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Interpol (band)

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Interpol
Background information
OriginNew York City, New York
Years active1997–present
LabelsMatador, Capitol, Parlophone, Soft Limit, Cooperative Music, Arts & Crafts México
MembersPaul Banks
Sam Fogarino
Daniel Kessler
Past membersGreg Drudy
Carlos Dengler
Websiteinterpolnyc.com

Interpol is an American rock band from New York City.[1]

Formed in 1997, the band's original line-up consisted of Paul Banks (vocals, guitar), Daniel Kessler (guitar, vocals), Carlos Dengler (bass guitar, keyboards) and Greg Drudy (drums, percussion). Drudy left the band in 2000 and was replaced by Sam Fogarino. In 2010, shortly after recording finished for the band's fourth album, Dengler left to pursue personal projects.

Interpol, having first performed at Luna Lounge along with other notable bands like The Strokes, Longwave, The National and Stellastarr, is one of the bands associated with the New York City indie-music scene, and was one of several groups that emerged from the post-punk revival of the 2000s.

The band's sound is generally a mix of staccato bass and rhythmic, harmonized guitar, with a snare heavy mix, drawing comparisons to post-punk bands such as Joy Division and The Chameleons.[2] Aside from the lyrics, their songwriting method includes all of the band members, rather than relying on any given chief songwriter.[3]

The band's debut album Turn on the Bright Lights (2002) was critically acclaimed, making it to tenth position on the NME's list of top albums in 2002[4] as well as No. 1 on Pitchfork Media's Top 50 Albums of 2002.[5] Subsequent records Antics (2004) and Our Love to Admire (2007) have confirmed the band's initial success and turned them into a commercial and critical success. The band released its fourth, self-titled album on September 7, 2010.

The band was on hiatus from 2011 through 2012 while they focused on other projects.[6] They are currently working on their fifth studio album.[7]

History

Formation (1997–2001)

The band was formed by Kessler and Drudy. Kessler had "been looking to put a band together for a while" when he met Drudy. Kessler "had a very hard time finding musicians to play with—musicians at all, really."[8] Kessler met Dengler in a philosophy class at New York University and asked him if he played an instrument. Later, Kessler ran into Banks (whom he had first met in France) in New York City's East Village, and the pair discussed collaborating. Banks admitted that he and Dengler "butted heads" early on in the band's history, but told Spin that now the two are "really tight, in a spiritual way".[9] The band had trouble choosing a name at first. "I got to the point where I was like, 'Guys, we're getting decent crowds, but like... we don't have a name so no one knows who to go see again,'" Kessler said.[8] Furthermore, the band considered Las Armas[8] and The French Letters as names before adopting Interpol.

In 2000, after releasing the Fukd ID No. 3 extended-play album, Drudy left the band to focus on Hot Cross and his label Level Plane Records. Kessler recruited Fogarino, who worked at a local vintage clothing store and at the time considered retiring from music, to replace Drudy.[9] While a member of Interpol, Drudy was also a member of seminal first-wave screamo act Saetia.

Signing with Matador Records (2002–2005)

Paul Banks, lead singer of Interpol, playing at Roskilde Festival, Denmark 2005 at Arena Stage

After self-releasing several EPs between 1998 and 2001, the band signed with Matador Records, a member of the independent Beggars Group, in early 2002. The first release, a self-titled EP containing re-recorded versions of "PDA" and "NYC" was released in June 2002. Turn On the Bright Lights was released on August 19, 2002. Recorded at Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the album's sound drew comparisons to post-punk groups of the early 1980s and late 1970s, particularly Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen and The Smiths.[10] The record was a slow-building success, selling 300,000 copies by 2004.[9]

The band regrouped in late 2003 to begin sessions for the follow-up album, again decamping to Tarquin Studios to record. The band released its second album Antics on September 27, 2004. The album sold 350,000 copies in its first four months of release.[9] The record also saw the band earn its first UK Top 40 hits with "Slow Hands", "Evil" and "C'mere" charting at No. 36, No. 18 and No. 19, respectively.[11] The album eventually reached gold status in the UK, and later in the US.[12]

The band toured again after the release of the album, playing more dates than ever before and at bigger venues. The Antics tour stretched on for almost 18 months, including a number of shows playing as undercards for U2 and The Cure, and the band reported feelings of exhaustion to BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe at a concert in Sunderland. The band took three months off after touring finished. Whilst on the road, the band had also released the one-off track "Direction", written for the official soundtrack to HBO's Six Feet Under, Six Feet Under, Vol. 2: Everything Ends.

Move to Capitol Records (2006–2008)

In late March 2006, Fogarino confirmed that the band were back in the studio working on new material. In an interview with Pitchfork Media, Fogarino stated "[the process is] moving right along where I think it should...we're all pretty much on fire about it".[13] Fogarino also dispelled rumors that the band had signed to major label Interscope, but also confirmed that they would be leaving Matador in search of a new label. An update to their website in June confirmed that the band had been working on the follow-up since the turn of the year, but did not confirm a name for the album or comment on the mounting speculation that they were imminently to sign to a major label. On August 14, it was widely reported that Interpol had signed for Capitol Records, a fact confirmed by Matador on September 1 in a press release on their website.

Our Love to Admire was released in July 2007. The album represents a departure for the band, being both the first record they have recorded in New York City (at The Magic Shop and Electric Lady Studios), and the first time they have included keyboards in the arrangements from the start of the songwriting process. The band intended to tour behind the album extensively, beginning with the summer festival circuit throughout the United States and Europe. In August, Interpol headlined one of the days of the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago.

Interpol, departure of Carlos Dengler, and fifth album (since 2009)

On March 6, 2009, the band announced on its website that it was working on songs for a fourth album.[14] The album was recorded in Electric Lady Studios during spring of 2009.[15] In an interview, Fogarino referred to the album as having gone back to the original sound of Turn On the Bright Lights.[16] It was later claimed by Banks that it will not sound anything like their debut album and that there is some very "classical stuff going on" with it.[17] No news about the album surfaced until late April when the band sent an email directing users to a free download of "Lights," the first officially released song. Citing management changes at the label, the band left Capitol records prior to the album's release, signing again with Matador.[18]

Interpol, playing at Rams Head Live!, Baltimore July 25, 2010

The band's fourth album (self-titled) was officially released on September 7, 2010.[19] It was Dengler's last effort with Interpol. In an announcement on the band's website on May 9, 2010, it was revealed that he had left the band sometime after the album's completion. When the remaining members toured in support, he was replaced by multiple players, including David Pajo (formerly of Slint and many other bands) on bass, and Brandon Curtis of The Secret Machines on keyboards and vocals.[20][20] The album was released on Matador Records in the US, and on Cooperative Music for Europe, Australia and Japan.[21] On February 2011, Pajo announced that he was no longer touring with Interpol, in order to dedicate more time to his family. Brad Truax is their touring bassist.[20]

The band was announced as the opener for the third and fourth legs of U2's 360° Tour,[22] and subsequently the band announced eighteen US shows to take place over the third leg of U2's 360° Tour, but only three of them went ahead after Bono's back injury cancelled U2's entire third leg. The band toured the UK and Ireland in November and December 2010.

On June 22, 2010, a promotional video for "Lights", directed by Charlie White and featuring Lola Blanc, was made available for free download on the band's official website.

The band opened for U2 on their rescheduled tour date at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on July 5, 2011, and remained on the U2's 360° Tour for the remainder of the summer.

After the band's appearance at Reading and Leeds in 2011, Fogarino was interviewed.[23] He said, "[w]e need a big break. Interpol needs it. We need to recoup and go on a proper hiatus." He stated that the remaining members of the band would be pursuing separate projects.

A deluxe edition of the band's first album, Turn on the Bright Lights was released on December 4, 2012, to mark the album's ten-year anniversary. It includes previously un-released tracks, including "Get The Girls" and "Song Seven".[24]

Paul Banks - Budapest, 2011

The band are currently working on their currently untitled fifth album and are playing at several venues in 2014, including a UK tour.[25] It will be the band's first album since the departure of bassist Carlos Dengler.

Side projects

In early 2007, Fogarino joined with former Swervedriver frontman Adam Franklin to form a side-project band called The Setting Suns. Since then, the duo have changed their name to Magnetic Morning and released a six-track EP on iTunes.

On August 4, 2009, Banks released his solo first record titled Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper under the assumed name Julian Plenti.[26] Although not a long departure from Interpol's sound, the album features a wider range of material, and "establishes Banks' viability as a musician outside of the context of Interpol".[27] The album was recorded at the Seaside Lounge in Brooklyn and at Electric Lady Studios in Manhattan. It was mixed by Peter Katis at Tarquin Studios in Connecticut. The album was released on Matador Records. He released his second solo album, Banks, on October 22, 2012, under his own name.

In 2013, Fogarino, touring Interpol member Brandon Curtis and Duane Denison formed EmptyMansions, which released their album "snakes/vultures/sulfate" on April 2, 2013, on Riot House Records.

Discography

Main article: Interpol discography

Members

Live members

  • Brandon Curtis – keyboards, vocals (since 2010)
  • Brad Truax – bass guitar, vocals (since 2011)

Past members

Past live members

  • Eric Altesleben – keyboards, vocals (2002–2003)
  • Frederic Blasco – keyboards, vocals (2004–2005)
  • David "Farmer Dave" Scher – keyboards, vocals (2007–2008)
  • David Pajo – bass guitar, vocals (2010–2011)

See also

References

  1. ^ Mathieson, Craig (February 22, 2008). "Interpol's apart". The Age. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  2. ^ Everly, David. "Our Love to Admire". Q, July 2007.
  3. ^ Downs, Gordon. "2007 Impose interview". Impose. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  4. ^ "NME Albums of the Year 2002". NME.
  5. ^ "Top 50 Albums of 2002". Pitchfork Media. January 1, 2003.
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ http://www.spin.com/articles/interpol-announce-uk-tour-dates-finish-new-album/
  8. ^ a b c "Interview: Interpol". Pitchfork Media. February 1, 2003. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
  9. ^ a b c d Raftery, Brian. "Night Falls on Manhattan". Spin. April 2005.
  10. ^ Sheffield, Rob (August 14, 2002). "Interpol: Turn On The Bright Lights". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 11, 2011.
  11. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 270. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  12. ^ "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  13. ^ Solarski, Matthew (March 30, 2006). "Interpol Drummer Talks Photos, Stipe, Interscope". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on March 7, 2008. Retrieved May 14, 2009.
  14. ^ Official website
  15. ^ "New Interpol Album Coming Next Year". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  16. ^ "Sam Fogarino Talks New Interpol Album, Courtney Love". Paste. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  17. ^ Rogers, Georgie (December 17, 2009). "Interpol Go Orchestral – Paul Banks Gives Us the Lowdown on Their 'Classical' Fourth Album". BBC Radio 6 Music. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  18. ^ Partridge, Kenneth. "Interpol Have No Regrets About Capitol Stint". Spinner.com. AOL. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  19. ^ [dead link‍] "Interpol Finds New Bassist, Titles New Album". Consequence of Sound. June 4, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  20. ^ a b c "Interpol". Interpol. May 9, 2010. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  21. ^ "Interpol signe chez Cooperative Music" (in French). Cooperative-music-france.com. Retrieved July 6, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Interpol to Tour With U2". Pitchfork Media. February 22, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  23. ^ "Interpol: We Need A Big Break Before Next Album". Gigwise Official Website. August 31, 2011.
  24. ^ "Interpol's 'Turn On The Bright Lights' gets 10th anniversary reissue". NME. September 28, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  25. ^ http://www.spin.com/articles/interpol-announce-uk-tour-dates-finish-new-album/
  26. ^ "Interpol Man to Release Solo Album". NME. May 5, 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  27. ^ LeMay, Matt (July 31, 2009). "Julian Plenti Is... Skyscraper". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
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