Placebo showered their fans with balloons and glitter at London's O2 Academy Brixton on Monday (27.09.10).

The group performed the first of two shows at the venue in support of their reissued album 'Battle For The Sun' and delighted the packed-out crowd with a career-spanning set, which kicked off with their 1997 single 'Nancy Boy'.

Frontman Brian Molko kept audience interaction to a minimum, speaking rarely between songs, though he did dedicate their cover of Nirvana track 'All Apologies' to late photographer Corinne Day, who died last month aged 48.

After performing lively renditions of hits past and present, including 'Teenage Angst', 'Ashtray Heart', 'Meds' and 'The Bitter End', the group left the stage before returning for a four-song encore.

As smoke machines billowed from the stage, a net of balloons was released into the crowd, before glitter rained down during closing tracks 'Trigger Happy Hands', 'Post Blue', 'Infra-Red' and 'Taste In Men'.

Support for both Monday and last night's (28.09.10) performances came from Little Fish and Evaline.

http://www.musicrooms.net/alternative/16820-placebo-s-fan-shower.html 

Placebo Cancel European Tour Dates

British rockers Placebo have been forced to apologize to fans after scrapping the final three dates on their European tour due to illness.

The Teenage Angst stars have been on the road for the past year and were due to perform on the Spanish island of Majorca on Friday. However, the gig was scrapped after frontman Brian Molko fell sick and now the band has pulled this week's shows in Madrid and Lugo in Spain, and another in Portugal.

In a post on their website, Placebo says, "Unfortunately Brian Molko is unwell and has been ordered by doctors to take complete rest. It's a horribly disappointing way to finish our Battle For The Sun tour campaign and we hate letting our fans down by cancelling shows. We always try to ensure we can deliver what we promise so we can only apologize."

Details of the 37 year old's ailments have yet to be released. Placebo is due to jet to South Korea on October 21st to kick off the next leg of their worldwide tour.

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2010/10/05/placebo_cancel_european_tour_dates_

Placebo Interview By Lim Chee Wah

Placebo Interview

March 2010

Brian Molko of Placebo got all witty on Lim Chee Wah when they spoke prior to the band’s first ever gig in Malaysia

How has your music evolved throughout the years?

Like a fish that crawls out of the water, grows legs and walks.

In your latest album, ‘Battle for the Sun’, you featured some brass and string arrangements, what brought about this change?

Our decision to use brass was inspired by our love of soul, reggae and Beatles’ records. We’ve used strings before; check out ‘Pierrot the Clown’ from [the album] ‘Meds’.

Your previous albums were quite bleak but you described your latest album as having a bit of hope. What brought about the light at the end of the tunnel?

Each new album starts as a reaction to its predecessor, which is the biggest influence of all because it determines exactly what we do not want to do. With that in mind, and with a little distance for perspective’s sake, Stef and I decided that ‘Meds’ was a very claustrophobic and monochrome album that offered hardly any hope to the listener. Thus it seemed logical to make a new album bursting with colour and optimism. Having said that, whether we did so or not remains up for debate.

Do you think pessimism (or heartbreak, or depression) makes you a better artist?

Absolutely not. It does make you a very good drunk, though.

What’s it like having Steve Forrest in the band who is significantly younger than the rest of the two members?

It’s good to have someone gullible in the band to mess with.

The band’s sexuality has become an identity for you – do you think it’s what makes people attracted to you?Did youdecide to be honest of who you are as a statement of empowerment?

Both attraction and repulsion are created by such honesty. Empowerment can only be achieved through the courageous and political act of standing up to be counted.

Is it a driving force in your music?

Yes, especially during the primal act of performance. Sometimes I feel like a stripper, in the sense that I am making myself emotionally nude.

People often see your goth attire/make up as a distinctive characteristic of Placebo.Was that an influence from your music direction?

I wear make-up and have black hair. Why does that make me a goth? Look at Cher – she wears make-up and has black hair, does that make her a goth? 

Show me a picture where I look like a goth and I’ll show you a picture of me and Cher getting it on.

You have played with and opened for many people, including Billy Corgan and Robert Smith. Who do you think has the biggest impact on your career?

David Bowie. He was somewhat of a mentor at the beginning of our career.

There’s been some bad press about how the authorities in Kuala Lumpur reacted (rather negatively) to big international artists who planned to or had performed here, like Beyonce and The Black Eyed Peas. Has that discouraged you from coming here initially?

I am always very happy when The Black Eyed Peas receive bad press. Beyonce, however, is a very significant artist and a true star.

1994 to 2010 is quite a long time for a band; do you think you’ll outlast U2?

I would like to outlast Leonard Cohen. Have you started working on your new album? What will it be like?

It will sound like the first scream of a newborn baby.

 http://www.timeoutkl.com/music/articles/Placebo-Interview

Summertime Rolls feat. Brian Molko

ALBUM: LOSERS ‘BEAUTIFUL LOSERS’
LABEL: GUNG-HO! RECORDINGS
RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 13TH 2010
FORMAT: CD | DIGITAL
________________________________________
“This album is fucking banging” – Liam Howlett – Prodigy
“This is the kind of music we want to make!” – Rob and Gareth - Pendulum
________________________________________
Beautiful Losers album is the result of two men whose paths crossed and together created a wonderful testament to their prodigious musical heritage.
Eddy Temple-Morris is XFM’s legendary trailblazer, DJ, producer, remixer and dance floor provocateur of the highest order. He coined the phrase ‘Ibiza Rocks’, was their first resident and has been largely credited with seducing a generation of rockers to loosen their belts and think with their hips. He is one half of Losers. Tom Bellamy is a keyboard, FX pedal and guitar legend whose chiseled cheekbones and wild techno-noise became an integral part of arguably the most progressive band of the 90’s, The Cooper Temple Clause. Their legendary studio, 'Bleak House', became Tom's domain when Coopers split and this Noughties British indie shrine in rural Berkshire was where Beautiful Losers was created.
If you were cooking this album you would start heating Soulwax Night Versions, Prodigy, Leftfield, Orbital and Mansun. Add the uplifting and melodic ingredients of Robert Miles with the coolness of Kris Menace (Sirenna), the deep and unctuous beats Underworld with a splash of Killing Joke (Three Colours), add the dark and sensual influences of Massive Attack (Azan) and the haunting poignancy of Janes Addiction (Summertime Rolls featuring guest vocalist Brian Molko) and its getting really hot in the kitchen. Finish off with a hint of Grime (Flush) and a slice of disco doom (Katana) and we’re on fire!
Whilst Losers unashamedly doff their caps to the inspirational icons of the nineties dance movement, the influence of today’s most talented producers such as Alex Metric and Adam Freeland are clearly embraced all over the album, not just monumental tracks such as Flush (first single to be released off the album and featuring the sublime work of artist Dan Hillier in the video – over 100,000 views on Youtube) and the gorgeously twisted epic Talk To The Hand. Losers have clearly displayed their mastery of writing and orchestrating an absolute classic, timeless dance album. And one that rocks.
Losers live show features Tom Bellamy on vocals, guitar and keyboard, Eddy on bass and keyboard, and Camilla Morris on drums plus guest vocalists like Riz MC, Envy, Marcus Midimidi and Pablo Decoder. The live show is a full-on electronic, bowel shaking assault so don’t even dream of missing out. See below for details of live dates coming up.
Notes to Editors - This is a nice anecdote that you have permission to publish:
The album features very special guest Brian Molko from Placebo singing on Losers cover of Janes Addiction’s Summertime Rolls’, the instrumental of which Eddy and Tom sent to Brian to consider putting the vocals onto. Within 24 hours of hearing the track Brian called the Losers to threaten them…..” If you let anyone else sing on this track I’ll have them killed!” Thankfully Robert Harvey of The Music, lives on.
*Sirenna (Today We See Colour) is due for release on September 6th on Gung-Ho! Recordings*
Track Listing:
1. Three Colours
2. No Man Is and Island (Losers Theme)
3. Nothing Will Die
4. Flush
5. Never Meant To be
6. Azan
7. Sirenna
8. Katana
9. Talk To The Hand
10. Summertime Rolls
Band Members:
Tom Bellamy - Vocals, guitar and keyboard,
Eddy Temple Morris – Vocals, bass and keyboard
Camilla Morris -Drums

http://soundcloud.com/rightclickmusic/summertime-rolls-feat-brian-molko

Janes Addiction- Summertime Rolls