Belle & Sebastian

Belle & Sebastian are a Scottish pop band formed in Glasgow in January 1996 under the aegis of a training scheme and music business course. Built mostly around the creative mind of Stuart Murdoch, their first album, Tigermilk, was recorded as part of the course and released on the independent Electric Honey label.

Related Topics:
Scottish - Glasgow - 1996 - Stuart Murdoch - Tigermilk - Electric Honey

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Signing for the slightly larger Jeepster Records they released the album If You're Feeling Sinister in 1996 and a sequence of EPs through 1997. Their third album, The Boy with the Arab Strap (1998), was a top-20 hit in the UK. The band was then proclaimed Best Newcomer at the 1999 Brit Awards. 1999 was also the year of the Bowlie Weekender, a music festival curated by the band.

Related Topics:
Jeepster Records - If You're Feeling Sinister - 1996 - EPs - 1997 - The Boy with the Arab Strap - 1998 - UK - 1999 - Brit Awards - Bowlie Weekender

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In July 2002 they announced the switch to Rough Trade Records. The 2003 album Dear Catastrophe Waitress was shortlisted for the 2004 Mercury Music Prize. Although a staple on many college radio stations, the band has yet to break beyond this niche to achieve notable mainstream success in America. Their British chart history has been more steady and respectable.

Related Topics:
2002 - Rough Trade Records - 2003 - Dear Catastrophe Waitress - 2004 - Mercury Music Prize

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Presenting a slightly fey image to the public at large, Belle and Sebastian's bittersweet love songs inspire a fanatical loyalty amongst their fans, similar to that experienced by The Smiths during their heyday. Some of this loyalty is due to the fact that until 2003 the band did not include singles on their albums. Thus, being in possession of their complete discography is a mark of true devotion.

Related Topics:
The Smiths - 2003

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In January 2005 Belle and Sebastian were voted Scotland's greatest band in a poll by The List, beating Simple Minds, Idlewild, Travis, Franz Ferdinand, and The Proclaimers, among others.

Related Topics:
January 2005 - The List - Simple Minds - Idlewild - Travis - Franz Ferdinand - The Proclaimers

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The band's name is taken from Belle et Sébastien, a children's book by French writer Cécile Aubry about a boy (Sébastien) and his dog (Belle). The book was made into a French live action tv series in 1965 and a Japanese anime in 1981.

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The current members of the band are Stuart Murdoch (vocals, guitar and keyboards), Stevie Jackson (vocals and guitar), Chris Geddes (keyboards), Sarah Martin (violin and vocals), Mick Cooke (trumpet and bass), Bobby Kildea (guitar and bass) and Richard Colburn (drums). Past members include Isobel Campbell (vocals and cello) and Stuart David (bass). Side projects and spin-offs include the bands Gentle Waves, V-Twin, and Looper.

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