Placebo Tickets

Placebo describe themselves as a band for outsiders, by outsiders. The first thing they did was set themselves apart — their band name is a riff on the 90s trend of naming bands after drugs. And as the country was deep in the throes of Britpop, Placebo emerged with a gothic, androgynous and defiant sensibility that shook the scene up.

Placebo formed in 1994, when vocalist/guitarist Brian Molko and bassist/guitarist Stefan Olsdal bumped into each other at a tube station; they had previously both attended the American International School of Luxembourg. The pair soon decided to form a band together, recruiting drummer Robert Schultzberg. They released their debut single ‘Bruise Pristine’ in 1995.

Upon signing to Caroline Records, Placebo released their debut self-titled album in 1996. The single ‘Nancy Boy’, an ode to bisexual experimentation, propelled the band into the mainstream as it hit the top five in the UK charts. Since its release, the album has been included in numerous lists of the best albums of all time and has been certified Platinum. The band toured heavily throughout 1996, including appearances at Reading & Leeds and T In The Park. Also in 1996, Schulzberg departed the band and was replaced by Steve Hewitt. In 1997, fan and champion of the band David Bowie invited Placebo to perform at his 50th birthday concert at Madison Square Garden, alongside the likes of Lou Reed, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith and Bowie himself.

In 1998, Placebo signed to Virgin Records and released their second album, Without You I’m Nothing. Featuring a more expansive and measured sound than their scrappier, punkier first album, the album spawned top-10 singles ‘Pure Morning’ and ‘You Don’t Care About Us’ and was met with critical acclaim. A single version of the title track featuring guest vocals by David Bowie was released the following year. In 2000, the band released their third album, Black Market Music, which saw them head in a more experimental direction.

2003 brought the release of the band’s fourth album, Sleeping with Ghosts. They expanded on the experimental streak of their previous album, injecting electronic elements into tracks like ‘English Summer Rain’ and ‘Something Rotten’. That year was their heaviest touring year to date, including several festival appearances and trips to the US and Australia. In 2004, the band released the live DVD and documentary ‘Soulmates Never Die’, and the singles collection ‘Once More With Feeling’.

Placebo released their fifth album, Meds, in 2006 – a darker album for which they returned to a more straightforward guitar-driven sound. The album featured guest appearances from Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and Alison Mosshart of The Kills. In 2007, Hewitt departed the band and was replaced with Steve Forrest, and in 2009 Placebo left their label and signed to PIAS Entertainment. The band’s first album for their new label, Battle For The Sun, was released in 2009. It was named by Kerrang! as one of the best albums of the year.

The band released their seventh studio album, Loud Like Love, in 2013, and toured worldwide in support of it. In 2015, Forrest departed the band, with Placebo continuing as a duo. In 2016, to commemorate their 20th anniversary, the band released the compilation album, A Place for Us to Dream, as well as embarking on the 20 Years of Placebo world tour. In 2022, Placebo released their eighth album, Never Let Me Go, an expansive and experimental effort which NME declared “a true renaissance record” in a positive review.

In 2024, Placebo will headline Halifax’s Live at The Piece Hall, the Southampton Summer Sessions and Bristol Sounds at Canons Marsh Amphitheatre.