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Razorlight

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Razorlight

Razorlight is a British Rock'n'Roll Band band formed in 2002 by singer-songwriter Johnny Borrell and guitarist Bjorn Agren.

Band history

Razorlight were formed in 2002 by lead singer Johnny Borrell and lead guitarist Bjorn Agren. Agren was the only person to answer an advert in the NME that ran "guitarist wanted; no pentatonics" Agren's friend Carl Dalemo was recruited on bass, and original drummer Christian Pancorvo Smith (ex Stony Sleep) was persuaded to join by Borrell.

The band's first recordings were made at Toe Rag studios in Homerton, East London and were produced by Justin Cross and Liam Watson. The recordings (Rock'n'roll Lies, Rip it Up, In the City) found their way to Xfm DJ John Kennedy, who became the first DJ to play Razorlight on UK radio, playing them on his evening show as well as the breakfast slot.

Before they had even released their first single, Razorlight were being featured extensively in Japanese music magazines such as 'rockin on' and were invited to perform on the mainstage at the summer sonic festivals in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.

The Band toured extensively throughout the UK, signed a worldwide deal with Universal Records and began work on their first album with Steve Lillywhite at RAK studios. These recordings included the singles 'Rip it Up' and 'Stumble and Fall' but the rest of the recordings were scrapped and the band chose to record their debut album 'Up all Night' with producer John Cornfield at Sawmills Studios in Cornwall, England.

Up all night

Upon release of successful debut album Up All Night (entering the Uk charts at number 3) in summer 2004, drummer Christian Smith-Pancorvo left the group and was replaced with Andy Burrows.Up All Night was re-issued in April 2005, including the single "Somewhere Else", which peaked at Number 2. In 2005, the band continued a long running tradition of opening for other bands, supporting U2 on a leg of their european "Vertigo" tour. Razorlight also supported Queen + Paul Rodgers on July 15, in front of 60,000 people. This gig had been rescheduled following the July 2005 London bombings. In December of the same year, they supported Oasis, at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. They also supported The Rolling Stones at their gigs in Cologne and Paris. The band are close friends with members of Muse and have toured with them in both America and Europe. In 2005, Razorlight played two sold out shows at Alexandra Palace (7,000+) London, and were invited by Nelson Mandela to perform for his 46664 charity in Tromso, Norway, beginning a long relationship between Razorlight and the charity. In July 2005, the band were personally invited by Bob Geldof to perform at Hyde Park, London as part of the Live 8 series of concerts. The band were widely acknowledged to be one of the highlights of the day. However, the band came under fire in the daily mail for reportedly not donating their extra revenue to charity. Though quite which 'extra revenue' the newspaper were alluding to remains unclear, as it was a charity event, and the band did not receive any money for any part of their involvement with 'makepovertyhistory' or the Live 8 event. The band subsequently claimed that due to their "fledgling status", they were unable to make such a commitment as . During the Christmas season the band played an intimate show at the Railway Inn in Winchester. They were supported by up and coming London band Captain Phoenix, who are fronted by drummer Andy Burrows' younger brother Ben.

War Child

Razorlight contributed the song "Kirby's House" to the War Child charity album Help-A Day in the Life.


Razorlight

Razorlight's second album, titled Razorlight was released in the summer of 2006 and wasrecorded in British Grove studios and produced by Chris Thomas (Beatles, Pink Floyd, Sex Pistols, Roxy Music, Pretenders, INXS, Pulp).It was preceded by the single 'In the Morning' (UK number 3).The album went straight into the UK charts at number 1.Other hits from the second album, included 'America' (co-written by Borrell and Burrows) which was the bands first Uk number 1 single, and 'Before I Fall To Pieces' (also co-written by Burrows and Borrell) The video for the song "Before I Fall To Pieces" features a lead performance by Guy Pearce as an overweight superhero. The video for the song "In the Morning" contains a cameo from Noel fielding of the Mighty Boosh. The band were early supporters of the show, inviting Fielding to open for them at their Alexandra Palace shows, and apperaing in the second series of "The Mighty Boosh.

Razorlight toured the second album extensively throughout europe, culminating in a sold-out show in April 2008 at Earl's Court (20,000) London. They were also summoned to play a show in Mexico City by a mexican fan club that grew up exclusively through a myspace campaign.

In 2007, Razorlight were nominated for two BRIT Awards - one for 'Best British Band' and the other for 'Best Song', "America". They were also nominated for two NME Brit Awards for 'Best Band' and 'Best Album'. But did not attend the ceremony, opting to play a charity show for 'friends of the earth' at seminal Parisien Rock'n'roll club 'the shebeen'

They headlined the Reading Festival on 24 August, and Leeds on 25 August 2007. They also played the Main Stage on 19 May in Preston for Radio 1's Big weekend alongside bands such as Kasabian and the Kaiser Chiefs.

On July 7, 2007, Razorlight performed at both the UK leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium, London, and T in the Park in Balado, Scotland.

In November 2007, Razorlight played their second show for Nelson Mandela's charity 46664 in Johannesburg South Africa. On june 27 2008 razorlight performed at the 46664 london concert in celebration of nelson mandelas 90th birthday and in support of his world renowned political activism.Razorlight perforemed before i fall to pieces and dont go back to dalston. they were also heared to reherse previously unheared material during the soundcheck.


Funeral Blues

Funeral Blues was recorded in support of The Big Ask, Friends of the Earth's climate campaign. The song was recorded entirely 'carbon neutral'. It was recorded at The Premises in East London - Europe's first solar-powered recording studio.

Third studio album

After many months of writing new material, some of which was written on the Isle of Tiree in the Inner Hebredies, Razorlight have confirmed that they have begun recording their third album at AIR studios, London. It is expected to have a late 2008 release date. The band are expected to release further details concerning the release of their third studio album within the course of the coming months. At this year's Rockness Festival, in scotland, the band premiered a new track entitled "frequencies" (although bassist, Carl, stated that may not end up being the song's final title). Razorlight have confirmed that producer Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys, Foals) will be producing the record

Possible songs to be included on the third studio album

1)"Hostage of love" - This song was played by Johnny Borrell (and acoustic guitar accompaniment was given by usual drummer Andy Burrows) during their short 3-song set at the November 2007 MENCAP concert at Islington's union chapel.

2)"Frequency" - This song has been played several times at various appearances and festivals during 2008 although it has been played in at least two different versions.

3)"Unknown title 1" - Razorlight streamed a video on their official website entitled "the band work on the ending to a new track", on which frontman Johnny Borrell is shown to be playing the piano. About 30 seconds of the song can be heard which comprise of an ostinato which is bisected several times with a repetitive drum fill.

4)"Unknown title 2" - during the sound check for June 2008's "Concert for Nelson Mandela" which was held in Londons Hyde Park and emphasized as well as Mandela's 90th birthday the ongoing 46664 campaign, the band were heard to rehearse new material, a clip of which was broadcast on youtube during which the band play a song with a beat similar to their song "Dont go back to Dalston" which included the lyrics "we all live as one".

5)"Funeral Blues" - Although it is probably unlikely that this will be included on the third album, alike "Kirbies House" from the war child album of 2005, this does not completely rule out the possibility of the song making an appearance, although like "Kirbies House", the song may be reworked before this happens.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
UK Singles Chart UK Download Chart Irish Singles Chart US Modern Rock.
2003 Rock ‘N’ Roll Lies 56 - - - Up All Night
Rip It Up 42 - - -
2004 Stumble and Fall 27 - - -
Golden Touch 9 3 - 32
Vice 18 - - -
Rip It Up (re-release) 20 - - -
2005 Somewhere Else 2 2 - 36
2006 In The Morning 3 5 - - Razorlight
America 1 1 6 -
Before I Fall to Pieces 17 17 37 -
2007 I Can't Stop This Feeling I've Got 44 - - -
Hold On 80 - - -

References

  1. ^ Platinum Awards Content
  2. ^ Platinum Awards Content


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