Long before the discussion about non-binary gender identities became socially acceptable, Placebo's singer Brian Molko presented himself as an androgynous figure of light in the mid-1990s. His dazzling appearance finds its musical counterpart in the band's extraordinary sound: haunting vocals meet hard guitar riffs, booming beats meet melancholic world-weariness. Placebo touch the nerve of a generation, their songs advance to anthems.
That one usually meets several times in life, proves true once again when the former schoolmates Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal meet by chance in a London subway station in 1994. Although the two are not connected by much more than a loose acquaintance - Olsdal nevertheless finds his way first to Molko's gig and later into the band line-up. Together with Robert Schultzberg, who is later replaced by Steve Hewitt, Placebo step into the limelight as a trio.
In David Bowie's slipstream: Placebo take off
While other bands spend years getting their careers rolling, Placebo's luck is in early in their collective history. None other than pop icon David Bowie takes notice of the newcomers' demo tapes and invites them to join him as support on his tour. Even before the debut album is released, Placebo play shows in front of tens of thousands of music lovers. The omens could hardly be better.
After a brief guest appearance on the label Fierce Panda, Placebo sign a contract in 1996 with Deceptive Records, which already represent well-known indie bands like Elastica. Even the first single, "Nancy Boy", enters the Top 5 of the British charts. Placebo are celebrated for their individuality and subsequently manage to establish a band-typical sound. The focus is primarily on Brian Molko's hypnotic voice and driving guitar sounds. Even in later hits such as "The Bitter End", the style of Placebo is unmistakable.
The Placebo tour in the support of Bowie is followed by an extended concert tour with the Irish rock formation U2. Placebo play their own audience and dare first excursions into the film business.
Placebo write history
From newcomer to cult status: With the second album produced by David Bowie called "Without You I'm Nothing" Placebo's career really takes off in 1998 at the latest. After a cameo appearance in the Todd Haynes film "Velvet Goldmine", the next cinema coup awaits the band. Although they are not to be seen in the coming-of-age thriller "Ice Cold Angels", but the title song "Every You Every Me" composed by Placebo advances to a world hit.
One success follows the next. These Placebo albums place in the top ten of the German charts:
- "Black Market Music"
- "Sleeping With Ghosts"
- "Meds"
- "Battle For The Sun"
- "Loud Like Love"
- "MTV Unplugged"
- "A Place For Us To Dream - 20 Years Of Placebo"
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Collaborations with megastars like R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe and spectacular performances like the one in 2008 in front of the backdrop of the famous Cambodian temple complex Angkor Wat cemented Placebo's reputation as alternative rock legends.
For a long time, mastermind Brian Molko has been critical of the distribution of music via streaming portals like YouTube or Spotify. Finally, however, he reconciles himself with the media enjoyment culture of the 21st century.
Placebo - The long-awaited comeback
After about five years of break, Placebo announce themselves back in the fall of 2021 with two new singles. "Beautiful James" and "Surrounded By Spies" tie seamlessly to the typical Placebo sound. So fans can finally secure Placebo tickets again to be as close as possible to their idols.
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