Formation and early years (1979-1998)
Rice-Oxley's brother — also called Tom — was born in the same hospital on the same day as Chaplin, on March 8, 1979. Their mothers became friends, as did Chaplin and Rice-Oxley.[2] Both attended Vinehall School (and, later, Tonbridge School in Kent) where they met the third member of the band, Richard Hughes. While at secondary school — circa 1988 —, Rice-Oxley and Hughes wished to form a band. However, being a sports-related school, he and Hughes found very difficult to make an impression. Hughes said ""the idea of trying to form a band in that sort of environment is quite challenging. If there's no bat and ball involved, you're seen as borderline insane."[3] While studying at UCL for a degree in classics in 1995, Rice-Oxley finally managed to form a rock band with his friend and guitarist Dominic Scott and invited Hughes to play drums. They began as a cover band, playing songs by their favourite bands, including U2, Oasis, and The Beatles, and rehearsing at home.
Although Hughes and Scott were originally opposed to Chaplin joining,[2], Chaplin joined the band in 1997, as vocalist and acoustic guitarist. Chaplin's recruitment also marked a change of name from "The Lotus Eaters" to "Cherry Keane", after a friend of Chaplin's mother, whom Rice-Oxley and Chaplin knew when they were young.[5] The name was shortened to "Keane" soon afterwards.[6]
In an interview with The Irish Times on June 2, 2006, Rice-Oxley was quoted as saying that the band had originally been named "Coldplay"[7], but he later denied that he ever made the comment to the interviewer. [8]However, after listening to Rice-Oxley's piano playing during a weekend at Virginia Water in Surrey, Chris Martin invited him to join the early Coldplay but Rice-Oxley declined since he didn't want to leave Keane: "I was seriously interested, but Keane were already operational and Coldplay's keyboard player idea was dropped."[3]
With original material, Keane made their debut live appearance at the "Hope & Anchor" pub on July 13, 1998[2]. After this gig, throughout 1998 and 1999 the band performed on London's pub gig circuit. It was around this time that Chaplin made the decision to quit his art history degree and move to London, in order to pursue a full-time musical career.[3]
Early releases and Scott's departure (1999-2003)
In late 1999, and without a record deal, Keane recorded their first promotional single, "Call Me What You Like". Released on CD format, it was sold after the gigs at the pubs where they used to play during February, 2000. Five hundred copies were reportedly sold.[9] Some tracks can now be found illegally on the internet. The band has declared they are not against fans sharing tracks that are unreleased on CD, such as "More Matey" and "Emily". Chaplin has commented "They most likely see those recordings as an interesting extra to get hold of - I don't see it causing any damage. If it was the album we have coming out leaked early (Under the Iron Sea) then I'd probably feel differently."[10] The EP was reviewed by eFestivals who listed "Closer Now" as the best song of the record.[11] The CD was released through Keane's own label, Zoomorphic. Four months after the "Call Me What You Like" re-recording in February 2001, their second single, "Wolf at the Door" was released. Only fifty hand-made copies are known to have been made, using CD-Rs.[12] Both singles are considered highly valuable collectors' items by fans. In particular, "Wolf at the Door" has been known to fetch over £1000 on ebay.[12]
Hopes and Fears (2004-2005)
-
Under the Iron Sea (2006-present)
-
Controversies and criticism
Due to the piano-based music and the alternative sound of their debut album, critics first regarded Keane as Coldplay imitators; the media supporting Keane, however, started calling them the "new Coldplay"[3] as a reference to the success they were having. Other bands such as Morning Runner have been now compared to both Keane and Coldplay for the piano-oriented sound of their music.[25] Critics, especially from The Guardian had attacked them with tabloid stories like the supposedly styled image they had.[26]
Musical style and themes
Tim Rice-Oxley and Dominic Scott were the main writers of the band's songs during their early years.[2] When Scott left in 2001, Rice-Oxley became the main composer.[27] However, Rice-Oxley credits the rest of the band on all compositions, so that royalties for song credits are shared.[27]
Keane have cited bands such as The Beatles, U2, Oasis, R.E.M., The Smiths, Radiohead, Queen, Pet Shop Boys and Paul Simon as influences.[28] Keane have been known as "the band with no guitars", due to their heavily piano-based sound. By using delay and distortion effects on their piano sound, they often create sounds that aren't immediately recognisable as piano.[21]Rice-Oxley said during an interview in Los Angeles that they tend to think piano-related music is boring and what they really wanted to do was trying something different. He referred to the piano as an odd instrument to form part of a rock band instrumentation, comparing it to the sitar used on The Beatles' "Within You Without You". [25] During their early years, lyrically, most songs were about love (most notably "She Has No Time" and "On A Day Like Today"). However, other themes - including the relationship between Rice-Oxley and Chaplin - have emerged in more recent compositions.[29]. B-side "Maybe I Can Change" - composed by Chaplin - gives his side of the story with the lyrics "...but still somehow I have to say I'm on my way gone"[30]. Other themes have been explored; for example "Is It Any Wonder?" and "A Bad Dream" are both about war.[31]
Live and studio instrumentation
- Visit Keaneshaped for more information about Keane's equipment
Members
- Tim Rice-Oxley - piano, bass, keyboards, backing vocals (lead vocals from 1995 to 1997)
- Tom Chaplin - vocals, live keyboards, organ (acoustic guitar before 2003, once in 2006)
- Richard Hughes - drums, live backing vocals
Former members
- Dominic Scott - electric guitar, keyboard, lead vocals (from 1995 to 1997), backing vocals (from 1997 to 2001)
Discography
-
Tours
- Hopes and Fears Tour (2004-2005)
- Under the Iron Sea Tour (2006-present)
Awards and Nominations
Awards
 Formation and early years (1979-1998)
Rice-Oxley's brother — also called Tom — was born in the same hospital on the same day as Chaplin, on March 8, 1979. Their mothers became friends, as did Chaplin and Rice-Oxley.[2] Both attended Vinehall School (and, later, Tonbridge School in Kent) where they met the third member of the band, Richard Hughes. While at secondary school — circa 1988 —, Rice-Oxley and Hughes wished to form a band. However, being a sports-related school, he and Hughes found very difficult to make an impression. Hughes said ""the idea of trying to form a band in that sort of environment is quite challenging. If there's no bat and ball involved, you're seen as borderline insane."[3] While studying at UCL for a degree in classics in 1995, Rice-Oxley finally managed to form a rock band with his friend and guitarist Dominic Scott and invited Hughes to play drums. They began as a cover band, playing songs by their favourite bands, including U2, Oasis, and The Beatles, and rehearsing at home.
Early releases and Scott's departure (1999-2003)
In late 1999, and without a record deal, Keane recorded their first promotional single, "Call Me What You Like". Released on CD format, it was sold after the gigs at the pubs where they used to play during February, 2000. Five hundred copies were reportedly sold.[9] Some tracks can now be found illegally on the internet. The band has declared they are not against fans sharing tracks that are unreleased on CD, such as "More Matey" and "Emily". Chaplin has commented "They most likely see those recordings as an interesting extra to get hold of - I don't see it causing any damage. If it was the album we have coming out leaked early (Under the Iron Sea) then I'd probably feel differently."[10] The EP was reviewed by eFestivals who listed "Closer Now" as the best song of the record.[11] The CD was released through Keane's own label, Zoomorphic. Four months after the "Call Me What You Like" re-recording in February 2001, their second single, "Wolf at the Door" was released. Only fifty hand-made copies are known to have been made, using CD-Rs.[12] Both singles are considered highly valuable collectors' items by fans. In particular, "Wolf at the Door" has been known to fetch over £1000 on ebay.[12]
Hopes and Fears (2004-2005)
-
Under the Iron Sea (2006-present)
-
Controversies and criticism
Due to the piano-based music and the alternative sound of their debut album, critics first regarded Keane as Coldplay imitators; the media supporting Keane, however, started calling them the "new Coldplay"[3] as a reference to the success they were having. Other bands such as Morning Runner have been now compared to both Keane and Coldplay for the piano-oriented sound of their music.[25] Critics, especially from The Guardian had attacked them with tabloid stories like the supposedly styled image they had.[26]
Musical style and themes
Tim Rice-Oxley and Dominic Scott were the main writers of the band's songs during their early years.[2] When Scott left in 2001, Rice-Oxley became the main composer.[27] However, Rice-Oxley credits the rest of the band on all compositions, so that royalties for song credits are shared.[27]
Live and studio instrumentation
- Visit Keaneshaped for more information about Keane's equipment
Members
- Tim Rice-Oxley - piano, bass, keyboards, backing vocals (lead vocals from 1995 to 1997)
- Tom Chaplin - vocals, live keyboards, organ (acoustic guitar before 2003, once in 2006)
- Richard Hughes - drums, live backing vocals
Former members
- Dominic Scott - electric guitar, keyboard, lead vocals (from 1995 to 1997), backing vocals (from 1997 to 2001)
Discography
-
Tours
- Hopes and Fears Tour (2004-2005)
- Under the Iron Sea Tour (2006-present)
Awards and Nominations
Awards
Year
Award
Category
Country
2004
Q Awards
Best Album
England
2004
Premios Onda
Best International Band
Spain
2004
Ivor Novello
Composers of the year
England
2005
Brit Awards
Best Album
UK
2005
Brit Awards
Best Breakthrough Act
UK
2006
GQ Awards
Band of the year
United Kingdom
Noninations
Year
Award
Category
Country
2004
Q Awards
Best New Act
UK
2005
Brit Awards
Best British Group
UK
2005
World Music Awards
World's Best Selling New Group
US
2006
Grammy Awards
Best Newcomer
USA
2006
TMF Awards
Best International Act
HOL
2006
UK Festival Awards
Anthem Of The Summer
UK
2006
MTV Europe Music Awards
Best Group tba
EU
2006
MTV Europe Music Awards
Best Rock Group tba
EU
2006
Q Awards
Best Album tba
UK
Notes
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