are:
(From Left To Right)
Jon Lee
Grant Nicholas
Taka Hirose
Click each persons image to view a personal biography
Feeder were originally formed in 1992 in Wales but the present line-up
came together in London in 1995 when South Walians Grant Nicholas and Jon Lee
decamped to London and found bassist Taka Hirose (from Tokyo) in the musicians
ads Loot. Signing soon after to Echo, the band started touring
- something they've rarely stopped doing over the last four years
A mini-album entitled 'Swim' (released Spring 1996) made a lasting impression
on the UK's rock scene - the band's heavy guitars and sugarsweet melodies
encapsulated within 'Swim''s six songs. More touring around the country followed
as the band quickly built up a fanatical following
A set of singles previewed the band's debut album proper, 'Polythene',
released in May 1997. Album Of The Year in Metal Hammer, 'Polythene' captured the
band's thrilling, overdriven rock sound and featured live favourites 'Descend' and
'My Perfect Day'. Over the Summer Feeder played festivals accross the country,
featuring a new song, entitled 'High', in their set. This soon became the band's
anthem, Feeder's 'team song' even. Released as a single in October 1997 it was the
band's biggest hit - reaching number 24 and receiving blanket daytime radio play
'High' was ultimately patched on the 'Polythene', and in Spring 1998 Feeder
interrupted a mammoth US tour for a set of heroic, homecoming UK shows that
culminated with two nights at the Astoria in London. Heroic simply put because
Grant Nicholas cracked a cheekbone halfway through the tour, but the band played on
For the rest of 1998 Feeder continued a rigorous North American touring
schedule (125 dates all in all) including countless Summer Radio Shows
(the US equivalent of the UK Festival), before returning to the UK to record the
second album in RAK Studios in London. 'Yesterday Went Too Soon' was mixed in
early 1999 in New York by Grant and Andy Wallace, who's previous credits had
included Nirvana's 'Nevermind' and Slayer's 'Reign In Blood', amongst others
A Spring 1999 tour (during which time Jon Lee broke his ankle,
but the tour continued, of course) saw Feeder play songs from
'Yesterday Went Too Soon' for their passionate fans for the first time. Two
more top forty hit singles were released before 'Yesterday Went Too Soon'
entered the album charts at number seven
The album saw a further advancement
of Grant Nicholas' song writing, featuring gorgeous ballads ('Tinseltown',
the title track), explosive power pop ('Insomnia', 'Waiting For Changes') and
quirky tunes ('Day In Day Out', 'Picture Of Perfect Youth'). In October, Feeder
played their biggest headlining dates yet, culminating in a show at Brixton Academy.
Over the course of the year, the band had played in front of huge crowds on
the bills of Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Mt. Fuji Festival in Japan and the
Ashton Court Festival in Bristol, which the band headlined in front of a 25,000 crowd.
The year ended on another high, as the band celebrated New Years 1999 on the bill of
the Manic Millennium at the Millennium stadium in Cardiff
Feeder headlined a prestigious night at the NME Carling Premier Awards shows in
London in January 2000. The band toured Australia for the first time and Jon Lee
got married in Miami.
The rest of 2000 saw Grant write their third album and the band spent the Summer
recording in Great Linford Manor in Buckinghamshire with Gil Norton
(Pixies, Foo Fighters) at the helm
2001 has so far been Feeder's best year yet. The insanely catchy 'Buck Rogers'
entered the charts at number 5, their highest chart position. It also became
a bona fide radio anthem in the process. Two sets of sold out touring in March
and April culminated with two shows overstuffed, celebratory shows at the
London Astoria.
A second single, 'Seven Days In The Sun' saw Feeder travel Cape Town to
record a memorable beach-based video. It provided the band with their second
Top Twenty hit of the year (#14), and was swiftly followed by the release of
the band's third album 'Echo Park', which debuted at Number 5 and has swiftly
sold over 100,000 copies, awarding the band a Gold Disc. Coincidentally both
'Polythene' and 'Yesterday Went Too Soon' have clicked over into Silver Disc
territory, with total sales of over 60,000 each.
'Echo Park' is widely considered to be one of the most accomplished British rock
albums of recent times. It's exuberant 'pop' songs ('Buck Rogers',
'Tell All Your Friends') are balanced by reflective moments ('Oxygen',
'Piece By Piece') and some of Feeder's thrillingly heaviest stuff yet
('Standing On The Edge' and 'Bug'). A new single 'Turn' wass released on July 2nd.
Feeder played at T In The Park and the Reading and Leeds Festivals the same Summer.