Biogs

Brian Molko: Name: Brian Molko Age: 36 Date Of Birth: 10.12.72 Nationality: American/UK Instruments: Lead vocals, Guitar, keyboard, saxophone, harmonica, drums, and percussion. Influences: PJ Harvey, William Burroughs, Sonic Youth Favourite Bands: Hot Hot Heat, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Janes Adiction, Dillinger, The Pixies. The Killers, Favourite Film (s): Down by Law Favourite Book: Please Kill Me Brian Molko was born to Scottish & American parents. His father was originally French & Italian and his parents met in America. He also has a brother that is 10 years older then him. Brian’s earliest childhood memory is from when he was 2 years old, he remembers sitting in his cot in their house in Lebanon watching their maid sweep the floor. Brian’s father was an international banker so for the early years of his life he was constantly moving from Liberia to Lebanon then finally settling in Luxembourg where he met band mate Stefan, however the two never spoke to each other as Stef was a jock and Brian was in the drama club. Brian has been wearing make-up since he was 12, he was picked on at school because of it. At 17 Brian had decided that he had had enough of Luxembourg and moved to London to study drama at Goldsmiths College in New Cross southeast London.   Brian’s been playing guitar since he was 16 when he bought a Fender Jaguar that he named ‘Bitch’ He taught himself how to play along to his records. It wasn’t long until he started writing his own material.  Brian still uses ‘Bitch’ onstage. In 2002 Brian began Dj-ing regularly at clubs in London and across the world. His most famous night was a club he started called 'Intravenous' a medical themed fetish club.  He also spent a month in Thailand in April 2004 where he was the resident DJ at the Met Bar Hotel in Bangkok. Brian was also a DJ at a club in Greece for New Years Eve 2002. When not in working commitments with Placebo Brian is often working on his own projects. In 2002 he appeared in a song called ‘Carbon Kid’ by the Alpinestars, He then went on to work with Indochine on a song called ‘Pink Water’ in 2005, a song he also wrote. Brian is a big fan of Serge Gainsbourgs work. In 2002 he performed with ‘Trash Palace’ on a few Gainsbourg tracks. He also collaborated with Asia Argento on ‘Je T’aime moi non plus’ In October 2008 Brian participated in a gainsbourg show ‘le histoire de melody nelson’ held in Paris. He performed the gainsbourg song ‘Le ballad of melody nelson’

Stefan Olsdal Name: Stefan Alexander Bo Olsdal Age: 35 Date Of Birth: 31.33.74 Nationality: Swedish Instruments: Bass, Guitar, Keyboard, and Backing Vocals. Influences: Abba, Iron Maiden, Depeche Mode Favourite Film (s): Snatch Stefan was born in Gothenburg in Sweden. Like Brian Stef’s father was a banker so Stefan also grew up in Luxembourg. Stef’s earliest memory is from when he was 4 he remembers falling down a gravel hill he was running down. He also remembers going through his mothers wardrobe from a young age and admits that there is a photo that exists of him from when he was 6 years old wearing a pink dress and holding a handbag. Something he never quite grew out of, as he has been known to wear a certain red dress onstage before. At the age of 11 he started to playing drums for the school orchestra but decided he would be much happier being at the front of the stage where people can see him rather then being stuck behind drums. At the age of 12 he wanted to be a hairdresser which could explain why he always changes his hairstyles. He has never had a proper job before the band and in the school summer holidays he used to clean cabs and stuffed envelops. He was a guitar teacher for a while and says that if he wasn't in Placebo he would probably have taught music. While Stefan was still at school his parents moved to London but he decided to stay and finish his studies. He then followed them to London. Then a few years later he bumped into Brian outside a London tube station and they realised that they had a lot more in common then they had ever thought. They have remained very close friends. When Placebo are on touring breaks Stef concentrates on his side project 'Hotel Persona' with David from Amen. Hotel Persona released their debut album ‘en las nubes’ ‘in the clouds’ in June 2008.

Steve Hewitt   Name: Steven James Hewitt (Placebo Member 1997 – 2007) Age: 38 Date Of Birth: 22.3.71 Nationality: English Instruments: Drums, Percussion Influences: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Captain Beefheart, PJ Harvey Steve first got into playing music when one of the kids at his school asked him to play drums. Steve taught himself how to play drums and his first live performance was at a school assembly at Weaversham High playing Fleetwood Mac song Albatross. On that performance he didn’t even have a foot pedal.   By the time he was 17 he was teaching drums at Dougies Music Store in his home town of Northwich where he grew up. Also at the age of 17 he saw an advert from a band that required a drummer for a tour of Germany. He joined the band that were called ‘Breed’ and did the tour. After that he joined the Boo Radleys and recorded their debut album. After six years with Breed the band split up after getting nowhere. It was London session work he turned to; he was doing the music for car adverts. When his girlfriend fell pregnant he had no musical work so had to get a job as a forklift truck driver. Also in the past Steve has worked as a joiner and as an apprentice building racing cars for Williams. Steve met Brian outside Burger King in Lewisham southeast London through a friend of Bri’s at Goldsmiths. Steve played local gigs with Placebo and recorded the early demos with them. He re-joined Placebo in late 96.

Bill Lloyd Name: William Lloyd Age: 38 Date Of Birth: 17.3.71 Nationality: English Instruments: Bass, Guitar Bills first instrument was a keyboard that his gran gave him. He also used to play the recorder at school, where he learnt the notes from. When he was 15 he got given his first bass guitar and started learning to play. While Bill was still at school he was in a band called ‘Faith Over Reason’ they played local gigs and received interest from record companies then went onto get management. They ended up with a publishing dea   l with Polygram however they never got anywhere. He then went onto work for a record company.   Bill got involved with Placebo when he met Brian at the Edinburgh festival 94 he thought he was an interesting guy. Then he saw Placebo play at a pub in Deptford southeast London. He got some demo tapes and started giving Placebo advice and he also had a van so started driving them around. He then started doing sound for them and setting up their equipment. Six years ago Placebo asked Bill to play some small parts on three songs. Over the years that developed to all songs.

 

Xavior Roide Name: Xavior Roide (Placebo member 2003 – 2005) Age:  29 Date Of Birth: 22.3.76 Instrument (s): Keyboards, backing vocals Favourite Writer: Coleridge, Lawrence, Wilde. Favourite Film: Orphee, Manhattan and Wonder Boys Favourite Music: Lully, Bowie, Yellow Magic Orchestra Notes: Even though Xav has green eyes apparently up close they are blue or orange. Xav enjoys art and visiting art museums especially the rococo sections. He also enjoys visiting Egyptian museums. His favourite artists are Sherman, Kastabi and Emin. Xavior joined the music scene in late 95 when he appeared on the cover of ‘Melody Maker’ with blue hair and bright pink and red clothes with his band Dex Dexter as part of the room movement.  Dex Dexter released the album ‘Another Car Another Car Crash’ in 96. In 97 Xav went solo.   In 98 Xav played some live shows with Rachel Stamp whilst he was recording his first solo album ‘Chainsaw Mass Appeal’ with Island Records.   Also in 98 Jarvis Cocker suggested to director Todd Haines that Xav would be perfect for the movie ‘Velvet Goldmine’ He auditioned and was offered the part of Pearl.   Ahead to 99 and Xavior was working in production with a wide range of artists and an even wider range of music including garage, French disco, power pop and even bossanova.   In 2000 he begun work on his second solo album which had a much more electronic funk feel to it. The album included the songs ‘Bopbeedobee’ ‘Can You Feel The Beat’ and ‘Secretive Life’    Between 2001 and 2002 Xav was studying Aestheics, composition and electronic music at Goldsmiths College. He joined Placebo on tour in March 2003 as part of the live band. Whilst being on tour with Placebo Xav has also been writing a novel. Xavior's last show with Placebo was at the Live8 concert in Paris in 2005. After this he left Placebo to concentrate on his own musical developments. He is currently working with the 'Hanky Panky Cabaret' more info on his myspace

Report Content · · Web Hosting · Blog · Guestbooks · Message Forums · Mailing Lists
Easiest Website Builder ever! · Build your own toolbar · Free Talking Character · Email Marketing
powered by bravenet.com