Editors 1288141 225301859 2008-07-12T23:51:09Z 81.244.9.96 {{otheruses|editor}} {{Infobox musical artist | Name = Editors | Img = Edsatmercuryprize.jpg | Img_size = 250 | Landscape = yes | Img_capt = Editors performing "[[All Sparks]]" at the [[Mercury Prize]] Award Show in September 2006. | Background = group_or_band | Origin = [[Stafford]], [[England]] | Genre = [[Indie rock]]</br>[[Post-punk revival]] | Years_active = 2002&ndash;present | Label = [[Kitchenware Records|Kitchenware]], [[Epic Records|Epic]], [[Play It Again, Sam (record label)|Play It Again Sam]] | URL = http://www.editorsofficial.com | Current_members = [[Tom Smith (musician)|Tom Smith]]<br />[[Chris Urbanowicz]]<br />[[Russell Leetch]]</br>[[Edward Lay]] | Past_members = }} '''Editors''' are a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[indie rock]] [[musical band|band]] from [[Birmingham]], [[England]] who formed in 2002. The band consists of [[Tom Smith (musician)|Tom Smith]] (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano), [[Chris Urbanowicz]] (lead guitar and synth), [[Russell Leetch]] (bass guitar and live backing vocals) and [[Ed Lay]] (drums, percussion and live backing vocals). Their brand of sweeping indie rock is compared to the sound of bands such as [[Echo and the Bunnymen]], [[Joy Division]], [[Interpol (band)|Interpol]], [[Coldplay]] and [[U2]]. Editors have released two [[Editors#Discography|albums]]; selling 2 million copies between them worldwide.<ref>Jon Perks, [http://www.birminghampost.net/life-leisure-birmingham-guide/birmingham-culture/2008/02/18/heard-the-latest-news-editors-are-back-in-town-65233-20490036/ Editors Are Back In Town], Birmingham Post, [[18 February]][[2008]], Accessed [[31 March]] [[2008]]</ref><ref>2007 Sales Estimations, Worldwidealbums.net, [[1 January]][[2008]], Accessed [[31 March]] [[2008]]</ref> Their debut album ''[[The Back Room]]'' was released in 2005 and it included hits such as "[[Munich (song)|Munich]]" and "[[Blood (Editors song)|Blood]]". In 2006 the album received a [[Mercury Prize]] nomination. Their follow up album ''[[An End Has A Start]]'' went to number 1 in the [[UK Album Chart]] in June 2007 and earned the band a [[Brit Awards]] nomination for best British Band. It also spawned another Top 10 hit [[Single (music)|single]] with the release of "[[Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors]]". After their continued success in the [[UK Charts|charts]], sold out tours and numerous headlining [[music festival|festival]] slots, Editors are currently being lauded as the second biggest [[United Kingdom|British]] band of the decade after [[Arctic Monkeys]].<ref>Nick Durden, [http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/live/live.html?in_article_id=513123&in_page_id=1889 Stop the press: Britain's hottest new band, Editors], Mail On Sunday, [[15 February]][[2008]] Accessed [[31 March]] [[2008]]</ref> == History == ===''Formation Years (2002-2004)''=== [[Image:Snowfieldgigposter.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Poster from Snowfield's debut gig in 2003.]] The band met studying [[Music Technology]] at [[Staffordshire University]]. They realised it wasn't the career for them and decided to form a band, playing in the towns [[Wolverhampton]], [[Birmingham]] and [[Stafford]]. After graduation, they relocated to Birmingham.<ref>Ankeny, Jason, All Music Guide [http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/editors/artist.jhtml#bio Editors Full Biography], MTV.com, [[12 August]][[2007]], Accessed [[28 November]] [[2007]]</ref> The band were initially known as '''Pilot'''. They played their first show under this name in 2002.<ref name="zeromag">{{cite web |url=http://www.zeromag.com/articles/article_view.php?id=949&pi=1&PHPSESSID= |title= EDITORS: All Sparks Won’t Burn Out |accessdate= 2008-04-02}}</ref> While in university, the band had a marketing strategy which involved placing hundreds of promotional stickers across the walls of Stafford asking, "Who's the Pilot?".<ref name=zeromag/> They then realised the name was already taken by a [[Pilot (band)|1970's Scottish pop group]], so they then became known as '''The Pride'''.<ref>[http://www.bigtakeover.com/interviews/interview-editors-part-iv-band-origins Interview: Editors (Part IV: Band Origins)], www.bigtakeover.com, [[5 September]] [[2006]], Accessed [[13 May]] [[2008]]</ref> Under this name, they sent out a one track demo of "[[Bullets]]" and uploaded the tracks "Come Share The View" and "Forest Fire" to the [[internet]], making the songs available to listen to on [[BBC Radio 1]]'s ''Onemusic Unsigned''.<ref name="editorsmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.editorsmusic.co.uk/biographies/index.asp |title= The Story of Editors |accessdate= 2007-04-02}}</ref> After this, they learned that thirty "Artist and Repertoire" representatives were coming to see them at Birmingham. The band then suddenly took all their music offline, in order to create mystery and anxiousness, all the while trying to ensure that more A&R reps came to see them perform.<ref name=zeromag/> They then changed the line-up with [[Ed Lay]] replacing Geraint Owen on drums as he began to focus on his [[Wales|Welsh]] band ''The Heights''. Under this lineup they became known as '''Snowfield'''. They played their debut gig under this name at the request of [[Fused Magazine]] in March 2003. The following summer the band self released a [[Snowfield Demo EP|6 track EP]], all of which went on to become future Editors songs. It wasn't long until [[word of mouth]] helped them become a popular unsigned band<ref name=zeromag/> and gain them multiple support slots with ''The Boxer Rebellion''. All of this earned the band the interest of several [[United Kingdom|British]] labels and at the end of 2004, the group signed to [[Independent record label|indie]] label [[Kitchenware Records]].<ref>[http://www.kitchenwarerecords.com/ Kitchenware Records Artist List], Kitchenwarerecords.com, [[23 December]][[2004]], Accessed [[31 March]] [[2008]]</ref> Upon signing to Kitchenware they decided to change their band name to '''Editors'''. ===''The Back Room'' (2005&ndash;2006)=== [[Image:Tomsmiththepoint.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Lead singer Tom Smith onstage at [[The Point Theatre]] in November 2005]] After supporting bands such as [[Puressence]] and [[Oceansize]], Editors released debut single "[[Bullets (Editors song)|Bullets]]" as a limited edition of 500 copies on Kitchenware Records on [[24 January]][[2005]].<ref>[http://www.surgeradio.co.uk/music/artists/0efe858c-89e5-4e47-906a-356fa953fd6e.html Artist Biography], Surgeradio.co.uk, [[January 3]][[2006]], Accessed [[31 March]] [[2008]]</ref> The song had previously been given airplay by [[BBC Radio 1]] disc jockey [[Zane Lowe]] leading it to sell out on the day of its release.<ref>[http://www.angloplugging.co.uk/viewPressRelease.cfm?pressReleaseID=1103 EDITORS 'BULLETS' ], Angloplugging.co.uk, [[18 August]][[2005]], Accessed [[31 March]] [[2008]]</ref> The release of "[[Munich (song)|Munich]]" followed in April of that year and gave the band their first Top 25 hit, another sold out UK tour and a place on [[MTV Two|MTV’s Spanking New Music]] show in [[Manchester]]. At this point, due to the band's ever increasing popularity, Editors and Kitchenware signed an exclusive distribution deal with [[Sony BMG]]. "[[Blood (Editors song)|Blood]]" was released two months later, reaching number 18 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref>UK Top 40 Charts, BBC 1 Radio, [[17 July]] [[2005]], Accessed [[17 July]] [[2005]]</ref> With these releases their fanbase continued to grow and on [[25 July]] [[2005]] their debut album ''[[The Back Room]]'' was released to critical acclaim and commercial success.<ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/new/artist.nsf/artistnames/editors Editors Biography], Contactmusic.com, [[4 March]][[2006]], Accessed [[31 March]] [[2008]]</ref> In its first week, the album entered the charts at number 13, selling 17,627 copies.<ref name=editorsmusic/> After re-issuing "Bullets" and achieving another [[UK Singles Chart|Top 30 hit]], Editors gained a high profile support slot, supporting [[Franz Ferdinand (band)|Franz Ferdinand]] in Arenas across the UK and [[Europe]].<ref>[http://www.nme.com/news/franz-ferdinand/21509 Franz Ferdinand UK tour - the first report], NME.com, [[15 November]][[2005]], Accessed [[31 March]] [[2008]]</ref> Editors then re-issued their single "Munich" in January 2006, selling one and half thousand more copies than the last time it was released.<ref name=editorsmusic/> "Munich" gave Editors their first Top 10 single and an appearance on [[Top Of The Pops]]. With the single release, ''The Back Room'' also rose back up the album charts, peaking at number 2. It sold an additional 40,000 copies in the week of Munich's release and went [[platinum]] in the process.<ref name=editorsmusic/> A joint North American tour with [[Stellastarr*]] coincided with the stateside release of ''The Back Room'' in March 2006. It was released by [[The Fader|Fader]] Label and sold 35,000 albums after 20 weeks.<ref>Jessica Steinhoff, [http://www.expressmilwaukee.com/article-602-the-importance-of-being-earnest.html The Importance Of Being Earnest], Expressmilwaukee.com, [[24 January]][[2008]], Accessed [[31 March]] [[2008]]</ref> The band went on to play influential [[United States|American]] festivals in 2006 such as [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella]] and [[Lollapalooza]].<ref>Kyle Gustafson, [http://dcist.com/2008/01/14/dcist_interview_11.php DCist Interview: Tom Smith of Editors], Dcist.com, [[14 January]][[2008]], Accessed [[6 April]][[2008]]</ref> Editors proceeded to perform "Munich" on the famous American television show ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]''. At the end of March, Editors released "[[All Sparks]]" as a single in the United Kingdom, achieving a position of 21 in the singles chart.<ref>UK Top 40 Charts, BBC 1 Radio, [[27 March]] [[2006]], Accessed [[27 March]] [[2006]]</ref> After a [[Europe]]an tour which included three successive nights at [[Brixton Academy]], Editors re-issued a limited edition of "Blood". It managed to get into the Top 40 and also push the [[The Back Room|album]] up the chart 45 places.<ref name=editorsmusic/> Shortly after this, ''The Back Room'' was nominated for the 2006 [[Mercury Prize]]. After a string of high profile festival shows across Europe, including slots on [[T In The Park]], [[V_festival#V2006|V 2006]] and the [[Isle of Wight Festival]], Editors began work on their second album. ===''An End Has a Start'' (2007&ndash;2008)=== Editors recorded their second album, ''[[An End Has a Start]]'', with producer [[Jacknife Lee]] in [[Grouse Lodge]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] over a 2 month period beginning in late November 2006.<ref>[http://www.grouselodge.com/content.php?ID=185&PHPSESSID=fcdf616b1e1b191fbc6faa5031ed870f Client List] Grouselodge.com, [[12 February]][[2008]], Accessed [[31 March]] [[2008]]</ref> It was released on [[25 June]] [[2007]] and went straight to [[Chart-topper|number 1]] in the UK album charts, selling 59,405 copies in its first week.<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUKL011258120070701 Editors hit the headlines in album charts], Reuters UK, [[1 July]][[2007]], Accessed [[6 April]][[2008]]</ref> The album was preceded by the [[Top 10]] single "[[Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors]]" on the 18th. With this single Editors got their best ever single placement at number 7 and their very own [[Making the Video]] episode on [[MTV]].<ref>[http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/2125250 Chart Round-up], Drowned In Sound, Accessed [[6 April]][[2008]]</ref><ref>Steve Laycock [http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/shows/15062007/editors_night Editors Night!], Mtv.com, [[15 June]][[2007]], Accessed [[6 April]][[2008]]</ref> {{sample box start|Editors}} {{multi-listen start}} {{multi-listen item | filename=Editors Smokers Outside theospital Doors.ogg | title="Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" | description=Smokers Outside the Hospital" was the first single from Editors second album ''An End Has A Start'', reaching number 7 in the UK Single Charts.| format=[[Ogg]]}} {{multi-listen end}} {{sample box end}} Just after its release, Editors played at the [[Glastonbury Festival]] with a second from top slot on ''The Other Stage''. <ref>[http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/glastonbury/2007/other.html Other Stage Glastonbury Festival 2007], efestivals.co.uk, [[31 May]][[2007]], Accessed [[6 April]][[2008]]</ref> They also played many other festivals such as [[Oxegen]], [[Lowlands]] and [[Pukkelpop]] over the following weeks, as well as playing their first ever tour dates in [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]]. They then released the album's title track "[[An End Has A Start (song)|An End Has A Start]]" in September to coincide with their [[North America]]n tour. Editors went on to play the song live on American television shows such as '[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]' and '[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'. Upon returning to the [[U.K.]], the band contributed a cover of [[The Cure|The Cure's]] "[[Lullaby (The Cure song)|Lullaby]]" to the [[Radio 1 Established 1967]] compilation, which was released on [[1 October]] [[2007]]. Shortly after this, Editors played a 75 minute set for the [[BBC Electric Proms]] at [[Camden Palace|KOKO]] in London with backing from a classical [[string quartet]]. In November they released "[[The Racing Rats]]" as the third single off the album. Editors played it live on '[[Friday Night with Jonathan Ross]]' and it helped the song reach number 26 in the UK Charts. It also reached number 12 in the [[Dutch Top 40]], the band's highest ever [[Single (music)|single]] charting outside of the [[UK]].<ref name="aCharts">[http://acharts.us/song/30080 "The Racing Rats" chart positions] ''aCharts.us''. Retrieved [[20 December]] [[2007]]</ref> For the first two months of 2008, Editors engaged on a comprehensive 30 date American tour. During the tour Editors were nominated for one [[Brit Award]], in the Best British Group Category.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_7251000/7251303.stm Brit Awards nominees: in quotes], bbc.co.uk, [[20 February]][[2008]], Accessed [[6 April]][[2008]]</ref> One of the dates then had to be cancelled as the band returned to [[London]] for one day in order to attend the prize ceremony. A month later, Editors announced "[[Push Your Head Towards The Air]]" to be the fourth single from ''An End Has A Start''. This release was a limited special edition which was ineligible to chart.<ref>[http://www.columbia.co.uk/news/8668/0/ Editors Limited edition single release], Columbia.co.uk, [[25 February]][[2008]], Accessed [[31 March]] [[2008]]</ref> Along with this release Editors engaged in their biggest and most extensive British tour to date. They played [[arena]]s such as the 12,000 capacity [[National Indoor Arena]] in Birmingham and two sold out dates in London's [[Alexandra Palace]].<ref>[http://www.rahimlive.com/ Editors sell out Ally Pally], rahimlive.com, [[7 March]][[2008]], Accessed [[6 April]][[2008]]</ref> In June, they released "[[Bones]]" as a download only single in [[Continental Europe]] to coincide with the [[music festival|summer festival]] season, the video of which was directed by the band's bassist [[Russell Leetch]]. Shortly afterwards, Editors played at the Glastonbury Festival, playing on the [[Glastonbury Festival 2008#Pyramid Stage|pyramid stage]] for the first time. The set included the debut of a new song "No Sound But The Wind". The band are due to play their second major support slot of their history supporting [[R.E.M.]] on a 16 date summer tour across [[Continental Europe|Europe]] and [[Great Britain]] over the coming months. ===''Third Studio Album''=== Lead singer Smith has revealed that the band will explore a new direction on their next album, pursuing a new, rawer sound. As of July 2008, Editors have written ten new songs for the new album and they have been described as some of the most synthetic, raw, dark and anthemic songs they have written to date.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend/2008/artists/editors/video2.shtml#emp Collin meets Editors], bbc.co.uk, [[10 May]] [[2008]], Accessed [[16 May]] [[2008]]</ref> They are planning to go to the recording studio in October, again working with [[Jacknife Lee]]. ==Musical style== Editors' own variation of dark indie guitar rock draws on influences from both older and contemporary bands. Their influences include [[Echo and the Bunnymen]], [[Joy Division]], [[The Strokes]], [[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]], [[The Walkmen]], [[R.E.M.|REM]] and [[Elbow]]. The band draw their musical style particularly from the latter two bands' debut albums [[Murmur (album)|Murmur]] and [[Asleep in the Back]].<ref name="interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.editorsmusic.co.uk/interviews/15.asp |title= The Story Of Our Success |accessdate= 2008-05-25}}</ref> While often compared to Joy Division and Echo and the Bunnymen by the [[mass media|media]], the band have indicated that those bands are too old to have a major impact on their musical style.<ref>[http://www.editorsmusic.co.uk/interviews/13.asp Making The Headlines], www.gigwise.com, April 2005, Accessed [[May 27]] [[2008]]</ref> Upon Editors' first appearances in the British music scene, they were also heavily compared to American indie band [[Interpol (band)|Interpol]]; however both bands have described the associations as misguided.<ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/interpol%20we%20feel%20sorry%20for%20editors_1039015 Interpol - We feel sorry for Editors], www.contactmusic.com, [[30 July]] [[2007]], Accessed [[May 28]] [[2008]]</ref> Editors' first album ''The Back Room'' was described as having a wiry and raw sound, which led it to being famously dubbed 'dark disco' by the [[NME]].<ref>[http://www.montrealmirror.com/2006/072706/music2.html Cutting-room dancefloor], www.montrealmirror.com, [[1 August]] [[2006]], Accessed [[23 May]] [[2008]]</ref> This sound was created by the use of [[synthesizer]]s, catchy [[riff|guitar riffs]] and simple, ambiguous [[lyrics]]. ''An End Has A Start'' showed progression to a new 'bigger' sound. This new sound was created by adding more textured layers to the songs as well as incorporating new forms of music into them. These include the adding of a choir in "[[Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors]]" and the inclusion of the sounds of the band playing [[Hide and seek]] in the song "Spiders". Lead singer Smith has revealed that the band will explore a new direction on their next [[album]], pursuing a new, rawer sound. [[Tom Smith|Smith]] writes the lyrics for the songs, but the overall song writing is a collaborative effort. The song writing starts with Smith on the [[piano]] or [[acoustic guitar]] where he [[Multitrack recording|records]] them and sends them to the other band members where the song is turned into a full 'Editors song'. The lead singer has said that he makes the lyrics purposely ambiguous in order for people to draw their own conclusions.<ref name=interview/> ==Discography== {{main|Editors discography}} *''[[The Back Room]]'' (2005) *''[[An End Has a Start]]'' (2007) ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== {{Commons|Editors}} *[http://www.editorsofficial.com/ Editors' official web site] *[http://www.myspace.com/editorsmusic Editors' official MySpace] *[http://www.editorsmusic.co.uk/ Editors UK Fansite] *[http://www.inthebackroom.nl/ Editors Dutch Fansite] *[http://www.freewebs.com/editors-spain/ Editors Spanish Fansite] *[http://www.giglovers.com/band/Editors Upcoming Tour Dates] {{Editors (band)}} [[Category:English musical groups]] [[Category:English rock music groups]] [[Category:English indie rock groups]] [[Category:Music from Birmingham, England]] [[Category:Music in Nottinghamshire]] [[Category:2000s music groups]] [[Category:Alumni of Staffordshire University]] [[cs:Editors]] [[de:Editors]] [[es:Editors]] [[fr:Editors]] [[gl:Editors]] [[it:Editors]] [[hu:Editors]] [[nl:Editors]] [[ja:エディターズ]] [[pl:Editors]] [[pt:Editors]] [[fi:Editors]] [[sv:Editors]]