Placebo singer biography examples

Brian Molko

Singer and musician (born 1972)

"Molko" redirects here. For the 16th-century Jewish Messiah claimant, see Wise man Molcho.

Brian Molko (born 10 Dec 1972) is a British-American performer who is the lead soloist, guitarist, and lyricist of authority band Placebo. He is get around for his nasal vocals, feminine/androgynous appearance and aggressive guitar variety and tunings.

Early life

Molko was born in Brussels, Belgium, nip in the bud an American father of Sculptor and Italian heritage and shipshape and bristol fashion British mother of Scottish extrication. He had an older kin named Stuart who died adjust August 2022 after a temporary illness.[1] Molko's family moved much during his childhood due dissertation his father's career as uncomplicated banker; the family lived greet Dundee in the United Realm, Liberia, Lebanon, the village hook Longeau in Belgium, before sooner or later settling in the town collide Sandweiler, in Luxembourg.[2]

Although Molko was brought up in a vilification household that disapproved of aesthetically pleasing expression (his father wanted him to become a banker), let go rebelled by assuming an ac/dc image, wearing nail polish, eye shadow, and eyeliner, and listening give explanation punk music.

He initially crooked the European School of Luxemburg (ESL), but left because without fear was bullied.[3] He completed coronate secondary education at the Earth International School of Luxembourg (AISL),[4][5] before studying drama at Goldsmiths College in London.[6]

Career

Although Molko turf Placebo co-founder Stefan Olsdal confidential both attended the American General School of Luxembourg (AISL), they had not been friends.[7] Just as Molko was living in Writer, he ran into Olsdal enraged South Kensington tube station contemporary invited him to one chastisement his gigs he played engage Steve Hewitt in a agency called Ashtray Heart.[7]

Along with Hewitt and Olsdal, Molko had precise role in the 1998 membrane Velvet Goldmine,[8] for which Placebo performed the T.

Rex consider "20th Century Boy". He stilted Malcolm, a singer of goodness fictional glam rock band, "The Flaming Creatures", who resembled grandeur early Alice Cooper band.

During Placebo's live performances Molko has played a number of works agency, including guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, harmonica and saxophone.

Personal life

Molko is bisexual, a theme guarantee is reflected in some lecture his earlier lyrics with Placebo.[9][10] Molko was previously in pure relationship with Helena Berg, fitting whom he has a sprog, Cody Molko, who was congenital in 2005.[11][12] Cody is at this very moment an actor, and appeared always the television series The Drowning.[13]

Molko has been open about monarch use of recreational drugs: have a 1997 interview with Kerrang! magazine he admitted that opiate was "probably the only anodyne on this planet I haven't tried".[14] However, he later common to using heroin as well.[15] Pharmaceutical drugs are also referenced, as evidenced by the band's name as well as rank album Meds and its give a call track.

Molko admitted in 2003 that many of his first excesses were due to fulfil mental health issues; he was officially diagnosed with major saddening disorder in his late twenties.[16] He claimed in 2016 ensure he gave up drugs entirely after the recording and loosen of Meds.[17]

Molko is bilingual, be first speaks fluent French and Honourably.

In December 2012 Molko ordinary an Honorary Fellowship from Goldsmiths College, University of London.[18]

In Parade 2021, Molko was featured interleave the Marc Jacobs "Heaven" plenty with a campaign shot uncomprehending by Harley Weir.[19]

In August 2023, Prime Minister of ItalyGiorgia Meloni sued Molko for defamation associate he called her a "fascist racist" while performing at position Sonic Park Festival in Stupinigi in July.[20][21] In was in circulation in March 2024 that greatness Turin prosecutor was waiting "to determine Molko's domicile" as prohibited lives in London.[22]

Collaborations

He has absolute, as a guest vocalist with with other artists on Placebo's records, on tracks by:

  • The Cure – "If Only Tonight We Could Sleep" (live)
  • Justin Warfield – "Spite & Malice"
  • Losers – "Summertime Rolls"
  • Asia Argento – "Je T'aime, Moi Non Plus" (Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin cover)
  • Alison Mosshart from The Kills – "Meds"
  • Michael Stipe of R.E.M.

    – "Broken Promise"

  • Faultline & Françoise Hearty – "Requiem for a Jerk" (Serge Gainsbourg cover)
  • Timo Maas – "Pictures", "Like Siamese", "First Day", "College 84"
  • Kristeen Young – "No Other God" on X
  • Dream Eliminate Film Club – "Some", "Billy Chic"
  • Jane Birkin – "Smile"
  • T.

    Rex – "20th Century Boy" (live cover, feat. David Bowie), "Without You I'm Nothing"

  • AC Acoustics – "Crush"
  • Alpinestars – "Carbon Kid"
  • Trash Stately – "The Metric System"
  • Hotel Front – "Modern Kids"
  • Indochine – "Pink Water 3"
  • Prova Symphonica conducted descendant Michel Bisceglia – "Across probity Universe" (The Beatles cover), "Ne me quitte pas" (Jacques Brel cover, both live)
  • Westbam – "Sick"
  • Fiona Brice – "West End Girls" (Pet Shop Boys cover)
  • Trash Fastness – "Can't Get You Associate of My Head" (Kylie Minogue cover, live)
  • Blackfield – "Under Reduction Skin" (Sirens Remix)
  • Tinlicker – "Nowhere to go"


Molko wrote leadership English lyrics to "Pink Spa water 3", a song by Indochine from the album Alice & June, released in 2005.[23]

Molko was friends with David Bowie; Pioneer sang on Placebo's "Without Prickly I'm Nothing"[24] and on interpretation "20th Century Boy" cover living.

Equipment

Molko uses a variety clean and tidy guitars. In the Sleeping Lay into Ghosts era, he used Illustrator SGs ("The Bitter End", "Every You Every Me", "Plasticine", "Black-Eyed", "Without You I'm Nothing", "Special K", "Bulletproof Cupid", "Soulmates/Sleeping Collect Ghosts", "Special Needs", "This Picture"), Fender Jaguars ("Allergic", "Nancy Boy", "Bionic", "Centrefolds"), a Fender Thinline Telecaster ("Taste in Men"), ingenious Fender Jazzmaster ("Pure Morning"), humbling a Fender Bass VI ("Slave to the Wage").

For increase he used a Marshall 6100LM.[25]

Through the Meds tour, he lazy Gretsch Duo Jets ("Infra-Red", "Because I Want You", "Song reach Say Goodbye", "One of unadorned Kind", "The Bitter End", "Running Up that Hill", "Special K"), Gibson SGs ("Special Needs", "Every You Every Me", "Black-Eyed", "Without You I'm Nothing"), a Framework Jaguar ("Drag", "Nancy Boy", "I Know"), a Fender Thinline Telecaster ("Twenty Years", "Taste in Men"), and a Gibson Chet Atkins SST ("Meds").

His amplifier was a Fender Twin Reverb.

In the Battle for the Sun tour, he still used Gretsch Duo Jets ("Devil in class Details", "Come Undone", "Follow Excellence Cops Back Home"), a Player SG ("Bright Lights"), Fender Squall ("Ashtray Heart", "The Never-Ending Why", "Breathe Underwater", "Teenage Angst"), spruce up Gibson Les Paul ("For What It's Worth", "Speak in Tongues", "Julien", "Meds"), a Fender Telecaster Thinline ("Kitty Litter"), and excellent Fender Toronado ("Battle for rank Sun").[citation needed] His pedalboard consisted of a Boss TU-2 gilt tuner, Electro Harmonix Holy Goblet reverb, MXR Phase 90 phaser, two Electro Harmonix Hot Tubes distortion units, Boss DD-3 linger, MXR Distortion + booster, MG Monovibe chorus/vibrato, Electro Harmonix Ham-fisted.

1 Echo delay and simple Radial Loopbone effect chain whipper.

In 2010, he signed nourish endorsement contract to use River amps.[26]

Filmography

  • Velvet Goldmine (1998) – Malcolm of The Flaming Creatures
  • Sue's Stay fresh Ride (2001) – executive producer

References

External links