescharts com Placebo Meds Lescharts com Retrieved 4 July 2013 Australian charts com Placebo Meds Australian charts com Retrieved 26 June 2013 2006 03 25 Top 40 Official UK Album Archive Official Charts Company Retrieved 26 June 2013 Montgomery James 5 July 2007 LINKIN PARK MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE TAKING BACK SUNDAY TO HEADLINE PROJEKT REVOLUTION MTV Retrieved 11 July 2017 Bergstrom John 8 November 2007 Placebo Extended Play 07 PopMatters Retrieved 11 July 2017 Lymangrover Jason Extended Play 07 Placebo Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved 26 June 2013 Placebo News placeboworld co uk 1 October 2007 Archived from the original on 24 December 2011 Retrieved 26 June 2013 a b Spinner Stefan Olsdal Interview 2009 LJ Placebo Russia Archive placeborussia ru Retrieved 7 July 2013 Steven Hewitt Interview PR3 25 09 10 Polish YouTube Archived from the original on 3 November 2021 Retrieved 7 July 2013 via YouTube Six by Seven 1 September 2012 Archived from the original on 26 February 2022 Retrieved 26 June 2013 via Facebook a b Placebo News placeboworld co uk 6 August 2008 Archived from the original on 25 December 2011 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Placebo to rock Cambodia s Angkor Wat ABC Online 21 November 2008 Retrieved 11 July 2017 Isacker B Van 5 June 2009 Placebo Boxset Out in June Together with New Album side line com Retrieved 26 June 2013 Paine Andre 18 January 2009 Placebo Announce Album Tracklisting Billboard Retrieved 16 July 2017 Placebo Announce Album Tracklisting NME 19 January 2009 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Placebo Announce New Album Details NME 16 March 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Placebo Announce Album Tracklisting NME 26 March 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Marszalek Julian Placebo Battle For The Sun Review BBC Retrieved 16 July 2017 David Bottrill Credits AllMusic Retrieved 16 July 2017 Lowe Zane 17 March 2009 BBC Zane Lowe s Hottest Records Blog Hottest Record Placebo Battle for the Sun BBC Retrieved 26 June 2013 Placebo Take on the Sun Rock Sound 18 March 2009 Archived from the original on 21 March 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2013 a b Hughes Hilary 22 October 2013 Watch Placebo s Loud Like Love Esquire Retrieved 16 July 2017 PLACEBO ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO soundspheremag com 18 April 2009 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Placebo Announce Mini UK Tour NME 6 April 2009 Retrieved 4 July 2013 Placebo Battle for the Sun Alternative Press 29 May 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Fullerton Jamie 13 August 2009 Placebo s Brian Molko faints onstage in Japan video NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 Ferreiro Laura 17 August 2009 Placebo cancel North American tour NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 Factbox MTV Europe Music Awards Winners Reuters 5 November 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Deming Mark iTunes Live London Festival 09 Placebo Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic Retrieved 26 June 2013 Placebo Gigs placeboworld co uk Archived from the original on 10 June 2010 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Placebo YouTube 11 September 2010 Archived from the original on 3 November 2021 Retrieved 26 June 2013 via YouTube Fullerton Jamie 3 August 2010 Placebo to play London s O2 Academy Brixton NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 Raymond Max 27 September 2010 Placebo Brixton Academy London MusicOMH Retrieved 16 July 2017 Srivastava Shefali 28 September 2010 Placebo Brixton Academy London clickmusic com Archived from the original on 13 February 2011 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Placebo cancel concerts in Spain Portugal expatica com 5 October 2010 Retrieved 16 July 2017 PLACEBO CANCEL SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN SHOWS placeboworld co uk 7 October 2010 Archived from the original on 10 October 2010 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Past Shows 2011 placeboworld co uk Archived from the original on 5 April 2016 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Schiller Rebecca 28 September 2011 Placebo to release new live DVD NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 a b Gratt Gary 22 November 2011 Placebo Taking Bit of a Breather Before Hitting Studio in 2012 NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 Cooper Leonie 12 December 2011 Placebo release Live At Angkor Wat album NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 PLACEBO TO PLAY SUNDANCE LONDON sundance org 28 November 2011 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Placebo News placeboworld co uk 23 January 2012 Archived from the original on 28 January 2012 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Rock im Pott mit Red Hot Chili Peppers und Placebo derwesten de 23 January 2012 Archived from the original on 16 July 2019 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Past Shows 2012 placeboworld co uk Archived from the original on 5 April 2016 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Placebo Kicks Off the Mercedes Benz A ROCK Series hypebeast com access date 7 June 2021 Placebo quit concert after just one song The Daily Telegraph 17 August 2012 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Moby Dick del 02 08 2012 Parte 2 MP3 radio rai it 2 August 2012 Placebo Announce New Five Track EP B3 NME 14 September 2012 Retrieved 26 June 2013 McGovern Kyle 22 March 2013 Record Store Day 2013 Complete List of Exclusives Spin Retrieved 16 July 2017 Placebo Interview Brian Molko in Singapore 2010 YouTube 20 August 2010 Archived from the original on 3 November 2021 Retrieved 26 June 2013 via YouTube a b Renshaw David 21 May 2013 Placebo announce seventh studio album and December UK tour dates NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 Whitt Cassie 12 July 2013 Placebo release Too Many Friends lyric video Alternative Press Retrieved 16 July 2017 Cooper Leonie 9 August 2013 Placebo reveal Too Many Friends video featuring author Bret Easton Ellis NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 a b Cooper Leonie 3 September 2013 Placebo to host their own online television show NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 Zaleski Annie 18 October 2013 Interview Brian Molko of Placebo on new record Loud Like Love the band s evolution and the most vulnerable moment of his career vanyaland com Retrieved 16 July 2017 Placebo announce seventh album and tour dates York Press 22 May 2013 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Past Shows 2014 placeboworld co uk Archived from the original on 7 April 2014 Retrieved 16 July 2017 a b c d Placebo to tour UK with new line up as drummer Steve Forrest leaves band NME 2 February 2015 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Renshaw David 12 February 2015 Placebo to stream back catalogue online for first time in history NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 Past Shows 2015 placeboworld co uk Archived from the original on 21 September 2015 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Mawazine Festival British Artist Condemns Criminalization of Homosexuality in Morocco moroccoworldnews com 3 June 2015 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Munro Scott 22 June 2015 Placebo outline vinyl re release plans teamrock com Retrieved 16 July 2017 Get Ready For Placebo s MTV Unplugged With Our Exclusive Live Performances MTV 27 November 2015 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Placebo Concert Setlist at London Studios London on August 19 2015 setlist fm 19 August 2015 Retrieved 25 August 2015 Armstrong Sam 23 October 2015 Placebo Release A Fully Charged MTV Unplugged udiscovermusic com Retrieved 16 July 2017 Levine Nick 14 March 2016 Placebo announce 20th anniversary world tour including UK dates NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 Placebo Alt Russia filmdates co uk Retrieved 16 July 2017 Simpson Caitlin 17 May 2016 Placebo Alt Russia DOCUMENTARY REVIEW Band Explores Artistic Freedom in Restrictive Society thereelword net Archived from the original on 28 November 2020 Retrieved 16 July 2017 PLACEBO to release 20th anniversary retrospective hits album A Place For Us To Dream uberrock co uk 4 August 2016 Archived from the original on 3 August 2017 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Trendell Andrew 7 October 2016 Placebo unveil previously unseen video for Every You Every Me NME Retrieved 16 July 2017 Breaking Placebo Walk Off Stage After Two Songs At Train SoundOfAarhus SoundOfAarhus Archived from the original on 12 September 2019 Retrieved 14 October 2016 Guest Submission A Couple Of Pure Mornings After Placebo s Performance in Aarhus SoundOfAarhus SoundOfAarhus Archived from the original on 29 May 2017 Retrieved 16 July 2017 PLACEBO announce 20 years of Placebo Australian Tour maytherockbewithyou com 23 May 2017 Retrieved 16 July 2017 Young Alex 6 March 2018 The Cure s Robert Smith Announces Incredible Meltdown Festival Lineup Consequence of Sound Olsdal Stefan 25 July 2019 Slowly but surely placebo album 8 photo by davidamen17 Instagram Archived from the original on 26 December 2021 Stefan Olsdal on Instagram Hi everyone We ve been a bit in denial I think As most of you know Placebo are were in the studio recording We have practically Instagram com Archived from the original on 26 December 2021 Retrieved 21 October 2020 davidmc89397258 15 September 2020 schemers movie out it ten days in cinemas Placebo album coming early 2021 AWESOME Tweet via Twitter Placebo tease new song Beautiful James arriving this week NME 13 September 2021 Retrieved 15 September 2021 Placebo Tour Dates amp Concert TimeForGig com 9 November 2021 Retrieved 21 December 2021 Daly Rhian 7 September 2022 Placebo share industrial cover of Tears For Fears Shout NME Retrieved 14 September 2022 Smirke Richard 4 July 2009 Alternative Medicine Placebo Discovers a Cure for the Major Label Blues Billboard p 24 Retrieved 27 September 2019 Re Greg 17 August 2007 Placebo Crashing the Arena Washington Post Express Retrieved 27 September 2019 Dedman Remfry 17 October 2017 Placebo Interview with Brian Molko We embraced the rock n roll lifestyle with enormous enthusiasm The Independent Retrieved 27 September 2019 Placebo quit concert after just one song The Daily Telegraph 17 August 2012 Retrieved 27 September 2019 Serventi George 15 September 2017 Placebo are selling off their most iconic looks Dazed Retrieved 27 September 2019 Harley Kevin 29 April 2003 Placebo Brixton Academy London The Independent Archived from the original on 1 April 2016 Retrieved 20 March 2016 Geffen Sasha 17 October 2014 Live Review Placebo at Chicago s House of Blues 10 16 Consequence of Sound Retrieved 2 February 2016 Heslin Stephen 23 September 2003 Thursday 10 04 03 80 s Matchbox B line Disaster Placebo Academy Liverpool Gigwise Retrieved 2 February 2016 a b c Paul George A 3 July 2001 Out of Control Group The Advocate 61 ISSN 0001 8996 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Cohen Ian 10 June 2009 Placebo Battle for the Sun Pitchfork Retrieved 26 June 2013 a b I m the Anti Eminem Melody Maker 20 October 2000 Archived from the original on 20 February 2008 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Erlewine Stephen Thomas Battle for the Sun Placebo Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved 26 June 2013 NME Album Reviews Album Review Placebo Battle for the Sun NME 3 June 2009 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Mallon Tim July 2001 The Devil and Mr Molko CMJ New Music Monthly 94 60 ISSN 1074 6978 Idov Michael 20 April 2003 Placebo Sleeping with Ghosts Pitchfork Retrieved 26 June 2013 a b Santangelo Antonio 7 April 2003 Reviews CMJ New Music Report 75 5 9 ISSN 0890 0795 Howorth Adam 4 October 2003 Placebo a Sure Fix Billboard Vol 115 no 40 p 63 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved 26 June 2013 Perry Andrew 18 August 2001 Russia s Cup of Tea Placebo Have an Uneasy Relationship with the British Music Scene But As Andrew Perry Discovers Moscow Loves Them The Daily Telegraph Retrieved 4 July 2013 Sullivan Caroline 11 December 2009 Placebo The Horrors The Guardian Retrieved 20 March 2016 Prato Greg Without You I m Nothing Placebo Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved 26 June 2013 Abebe Nitsuh Placebo Placebo Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic AllMusic Retrieved 26 June 2013 Tangari Joe 4 May 2006 Placebo Meds Pitchfork Retrieved 26 June 2013 Knott Adam 4 June 2009 Review Placebo Battle for the Sun Sputnikmusic Retrieved 26 June 2013 a b c Brian Molko au micro de Laura Leishman Radio Vinyle 11 Radiofrance 21 June 2012 archived from the original on 3 November 2021 retrieved 15 January 2016 Perrone Pierre March 2003 Sleeping with Ghosts review Rock Sound Rive Droite Rive Gauche TV Interview Paris Premiere French tv channel 24 November 1998 In the history of rock from Jimi Hendrix to The Police and PJ Harvey the trio is something very strong and really interesting As a musician this forces you to connect to your instrument There isn t any other guitarist to rescue you Bernhardt 2006 p 6 Taylor Luke 2 February 2016 Who did it better Placebo or Lou Reed Voice Magazine Retrieved 9 July 2017 Jones Daisy 7 April 2017 20 Years After Nancy Boy How Brian Molko Queered Up the 90s Vice Retrieved 9 July 2017 New York Doll Kerrang 18 January 1997 Archived from the original on 30 January 2008 Retrieved 26 February 2012 I Thought I Was Good At Handling Pussy Select Emap International Limited Archived from the original on 24 March 2008 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Note copy stored at Placebo Official Website The drugs don t work smh au 13 June 2003 Retrieved 9 July 2017 Placebo Tickets The O2 Retrieved 4 July 2013 a b c PURE MOANING NME COM 26 January 2001 Archived from the original on 3 May 2017 Retrieved 23 April 2020 Interview with Brian Molko of Placebo NY Rock Archived from the original on 31 October 2016 Retrieved 23 April 2020 Staind A Flat Live YouTube Placebo Accept no substitute The Independent 29 October 2004 Archived from the original on 15 December 2019 Retrieved 23 April 2020 Kerrang Awards 1997 Kerrang No 664 6 September 1997 pp 26 35 Rocklist net NME Lists readers Pop Poll Results Rocklistmusic co uk Rocklist net NME End Of Year Lists 1999 Rocklistmusic co uk 2003 1997 Anketa Zebrik 2010 2004 Anketa Zebrik Stroud Matt 3 July 2007 Placebo Releases Extended Play 07 SF Weekly Retrieved 29 December 2014 PLACEBO Vibrant Intimate Show in Paris 23 03 2022 Concert review 4 April 2022 From studio to stage with Placebo s Bill Lloyd Native Instruments Blog 6 November 2017 Retrieved 24 May 2023 Placebo Anyway Blog Interview with Bill Lloyd Placebo Anyway Blog 2013 Retrieved 24 May 2023 UptheAlbion com upthealbion com Retrieved 31 July 2023 Placebo Anyway Blog centrefoldsculture blogspot com Retrieved 31 July 2023 Angela Chan achanmusic 18 August 2017 Watch the Placebo set from deichbrand festival here concert arte tv de placebo deichbrand festival livemusic placebo20 Tweet Retrieved 31 July 2023 via Twitter Stefan Olsdal stefanolsdal 1 September 2016 As part of Placebo s 20 years together this man Xavior Roide who was part of our live band for Sleeping With Ghosts has remained a true star His arranging and conducting of the choir at the Bistrotheque last night in London was fantastic Hats off my friend neverretire placebo xaviorquartet via Instagram PLACEBO Xavior bio www angelfire com Retrieved 31 July 2023 Alex Lee Placebo Alex Lee 10 March 2014 Retrieved 31 July 2023 Placebo Anyway Blog 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐗 𝐋𝐄𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐎 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟔 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟕 Placebo Anyway Blog 17 November 2021 Retrieved 31 July 2023 Placebo Anyway Blog 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐄 Placebo Anyway Blog 5 November 2021 Retrieved 31 July 2023 Placebo Anyway Blog Retrieved 31 July 2023 SourcesBernhardt Tonia 2006 Depeche Mode A Band Its Music And the Cult A Short Essay with Song Analyses GRIN Verlag ISBN 3638573877 Betts Graham 2005 Complete UK Hit Albums 1956 2005 HarperCollins UK ISBN 0007205325 Brill Dunja 2008 Goth Culture Gender Sexuality and Style Berg Publishers ISBN 978 1845207687 Thompson Dave 2006 Hallo Spaceboy The Rebirth of David Bowie ECW Press ISBN 1550227335 Psychology Study Guide Neuropsychology Sensory Systems Perception Learning and Memory Thinking Language Intelligence Development Personality Mind Social amp Abnormal Psychology Psychoactive Drugs Mobi Study Guides MobileReference 2007 ISBN 978 1605010694 Moore Christie 2006 The Unultimate Rockopedia AuthorHouse ISBN 1467012467 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Placebo band Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Placebo band amp oldid 1169542371, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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