Idlewild are Roddy Woomble (vocals), Bob Fairfoull (bass), Rod Jones (guitar) and Colin Newton (drums). They took their name from the quiet meeting place in the book 'Anne of Green Gables'. The four all met at a party in Edinburgh in December 1995, and found similar music interests in bands such as Sonic Youth, Black Flag, The Stooges and Nirvana. They played their debut gig in Edinburgh, on New Years Day of 1996, this was followed by apperances in and around Edinburgh's clubs and pubs. Although these gigs were poorly attended, Roddy stated in an interview to Record Collector magazine "I'm so glad that people didn't come and see us for our first 20, cos we had no idea what we were doing!" In march 1997 things kicked off with a self-funded 7" single "Queen of the troubled teens" released on the scotish label 'Human Condition' - which recieved valuable radio exposure on radio 1, courtesy of Steve Lamcq's Evenig Session. After this success, idlewild soon came to the attention of Simon Williams, head of Fierce Panda recordsThis was followed by their first and only single released on Fierce Panda, 'Chandelie', also 7", although there was a CD version recorded too, with B-side, 'Record Exchange'.. In February 1998 the much acclaimed mini-album 'Captain' was released on Deceptive Records. It was described as 'short and furious' with NME giving it 8/10, Kerrang! 4/5 and Music Week giving it full marks with 5/5. Over the christmas period the group had signed to Food Records but first there was to be a single for Deceptive to tie in with an appearance at the NME awards and the groups first UK tour. 'Satan Polaroid' was an "adrenaline-fulled live favourite featuring hypnotic verses, unsettling barks and a storming chorus" and a Kerrang! single of the week. The reviews were getting more and more praise but it was the live gigs that were attracting everyones's attention (audience and critics alike) and quite simply "Idlewild are, of course, quite fantastic" wrote the press. The first single to be released on Food Records was 'A Film For The Future' which was released in April 1998, followed by NME single of the week 'Everyone says you're so fragile' in July. 'I'm a message' - was released on the 12th of October - was the receding single of the bands debut full-length album 'Hope is important' which was released on the 26th October in the middle of yet another tour (this time with ash). The year was rounded off with a sold out London ULU show - the bands biggest headlining date so far. After this they travelled to Japan for two dates, loads of interviews and to sign thousands of photographs. Idlewild started 1999 with a spot on the NME Carling Premier Tour. Then came the bands first top twenty hit, 'When I argue I see shapes' which charted at No. 19 in February. Next came the single 'Little Discourage taken from the bands latest album m'100 broken windows' which was released on 10th of April this was to be awarded yet another Kerrang! Single of the Week. The single was accompanied with a 14-date UK tour, starting in the Orkney Islands (where the songs video was filmed). Before the albums release, the single 'Actually it's darkness preceded it and charted at No. 23; and the album - reached No. 15 in the album charts. The last two singles to be released from the album were 'These wooden ideas' and 'Roseability' which were released on the 12th of June and October 2000. Idlewild are presently doing a tour of America. |
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