The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are a psychedelic power pop band formed in Portland, Oregon by Courtney Taylor (vocals, guitar), Zia McCabe (keyboard), Peter Holmstrom (guitar), and Eric Hedford (drums). When Hedford left in 1999, Taylor's cousin Brent De Boer replaced him as drummer.
History
Strongly influenced by The Velvet Underground, the band first achieved success in Europe after the release of their second record Dandy Warhols Come Down in 1997.
Following the release of Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia in 2000, the band gained a firm fan base in the college radio scene before garnering critical acclaim and mainstream recognition. The song "Bohemian Like You" became a hit in the UK after being used in a Vodafone advertising campaign in 2002.
Welcome to the Monkey House, released in 2003, was co-produced by Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran. The album takes its title from Kurt Vonnegut's collection of short stories of the same name. The recording features an eighties synth-rock sound that alienated some devotees of the band's earlier harder-edged guitar sound. It also won critical plaudits for its polish, panache, and the band's capacity to reinvent itself.
Odditorium or Warlords of Mars, recorded in the band's Portland studio, The Odditorium, is scheduled for release worldwide in September of 2005. "Smoke It," the first track released for radio play, seems to signal a return to the swaggering rock guitar sound of the band's earlier releases. The whole album seems to have the strong ambient vibe of "Come Down" but with a more agressive stance than any of their previous albums. It will be sure to drive away the fans of their earlier catchier indir pop songs but will be widely appreciated by their harder edge fans.
Along with Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Dandy Warhols were the subjects of the 2004 documentary Dig! The film, capturing the highs and lows of the two bands over a period of seven years is seen by many as the real life successor to Spinal Tap.
Discography
Albums
- 1995 Dandy's Rule OK?
- 1997 ...The Dandy Warhols Come Down #16 UK
- "Boys Better" from this album was included on the Good Will Hunting soundtrack.
- 2000 Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia #182 US; #32 UK
- "Godless" and "Nietzsche" from this album were used in the movie Anti-Trust.
- The hit "Bohemian Like You" was featured on Monday Night Football, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, and Igby Goes Down.
In the UK it was also used extensively by Vodaphone for a mobile phone (cell phone) campaign, and on soccer programmes such as Match of the Day and 606
- 2003 Welcome To The Monkey House #118 US; #20 UK
- "We Used to be Friends" from this album is used as the theme song for Veronica Mars and is featured on Music from The O.C. Vol. 1, from the popular Fox television series. It was also used as the theme song for the Australian reality TV show, My Restaurant Rules.
The Black Album and Come On Feel The Dandy Warhols are available only from the band's website.
Hit singles
- 1998 "Every Day Should Be a Holiday" #29 UK
- 1998 "Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth" #13 UK
- 1998 "Boys Better" #36 UK
- 2000 "Get Off" #38 UK
- 2001 "Bohemian Like You" #5 UK
- 2002 "Get Off" (re-issue) #34 UK
- 2003 "We Used to Be Friends" #18 UK
- 2003 "You Were the Last High" #34 UK
- 2005 "Smoke It" #59 UK