PLACEBO
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BIOGRAPHY

The multi-national band was formed by singer/guitarist Brian Molko (part Scottish and American, raised in Britain) and bassist Stefan Olsdal (originally from Sweden).

Earlier both attended the same school in Luxembourg, but didn’t cross paths properly until in 1994 in London.

Briefly called Ashtray Heart, Placebo’s drum slot was filled alternately on by Robert Schultzberg and Steve Hewitt (former Boo Radleys drummer) in the last years.

The trio’s self titled debut album in 1996 was a surprise hit in the U.K, where such singles as “Nancy Boy” and “Bruise Pristine” became hits, as the group became the toast of the British music weeklies and supported their debut with opening for the reunited Sex Pistols, U2 and Weezer.

A major fan, David Bowie personally invited the trio to play at his 50th birthday bash at New York’s Madison Square Garden in 1997.

The following year, Placebo issued “Without You I’m Nothing”.

The album was another large seller in England and the group’s breakthrough in the U.S.

Placebo recorded and performed a cover version of T.Rex ‘s classic “20th Century Boy” in the Todd Haynes movie “Velvet Goldmine”.

Placebo’s third album “Black Market Music” was out in 2000.

In spring 2003, Placebo released their fourth album “Sleeping With Ghosts”: “I’m looking back on what’s happened in my past emotional decade, trying to exorcise the ghosts of relationships past. It’s the old clichŽ of it being therapeutic, but it does work for me in that way” says Brian Molko in an interview (Kerrang, March 1st 2003).

This album delivered instant airplay smashes “The Bitter End”, “English Summer Dream”, and “Protect Me”.

As part of their summer tour involving Australia, Russia, France…, the Byblos date will have a special flavour for the singer, Brian Molko for his first appearance in a country where he once lived as a child.