Feeder's recent history is carved from hard work and no little talent: a tale of inspiration and perspiration, if you will. After a good few years of dragging their huge army of fans and their brilliant tunes into a previously rock-unfriendly mainstream, 1999 promises more - the band having almost completed work on their second album, and with a single release and a tour scheduled already.
Grant Nicholas (guitar, sings, writes the songs) first met Jon Lee (drums) when they played together in a band called Temper Temper. After the band fell apart he left South Wales for London to embark on a crash course in studio engineering.
After this, he dragged Jon up to London to form a band initially called Reel, supplementing his income as a cycle courier. Reel became Real, which in turn became Feeder
Jon was a county sprinter until he bust his leg and discovered smoking. He followed the Temper Temper episode with a stint in a 10 piece loungecore band following Grant to the big smoke.
Taka Hirose (bass) was a jazz-loving bassist playing in heavy metal bands in Tokyo, working nights in a Yakuza-popular bar. He came to London and put an advert in Loot. It was noticed by his current bandmates and the rest is history.
Feeder signed to Echo in 1995, and soon released the limited edition Two Colours EP. Their recorded life proper began in Spring 1996 however with the release of the mini-album Swim. The world of rock instantly fell for its powerful riffs and gorgeous melodies and instantly declared this debut as vintage of the year. Then followed three singles, Stereo World, Tangerine and Cement - and tours with the likes of Terrorvision and Reef that gradually established Feeder in the mid-reaches of the charts before the release of the bands first full album, Polythene in May 1997.
'This is one of those albums that you'll want to listen to time and again, the kind of album that becomes a soundtrack to your life.' (Metal Hammer, May 1997). Polythene included all the band's singles to date, plus live anthems Descend and My Perfect Day. Another single, Crash, accompanied Summer festival appearances, and again the release scraped the Top 40. Feeder's next single High, however would provide a healthy breakthrough of sorts.
'Their Top 30 single High sounded like their team song and, on the line "I'm going out for a while, so I can get high with my friends", Feeder's fans knew Nicholas was singing about them.' (The Times, May 1998) Then anthemic High entered the charts at number 24 in October 1997, and alongside an overstuffed show at the Electric Ballroom in Camden 'Proof positive that Feeder have arrived.' (Kerrang, November 1997) this was a delirious signpost to a rosy future.
Grant, Jon and Taka then radically reworked the album track Suffocate for single release in early 1998. 'Such are the fringe benefits of the recent Top 30 hit, High, that Feeder are reaping the rewards of five years hard graft around this country's less salubrious venues.' (Q January 1998)
'Feeder could well be the next home-grown act to taste success in the States.' (Daily Mail, December 1997)
Often tipped as 'the next band most likely to...' break America, Feeder took to the road in the States in January 1998 and apart from a staggering UK jaunt in April and more festival dates in the summer, stayed there for 125 shows until October. 'High' was released in the States during this time and stayed in the US Rock Radio Top 30 for 14 consecutive weeks. The band's Spring tour was Feeder's biggest yet, culminating in two brilliant sold out nights at London's Astoria. Halfway through the tour Grant had cracked a cheekbone, and had to play through pain for both of these dates. Suffocate also became the band's second Top 40 hit.
As the band returned to the UK in October 1998 to commence recording of the next album, they left behind an America well-warmed to Feeder's ways, ready to be broken later this year. Before that comes a Spring dedicated to touring and the release of the band's first single for over a year 'Day In Day Out.' This little slice of riffy, radio-friendly loveliness comes wrapped up with a whole slew of new tracks, including recent live favourites 'Can't Dance To Disco' and 'I Need A Buzz' (the press had excitedly, and eventually erroneously, predicted that either or both would be released as singles.)
As excellent as both these live hits are, neither are destined for the forthcoming album. Day In Day Out was released on March 22nd, immediately preceded by Feeder's first UK tour for 11 months. The band's second album will be released at the end of the summer following Grant, Jon and Taka's biggest headlining date yet - Brixton Academy, Friday June 18th. Grant also promises an epic of an album - making this release one of the most eagerly awaited of this rock-friendly 1999. Their time is now, it seems.
