The Blackout (band)
The Blackout | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Merthyr Tydfil, Wales |
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Past members |
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The Blackout are a Welsh
History
Formation and early years (2003–2006)
The band formed in 2003 "out of boredom",[1] originally called Ten Minute Preview; however after deciding to ditch this name they renamed themselves The Blackout, taken from a T-shirt saying "I survived the blackout" referring to the New York City blackout of 1977. Having performed with the likes of fellow Welsh bands, including Funeral for a Friend, Kids in Glass Houses, The Automatic and Lostprophets, as well as Reuben, Fightstar, and other big name bands The Blackout released their EP The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout! on 23 October 2006 through Fierce Panda Records, this led to Kerrang! nominating The Blackout for Best British Newcomer.
We Are the Dynamite (2007–2008)
Under a year later The Blackout released their debut album:
The second single released from the album We Are the Dynamite was "
The Best in Town (2009)
In 2008 the band split with record label Fierce Panda, scrapping plans to release another two singles from
In January and February 2010 the band played the Kerrang! Relentless Energy Drink Tour alongside My Passion, Young Guns and All Time Low. Having performed backing vocals on You Me at Six's 2010 album Hold Me Down, Sean Smith appeared on stage with You Me at Six, at Newport Centre on 10 March 2010, and at Brixton Academy on 20 March 2010, with Gavin Butler, during the performance of "The Consequence", both times receiving an enthusiastic reception.[citation needed] In June 2010, the band were confirmed to be support Paramore on their one-off show in Belfast in Northern Ireland. Frontwoman of the band Hayley Williams said that it was an honour to have the band that they supported in 2006 at the Give It a Name Festival supporting them on their headline show. The band also toured Europe with Limp Bizkit in Autumn 2010, fulfilling an ambition for the band, who cite Limp Bizkit as a major influence.
Hope (2011–2012)
On 28 September 2010, frontman Sean Smith announced that the band was heading to the studio in preparation to record their third studio album. They finished writing the songs on 11 November 2010. On 26 November 2010, the band posted a tweet on their Twitter account, stating that the album is "all wrapped up & done recording" and that the record would be mixed the following week.
On 12 January 2011, Kerrang! announced the title of the third studio album would be Hope. Smith also stated, "there's the wide-eyed hope and the negative, almost desperate meaning of the word (hope), too. The word has appeared a lot in the lyrics. The songs are also a little darker than the ones on our previous record, The Best in Town." Hope was released on 4 April 2011. On 13 January 2011, the band announced on their Twitter account that they would be making an exclusive track called "Ambition Is Critical" available for free download on the band's official site, on 24 January.
The Blackout supported
On 20 January 2012, it was announced that The Blackout would be becoming one of the headlining acts on
Start the Party (2012–2014)
On 24 August 2012, The Blackout performed "Start the Party", their first single from the album of the same name for the first time at the Sugarmill in Stoke-on-Trent, a warm-up gig for Reading Festival . On 17 September 2012, after a countdown on their official website, the first track, "Start the Party" from the album of the same name aired for the first time on Zane Lowe's show on BBC Radio 1. This coincided with the announcement of the album's title and release date (21 January 2013), a supporting tour in January and the title track's music video. "Start the Party" was also available for free download on the band's website. On 22 November 2012, the band's second single from their fourth album "Running Scared" was aired for the first time on Zane Lowe's show on BBC Radio 1. Both music videos for "Start the Party" and "Running Scared" were filmed in Ibiza, Spain. In April 2013, the band released "Radio" as the third single from the album.
In August 2014 it was announced that the band will be headlining across the UK in November with support acts Chiodos and When We Were Wolves.[8]
Split and reunion
In December 2014, the band announced that they were splitting up and would perform their last shows in March 2015.[9][10]
On 7 March 2015, the band played their last festival date at Takedown Festival, Southampton.[11]
In 2019, it was announced that Smith and James Davies had formed a new band called Raiders.[12]
During a September 2021 interview with Matthew Davies-Kreye on the Sappenin' Podcast, Sean Smith revealed that The Blackout had been asked to support Funeral For A Friend for a charity show in 2019, which they had considered playing. Smith stated The Blackout just "couldn't organise it", leading Raiders to fill the support slot instead. [13]
On the 5th June 2023 the band performed a sold-out re-union show at Redhouse Cymru followed up by performing at Download Festival later in June 2023.[14] On the 12th July 2023 the band announced a first UK tour since 2015.[15]
Band members
- Gavin Butler – clean vocals
- Sean Smith – clean vocals, unclean vocals
- James "Bob" Davies – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Matthew Davies – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Rhys Lewis – bass
- Gareth "Snoz" Lawrence – drums, percussion
Discography
Albums
Year | Title | Chart Positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
UK[16] | ||||
2007 | We Are the Dynamite | 93 | ||
2009 | The Best in Town | 38 | ||
2011 | Hope | 27 | ||
2013 | Start the Party
|
35 |
EPs
Year | Title |
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2004 | Pull No Punches
|
2006 | The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout! |
2014 | Wolves
|
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK
[17] |
UK Indie [19] |
SCO
[20] | ||||
"Hard Slammin'" | 2007 | - | 8 | 23 | - | The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout! |
" The Beijing Cocktail "
|
90 | - | 4 | 37 | We Are the Dynamite | |
" It's High Tide Baby! "
|
2008 | - | - | 21 | - | |
" Children of the Night "
|
2009 | 128 | 1 | - | 28 | The Best in Town |
" Save Our Selves (The Warning) "
|
189 | 9 | - | 59 | ||
" I Don't Care (This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things) "
|
107 | 7 | 9 | 55 | ||
"Higher & Higher" | 2011 | 171 | 2 | 26 | - | Hope |
"Never by Your Side" | - | - | - | - | ||
"The Storm" | - | - | - | - | ||
"You're Not Alone" | - | - | - | - | ||
"Start the Party" | 2012 | - | 22 | - | - | Start the Party
|
"Running Scared" | - | 35 | - | - |
Other songs
- "My Generation" (Limp Bizkit cover) on Kerrang's compilation Higher Voltage.
- "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies" (Live Faith No More cover) released as a B-side to "The Beijing Cocktail".
- "I Kissed a Girl" (Katy Perry cover) released as a B-side on the "Children of the Night" CD
- "Pastor of Muppets" released as a B-side on the "vinyl
- "Children of the Night" single but it was not approved by the original artist, however the band have played it live)
- "Wanted Dead or Alive" (Live Bon Jovi cover)
- "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" (Beastie Boys cover) released on the 2-disc special edition of Hope
- "Party Hard" (Andrew W.K. cover) released on the 2-disc special edition of Hope
- "Lump" (The Presidents of the United States of America cover) released on the 2-disc special edition of Hope
- "Save Tonight" (Eagle-Eye Cherry cover) released on the 2-disc special edition of Hope
- "Stay Away" (Nirvana Cover) released on Kerrang's "Kerrang! Presents Nirvana Nevermind Forever".
- "DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Princecover) released on Start The Party album.
- "Sorry for Party Rocking" (LMFAO cover) released on Start The Party album.
- "Super Freak" (Rick James cover) released on Start The Party album.
Music videos
- The Beijing Cocktail
- It's High Tide Baby!
- Children of the Night
- Save Our Selves (The Warning)
- I Don't Care (This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things)
- Ambition is Critical
- Higher and Higher
- Never by Your Side
- The Storm
- You're Not Alone
- Start the Party
- Running Scared
- Radio
- Take Away The Misery
- Wolves
Honours
- The Blackout were nominated for the Kerrang! British Newcomer award,[21] and also played the Kerrang! New Breed launch show.
- In December 2006, The Blackout won best new Welsh act at The Pop Factory awards held in the Coal Exchange in Cardiff Bay. The awards ceremony was televised on ITV1 Wales.
- The Blackout won Best Unsigned Band in Kerrang! magazine's Readers Poll 2008.[22]
- Sean Smith came third in "Sexiest Male" category in the 2008 Reader's Poll for Kerrang! Magazine.[23]
- "Save Ourselves (The Warning)" was nominated for the Best Single award at the Kerrang! Awards 2010.
- They were nominated for three Kerrang! Awards in 2011; Best Video for Higher & Higher, Best Album for Hope, and Best British Band.[24]
- Sean Smith was nominated for 'Tweeter of the Year' at the 2012 Kerrang! Awards but lost to Hayley Williams of Paramore.
- The Blackout won the Devotion award at the 2012 Kerrang! Awards.
References
- ^ "Alert: The Blackout Features Rocklouder". Rocklouder.co.uk. 24 September 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
- ^ "My Chemical Romance Reveal Support". Rock Sound. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
- ^ Dan (1 March 2011). "Watch The Blackout's new video!". Kerrang!. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
- ^ Bhamra, Satvir (21 March 2011). "Reading and Leeds Festival 2011 line-up leaked". Amplified.tv. Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ "Tour". The Blackout. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ Simon (20 January 2012). "Sum 41 forced to pull out of the Kerrang! Tour Sponsored By Relentless Energy Drink". Kerrang!. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
- ^ "Blink-182 Announce Supports For UK Tour". Rock Sound. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
- ^ Emily, Carter (18 August 2014). "the Blackout announce tour with Chidos". Kerrang.com. Kerrang!. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- ^ "Thank you and goodnight". Facebook.com. The Blackout. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ "The Blackout". Theblackout.net.
- ^ "The Blackout - Save Our Selves (The Warning) - Last Ever Festival Appearance!" – via YouTube.
- ^ "Introducing Raiders - Featuring Members of the Blackout - News". Rock Sound Magazine.
- ^ "EP145 Matthew Davies-Kreye". Sappenin' Podcast with Sean Smith on Acast. 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Download Festival Lineup Poster". Download Festival. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ "The Blackout announce UK tour for February 2024". thefestivals.uk. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ "Chart Log UK (search under "B" for The Blackout". Zobbel.de. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ Peak chart position on the UK Rock & Metal Singles Chart:
- Hard Slammin: "Hard Slammin Chart Position". Official Charts Company. 10 September 2006. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- Children of the Night: "Children of the Night Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- Save Ourselves: "Save Ourselves Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- I Don't Care (This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things): "I Don't Care (This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things) Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- Higher & Higher: "Higher & Higher Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- Start the Party: "Start the Party Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- Running Scared: "Running Scared Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ^ Peak chart position on the UK Indie Singles Chart:
- Hard Slammin: "Hard Slammin Chart Position". Official Charts Company. 10 September 2006. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- The Beijing Cocktail: "The Beijing Cocktail Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 30 September 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- It's High Tide Baby!: "It's High Tide Baby! Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 2 March 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- I Don't Care (This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things): "I Don't Care (This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things) Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- Higher & Higher: "Higher & Higher Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ Peak chart position on the Scottish Singles Chart:
- The Beijing Cocktail: "The Beijing Cocktail Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 30 September 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- Children of the Night: "Children of the Night Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- Save Ourselves: "Save Ourselves Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 9 August 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- I Don't Care (This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things): "I Don't Care (This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things) Chart Positions". Official Charts Company. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ "Kerrang!". Kerrang!.
- ^ "KERRANG! Reader's Poll 2008". Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ^ "Google Translate". Translate.google.com.
- ^ "And the nominees are..." Retrieved 18 July 2011.