Brian Molko
Brian Molko | |
---|---|
Born | Brussels, Belgium | 10 December 1972
Nationality | American, British |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1992–present |
Children | 1 |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, piano |
Labels | |
Website | www |
Brian Molko (born 10 December 1972) is a British-American musician who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist of the band
Early life
Molko was born in Brussels, Belgium, to an American Jewish father of French and Italian heritage and a Scottish mother. He had an older brother named Stuart who died in August 2022 after a short illness.[1] Molko's family moved frequently during his childhood due to his father's career as a banker; the family lived in Dundee in Scotland, Liberia, Lebanon, the village of Longeau in Belgium, before eventually settling in the town of Sandweiler, in Luxembourg.[2]
Although Molko was brought up in a strict household that disapproved of artistic expression (his father wanted him to become a banker), he rebelled by assuming an
Career
Although Molko and Placebo co-founder
Along with Hewitt and Olsdal, Molko had a role in the 1998 film
During Placebo's live performances Molko has played a number of instruments, including guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, harmonica and saxophone.
Personal life
Molko is openly
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".[14] However, he later admitted to using heroin as well.[15] 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 health issues; he was officially diagnosed with major depressive disorder in his late twenties.[16] He claimed in 2016 that he gave up drugs completely after the recording and release of Meds.[17]
Molko is bilingual, and speaks fluent French and English.
In December 2012 Molko received an Honorary Fellowship from Goldsmiths College, University of London.[18]
In March 2021, Molko was featured in the Marc Jacobs "Heaven" collection with a campaign shot taken by Harley Weir.[19]
In August 2023, Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni sued Molko for defamation after he called her a "fascist racist" while performing at the Sonic Park Festival in Stupinigi in July.[20][21]
Collaborations
He has performed, as a guest vocalist and with other artists on Placebo's records, on tracks by:
- The Cure – "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep" (live)
- Justin Warfield – "Spite & Malice"
- Losers – "Summertime Rolls"
- Asia Argento – "Je T'aime, Moi Non Plus" (Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin cover)
- Alison Mosshart from The Kills – "Meds"
- Michael Stipe of R.E.M. – "Broken Promise"
- Faultline & Françoise Hardy – "Requiem for a Jerk" (Serge Gainsbourg cover)
- Timo Maas – "Pictures", "Like Siamese", "First Day", "College 84"
- Kristeen Young – "No Other God" on X
- Dream City Film Club – "Some", "Billy Chic"
- Jane Birkin – "Smile"
- T. Rex – "20th Century Boy" (live cover, feat. David Bowie), "Without You I'm Nothing"
- AC Acoustics – "Crush"
- Alpinestars – "Carbon Kid"
- Trash Palace– "The Metric System"
- Hotel Persona– "Modern Kids"
- Indochine – "Pink Water 3"
- Prova Symphonica conducted by Michel Bisceglia – "Across the Universe" (The Beatles cover), "Ne me quitte pas" (Jacques Brel cover, both live)
- Westbam– "Sick"
- Fiona Brice – "West End Girls" (Pet Shop Boys cover)
- Trash Palace – "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (Kylie Minoguecover, live)
- Blackfield – "Under My Skin" (Sirens Remix)
- Tinlicker – "Nowhere to go"
Molko wrote the English lyrics to "Pink Water 3", a song by Indochine from the album Alice & June, released in 2005.[22]
Molko was friends with
Equipment
Molko uses a variety of guitars. In the
Through the
In the
In 2010, he signed an endorsement contract to use Orange amps.[25]
Filmography
- Velvet Goldmine (1998) – Malcolm of The Flaming Creatures
- Sue's Last Ride (2001) – executive producer
References
- ^ "Brian Molko sends his regards to his brother Stuart". YouTube. 19 September 2003. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
- ^ Placebo Interview Hanging Out, MTV 1996
- ^ "FHM interview with Brian Molko". FHM/PlaceboWorld. Archived from the original on 25 January 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ "Role Reversal". Sessions. May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ "Extra info about Brian". brian-molko.com. 22 June 2009. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ "The Boy Can't Help It". Guitarist/PlaceboWorld. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Brian Molko's biography". brian-molko.com. Archived from the original on 25 July 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ^ "Velvet Goldmine (1998) – Full cast and crew". IMDb. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ West, Dave (9 April 2006). "Molko: I wish I kept quiet on sexuality". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ "20 Years After "Nancy Boy": How Brian Molko Queered up the 90s". 7 April 2017.
- ^ "Of Meds and Men: An Interview with Placebo's Brian Molko". andpop.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ^ "Placebo's Brian Molko on why the nine to five life was not for him". Belfast Telegraph.
- ^ "Daniel in the Drowning is played by actor Cody Molko who has a VERY famous musician dad!". 2 February 2021.
- ^ "New York Doll". Kerrang!. 18 January 1997. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- Emap International Limited. Archived from the originalon 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.
- ^ Lindsay, Cam (13 October 2016). "Rank Your Records: Brian Molko Skeptically Rates Placebo's Eight LPs". Vice. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ "Brian Molko receives Honorary Fellowship at Goldsmiths". YouTube. 19 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
- ^ "Heaven by Marc Jacobs Returns with a Teen Dream '90s Grunge Collection". 3 March 2021.
- ^ Tondo, Lorenzo (3 August 2023). "Italian PM Giorgia Meloni sues Placebo singer for calling her 'fascist racist'". The Guardian.
- ^ "Giorgia Meloni: Italian PM sues Placebo frontman for defamation". BBC News. 3 August 2023.
- ^ "Pink Water – Indochine, Brian Molko | Song Info | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ "Placebo with David Bowie Chat Transcript – 29/3/99". BowieWonderworld.com. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ "marshallamps.com "Brian Molko interview", Nov'97". Placebo Russia. Marshall Amps. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
- ^ "Orange Amps Signs Over 110 New Endorsees". Ultimate Guitar. Archived from the original on 22 February 2011.