Idles

Idles (stylised as IDLES) are an English rock band formed in Bristol in 2009.[1] The band consists of Joe Talbot (vocals), Mark Bowen (guitar), Lee Kiernan (guitar), Adam Devonshire (bass) and Jon Beavis (drums).

Idles
IDLES at Haldern Pop Festival 2019
Background information
Origin	Bristol, England
Genres	Punk rock post-punk hardcore punk indie rock post-hardcore
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Fear of Fiction Bally Partisan
Website	idlesband.com
Members	Joe Talbot Adam Devonshire Mark Bowen Lee Kiernan Jon Beavis
Past members	Jon Harper Andy Stewart

Their debut album, Brutalism, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim,[2][3] as was their second album Joy as an Act of Resistance[4] in 2018. Their third album, Ultra Mono, was released on 25 September 2020.

History

Formation, Welcome and Meat/Meta EPs (2009–2015)

Frontman Joe Talbot was born in Newport, Wales,[5] and spent his late teenage years in Devon. Talbot and bassist Adam Devonshire met in sixth form college in Exeter. Talbot and Devonshire then both moved to Bristol where they studied at the St Matthias Campus of the University of the West of England and decided to start a band.[6] According to Talbot, "It took us a long time to get productive because we didn't know what the fuck we were doing at all, we were fucking terrible for a long time."[7] Talbot and Devonshire went on to open the Bat-Cave Night Club in Bristol.[8] Guitarist Mark Bowen moved from Belfast to study in Bristol and met Talbot while on the DJ circuit.[9]

The band's first release was the Welcome EP in 2012.[10] By 2014 the band comprised Talbot, Devonshire, guitarists Mark Bowen and Lee Kiernan, and drummer Jon Beavis.[11] They released a second EP, Meat, and Meta, an EP of remixes, in 2015,[12] and then started writing songs for their debut album.[6]

Brutalism (2016–2017)

After the 2016 singles, "Well Done"[13] and "Divide & Conquer",[14] the band released their first album, Brutalism, in March 2017 to critical acclaim.[6][15][16] DIY magazine, gave it 4 stars, calling it "An exhilarating escape along frenzied rhythms and powerhouse rhythms with a ferocious commentary for guidance...as vital as it is volatile."[17] The Line of Best Fit website gave it 9/10, calling Idles "one of the most exciting British bands right now".[18] It received an 8/10 from PopMatters, with Ian King calling it "bracing, caustic, and relentless".[19] Uncut gave it a similarly positive review, calling it "A rare rock record with the rage, urgency, wit and shattering of complacency usually found in grime."[20] Talbot's mother died after a long illness while the band was working on the album, and is pictured on the cover, along with a sculpture by Talbot and his father.[11] Her death gave Talbot and the band a new focus.[11] They toured to support Brutalism, and supported The Maccabees on the London shows of their farewell tour,[21] as well as supporting the Foo Fighters for the O2 Arena's 10th Birthday.

Joy as an Act of Resistance (2018–2019)

Guitarist Mark Bowen at Glastonbury Festival 2019

After several festival appearances throughout Europe, they began working on their second album, Joy as an Act of Resistance, which was released on 31 August 2018.[11][22][23] Accompanying the release of Joy, the group created an exhibition in collaboration with HM Electric Gallery in London, taking place 30 and 31 August 2018.[24]

In 2019, the band was nominated for Best Breakthrough Act at the 2019 Brit Awards[25] and later won the 2019 Kerrang! Award for Best British Breakthrough Act.[26] That same year, Joy as an Act of Resistance was shortlisted for the 2019 Hyundai Mercury Prize. The band performed Never Fight A Man With A Perm at the ceremony on 19 September. In December, they played various shows across the UK, including a packed concert of 10,000 at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Ultra Mono (2020–present)

During the latter stages of their Joy as an Act of Resistance tour in December 2019, Idles performed three new songs which were confirmed to be from their then-unannounced third album,[27] which Talbot confirmed was finished and being mixed in an interview with Zane Low that same month.

Following the promotional single "Mr. Motivator" in May 2020, Talbot announced their third album, Ultra Mono, in June, on Steve Lamacq's Radio 6 show.[28] The album was supported by a further four singles; "Grounds", "A Hymn", "Model Village" and "War" in June, July, August and September 2020, respectively. The record also features guest appearances from Jehnny Beth, Warren Ellis, David Yow and Jamie Cullum.[28]

Ultra Mono was released on 25 September 2020 to predominantly positive reviews, with Louder Than War awarding it a 10 out of 10 and describing it as "the album of their career".[29]

Musical style

Idles at Haldern Pop Festival 2017

The band's music has been associated with punk rock[30][31] and related genres including post-punk,[32][33] hardcore punk,[34] and post-hardcore.[35] Singer Joe Talbot, however, rejects the punk label.[36] In 2017, he was quoted as saying: "We're not a post punk band. I guess we have that motorik, engine-like drive in the rhythm section that some post punk bands have but we have plenty of songs that aren't like that at all."[11] At a 2018 concert in Manchester, he said: "for the last time, we're not a fucking punk band".[37]

Members

Current

• Joe Talbot – lead vocals (2009–present)
• Adam Devonshire – bass, backing vocals (2009–present)
• Mark Bowen – lead guitar, backing vocals (2009–present)
• Jon Beavis – drums, backing vocals (2011–present)
• Lee Kiernan – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2015–present)

Former

• Andy Stewart – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2010–2015)
• Jon Harper – drums (2010–2011)

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		UK [38]	BEL (FL) [39]	BEL (WA) [40]	FRA [41]	GER [42]	IRL [43]	NLD [44]	SCO [45]	SWI [46]	US [47]
Brutalism	Released: 10 March 2017[48] Label: Balley, Partisan	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Joy as an Act of Resistance	Released: 31 August 2018[49] Label: Partisan	5	20	81	74	49	56	108	6	49	—[upper-alpha 1]
Ultra Mono	Released: 25 September 2020 Label: Partisan	1	8	15	44 [51]	14	3	18	1	21	54

Live albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		UK [38]	BEL (WA) [40]	SCO [45]	US Heat [50]
A Beautiful Thing: Idles Live at le Bataclan	Released: 6 December 2019[52] Label: Partisan	59	182	36	17
Live at Ramsgate Music Hall	Released: 24 April 2020[53] Label: Self-released	—	—	—	—

Physical singles and EPs

• Welcome (2012), Fear of Fiction
• Meat (2015), Balley
• Meta EP (2015), Balley
• Meat // Anguish EP (2016), Harmacy
• "Well Done" (2017), Balley
• "Divide & Conquer" (2017), Balley
• "Mother" (2017), Balley
• "Danny Nedelko" (2018) – split single with Heavy Lungs
• "Mercedes Marxist" / "I Dream Guillotine" (2019), Partisan

Download-only tracks/singles

• "Stendhal Syndrome" (2017), Balley
• "Rachel Khoo" (2017), Balley
• "Colossus" (2018), Partisan
• "Danny Nedelko" (2018), Partisan
• "Samaritans" (2018), Partisan
• "Great" (2018), Partisan
• "Never Fight a Man with a Perm" (2019), Partisan
• "Mr. Motivator" (2020), Partisan
• "Grounds" (2020), Partisan
• "A Hymn" (2020), Partisan
• "Model Village" (2020), Partisan

Compilations

• Meat / Meta (2019), Balley

Guest features

• Wish (from the Anna Calvi album, Hunted)
• None of Us Are Getting Out of This Alive (from The Streets mixtape, None of Us Are Getting Out of This Alive)

Notes

1. Joy as an Act of Resistance did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number four on the US Billboard Heatseekers chart.[50]

References

1. Smith, Thomas (29 September 2017). "Idles: Snarling punk that encapsulates the state of the nation". NME. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
2. Bassett, Jordan. "Idles – 'Joy As An Act Of Resistance' review". NME. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
3. Empire, Kitty (3 November 2018). "Idles review – shout their name from the rooftops". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
4. "Album Review: Idles - Joy as an Act of Resistance". DrownedInSound. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
5. McSorley, Kevin (19 April 2019). "Idles a subversive band that disagrees vehemently with our government". Irish News. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
6. Hamilton, Joe (2017) "Brute Force: The Contrary World Of IDLES", Clash, 15 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017
7. "Brute Force: The Contrary World Of IDLES". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
8. "Not Another Indie Disco meet Idles". notanotherindiedisco.com. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
9. McSorley, Kevin (19 April 2019). "Idles a subversive band that disagrees vehemently with our government". Irish News. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
10. "Idles - Welcome". Discogs. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
11. Murray, Eoin (2017) "Stendhal Syndrome: Idles Interviewed", The Quietus, 29 June 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017
12. "Idles - Meat EP / Meta EP". Discogs. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
13. Smith, Thomas (30 September 2016). "IDLES Namecheck Mary Berry On Punk Anthem 'Well Done'". NME. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
14. "Premiere: IDLES - 'Divide And Conquer'". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
15. Smith, Thomas (2016) "New Music Of The Day: IDLES Namecheck Mary Berry On Punk Anthem 'Well Done'", NME, 30 September 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2017
16. Murray, Robin (2016) "Premiere: IDLES - 'Divide And Conquer'", Clash, 31 August 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2017
17. Goodman, Jessica (2017) "Idles - Brutalism", DIY. Retrieved 8 July 2017
18. Day, Laurence (2017) "Idles are one of the most exciting British bands right now", Line of Best Fit, 16 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017
19. King, Ian (2017) "Idles Brutalism", PopMatters, 10 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017
20. "Idles - Brutalism", Uncut, April 2017, p. 32
21. Yates, Jonathan (2017) "Everything you need to know about The Maccabees farewell shows at Alexandra Palace", getSurrey.co.uk, 28 June 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017
22. Beauvallet, JD, (2017) "Des Idles aux Parcels : une deuxième soirée tout en contrastes aux Eurockéennes", Les Inrocks, 8 July 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2017
23. Jones, Craig (2017) "Idles at Download Festival 2017: Punk band take aim at The Sun during riotous set", Birmingham Mail, 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017
24. IDLES (31 July 2018). "Joy as an Act of Resistance Exhibition" – via YouTube.
25. Daly, Rhian (12 January 2019). "IDLES, The 1975, and Dua Lipa amongst stars nominated for 2019 BRIT Awards". NME. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
26. "Kerrang! Awards 2019: Here's the Full List of Winners". Kerrang!. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
27. Reilly, Nick. "Watch Idles play defiant new track 'Grounds' at massive Ally Pally show". NME. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
28. Skinner, Tom (16 June 2020). "IDLES announce third album 'Ultra Mono' and share new track 'Grounds'". NME. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
29. Robb, John. "IDLES : Ultra Mono – album review". Louder than War. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
30. Stiernberg, Bonnie (21 August 2018). "How IDLES Used Punk Rock To Fight Through Grief". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
31. Beaumont, Mark (6 April 2017). "Post-Brexit punk and austerity anthems - 2017's political rock resurgence". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
32. Beaumont, Mark (30 August 2018). "Idles, Joy as an Act of Resistance album review: Punk rockers place vulnerability and empathy front and centre". The Independent. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
33. Cooper, Matthew (20 February 2019). "Who are IDLES? Bristol post-punk band nominated for best breakthrough act - Manchester Evening News". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
34. "Subscribe to read". Financial Times. Cite uses generic title (help)
35. Wray, Daniel Dylan (22 March 2018). "Meet IDLES, Punk's Most Savage Good Boys". Noisey. Vice Media. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
36. https://www.msn.com/en-nz/entertainment/music/idles-joe-talbot-were-not-a-punk-band/ar-BB16L3Gg
37. McCann, Freya (2018) "LIVE: IDLES @ O2 RITZ | 19.10.18", mcr.live, 19 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018
38. "Idles - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
39. "Discografie IDLES". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
40. "Discografie IDLES". ultratop.be (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
41. "Discographie Idles". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
42. "Discographie von Idles". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
43. "Discography Idles". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
44. "Idles Dutch Charts". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
45. Peak chart positions in Scotland:
    • "Joy as an Act of Resistance": "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 07 September 2018 - 13 September 2018". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
    • "A Beautiful Thing: Idles Live at le Bataclan": "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 13 December 2019 - 19 December 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
    • "Ultra Mono": "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 25 September 2020 - 01 October 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
46. "Idles Hitparade". Hit Parade. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
47. "Idles – Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
48. "Brutalism by IDLES on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
49. "Joy as an Act of Resistance by IDLES on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
50. "Idles – Chart History - Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
51. "Top Albums (Week 40, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
52. "A Beautiful Thing: IDLES Live at Le Bataclan by IDLES on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
53. "IDLES - Live at Ramsgate Music Hall". Bandcamp. Retrieved 12 August 2020.

External links

• Official website