Hell Is For Heroes (band)
Encyclopedia
Hell Is for Heroes was an English
post-hardcore
band from London
. Founder members Will McGonagle and Joe Birch (previously of Symposium
) were joined by James Findlay, Tom O'Donoghue and later Justin Schlosberg. The band played their formative shows in West London throughout 2001.
After two independently released singles
, Hell Is for Heroes released their debut album
in February 2003 on EMI
. The Neon Handshake
was produced and recorded in Los Angeles
at Sound City Studios and mixed in Umeå
, Sweden
at Tonteknik by Pelle Henricsson and Eskil Lövström. The band's A&R
was managed by Duncan Illing. The band and their A&R left EMI in 2004. The band released its second album Transmit Disrupt
independently, before signing a deal with Burning Heart Records
, who subsequently re-released it in 2006. Their final self-titled
album was released through Golf Records in 2007.
Their debut album was voted the 58th best British rock album ever, by the readers of Kerrang!
magazine in the 19 February 2005 issue.
In October 2008, the band announced its indefinite hiatus.
. Their final release was in 1999 and, by the end of 2000, due to personal and musical differences, and problems with their record label
, they had split up. Before long they joined up with their former school friends, James Findlay and Tom O'Donoghue, to form what would become with Hell is for Heroes, but they still lacked a lead singer. Justin Schlosberg was recruited through mutual friends.
In January 2001, they had performed their first gig
at The Half Moon in Putney
, London. In March that year they toured as support for Biffy Clyro
, and at the end of that tour they had recruited a loyal fan base which meant the band caught the attention of major record labels. In July 2001, they signed with EMI
. It took all that year before Hell Is for Heros released their debut single on Superior Quality Recordings. It was a double A-side, featuring two songs that would later appear on their debut album, "Sick/Happy" and "Cut Down".
The band next released "You Drove Me To It" with the B-sides
"Things Fall Apart" and "Kill the Silence" in January 2002. That year saw the release of two more singles, "I Can Climb Mountains" and "Nightvision". The latter track included "Folded Paper Figures" on the B-side, which became popular with their fanbase, and was later re-recorded and used on their second album.
was issued in February 2003, and gained a positive reviews from the NME
. It peaked at #16 in the UK Albums Chart
. Hell is for Heroes' videos
appeared regularly on major music television channels, and the band continued to tour across the UK keeping up their reputation as one of the premier live bands of the day. One performance of that time at The Astoria in London was filmed, and shown by MTV2
.
In early 2003, "You Drove Me To It", which had been re-mastered for the album version was re-released as a single. Shortly after the release of the album, the band went on tour with Feeder
for five dates of their UK tour. Hell Is for Heroes' live appearances included the Carling Weekend Reading and Leeds Festival on the BBC Radio 1
stage.
However in 2004, changes within EMI saw Chrysalis Records
, which owned the rights to Hell Is for Heroes closed down, and another subsidiary subsequently decide to part company with the band.
, Captains of Industry
. The first single release was "One Of Us", which did not enjoy their previous major label's promotion efforts. "Models for the Programme" was then followed by "Kamichi" before the album's release. Transmit Disrupt
flopped at #87 in the UK
chart
.
. Transmit Disrupt was re-released, and "Models For The Programme" was given a new video. In February 2006, the band announced on their website that they had "come out of hibernation", and "New Song" appeared on the band's website. This was followed by a tour and, in July, "Eject Eject Eject", was available for free download on MySpace
.
and Europe
an tour. "You've Got Hopes" was placed on the band's Myspace page. In April the band released the tracklisting of their new album on their official site. In June the band's third, eponymous album was released on Golf Records
. Reviews and interviews in Kerrang! brought the album to a wider audience and the band embarked upon a sponsored tour throughout June, playing the Barfly
venues in the UK.
The band were forced to cancel three dates at the end of the 2007 tour due to illness. In October 2008, the band announced their final UK tour, with their final concert on 12 December 2008 at the Glasgow Barfly.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Founder members Will McGonagle and Joe Birch (previously of Symposium
Symposium (band)
Symposium were a punk pop band from England. They were active from 1994–2000 and were known for their live shows. The name 'Symposium' originally referred to a drinking party , and was taken from the book by Plato...
) were joined by James Findlay, Tom O'Donoghue and later Justin Schlosberg. The band played their formative shows in West London throughout 2001.
After two independently released singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, Hell Is for Heroes released their debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
in February 2003 on EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. The Neon Handshake
The Neon Handshake
The Neon Handshake is the debut album by London band Hell is For Heroes. The CD was released in February 2003 on Chrysalis Records.Rock Sound Magazine awarded it as "Album of the Year"....
was produced and recorded in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
at Sound City Studios and mixed in Umeå
Umeå
- Transport :The road infrastructure in Umeå is well-developed, with two European highways passing through the city. About 4 km from the city centre is the Umeå City Airport...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
at Tonteknik by Pelle Henricsson and Eskil Lövström. The band's A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
was managed by Duncan Illing. The band and their A&R left EMI in 2004. The band released its second album Transmit Disrupt
Transmit Disrupt
Transmit Disrupt is the second album from Hell Is for Heroes and features 12 tracks. It was released in the United Kingdom in March 2005 while the band wasn't under a record label; consequently the album didn't get a lot of promotion. The singles "Kamichi", "One Of Us", "Discos and Casinos" and...
independently, before signing a deal with Burning Heart Records
Burning Heart Records
Burning Heart Records is an independent record label formed in 1993 and based in Örebro, Sweden. It has a close affiliation with Californian label Epitaph Records, who own the rights to distribute Burning Heart's output in North America...
, who subsequently re-released it in 2006. Their final self-titled
Hell Is for Heroes (album)
Hell Is for Heroes is the third album from Hell Is for Heroes, and was released on June 11, 2007 on Golf Records. The album is dedicated to the memory of Gary Wilson.-Track listing:# "To Die For" - 5:17# "Stranger In You" - 3:06# "Arcades" - 4:07...
album was released through Golf Records in 2007.
Their debut album was voted the 58th best British rock album ever, by the readers of Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
magazine in the 19 February 2005 issue.
In October 2008, the band announced its indefinite hiatus.
Band line-up
- Justin Schlosberg - vocals
- William McGonagle - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Tom O'Donoghue - guitar
- James Findlay - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Joe Birch - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Early days
Will McGonagle and Joe Birch were two members of the former British band SymposiumSymposium (band)
Symposium were a punk pop band from England. They were active from 1994–2000 and were known for their live shows. The name 'Symposium' originally referred to a drinking party , and was taken from the book by Plato...
. Their final release was in 1999 and, by the end of 2000, due to personal and musical differences, and problems with their record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, they had split up. Before long they joined up with their former school friends, James Findlay and Tom O'Donoghue, to form what would become with Hell is for Heroes, but they still lacked a lead singer. Justin Schlosberg was recruited through mutual friends.
In January 2001, they had performed their first gig
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
at The Half Moon in Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, London. In March that year they toured as support for Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
, and at the end of that tour they had recruited a loyal fan base which meant the band caught the attention of major record labels. In July 2001, they signed with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. It took all that year before Hell Is for Heros released their debut single on Superior Quality Recordings. It was a double A-side, featuring two songs that would later appear on their debut album, "Sick/Happy" and "Cut Down".
The band next released "You Drove Me To It" with the B-sides
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
"Things Fall Apart" and "Kill the Silence" in January 2002. That year saw the release of two more singles, "I Can Climb Mountains" and "Nightvision". The latter track included "Folded Paper Figures" on the B-side, which became popular with their fanbase, and was later re-recorded and used on their second album.
The Neon Handshake
The Neon HandshakeThe Neon Handshake
The Neon Handshake is the debut album by London band Hell is For Heroes. The CD was released in February 2003 on Chrysalis Records.Rock Sound Magazine awarded it as "Album of the Year"....
was issued in February 2003, and gained a positive reviews from the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
. It peaked at #16 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. Hell is for Heroes' videos
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
appeared regularly on major music television channels, and the band continued to tour across the UK keeping up their reputation as one of the premier live bands of the day. One performance of that time at The Astoria in London was filmed, and shown by MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
.
In early 2003, "You Drove Me To It", which had been re-mastered for the album version was re-released as a single. Shortly after the release of the album, the band went on tour with Feeder
Feeder
-Technology:* Feeder , any of several devices used in apiculture to supplement or replace natural food sources* Feeder , another name for a riser, a reservoir built into a metal casting mold to prevent cavities due to shrinkage...
for five dates of their UK tour. Hell Is for Heroes' live appearances included the Carling Weekend Reading and Leeds Festival on the BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
stage.
However in 2004, changes within EMI saw Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
, which owned the rights to Hell Is for Heroes closed down, and another subsidiary subsequently decide to part company with the band.
Transmit Disrupt
In May 2004, the band recorded their second album with the independent record labelIndependent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, Captains of Industry
Captains of Industry (record label)
The Captains of Industry were an independent record label based in London and Durham, UK. They announced their launch in 2003 "as a self-funded experiment in art and commerce" with a plan to exist for 5 years, and as a result ceased trading while in profit in 2008.They released material by artists...
. The first single release was "One Of Us", which did not enjoy their previous major label's promotion efforts. "Models for the Programme" was then followed by "Kamichi" before the album's release. Transmit Disrupt
Transmit Disrupt
Transmit Disrupt is the second album from Hell Is for Heroes and features 12 tracks. It was released in the United Kingdom in March 2005 while the band wasn't under a record label; consequently the album didn't get a lot of promotion. The singles "Kamichi", "One Of Us", "Discos and Casinos" and...
flopped at #87 in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
.
Burning Heart Records
In September 2005, Hell Is for Heroes signed with Burning Heart RecordsBurning Heart Records
Burning Heart Records is an independent record label formed in 1993 and based in Örebro, Sweden. It has a close affiliation with Californian label Epitaph Records, who own the rights to distribute Burning Heart's output in North America...
. Transmit Disrupt was re-released, and "Models For The Programme" was given a new video. In February 2006, the band announced on their website that they had "come out of hibernation", and "New Song" appeared on the band's website. This was followed by a tour and, in July, "Eject Eject Eject", was available for free download on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
.
Golf Records and Hell Is For Heroes
In February 2007, Hell is for Heroes began their UK, IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an tour. "You've Got Hopes" was placed on the band's Myspace page. In April the band released the tracklisting of their new album on their official site. In June the band's third, eponymous album was released on Golf Records
Golf Records
Golf Records is an independent record label based in the UK.-Artists:*4ft Fingers*Amulet*A New Way Trust*Black Flame Dispute*The Blueprint*Boy Hits Car*Carpathian*The Chariot*Dead Poetic*The Devil Wears Prada*District*Dopamine...
. Reviews and interviews in Kerrang! brought the album to a wider audience and the band embarked upon a sponsored tour throughout June, playing the Barfly
Barfly (club)
Barfly is a chain of live music venues nightclubs in the UK operating as part of the MAMA Group. It has venues in Brighton, London & York. They regularly feature live music. Their club nights tend to feature rock, alternative and independent music...
venues in the UK.
Finale
On 25 October 2007, Hell Is for Heroes stated:
Our forthcoming hop around the UK will be our last full length stint on the road before the reunion tour in 2037. We're up for spending more time at home working on other projects and potentially a fourth album if we can beat our last effort. Plus we reckon 7 years in the van is a fair stretch by any standards.
The band were forced to cancel three dates at the end of the 2007 tour due to illness. In October 2008, the band announced their final UK tour, with their final concert on 12 December 2008 at the Glasgow Barfly.
Albums
- The Neon HandshakeThe Neon HandshakeThe Neon Handshake is the debut album by London band Hell is For Heroes. The CD was released in February 2003 on Chrysalis Records.Rock Sound Magazine awarded it as "Album of the Year"....
(2003) EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
- UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#16 - Transmit DisruptTransmit DisruptTransmit Disrupt is the second album from Hell Is for Heroes and features 12 tracks. It was released in the United Kingdom in March 2005 while the band wasn't under a record label; consequently the album didn't get a lot of promotion. The singles "Kamichi", "One Of Us", "Discos and Casinos" and...
(2005) IndependentIndependent record labelAn independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
- UK #87 - Hell Is For HeroesHell Is for Heroes (album)Hell Is for Heroes is the third album from Hell Is for Heroes, and was released on June 11, 2007 on Golf Records. The album is dedicated to the memory of Gary Wilson.-Track listing:# "To Die For" - 5:17# "Stranger In You" - 3:06# "Arcades" - 4:07...
(2007) GolfGolf RecordsGolf Records is an independent record label based in the UK.-Artists:*4ft Fingers*Amulet*A New Way Trust*Black Flame Dispute*The Blueprint*Boy Hits Car*Carpathian*The Chariot*Dead Poetic*The Devil Wears Prada*District*Dopamine...
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
UK Download Chart | |||
| 2001 | "Sick Happy/Cut Down" | - | - | The Neon Handshake The Neon Handshake The Neon Handshake is the debut album by London band Hell is For Heroes. The CD was released in February 2003 on Chrysalis Records.Rock Sound Magazine awarded it as "Album of the Year".... |
| 2002 | "I Can Climb Mountains" | 41 | - | |
| "You Drove Me To It" CD 1 | 63 | - | ||
| "Night Vision" CD 1 | - | - | ||
| "Night Vision" CD 2 | 38 | - | ||
| 2003 | "You Drove Me To It" CD 2 | 28 | - | |
| "You Drove Me To It" CD 3 | - | - | ||
| "Retreat" CD 1 | - | - | ||
| "Retreat" CD 2 | 39 | - | ||
| 2004 | "One Of Us" | 71 | - | Transmit Disrupt Transmit Disrupt Transmit Disrupt is the second album from Hell Is for Heroes and features 12 tracks. It was released in the United Kingdom in March 2005 while the band wasn't under a record label; consequently the album didn't get a lot of promotion. The singles "Kamichi", "One Of Us", "Discos and Casinos" and... |
| "Kamichi" | 72 | - | ||
| "Models For The Programme" | 54 | - | ||
| 2007 | "You've Got Hopes" | - | - | Hell Is For Heroes Hell Is for Heroes (album) Hell Is for Heroes is the third album from Hell Is for Heroes, and was released on June 11, 2007 on Golf Records. The album is dedicated to the memory of Gary Wilson.-Track listing:# "To Die For" - 5:17# "Stranger In You" - 3:06# "Arcades" - 4:07... |
Reviews
- "Transmit Disrupt" Review by Chris Andrade for kMNR...Music News Weekly
- "Transmit Disrupt" Review at Drowned in Sound