Post-punk revival legends, Editors, kick off their six-date UK tour at NX in Newcastle on Monday 26th February.
Originally called Snowfield, Editors was formed in 2003, with the band comprising of four music technology students from Stafford University: singer/guitarist Tom Smith, lead guitarist Chris Urbanowicz, bassist Russell Leech and drummer, Ed Lay.
Following a successful run of club dates and demo recordings, the band were soon signed by Kitchenware Records, the indie record label that launched the careers of Prefab Sprout, The Kane Gang and Martin Stephenson and The Daintees in the ‘80s.
Debut single ‘Bullets’ was released in early January 2005 and was reportedly sold out in one day. With a dark, atmospheric sound, the band were compared to Interpol and Bloc Party. Follow-up single, ‘Munich’, really launched their career, gaining huge music press coverage, and their third single, ‘Blood’, was released after a stellar Glastonbury performance.
The much-anticipated debut album, ‘The Back Room’, released mid-2005, was very well received. ‘Munich’ was re-released in January 2006 to help promote the album, which entered the UK charts at number 5 and eventually gained platinum status. A US tour with Stellastarr coincided with the release of ‘The Back Room’ in America. The band also received a nomination for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize in July.
Following sophomore release ‘An End Has a Start’, which again went platinum in the UK, the band returned to America in 2007, played several UK festivals and supported R.E.M. in Europe in 2008.
By 2009, they were getting tired of their sound and started experimenting with synths and industrial music.
Since 2010, Editors have released six studio albums and changed their line-up following the departure of Urbanowicz. Justin Lockey and Elliot Williams joined the band as well as electronic producer Benjamin John Power becoming a permanent member.
Following this UK tour, Editors are heading to Europe, playing the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France.
Their thunderous new sound was well received by fans old and new during their UK tour last year, combining old classics and newer material.
Still going strong with a loyal fan base, Editors are one of the most consistent bands of the 21st century.
Expect guitar-driven anthems with catchy choruses, pounding rhythms and a highly charismatic frontman with distinctive vocals.
Tickets, priced at £32.50 in advance, are available from nxnewcastle.com.
