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Editors (band)

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Editors

Editors are a British indie rock band from Birmingham who formed in 2002. The band consists of Tom Smith (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano), Chris Urbanowicz (lead guitar and synth), Russell Leetch (bass guitar and live backing vocals) and Ed Lay (drums, percussion and live backing vocals). Their brand of sweeping indie rock is compared to the sound of bands such as Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division, Interpol, Kitchens of Distinction and U2.

They have been nominated for many awards over their short career so far, namely for the Mercury Prize in 2006 and for a Brit Award in 2008. Editors have released two albums; selling over 1.5 million copies between them worldwide.[1][2] After continued success in the charts and sold out tours, Editors are currently being lauded as the second biggest British band of the decade after Arctic Monkeys.[3]

History

Formation Years (2002-2004)

The band met studying Music Technology at Staffordshire University. They realised it wasn't the career for them and decided to form a band, playing in the towns Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Stafford. After graduation, they relocated to Birmingham.[4]

The band were initially known as Pilot. They played their first show under this name in 2002.[5] While in university, the band had a marketing strategy which involved placing hundreds of promotional stickers across the walls of Stafford asking, "Who's the Pilot?".[6] The band then realized the name was taken, so they then became known as The Pride.[7] They made a promo under this name with the tracks "Come Share The View" and "Forest Fire". The band made these songs available to listen to on BBC Radio 1's Onemusic Unsigned.[8]

They then changed the line-up with Ed Lay replacing Geraint Owen on drums as he began to focus on his Welsh band The Heights. Under this lineup they became known as Snowfield. The band soon released a 6 track EP, all of which went on to become Editors songs. They played their debut gig at the request of Fused Magazine before becoming a popular unsigned band.[9] All this earned the band the interest of several British labels and in 2004, the group signed to indie label Kitchenware Records.[10] Upon signing to Kitchenware they decided to change their band name to Editors.

The Back Room (2005–2006)

After supporting bands such as Oceansize and The Bravery, Editors released debut single "Bullets" as a limited edition of 500 copies on Kitchenware Records on 24 January2005.[11] It sold out on the day of its release[12] and quickly gained support from radio stations such as Xfm and 6music.[13]

The release of "Munich" followed in April of that year and gave the band their first Top 25 hit, another sold out UK tour and a place on MTV’s Spanking New Music show in Manchester. "Blood" was released two months later, reaching number 18 in the UK Singles Chart.[14] With these releases their popularity and fanbase grew larger and on 25 July 2005 their debut album The Back Room was released to critical acclaim and commercial success.[15] After re-issuing "Bullets", Editors gained a high profile support slot, supporting Franz Ferdinand in Arenas across the UK and Europe.[16]

After the re-issue of their single "Munich", The Back Room rose up the charts peaking at number 2, going platinum in the process.[17]This release also gave them their first Top 10 single and an appearance on Top Of The Pops. A joint North American tour with Stellastarr* coincided with the stateside release of The Back Room on 21 March 2006. It was released by FADER Label and sold 35,000 albums after 20 weeks.[18] The band went on to play influential American festivals in 2006 such as Coachella and Lollapalooza.[19] Editors proceeded to perform "Munich" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on Thursday 30 March 2006.

Around this time Editors released "All Sparks" as a single and then a re-issue of "Blood". Both charted well.[20] After a string of high profile festival shows across Europe, including slots on T In The Park, V 2006 and the Isle of Wight Festival, Editors began work on their second album.

An End Has a Start (2007–2008)

Lead singer Tom Smith at the Eurockéennes 2007

Editors recorded their second album, An End Has a Start, with producer Jacknife Lee in Grouse Lodge, Ireland over a 2 month period in early 2007.[21] It was released on 25 June 2007 and went straight to number 1 in the UK album charts.[22] Smith mentioned:

We’ve definitely moved on, it's definitely not the same record again. It's much more ambitious. We never felt like we were going through any kind of difficult second album nonsense. We never hit any wall of 'we don't have enough singles' or 'that sounds shit'. It was all very natural and easy-going.[23]

The album was preceded by the Top 10 single "Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors" on the 18th. With this single Editors got their best ever single placement at number 7 and their very own Making the Video episode on MTV.[24][25]

On 23 June 2007, Editors played at the Glastonbury Festival in a late time slot on The Other Stage.[26] They then released the album's title track "An End Has A Start" in September to coincide with their North American tour. Editors went on to play the song on the Jay Leno Show and on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The band also contributed a cover of The Cure's "Lullaby" to the Radio 1 Established 1967 compilation, which was released on 1 October 2007. Editors then released "The Racing Rats" as the third single off the album. This reached number 12 in the Dutch Top 40, the band's highest ever single charting outside of the UK.[27]

On 24 October 2007, Editors played a 75 minute set for the BBC Electric Proms at KOKO in London with backing from a classical string quartet. In January 2008 Editors were nominated for one Brit Award, in the Best British Group Category.[28] Around this time they announced "Push Your Head Towards The Air" to be the fourth single from An End Has A Start. This release was a limited special edition which was ineligible to chart.[29] Along with this release Editors engaged in their biggest and most extensive British tour to date. They played arenas such as the 12,000 capacity National Indoor Arena in Birmingham and two sold out dates in London's Ally Pally.[30]

Template:Sound sample box align right

"Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors"
The first single from An End Has A Start, "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" showcased the unique sound of the band, combining simple melodies and overlapping rhythms.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Template:Sample box end

In an interview, Smith announced that the band would be releasing "Bones" as the final single. He confirmed the song would only be released in Europe to coincide with Editors' summer support slot tour with R.E.M.[31] He added that the video will be directed by the band's bassist Russell Leetch.

Third Studio album

Lead singer Smith has revealed that the band will explore a new direction on their next album. Speaking to BBC 6Music, Smith explained that the band will pursue a new, rawer sound.

"I know there's an element to our band, a kind of power and ferociousness that we have when we play live that we haven't quite captured yet on record. Maybe things have been a little bit too smooth."[32]

The band have announced that they plan to take longer preparing this album in order to make sure they make it's 'really good'.[33]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details
2005 The Back Room
2007 An End Has a Start

EPs

Singles

Year Song UK Singles Chart UK Download Chart IRL GER Dutch Top 40 Dutch Mega Top 50 BEL Album
2005 "Bullets" 54 - - - - - - The Back Room
2005 "Munich" 22 - - - - - - The Back Room
2005 "Blood" 18 - - - - - - The Back Room
2005 "Bullets (re-issue)" 27 - - - - - - The Back Room
2006 "Munich (re-issue)" 10 3 42 - - - - The Back Room
2006 "All Sparks" 21 35 - 82 - - - The Back Room
2006 "Blood (re-issue)" 39 - - - - - - The Back Room
2007 "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" 7 18 39 - - 25 47 An End Has a Start
2007 "An End Has a Start" 27 - - 88 - 45 - An End Has a Start
2007 "The Racing Rats" 26 - - - 12 13 36 An End Has a Start
2008 "Push Your Head Towards the Air" N/A - - - - - - An End Has a Start
2008 "Bones" - - - - - - - An End Has a Start

References

  1. ^ Jon Perks, Editors Are Back In Town, Birmingham Post, 18 February2008, Accessed March 31 2008
  2. ^ 2007 Sales Estimations, Worldwidealbums.net, 1 January2008, Accessed March 31 2008
  3. ^ Nick Durden, Stop the press: Britain's hottest new band, Editors, Mail On Sunday, 15 February2008 Accessed March 31 2008
  4. ^ Ankeny, Jason, All Music Guide Editors Full Biography, MTV.com, August 122007, Accessed 28 November 2007
  5. ^ Patricia Wysopal, EDITORS: All Sparks Won’t Burn Out, Zeromag.com, March 212006, Accessed April 02 2008
  6. ^ Patricia Wysopal, EDITORS: All Sparks Won’t Burn Out, Zeromag.com, March 212006, Accessed April 02 2008
  7. ^ The Interface Cutting It Up With Editors, The Spinners Interface.com, October 122006 Accessed March 31 2008
  8. ^ Tracy Thompson, The Story Of Editors, editorsmusic.co.uk, September 182006, Accessed April 2 2008
  9. ^ Patricia Wysopal, EDITORS: All Sparks Won’t Burn Out, Zeromag.com, March 212006, Accessed April 02 2008
  10. ^ Kitchenware Records Artist List, Kitchenwarerecords.com, December 232004, Accessed March 31 2008
  11. ^ Artist Biography, Surgeradio.co.uk, January 32006, Accessed March 31 2008
  12. ^ EDITORS 'BULLETS' , Angloplugging.co.uk, August 182005, Accessed March 31 2008
  13. ^ Reading Festival 2005, BBC.co.uk, April 62005, Accessed March 31 2008
  14. ^ UK Top 40 Charts, BBC 1 Radio, July 17 2005, Accessed July 17 2005
  15. ^ Editors Biography, Contactmusic.com, March 42006, Accessed March 31 2008
  16. ^ Franz Ferdinand UK tour - the first report, NME.com, November 152005, Accessed March 31 2008
  17. ^ Editors Biography, Contactmusic.com, March 42006, Accessed March 31 2008
  18. ^ Jessica Steinhoff, The Importance Of Being Earnest, Expressmilwaukee.com, January 242008, Accessed March 31 2008
  19. ^ Kyle Gustafson, DCist Interview: Tom Smith of Editors, Dcist.com, January 142008, Accessed April 62008
  20. ^ UK Top 40 Charts, BBC 1 Radio, March 27 & June 19 2006, Accessed March 27 2006 & June 19 2006
  21. ^ Client List Grouselodge.com, 12 February2008, Accessed March 31 2008
  22. ^ Editors hit the headlines in album charts, Reuters UK, July 12007, Accessed April 62008
  23. ^ An End Has A Start Review, Musicmp3.ru, June 212007, Accessed March 31 2008
  24. ^ Chart Round-up, Drowned In Sound, Accessed April 62008
  25. ^ Steve Laycock Editors Night!, Mtv.com, June 152007, Accessed April 62008
  26. ^ Other Stage Glastonbury Festival 2007, efestivals.co.uk, May 312007, Accessed April 62008
  27. ^ "The Racing Rats" chart positions aCharts.us. Retrieved December 20 2007
  28. ^ Brit Awards nominees: in quotes, bbc.co.uk, February 202008, Accessed April 62008
  29. ^ Editors Limited edition single release, Columbia.co.uk, February 252008, Accessed March 31 2008
  30. ^ Editors sell out Ally Pally, rahimlive.com, March 72008, Accessed April 6[[2008]
  31. ^ Editors - Live at the Conne Island (2008), Youtube.com, March 202008, Accessed March 31 2008
  32. ^ Editors To Explore Ferocious Direction, NME.com 11 March2008, Accessed March 31 2008
  33. ^ T. Vorreyer, Radiohead are really hypocritical, aufgemischt.com, March 19 2008, Accessed April 11 2008
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