Phoenix (band)

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Phoenix
Phoenix in 2006
Background information
Origin	Versailles, France
Genre(s)	Alternative rock
Years active	1999-present
Label(s)	V2 Glassnote Ghettoblaster Loyauté Source Astralwerks EMI
Website	wearephoenix.com
Members
Thomas Mars (vocals) Deck D'Arcy (bass) Laurent Brancowitz (guitar) Christian Mazzalai (guitar)

Phoenix is a French alternative rock band started during their childhood by Thomas Mars, Deck D'Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz in the affluent suburb of Versailles, in the same culture that produced late-'90s bands such as Air and Daft Punk.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Beginnings 1.2 United - 2000 1.3 Alphabetical - 2004 1.4 Live! Thirty Days Ago - 2005 1.5 It's Never Been Like That - 2006 1.6 Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - 2009 2 Members 3 Discography 3.1 Studio albums 3.2 Live albums 3.3 Singles 4 Music videos 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Beginnings

Phoenix started as the backing band for a remix of Air's "Kelly Watch the Stars" single. Soon after, Phoenix released their 2000 debut album United. The name Phoenix was officially chosen in 1996 when Laurent Brancowitz permanently joined the band after the end of the short-lived band Darlin' he formed with Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, who eventually became Daft Punk.

[edit] United - 2000

Following their two singles "If I Ever Feel Better" and "Too Young", "United" was released in 2000.

[edit] Alphabetical - 2004

The second album, Alphabetical, released in 2004, saw the band reach more mainstream success, with the singles "Everything Is Everything" and "Run Run Run" reaching some alternative pop charts. Hedi Slimane commissioned a special mix of their song "Victim of the Crime" as the soundtrack to one of his runway shows for Dior Homme.

[edit] Live! Thirty Days Ago - 2005

Following Alphabetical, the band toured three continents, playing 150 dates. This tour was followed up with a live album, Live! Thirty Days Ago, released only 30 days after the end of the tour.

[edit] It's Never Been Like That - 2006

Phoenix then spent time in Berlin during the summer of 2005, making use of Planet Roc studios to produce their third album, It's Never Been Like That.

To promote the release of It's Never Been Like That, Phoenix toured the United States and Europe in 2006.

[edit] Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - 2009

In early 2009, it was announced that the band were returning with a new album titled Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which was released on May 25, 2009^[1]. The album was recorded in Paris by Cassius's Philippe Zdar who co-produced and mixed the album.^[2] The track "1901" was released on February 23, 2009, as a free download prior to the release of the first single, and aired for the first time on Australian radio station Triple J.

To promote the album, Phoenix performed "Lisztomania", "1901", and "Too Young" on Saturday Night Live on April 4.^[3]. They performed "1901" on The Late Show with David Letterman on June 18th as well[1].

[edit] Members

Thomas Mars – vocals

Deck D'Arcy – bass

Laurent Brancowitz – guitar

Christian Mazzalai – guitar

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

• United
  12 June 2000
  (EMI, Source, Astralwerks)
• Alphabetical
  29 March 2004
  (EMI, Source, Astralwerks)
• It's Never Been Like That
  15 May 2006
  (EMI, Source, Astralwerks)
• Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
  25 May 2009
  (Cooperative Music, Glassnote, V2 Records, Loyauté) #37 US^[4], Aus #13 ^[5], Fr #14

[edit] Live albums

• Live! Thirty Days Ago
  8 November 2004
  (EMI, Source, Astralwerks)

[edit] Singles

• "Party Time" (1999)
• "Heatwave" (2 August 1999)
• "Too Young" (22 May 2000)
• "If I Ever Feel Better" (22 January 2001)
• "Everything Is Everything" (EU release: 22 March 2004, UK release: 12 July 2004)
• "Run Run Run" (19 April 2004)
• "Long Distance Call" (8 May 2006)
• "Consolation Prizes" (11 September 2006)
• "1901" (23 February 2009)
• "Lisztomania" (2009) BE #69

[edit] Music videos

• "Too Young" directed by Steven Hanft
• "If I Ever Feel Better" directed by Alex & Martin
• "Funky Squaredance" directed by Roman Coppola
• "Run Run Run" directed by Mathieu Tonetti
• "Long Distance Call" directed by Roman Coppola
• "Consolation Prizes" directed by Daniel Askill
• "Lisztomania" directed by Antoine Wagner
• "1901" directed by Bogstandard (Ben Strebel & Dylan Byrne)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Official Myspace
• Official Facebook
• Official American label website
• Official Canadian label website
• Video Interview Phoenix: What is really important to you?
• Phoenix live on Morning Becomes Eclectic / KCRW
• Phoenix video interview wih stv music
• Interview with Phoenix
• "Consolation Prizes" artist commentary
• Wolfgang Amadeus Review
• Interview with Phoenix on Shockhound

v • d • e Phoenix Thomas Mars • Laurent Brancowitz • Deck D'Arcy • Christian Mazzalai Studio albums United • Alphabetical • It's Never Been Like That • Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Live albums Live! Thirty Days Ago Singles "Too Young" • "Everything Is Everything" • "Run Run Run" • "Long Distance Call" • "Consolation Prizes"