There’s also, somewhat mysteriously, a track called ‘Space Monkey’, which none of the band can explain but which has left Stefan awash with emotional awe. “I listen to it and I don’t hear us playing it or remember recording it,” he says, “it’s like I’m listening to another band and I’m getting very strong emotions while I’m listening to it. It’s the first time I’ve had that with our music.“
Their best (and inevitably most successful) album so far then, and one which gives honourable nods to their inspiration as well as their legacy. An example of the band’s legacy is guest appearance of VV of The Kills, who sings on the album’s title track, ‘Meds’, and Bloc Party approaching the band to remix the album’s first single, ‘Because I Want You’.
So another adventurous lurch into the unknown for a band who call the unknown home - its success is guaranteed by the simple fact of its non-conformity. Frankly, with so much global graft behind them, nothing can stop Placebo now. This is, after all, the band who turned up in Chile last year to fulfil some half-remembered gig promises only to find they’d broken South America without even noticing. “The first date we turned up in Chile,” Brian recalls. “We’d never been there before and we didn’t think we sold many records there and we had two sold-out 9000 capacity shows, so that was an amazing way to start it. Then we went down to Buenos Aries and played to 7000 people and then did eight shows in Brazil to a rapturous reception. Being that well received really surprised me and that was fantastic. And what a great place to go and do big gigs! It’s a real buzz over there, the audience is so passionate, that’s the Latin thing I guess. Morrissey’s really huge in Mexico and Placebo do really well there and in Brazil The Cure are massive so they’re really into this dark romanticism that we have that sort of connects with them.” “It was nice to be able to drop in on a country we’ve never visited before and get the sort of reception we got,” adds Steve. “The band performed brilliantly, we’re harder hitting and so much more having-it than the last tours we’ve done. It was up another three pegs on the rock level.”
And by the end of the forthcoming ‘ALBUM TITLE’ world tour, rock will have run out of pegs. Placebo have taken the world, now they’re coming for you. Be blissfully afraid.
Protection - we do a lot of it these days. Sun cream for our skin, sunglasses for our eyes, condoms for you know where - but do you remember to protect your hearing?
Click to find all the information you need to look after your hearing now so you can enjoy music for years to come
The Raft has discovered The CarbonNeutral Company
They help business, government and individuals to tackle their contribution to climate change. In addition to forestry projects, their work includes carbon emissions reduction, renewable energy and biomass schemes, as well as carbon management and risk consulting
Live 8 DVD Release Announced
