Razorlight

Razorlight
Background information
Origin	United Kingdom/Sweden
Genre(s)	Alternative rock Indie rock (style)
Years active	2002–present
Label(s)	Mercury Music (UK) (Universal Music Group) Label type: Major
Website	http://www.razorlight.co.uk/
Members
Johnny Borrell Björn Ågren Carl Dalemo Andy Burrows
Former members
Christian Smith Pancorvo

Personnel

• Johnny Borrell - vocals, guitar
• Björn Ågren - guitar
• Carl Dalemo - bass
• Andy Burrows - drums (since 2004)

• Christian Smith Pancorvo - drums (2003-2004)

History

2004

Razorlight's debut album, Up All Night, was released on June 28, 2004, reaching number 3 in the UK album charts on 4 July.[1] The critical reception was generally good, receiving good reviews from NME, Q magazine and Billboard, although they were also accused of lack of imagination and unoriginality for allegedly borrowing ideas from other influential bands, notably The Strokes.

2005

Up All Night was re-issued in April 2005, including previously unreleased single "Somewhere Else", which peaked at Number 2. It was their biggest hit single to date.

2006

On April 3rd 2006, they streamed a new song from their new album on their website, from around 1800 BST to 1900 BST. According to NME.COM, it was called "Pop Song 2006". According to an interview with Planet Sound, this was only a working title and was a tribute to R.E.M.'s Pop Song '89. The band planned on calling it "Small Town Heroes", but never told the production people.

Controversy

The band have been repeatedly accused of stealing ideas from the band British Sea Power. Razorlight have placed plastic trees on the stage, and British Sea Power frequently adorn the stage with foliage. Borrell's clothing also repeatedly bears a striking resemblance to that of British Sea Power frontman Yan.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album UK Singles Chart UK Download Chart US Modern Rock. 2003 “Rock ‘N’ Roll Lies” 56 - - Up All Night 2003 “Rip It Up” 42 - - Up All Night 2004 “Stumble and Fall” 27 - - Up All Night 2004 “Golden Touch” 9 11 32 Up All Night 2004 “Vice” 18 32 - Up All Night 2004 “Rip It Up (re-release)” 20 36 - Up All Night 2005 “Somewhere Else” 2 2 36 Up All Night (reissue) 2006 “In The Morning” 3 13 - Razorlight 2006 "America" 1 1 - Razorlight 2006 "Before I Fall to Pieces" - - - Razorlight

Trivia

• On both of their albums, they have paid tribute to R.E.M with song titles. The tracks "Don't Go Back To (Dalston)" and "Pop Song 2006" take their names from the songs "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" and "Pop Song '89" respectively.
• Andy Burrows drummed on the single "Be Gentle With Me" by The Boy Least Likely To, who will support Razorlight on their 2006 UK arena tour.
• In December 2005 Johnny admitted that Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs front man) is the best lead singer a band could have and that he hopes to work with them in the future.

Find out more about Razorlight on Wikipedia