PLACEBO

Now one of rock's A-list mincers, the cross-dressing, Brian Molko and chums continue to draw inspiration from glamsters like Bowie and Bolan but mix their guitar pomp with something altogether darker.Placebo were formed in 1994 in London by Molko and Stefan Olsdal who had attended the same school in Luxembourg. After recruiting Swedish drummer Robert Schultzberg, the band went on to win the In The City Battle Of The Bands competition in 1995. After single releases on Fierce Panda and Deceptive, the band signed a major label deal to Virgin/Hut in 1996, releasing their eponymous debut album to critical acclaim, buoyed by support from both the NME and Kerrang! camps. Hit singles Teenage Angst and Nancy Boy helped to push sales. 1998 saw the band return (with a new drummer Steve Hewitt) and another critically acclaimed album, Without You I'm Nothing. A collaboration with Molko's idol, Bowie on the title track helped keep the band's profile relatively high. 2000's Black Market Music was a darkly, twisted tale of sexual role play, which saw Molko wrestling with his soiled demons. Most recent album, Meds saw the band stripping back their sound and forsaking studio trickery for honest indie endeavour.