Belle and Sebastian: Difference between revisions

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| caption          = Members of Belle and Sebastian, pictured sometime between 2001 and 2006. Left to right: Mick Cooke, Richard Colburn, Bobby Kildea, Chris Geddes, Stevie Jackson, Sarah Martin, Stuart Murdoch
| caption          = Members of Belle and Sebastian, pictured sometime between 2001 and 2006. Left to right: Mick Cooke, Richard Colburn, Bobby Kildea, Chris Geddes, Stevie Jackson, Sarah Martin, Stuart Murdoch
| origin            = [[Glasgow]], Scotland
| origin            = [[Glasgow]], Scotland
| genre            = {{hlist|[[Indie pop]]<ref name="AM bio">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/belle-and-sebastian-mn0000153565/biography|title=Belle and Sebastian – Biography|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=5 February 2017 |last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas}}</ref>|[[twee pop]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|date=2007|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA3038 |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|page=3038|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}</ref>|[[indie rock]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/belle-and-sebastian-new-album-a-bit-of-previous/|title=Belle and Sebastian release new album 'A Bit of Previous'|last=Potter|first=Jordan|date=May 6, 2022|website=[[Far Out (magazine)|Far Out]]|access-date=November 26, 2022}}</ref>|[[chamber pop]]<ref name="npr">{{cite web|title=Belle and Sebastian, The New Pornographers in Concert|website=NPR.org|url=https://www.npr.org/2006/03/06/5235927/belle-and-sebastian-the-new-pornographers|publisher=[[NPR]]|access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref>}}
| genre            = {{hlist|[[Indie pop]]<ref name="AM bio">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/belle-and-sebastian-mn0000153565/biography|title=Belle and Sebastian – Biography|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=5 February 2017 |last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas}}</ref>|[[twee pop]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|date=2007|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA3038 |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|page=3038|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}</ref>|[[indie rock]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/belle-and-sebastian-new-album-a-bit-of-previous/|title=Belle and Sebastian release new album 'A Bit of Previous'|last=Potter|first=Jordan|date=May 6, 2022|website=Far Out|access-date=November 26, 2022}}</ref>|[[chamber pop]]<ref name="npr">{{cite web|title=Belle and Sebastian, The New Pornographers in Concert|website=NPR|date=6 March 2006 |url=https://www.npr.org/2006/03/06/5235927/belle-and-sebastian-the-new-pornographers|publisher=[[NPR]]|access-date=19 August 2016}}</ref>}}
| years_active      = 1996–present
| years_active      = 1994–present
| label            = {{hlist|[[Rough Trade Records|Rough Trade]]|[[Jeepster Records|Jeepster]]|[[Matador Records|Matador]]|[[Arts & Crafts México]]}}
| label            = {{hlist|[[Rough Trade Records|Rough Trade]]|[[Jeepster Records|Jeepster]]|[[Matador Records|Matador]]|[[Arts & Crafts México]]}}
| current_members  = * [[Stuart Murdoch (musician)|Stuart Murdoch]]
| current_members  = * [[Stuart Murdoch (musician)|Stuart Murdoch]]
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| website          = {{URL|belleandsebastian.com}}
| website          = {{URL|belleandsebastian.com}}
}}
}}
'''Belle and Sebastian''' are a Scottish [[indie pop]] band formed in [[Glasgow]] in 1996. Led by [[Stuart Murdoch (musician)|Stuart Murdoch]], the band has released twelve studio albums.<ref name="a2x">{{Citation |last=Taylor |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Taylor |title=The A to X of Alternative Music |publisher=[[Continuum International Publishing Group]] |year=2004 |pages=30–31 |isbn=0-8264-8217-1}}</ref><ref name="grd">{{Citation |last=Strong |first=Martin Charles |title=The Great Rock Discography: Complete Discographies Listing Every Track Recorded By More Than 1200 Artists |publisher=[[Canongate Books|Canongate U.S.]] |year=2004 |page=122 |isbn=1-84195-615-5}}</ref> They are often compared with acts such as [[the Smiths]]<ref>{{Citation |last=Cassidy |first=Jude |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |publisher=[[Rough Guides]] |year=1999 |page=358 |isbn=1-84353-105-4}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Metcalf |first=Stephen |title= MUSIC; With the Auteur Passé, Rock Gets Impersonal |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D61E3CF932A35757C0A9679C8B63 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=1 April 2001 |accessdate=4 November 2007| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20071210172823/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D61E3CF932A35757C0A9679C8B63| archivedate= 10 December 2007 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status= live}}</ref> and [[Nick Drake]].<ref name="a2x" /><ref name="grd" /> The band took their name from the 1965 television series ''[[Belle and Sebastian (1965 TV series)|Belle and Sebastian]]''.
'''Belle and Sebastian''' are a Scottish [[indie pop]] band formed in [[Glasgow]] in 1994.<ref name="AM bio"/> Led by [[Stuart Murdoch (musician)|Stuart Murdoch]], the band has released twelve studio albums.<ref name="a2x">{{Citation |last=Taylor |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Taylor |title=The A to X of Alternative Music |publisher=[[Continuum International Publishing Group]] |year=2004 |pages=30–31 |isbn=0-8264-8217-1}}</ref><ref name="grd">{{Citation |last=Strong |first=Martin Charles |title=The Great Rock Discography: Complete Discographies Listing Every Track Recorded By More Than 1200 Artists |publisher=[[Canongate Books|Canongate U.S.]] |year=2004 |page=122 |isbn=1-84195-615-5}}</ref> They are often compared with acts such as [[the Smiths]]<ref>{{Citation |last=Cassidy |first=Jude |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |publisher=[[Rough Guides]] |year=1999 |page=358 |isbn=1-84353-105-4}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Metcalf |first=Stephen |title= MUSIC; With the Auteur Passé, Rock Gets Impersonal |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D61E3CF932A35757C0A9679C8B63 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=1 April 2001 |access-date=4 November 2007| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20071210172823/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D61E3CF932A35757C0A9679C8B63| archivedate= 10 December 2007 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status= live}}</ref> and [[Nick Drake]].<ref name="a2x" /><ref name="grd" /> The band took their name from a short story Murdoch had written about a boy and girl, whose title was a play on the 1965 television series ''[[Belle and Sebastian (1965 TV series)|Belle and Sebastian]]''.


==History==
==History==
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In 1994, [[Stuart Murdoch (musician)|Stuart Murdoch]] and [[Stuart David]] both enrolled at [[Stow College]]'s Beatbox programme for unemployed musicians in Glasgow.<ref name="a2x" /> Together, with music professor [[Alan Rankine]] (formerly of [[The Associates (band)|the Associates]]), they recorded some demos, which in 1996 were picked up by the college's Music Business course that produces and releases one single each year on the college's label, [[Electric Honey (label)|Electric Honey]]. As Murdoch had a number of songs already and the label was extremely impressed with the demos, he was granted permission to record a full-length album, which was recorded mostly live over three days, entitled ''[[Tigermilk]]''.
In 1994, [[Stuart Murdoch (musician)|Stuart Murdoch]] and [[Stuart David]] both enrolled at [[Stow College]]'s Beatbox programme for unemployed musicians in Glasgow.<ref name="a2x" /> Together, with music professor [[Alan Rankine]] (formerly of [[The Associates (band)|the Associates]]), they recorded some demos, which in 1996 were picked up by the college's Music Business course that produces and releases one single each year on the college's label, [[Electric Honey (label)|Electric Honey]]. As Murdoch had a number of songs already and the label was extremely impressed with the demos, he was granted permission to record a full-length album, which was recorded mostly live over three days, entitled ''[[Tigermilk]]''.


Murdoch and David recruited local musicians [[Stevie Jackson]] (guitar and vocals), [[Isobel Campbell]] (cello/vocals), Chris Geddes (keys) and [[Richard Colburn]] (drums), the latter of whom shared a flat with David and was a student on the Music Business course, to perform on the album, with Murdoch describing the process as a "product of botched capitalism".<ref name="a2x" /> The band chose the name Belle and Sebastian from a short story Murdoch had written inspired by the television series of the same name, about a six-year-old boy and his dog, named Belle, a Great Pyrenees.<ref name="grd" /><ref name="Rock Formations">{{Citation |last=Wilson |first=Dave |title=Rock Formations: Categorical Answers to How Band Names Were Formed |publisher=Cidermill Books |year=2005 |page=105 |isbn=0-9748483-5-2}}</ref> In June 1996, Electric Honey pressed up one thousand copies of ''Tigermilk'' on [[Gramophone record|vinyl]].<ref name="grd" />
Murdoch and David recruited local musicians [[Stevie Jackson]] (guitar and vocals), [[Isobel Campbell]] (cello/vocals), Chris Geddes (keys) and [[Richard Colburn]] (drums), the latter of whom shared a flat with David and was a student on the Music Business course, to perform on the album, with Murdoch describing the process as a "product of botched capitalism".<ref name="a2x" /> The band chose the name Belle and Sebastian from a short story Murdoch had written inspired by the television series of the same name, about a six-year-old boy and his dog, named Belle, a [[Pyrenean Mountain Dog]].<ref name="grd" /><ref name="Rock Formations">{{Citation |last=Wilson |first=Dave |title=Rock Formations: Categorical Answers to How Band Names Were Formed |publisher=Cidermill Books |year=2005 |page=105 |isbn=0-9748483-5-2}}</ref> In June 1996, Electric Honey pressed up one thousand copies of ''Tigermilk'' on [[Gramophone record|vinyl]].<ref name="grd" />


===''If You're Feeling Sinister'' and early EPs (1996–1998)===
===''If You're Feeling Sinister'' and early EPs (1996–1998)===
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  |title        = 'The Boy with the Arab Strap'
  |title        = 'The Boy with the Arab Strap'
  |description  = The title of the album, ''[[The Boy with the Arab Strap]]'' caused some tension between Belle and Sebastian and fellow Scots band [[Arab Strap (band)|Arab Strap]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Laurence |first=A. |title=Arab Strap interview |url=http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/may_2001/arab_strap_interview.html |work=Free Williamsburg |date=May 2005 |access-date=6 November 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927174011/http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/may_2001/arab_strap_interview.html| archive-date= 27 September 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>}}
  |description  = The title of the album, ''[[The Boy with the Arab Strap]]'' caused some tension between Belle and Sebastian and fellow Scots band [[Arab Strap (band)|Arab Strap]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Laurence |first=A. |title=Arab Strap interview |url=http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/may_2001/arab_strap_interview.html |work=Free Williamsburg |date=May 2005 |access-date=6 November 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927174011/http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/may_2001/arab_strap_interview.html| archive-date= 27 September 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>}}
The band released their third LP, ''[[The Boy with the Arab Strap]]'' in 1998, and it reached No.&nbsp;12 in the UK charts.<ref>{{Citation |last=Best |first=Sophie |title=Ring the Belle |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/22/1090464785300.html |work=The Age |location=Australia |date=23 July 2004 |access-date=5 November 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071210205932/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/22/1090464785300.html| archive-date= 10 December 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>  ''Arab Strap'' garnered an NPR interview<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1024418|title=Belle And Sebastian|website=NPR.org|publisher=NPR}}</ref> and positive reviews from ''[[Rolling Stone]]''<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ratliff |first=Ben |title=The Boy With the Arab Strap review |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/belleandsebastian/albums/album/103457/review/5941160/the_boy_with_the_arab_strap  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027105615/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/belleandsebastian/albums/album/103457/review/5941160/the_boy_with_the_arab_strap |archive-date=27 October 2007 |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=25 August 1998 |url-status=dead |access-date=11 November 2007}}</ref> and ''[[The Village Voice]],''<ref name="lim" /> and others; however, the album has its detractors,<ref>{{Citation |last=Owings |first=Henry |title=The Overrated Book |publisher=[[Last Gasp (publisher)|Last Gasp]] |year=2006 |isbn=0-86719-657-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/overratedbook0000unse }}</ref> including ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'', who gave the album a particularly poor review, calling it a "parody" of their earlier work (Pitchfork has since removed the review from their website and re-reviewed the album positively in 2018).<ref>{{Citation |last=Josephes |first=Jason |title=The Boy With the Arab Strap review |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15372-the-boy-with-the-arab-strap |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221210634/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15372-the-boy-with-the-arab-strap |archive-date=21 December 2007 |work=Pitchfork |date=1 October 1998 |access-date=11 November 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Plagenhoef |first=Scott |title=The Boy With the Arab Strap |date=18 February 2018 |access-date=22 February 2018|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/belle-and-sebastian-the-boy-with-the-arab-strap/}}</ref> During the recording of the album, long-time studio trumpet-player Mick Cooke was asked to join the band as a full member.<ref name="rse">{{Citation |last=Pareles |first=John |title=The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll |publisher=[[Fireside Publishing]] |year=2001 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rollingstoneency00holl/page/66 66] |isbn=0-7432-0120-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rollingstoneency00holl/page/66 }}</ref> The ''[[This Is Just a Modern Rock Song]]'' EP followed later that year.<ref>{{Citation |title=MODERN LOVERS ROCK HARD |url=https://www.nme.com/news/belle-and-sebastian/676 |website=NME |location=UK |date=26 October 1998 |access-date=5 November 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071130035719/http://www.nme.com/news/belle-and-sebastian/676| archive-date= 30 November 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>
The band released their third LP, ''[[The Boy with the Arab Strap]]'' in 1998, and it reached No.&nbsp;12 in the UK charts.<ref>{{Citation |last=Best |first=Sophie |title=Ring the Belle |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/22/1090464785300.html |work=The Age |location=Australia |date=23 July 2004 |access-date=5 November 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071210205932/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/22/1090464785300.html| archive-date= 10 December 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>  ''Arab Strap'' garnered an NPR interview<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1024418|title=Belle And Sebastian|website=NPR|date=5 October 1998 |publisher=NPR}}</ref> and positive reviews from ''[[Rolling Stone]]''<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Ratliff |first=Ben |title=The Boy With the Arab Strap review |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/belleandsebastian/albums/album/103457/review/5941160/the_boy_with_the_arab_strap  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027105615/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/belleandsebastian/albums/album/103457/review/5941160/the_boy_with_the_arab_strap |archive-date=27 October 2007 |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=25 August 1998 |url-status=dead |access-date=11 November 2007}}</ref> and ''[[The Village Voice]],''<ref name="lim" /> and others; however, the album has its detractors,<ref>{{Citation |last=Owings |first=Henry |title=The Overrated Book |publisher=[[Last Gasp (publisher)|Last Gasp]] |year=2006 |isbn=0-86719-657-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/overratedbook0000unse }}</ref> including ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'', who gave the album a particularly poor review, calling it a "parody" of their earlier work (Pitchfork has since removed the review from their website and re-reviewed the album positively in 2018).<ref>{{Citation |last=Josephes |first=Jason |title=The Boy With the Arab Strap review |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15372-the-boy-with-the-arab-strap |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221210634/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/15372-the-boy-with-the-arab-strap |archive-date=21 December 2007 |work=Pitchfork |date=1 October 1998 |access-date=11 November 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Plagenhoef |first=Scott |title=The Boy With the Arab Strap |date=18 February 2018 |access-date=22 February 2018|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/belle-and-sebastian-the-boy-with-the-arab-strap/}}</ref> During the recording of the album, long-time studio trumpet-player Mick Cooke was asked to join the band as a full member.<ref name="rse">{{Citation |last=Pareles |first=John |title=The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll |publisher=[[Fireside Publishing]] |year=2001 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rollingstoneency00holl/page/66 66] |isbn=0-7432-0120-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rollingstoneency00holl/page/66 }}</ref> The ''[[This Is Just a Modern Rock Song]]'' EP followed later that year.<ref>{{Citation |title=MODERN LOVERS ROCK HARD |url=https://www.nme.com/news/belle-and-sebastian/676 |website=NME |location=UK |date=26 October 1998 |access-date=5 November 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071130035719/http://www.nme.com/news/belle-and-sebastian/676| archive-date= 30 November 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>


In 1999, the band was awarded with Best Newcomer (for their third album) at the [[BRIT Awards]], upsetting better-known acts such as [[Steps (band)|Steps]] and [[5ive]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Robbie rules over Brits |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/02/99/brit_awards/280847.stm |publisher=BBC |date=17 February 1999 |access-date=4 November 2007}}</ref> That same year, the band hosted their own festival, the [[Bowlie Weekender]]. ''[[Tigermilk]]'' was also given a full release by [[Jeepster Records|Jeepster]] before the band started work on their next LP. The result was ''[[Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant]]'', which became the band's first top 10 album in the UK, though critics felt that the band were starting to stagnate.<ref name="pbs" /> A stand-alone single, "[[Legal Man]]", reached No.&nbsp;15 and gave them their first appearance on [[Top of the Pops]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Urban |first=Andy |title=Side Project Becomes Full-Length Let Down |url=http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/237 |work=Dusted Magazine |date=18 June 2002 |access-date=4 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215072519/http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/237 |archive-date=15 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1999, the band was awarded with Best Newcomer (for their third album) at the [[BRIT Awards]], upsetting better-known acts such as [[Steps (band)|Steps]] and [[5ive]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Robbie rules over Brits |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1999/02/99/brit_awards/280847.stm |publisher=BBC |date=17 February 1999 |access-date=4 November 2007}}</ref> That same year, the band hosted their own festival, the [[Bowlie Weekender]]. ''[[Tigermilk]]'' was also given a full release by [[Jeepster Records|Jeepster]] before the band started work on their next LP. The result was ''[[Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant]]'', which became the band's first top 10 album in the UK, though critics felt that the band were starting to stagnate.<ref name="pbs" /> A stand-alone single, "[[Legal Man]]", reached No.&nbsp;15 and gave them their first appearance on [[Top of the Pops]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Urban |first=Andy |title=Side Project Becomes Full-Length Let Down |url=http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/237 |work=Dusted Magazine |date=18 June 2002 |access-date=4 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215072519/http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/237 |archive-date=15 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Belle and Sebastian performing.jpg|thumb|230px|Belle and Sebastian performing at the [[9:30 Club]] in Washington, D.C., in 2006]]
[[File:Belle and Sebastian performing.jpg|thumb|230px|Belle and Sebastian performing at the [[9:30 Club]] in Washington, D.C., in 2006]]
As the band's popularity and recognition was growing worldwide, their music began appearing in films and on television. The 2000 film ''[[High Fidelity (film)|High Fidelity]]'' mentions the band (with [[Jack Black]]'s character referring to them as "old sad bastard music" and disdaining their soft style) and features a clip from the song "[[Seymour Stein]]" from ''The Boy with the Arab Strap''.<ref>{{Citation|last=Zacharek |first=Stephanie |title=High Fidelity |url=http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/review/2000/03/31/high_fidelity/print.html |work=Salon |date=31 March 2000 |access-date=5 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612101724/http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/review/2000/03/31/high_fidelity/print.html |archive-date=12 June 2010}}</ref> Two songs by the band ("Expectations" and "Piazza, New York Catcher") appeared on the soundtrack for the 2007 hit film ''[[Juno (film)|Juno]].''<ref>{{Citation |last=Various Artists |title=Juno: Music From the Motion Picture |date=2008 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Juno-Motion-Picture-Various-Artists/dp/B00104W8T6 |publisher=Rhino Records / Fox Music / Fox Searchlight |language=English |access-date=2023-01-04}}</ref> Also, the title track from ''Arab Strap'' was played over the end credits of the UK television series ''[[Teachers (UK TV series)|Teachers]],''<ref>{{Citation|last=Virtue |first=Graeme |title=Jingle Book Belles |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20031221/ai_n12585237 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210184147/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20031221/ai_n12585237 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2007 |work=Sunday Herald |date=21 December 2003 |access-date=4 November 2007 }}</ref> and the lyric "Colour my life with the chaos of trouble" from the song was quoted by one of the characters in the 2009 film ''[[(500) Days of Summer]]''.
As the band's popularity and recognition was growing worldwide, their music began appearing in films and on television. The 2000 film ''[[High Fidelity (film)|High Fidelity]]'' mentions the band (with [[Jack Black]]'s character referring to them as "old sad bastard music" and disdaining their soft style) and features a clip from the song "[[Seymour Stein]]" from ''The Boy with the Arab Strap''.<ref>{{Citation|last=Zacharek |first=Stephanie |title=High Fidelity |url=http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/review/2000/03/31/high_fidelity/print.html |work=Salon |date=31 March 2000 |access-date=5 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612101724/http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/review/2000/03/31/high_fidelity/print.html |archive-date=12 June 2010}}</ref> Two songs by the band ("Expectations" and "Piazza, New York Catcher") appeared on the soundtrack for the 2007 hit film ''[[Juno (film)|Juno]].''<ref>{{Citation |last=Various Artists |title=Juno: Music From the Motion Picture |date=2008 |url=https://www.amazon.com/Juno-Motion-Picture-Various-Artists/dp/B00104W8T6 |publisher=Rhino Records / Fox Music / Fox Searchlight |language=English |access-date=2023-01-04}}</ref> Also, the title track from ''Arab Strap'' was played over the end credits of the UK television series ''[[Teachers (UK TV series)|Teachers]],''<ref>{{Citation|last=Virtue |first=Graeme |title=Jingle Book Belles |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20031221/ai_n12585237 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210184147/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20031221/ai_n12585237 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2007 |work=Sunday Herald |date=21 December 2003 |access-date=4 November 2007 }}</ref> and the lyric "Colour my life with the chaos of trouble" from the song was quoted by one of the characters in the 2009 film ''[[(500) Days of Summer]]''.
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===''Dear Catastrophe Waitress'', ''The Life Pursuit'' and hiatus (2003–2010)===
===''Dear Catastrophe Waitress'', ''The Life Pursuit'' and hiatus (2003–2010)===
The band left Jeepster in 2002, signing a four-album deal with [[Rough Trade Records]].<ref name="dcw">{{Citation |last=McGregor |first=Andrew |title=Belle and Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/znrg |publisher=BBC |date=21 June 2001 |access-date=4 November 2007}}</ref> Their first album for Rough Trade, ''[[Dear Catastrophe Waitress]]'', was released in 2003 and was produced by [[Trevor Horn]].<ref name="secret">{{Citation|last=McCracken |first=Edd |title=Secret seven win through |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20031005/ai_n12586361 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210184142/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20031005/ai_n12586361 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2007 |work=Sunday Herald |date=5 October 2003 |access-date=4 November 2007 }}</ref> The album showed a markedly more "produced" sound compared to their first four LPs,<ref name="eye">{{Citation|last=Grant |first=Kieran |title=Belle and Sebastian Q&A |url=http://www.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_11.06.03/music/qa2.php |work=Eye Weekly |date=6 November 2003 |access-date=5 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522151712/http://www.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_11.06.03/music/qa2.php |archive-date=22 May 2011}}</ref> as the band was making a concerted effort to produce more "radio-friendly" music.<ref name="secret" /> At this point, the band began to engage more with the press and started appearing in publicity shots. The album was warmly received and is credited with restoring the band's "indie cred".<ref name="grd" /> The album also marked the return of Murdoch as the group's primary songwriter, following the poorly received ''Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant'' and ''Storytelling'', both of which were more collaborative than the band's early work.<ref>{{Citation |last=Raihala |first=Ross |title=Belle and Sebastian pouring out their souls – again |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002878317_bellesebastian21.html |work=The Seattle Times |date=21 March 2006 |access-date=6 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210215308/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002878317_bellesebastian21.html |archive-date=10 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A documentary DVD, ''[[Fans Only]]'', was released by Jeepster in October 2003, featuring promotional videos, live clips and unreleased footage.<ref name="notebook" /> A single from the album, "[[Step into My Office, Baby]]" followed in November 2003; it would be their first single to be taken from an album,<ref name="dcw" /> and included a track recorded with [[The Divine Comedy (band)|Divine Comedy]] producer [[Darren Allison]] entitled ''Love on the March''.
The band left Jeepster in 2002, signing a four-album deal with [[Rough Trade Records]].<ref name="dcw">{{Citation |last=McGregor |first=Andrew |title=Belle and Sebastian, Dear Catastrophe Waitress |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/znrg/ |publisher=BBC |date=21 June 2001 |access-date=4 November 2007}}</ref> Their first album for Rough Trade, ''[[Dear Catastrophe Waitress]]'', was released in 2003 and was produced by [[Trevor Horn]].<ref name="secret">{{Citation|last=McCracken |first=Edd |title=Secret seven win through |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20031005/ai_n12586361 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210184142/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20031005/ai_n12586361 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2007 |work=Sunday Herald |date=5 October 2003 |access-date=4 November 2007 }}</ref> The album showed a markedly more "produced" sound compared to their first four LPs,<ref name="eye">{{Citation|last=Grant |first=Kieran |title=Belle and Sebastian Q&A |url=http://www.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_11.06.03/music/qa2.php |work=Eye Weekly |date=6 November 2003 |access-date=5 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522151712/http://www.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_11.06.03/music/qa2.php |archive-date=22 May 2011}}</ref> as the band was making a concerted effort to produce more "radio-friendly" music.<ref name="secret" /> At this point, the band began to engage more with the press and started appearing in publicity shots. The album was warmly received and is credited with restoring the band's "indie cred".<ref name="grd" /> The album also marked the return of Murdoch as the group's primary songwriter, following the poorly received ''Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant'' and ''Storytelling'', both of which were more collaborative than the band's early work.<ref>{{Citation |last=Raihala |first=Ross |title=Belle and Sebastian pouring out their souls – again |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002878317_bellesebastian21.html |work=The Seattle Times |date=21 March 2006 |access-date=6 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210215308/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002878317_bellesebastian21.html |archive-date=10 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A documentary DVD, ''[[Fans Only]]'', was released by Jeepster in October 2003, featuring promotional videos, live clips and unreleased footage.<ref name="notebook" /> A single from the album, "[[Step into My Office, Baby]]" followed in November 2003; it would be their first single to be taken from an album,<ref name="dcw" /> and included a track recorded with [[The Divine Comedy (band)|Divine Comedy]] producer [[Darren Allison]] entitled ''Love on the March''.


The [[Thin Lizzy]]-inspired "[[I'm a Cuckoo]]" was the second single from the album.<ref name="eye" /><ref>{{Citation |last=Devenish |first=Colin |title=Belle & Sebastian Back in Town |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/belleandsebastian/articles/story/5936950/belle__sebastian_back_in_town |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210214213/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/belleandsebastian/articles/story/5936950/belle__sebastian_back_in_town |archive-date=10 December 2007 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=27 October 2003 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 November 2007}}</ref> It achieved their highest chart position yet, reaching No.&nbsp;14 in the UK.<ref name="mtv" /> The ''[[Books (EP)|Books]]'' EP followed, a double A-side single led by "Wrapped Up in Books" from ''Dear Catastrophe Waitress'' and the new "Your Cover's Blown". This EP became the band's third top 20 UK release, and the band was nominated for both the [[Mercury Music Prize]] and an [[Ivor Novello Award]]. In January 2005, B&S was voted Scotland's greatest band in a poll by ''[[The List (magazine)|The List]]'', beating [[Simple Minds]], [[Idlewild (band)|Idlewild]], [[Travis (band)|Travis]], [[Franz Ferdinand (band)|Franz Ferdinand]], and [[the Proclaimers]], among others.<ref name="erd">{{Citation |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |title=The Essential Rock Discography |publisher=[[Open City Books]] |year=2006 |page=80 |isbn=1-84195-860-3}}</ref>
The [[Thin Lizzy]]-inspired "[[I'm a Cuckoo]]" was the second single from the album.<ref name="eye" /><ref>{{Citation |last=Devenish |first=Colin |title=Belle & Sebastian Back in Town |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/belleandsebastian/articles/story/5936950/belle__sebastian_back_in_town |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071210214213/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/belleandsebastian/articles/story/5936950/belle__sebastian_back_in_town |archive-date=10 December 2007 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=27 October 2003 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 November 2007}}</ref> It achieved their highest chart position yet, reaching No.&nbsp;14 in the UK.<ref name="mtv" /> The ''[[Books (EP)|Books]]'' EP followed, a double A-side single led by "Wrapped Up in Books" from ''Dear Catastrophe Waitress'' and the new "Your Cover's Blown". This EP became the band's third top 20 UK release, and the band was nominated for both the [[Mercury Music Prize]] and an [[Ivor Novello Award]]. In January 2005, B&S was voted Scotland's greatest band in a poll by ''[[The List (magazine)|The List]]'', beating [[Simple Minds]], [[Idlewild (band)|Idlewild]], [[Travis (band)|Travis]], [[Franz Ferdinand (band)|Franz Ferdinand]], and [[the Proclaimers]], among others.<ref name="erd">{{Citation |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |title=The Essential Rock Discography |publisher=[[Open City Books]] |year=2006 |page=80 |isbn=1-84195-860-3}}</ref>
Line 78: Line 78:
The Belle and Sebastian song "There's Too Much Love" forms much of the soundtrack for the Brazilian film ''The Way He Looks'', about a blind, gay teenage boy and his friends, released in 2014.
The Belle and Sebastian song "There's Too Much Love" forms much of the soundtrack for the Brazilian film ''The Way He Looks'', about a blind, gay teenage boy and his friends, released in 2014.


Belle and Sebastian performed at the [[Glastonbury Festival]] on 28 June 2015, on 'The Other Stage' and at O2 Academy, Glasgow in March 2017 which was televised in the UK as part of the 'BBC 6 MUSIC Presents Festival'.
Belle and Sebastian performed at the [[glasto 2015|Glastonbury Festival on 28 June 2015]], on 'The Other Stage' and at O2 Academy, Glasgow in March 2017 which was televised in the UK as part of the 'BBC 6 MUSIC Presents Festival'.


===''How to Solve Our Human Problems'', ''A Bit of Previous'' and ''Late Developers'' (2017–present)===
===''How to Solve Our Human Problems'', ''A Bit of Previous'' and ''Late Developers'' (2017–present)===
Line 98: Line 98:
* [[God Help the Girl]] is a musical project by Stuart Murdoch, featuring a group of female vocalists, including Catherine Ireton, with Belle and Sebastian as the accompanying band.
* [[God Help the Girl]] is a musical project by Stuart Murdoch, featuring a group of female vocalists, including Catherine Ireton, with Belle and Sebastian as the accompanying band.
* [[Looper (band)|Looper]] is an electronic music group fronted by Stuart David.
* [[Looper (band)|Looper]] is an electronic music group fronted by Stuart David.
* [[The Gentle Waves]] was a side project of Isobel Campbell before she left the band in 2002. The project's first album, [[The Green Fields of Foreverland]], featured "players from Belle and Sebastian" as per the gatefold sticker and the personnel notes.<ref>{{Citation |title=The Gentle Waves - The Green Fields Of Foreverland... |date=1999-04-09 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/541273-The-Gentle-Waves-The-Green-Fields-Of-Foreverland |access-date=2025-11-06 |language=en}}</ref>


==Band members==
==Band members==
'''Current members'''
'''Current members'''
* [[Stuart Murdoch (musician)|Stuart Murdoch]] – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards <small>(1996–present)</small>
* [[Stuart Murdoch (musician)|Stuart Murdoch]] – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards <small>(1994–present)</small>
* [[Stevie Jackson]] – guitar, backing and occasional lead vocals, piano <small>(1996–present)</small>
* [[Stevie Jackson]] – guitar, backing and occasional lead vocals, piano <small>(1996–present)</small>
* Chris Geddes – keyboards, piano, percussion <small>(1996–present)</small>
* Chris Geddes – keyboards, piano, percussion <small>(1996–present)</small>
* [[Richard Colburn]] – drums, percussion <small>(1996–present)</small>
* [[Richard Colburn]] – drums, percussion <small>(1996–present)</small>
* [[Sarah Martin (musician)|Sarah Martin]] – backing and lead vocals, violin, guitar, flute, keyboards, recorder, percussion <small>(1996–present)</small>
* [[Sarah Martin (musician)|Sarah Martin]] – backing and occasional lead vocals, violin, guitar, flute, keyboards, recorder, percussion <small>(1996–present)</small>
* [[Bobby Kildea]] – guitar, bass <small>(2001–present)</small>
* [[Bobby Kildea]] – guitar, bass <small>(2001–present)</small>
* Dave McGowan – bass, keyboards, guitar <small>(2018–present; touring musician 2012–2018)</small>
* Dave McGowan – bass, keyboards, guitar <small>(2018–present; touring musician 2012–2018)</small>


'''Former members'''
'''Former members'''
* [[Stuart David]] – bass <small>(1994–2000)</small>
* [[Isobel Campbell]] – backing and occasional lead vocals, cello, guitar <small>(1996–2002)</small>
* [[Isobel Campbell]] – backing and occasional lead vocals, cello, guitar <small>(1996–2002)</small>
* [[Stuart David]] – bass <small>(1996–2000)</small>
* [[Mick Cooke (musician)|Mick Cooke]] – trumpet, guitar, bass, percussion <small>(1998–2013; touring musician 1996–1998)</small>
* [[Mick Cooke (musician)|Mick Cooke]] – trumpet, guitar, bass, percussion <small>(1998–2013; touring musician 1996–1998)</small>


Line 120: Line 121:
Alignbars = justify
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat  = dd/mm/yyyy
DateFormat  = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1996 till:{{#time: d/m/Y }}
Period = from:01/01/1994 till:{{#time: d/m/Y }}
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy


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Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4


ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1996
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1994
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1996
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1994


LineData =
LineData =
Line 173: Line 174:
  bar:Murdoch text:"Stuart Murdoch"
  bar:Murdoch text:"Stuart Murdoch"
  bar:Jackson text:"Stevie Jackson"
  bar:Jackson text:"Stevie Jackson"
bar:David  text:"Stuart David"
  bar:Kildea  text:"Bobby Kildea"
  bar:Kildea  text:"Bobby Kildea"
bar:David  text:"Stuart David"
  bar:McGowan text:"Dave McGowan"
  bar:McGowan text:"Dave McGowan"
  bar:Geddes  text:"Chris Geddes"
  bar:Geddes  text:"Chris Geddes"
Line 184: Line 185:
PlotData=
PlotData=
  width:13 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
  width:13 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
   bar:Murdoch  from:01/01/1996 till:end        color:vocals
   bar:Murdoch  from:01/01/1994 till:end        color:vocals
   bar:Murdoch  from:01/01/1996 till:end        color:guitar width:3
   bar:Murdoch  from:01/01/1994 till:end        color:guitar width:3
   bar:Murdoch  from:01/10/1996 till:end        color:keys width:7
   bar:Murdoch  from:01/01/1994 till:end        color:keys width:7
   bar:Jackson  from:01/01/1996  till:end        color:guitar
   bar:Jackson  from:01/01/1996  till:end        color:guitar
   bar:Jackson  from:01/10/1996  till:end        color:bvocals width:3
   bar:Jackson  from:01/10/1996  till:end        color:bvocals width:3
Line 194: Line 195:
   bar:Campbell  from:01/10/1996  till:01/01/2002  color:bvocals width:3
   bar:Campbell  from:01/10/1996  till:01/01/2002  color:bvocals width:3
   bar:Campbell  from:01/01/1998  till:01/01/2002  color:guitar width:7
   bar:Campbell  from:01/01/1998  till:01/01/2002  color:guitar width:7
   bar:David    from:01/01/1996 till:01/03/2000  color:bass
   bar:David    from:01/01/1994 till:01/09/2000  color:bass
   bar:Martin    from:01/10/1996  till:end        color:violin
   bar:Martin    from:01/10/1996  till:end        color:violin
   bar:Martin    from:01/01/1998  till:06/06/2000  color:keys width:3
   bar:Martin    from:01/01/1998  till:06/06/2000  color:keys width:3
Line 205: Line 206:
   bar:Cooke    from:01/01/2001  till:01/01/2010  color:guitar width:7
   bar:Cooke    from:01/01/2001  till:01/01/2010  color:guitar width:7
   bar:Cooke    from:01/01/2001  till:01/01/2010  color:bass width:3
   bar:Cooke    from:01/01/2001  till:01/01/2010  color:bass width:3
   bar:Kildea    from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2010  color:guitar
   bar:Kildea    from:01/01/2001  till:03/11/2018  color:bass
  bar:Kildea    from:01/01/2001  till:01/01/2010  color:bass width:3
   bar:Kildea    from:01/01/2001 till:03/11/2018  color:guitar width:3
  bar:Kildea    from:01/01/2010 till:03/11/2018  color:bass
   bar:Kildea    from:01/01/2010 till:03/11/2018  color:guitar width:3
   bar:Kildea    from:03/11/2018  till:end        color:guitar
   bar:Kildea    from:03/11/2018  till:end        color:guitar
   bar:Kildea    from:03/11/2018  till:end        color:bass width:3
   bar:Kildea    from:03/11/2018  till:end        color:bass width:3
Line 261: Line 260:
[[Category:Matador Records artists]]
[[Category:Matador Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical collectives]]
[[Category:Musical collectives]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1996]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1994]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from Glasgow]]
[[Category:Rock music groups from Glasgow]]
[[Category:Rough Trade Records artists]]
[[Category:Rough Trade Records artists]]
Line 268: Line 267:
[[Category:Sony Music Publishing artists]]
[[Category:Sony Music Publishing artists]]
[[Category:Chamber pop groups]]
[[Category:Chamber pop groups]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Mixed-gender bands]]
[[Category:Mixed-gender musical septets]]

Latest revision as of 12:32, 6 November 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about". Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherTemplate:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main other Belle and Sebastian are a Scottish indie pop band formed in Glasgow in 1994.[1] Led by Stuart Murdoch, the band has released twelve studio albums.[2][3] They are often compared with acts such as the Smiths[4][5] and Nick Drake.[2][3] The band took their name from a short story Murdoch had written about a boy and girl, whose title was a play on the 1965 television series Belle and Sebastian.

History

Formation, early years and Tigermilk (1994–1996)

In 1994, Stuart Murdoch and Stuart David both enrolled at Stow College's Beatbox programme for unemployed musicians in Glasgow.[2] Together, with music professor Alan Rankine (formerly of the Associates), they recorded some demos, which in 1996 were picked up by the college's Music Business course that produces and releases one single each year on the college's label, Electric Honey. As Murdoch had a number of songs already and the label was extremely impressed with the demos, he was granted permission to record a full-length album, which was recorded mostly live over three days, entitled Tigermilk.

Murdoch and David recruited local musicians Stevie Jackson (guitar and vocals), Isobel Campbell (cello/vocals), Chris Geddes (keys) and Richard Colburn (drums), the latter of whom shared a flat with David and was a student on the Music Business course, to perform on the album, with Murdoch describing the process as a "product of botched capitalism".[2] The band chose the name Belle and Sebastian from a short story Murdoch had written inspired by the television series of the same name, about a six-year-old boy and his dog, named Belle, a Pyrenean Mountain Dog.[3][6] In June 1996, Electric Honey pressed up one thousand copies of Tigermilk on vinyl.[3]

If You're Feeling Sinister and early EPs (1996–1998)

The warm response Tigermilk received led to the band being signed to Jeepster Records in August 1996, who released their second album If You're Feeling Sinister on 18 November.[7] The album was named by Spin as one of the 100 greatest albums between 1985 and 2005,[8] and it is widely considered the band's masterpiece.[9] Just before the recording of Sinister, Sarah Martin (violin/vocals) joined the band.

Following this a series of EPs were released throughout 1997.[10] The first of these was Dog on Wheels, released in May and consisting of four demo tracks recorded prior to the real formation of the band. In fact, the only long-term band members to play on the songs were Murdoch, David, and Mick Cooke, who played trumpet on the EP but would not officially join the band until a few years later. It charted at No. 59 in the UK singles chart.[7] The Lazy Line Painter Jane EP followed in July. The track was recorded in the church where Murdoch lived[11] and features vocals from Monica Queen. The EP narrowly missed out on the UK top 40, peaking at No. 41.[7] The last of the EPs was October's 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds of Light. The EP was made Single of the Week in both the NME and Melody Maker and reached No. 32 in the charts, thus becoming the band's first top 40 single.[7]

Despite the band's growing popularity, during this period they kept a low profile at the insistence of Murdoch, who was still regaining his strength following years struggling with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The band played gigs sporadically, rarely gave interviews, and refused to appear in publicity photographs, often getting friends and acquaintances to pose instead. The relative reclusiveness helped to create an aura of mystique around them.

The Boy with the Arab Strap, Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant and Line-up Changes (1998–2003)

Script error: No such module "Listen". The band released their third LP, The Boy with the Arab Strap in 1998, and it reached No. 12 in the UK charts.[12] Arab Strap garnered an NPR interview[13] and positive reviews from Rolling Stone[14] and The Village Voice,[11] and others; however, the album has its detractors,[15] including Pitchfork, who gave the album a particularly poor review, calling it a "parody" of their earlier work (Pitchfork has since removed the review from their website and re-reviewed the album positively in 2018).[16][17] During the recording of the album, long-time studio trumpet-player Mick Cooke was asked to join the band as a full member.[18] The This Is Just a Modern Rock Song EP followed later that year.[19]

In 1999, the band was awarded with Best Newcomer (for their third album) at the BRIT Awards, upsetting better-known acts such as Steps and 5ive.[20] That same year, the band hosted their own festival, the Bowlie Weekender. Tigermilk was also given a full release by Jeepster before the band started work on their next LP. The result was Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant, which became the band's first top 10 album in the UK, though critics felt that the band were starting to stagnate.[7] A stand-alone single, "Legal Man", reached No. 15 and gave them their first appearance on Top of the Pops.[21]

File:Belle and Sebastian performing.jpg
Belle and Sebastian performing at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., in 2006

As the band's popularity and recognition was growing worldwide, their music began appearing in films and on television. The 2000 film High Fidelity mentions the band (with Jack Black's character referring to them as "old sad bastard music" and disdaining their soft style) and features a clip from the song "Seymour Stein" from The Boy with the Arab Strap.[22] Two songs by the band ("Expectations" and "Piazza, New York Catcher") appeared on the soundtrack for the 2007 hit film Juno.[23] Also, the title track from Arab Strap was played over the end credits of the UK television series Teachers,[24] and the lyric "Colour my life with the chaos of trouble" from the song was quoted by one of the characters in the 2009 film (500) Days of Summer.

Stuart David soon left the band to concentrate on his side project, Looper, and his book writing, which included his The Idle Thoughts of a Daydreamer.[25] He was replaced by Bobby Kildea of V-Twin. The "Jonathan David" single, sung by Stevie Jackson, was released in June 2001 and was followed by "I'm Waking Up to Us" in November, which saw the band use an outside producer (Mike Hurst) for the first time.[26] Most of 2002 was spent touring and recording a soundtrack album, Storytelling (for Storytelling by Todd Solondz).[27] Campbell left the band in the spring of 2002, in the middle of the band's North American tour to pursue a solo career, first as The Gentle Waves, and later under her own name. She later collaborated with singer Mark Lanegan on three albums.[28][29]

Dear Catastrophe Waitress, The Life Pursuit and hiatus (2003–2010)

The band left Jeepster in 2002, signing a four-album deal with Rough Trade Records.[30] Their first album for Rough Trade, Dear Catastrophe Waitress, was released in 2003 and was produced by Trevor Horn.[31] The album showed a markedly more "produced" sound compared to their first four LPs,[32] as the band was making a concerted effort to produce more "radio-friendly" music.[31] At this point, the band began to engage more with the press and started appearing in publicity shots. The album was warmly received and is credited with restoring the band's "indie cred".[3] The album also marked the return of Murdoch as the group's primary songwriter, following the poorly received Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant and Storytelling, both of which were more collaborative than the band's early work.[33] A documentary DVD, Fans Only, was released by Jeepster in October 2003, featuring promotional videos, live clips and unreleased footage.[9] A single from the album, "Step into My Office, Baby" followed in November 2003; it would be their first single to be taken from an album,[30] and included a track recorded with Divine Comedy producer Darren Allison entitled Love on the March.

The Thin Lizzy-inspired "I'm a Cuckoo" was the second single from the album.[32][34] It achieved their highest chart position yet, reaching No. 14 in the UK.[29] The Books EP followed, a double A-side single led by "Wrapped Up in Books" from Dear Catastrophe Waitress and the new "Your Cover's Blown". This EP became the band's third top 20 UK release, and the band was nominated for both the Mercury Music Prize and an Ivor Novello Award. In January 2005, B&S was voted Scotland's greatest band in a poll by The List, beating Simple Minds, Idlewild, Travis, Franz Ferdinand, and the Proclaimers, among others.[35]

In April 2005, members of the band visited Israel and the Palestinian territories with the UK charity War on Want;[36] the group subsequently recorded a song inspired by the trip titled "The Eighth Station of the Cross Kebab House", which would first appear on the digital-download version of the charity album Help!: A Day in the Life and would later have a physical release as a B-side on 2006's "Funny Little Frog" single. Push Barman to Open Old Wounds, a compilation of the Jeepster singles and EPs, was released in May 2005 while the band were recording their seventh album in California. The result of the sessions was The Life Pursuit, produced by Tony Hoffer.[36][37] The album, originally intended to be a double album,[38] became the band's highest-charting album upon its release in February 2006, peaking at No. 8 in the UK and No. 65 on the US Billboard 200.[39][40] "Funny Little Frog", which preceded it, also proved to be their highest-charting single, debuting at No. 13.[9]

On 6 July 2006, the band played a historic[41] show with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.[42] The opening act at the 18,000 seat sell-out concert was the Shins.[43] The members of the band see this as a landmark event, with Stevie Jackson saying, "This is the biggest thrill of my entire life".[44] In October 2006, members of the band helped put together a CD collection of new songs for children titled Colours Are Brighter, with the involvement of major bands such as Franz Ferdinand and the Flaming Lips.[45]

On 18 November 2008 the band released The BBC Sessions, which features songs from the period of 1996–2001 (including the last recordings featuring Isobel Campbell before she left the band), along with a second disc featuring a recording of a live performance in Belfast from Christmas 2001.[46]

Write About Love and Girls In Peacetime Want to Dance (2010–2016)

On 17 July 2010, the band performed their first UK gig in almost four years to a crowd of around 30,000 at Latitude Festival in Henham Park, Southwold.[47] They performed two new songs, "I Didn't See It Coming" and "I'm Not Living in the Real World".[48]

File:Belle and Sebastian 03 - Columbiahalle in Berlin 2011.jpg
Onstage in Berlin, 2011

Their eighth studio album, released in the UK and internationally on 25 September 2010, was titled Write about Love.[49] The first single from the album, as well as the record's title track "Write about Love", was released in the US on 7 September 2010. Write about Love entered the UK albums chart in its first week of release, peaking at No. 8 as of 19 October 2010.[50] Norah Jones is featured on the track "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John",[51] and Carey Mulligan sings on the title track.[52]

In December 2010 Belle and Sebastian curated the sequel to the Bowlie Weekender in the form of Bowlie 2 presented by All Tomorrow's Parties.

In 2013, Pitchfork TV released an hour-long documentary in February, directed by RJ Bentler which focused on the band's 1996 album If You're Feeling Sinister, as well as the formation and early releases of the band. The documentary featured interviews with every member that was present on the album, as well as several archival photos and videos from the band's early days.[53] The band compiled a second compilation album The Third Eye Centre which included the B-sides and rarities released after Push Barman to Open Old Wounds, from the albums Dear Catastrophe Waitress, The Life Pursuit, and Write about Love. In an interview at the end of 2013,[54] Mick Cooke confirmed he had left the band on good terms.

The band received an 'Outstanding Contribution to Music Award' at the NME Awards 2014.[55]

In 2014, the band returned to the studio, recording in Atlanta, Georgia for their ninth studio album,[56] along with announcing tour dates for various festivals and concerts across the world during 2014.[57] Their ninth album Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance was released on 19 January 2015.[58] It was their first album with Dave McGowan, who had been their touring bassist since 2011.[59]

The Belle and Sebastian song "There's Too Much Love" forms much of the soundtrack for the Brazilian film The Way He Looks, about a blind, gay teenage boy and his friends, released in 2014.

Belle and Sebastian performed at the Glastonbury Festival on 28 June 2015, on 'The Other Stage' and at O2 Academy, Glasgow in March 2017 which was televised in the UK as part of the 'BBC 6 MUSIC Presents Festival'.

How to Solve Our Human Problems, A Bit of Previous and Late Developers (2017–present)

File:Belle & Sebastian, Orpheum Theater, Boston 2024.jpg
Performing "Piazza, New York Catcher" at the Orpheum Boston, 2024

In mid-2017, the band put out a new single, "We Were Beautiful".[60] During the same year, the band appeared in the news for a comical story that occurred during their US tour, in which they accidentally forgot Colburn in a North Dakota Walmart.[61] In December 2017 and January and February 2018, the band released a trio of EPs under the name How to Solve Our Human Problems.[62]

On 3 November 2018, the band announced that Dave McGowan had become a member.[63]

In August 2019, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first Bowlie Weekender festival, Belle & Sebastian held a third festival, dubbed the Boaty Weekender.[64] Unlike the previous two festivals, the Boaty Weekender was held on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea instead of UK holiday parks.[65][66]

The band's eleventh studio album, A Bit of Previous, was released in May 2022.[67]

In January 2023, the band announced the surprise release of their twelfth studio album, Late Developers. Lead single "I Don't Know What You See in Me" was released on 9 January 2023 with the album released on 13 January 2023.[68]

Collaborations and side projects

  • The Reindeer Section were a Scottish indie rock supergroup formed in 2001 by Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, which released albums and gigged in 2001 and 2002. It featured Richard Colburn, Mick Cooke and Bobby Kildea from Belle and Sebastian.
  • The Vaselines are an alternative rock band formed in Glasgow in 1986. Between 2008 and 2014 their lineup featured Stevie Jackson and Bobby Kildea from Belle and Sebastian and they performed at Bowlie Weekender 2 curated by Belle and Sebastian in December 2010.
  • Tired Pony was a country / Americana supergroup formed by Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol in 2010. It features Richard Colburn from Belle and Sebastian.
  • God Help the Girl is a musical project by Stuart Murdoch, featuring a group of female vocalists, including Catherine Ireton, with Belle and Sebastian as the accompanying band.
  • Looper is an electronic music group fronted by Stuart David.
  • The Gentle Waves was a side project of Isobel Campbell before she left the band in 2002. The project's first album, The Green Fields of Foreverland, featured "players from Belle and Sebastian" as per the gatefold sticker and the personnel notes.[69]

Band members

Current members

  • Stuart Murdoch – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (1994–present)
  • Stevie Jackson – guitar, backing and occasional lead vocals, piano (1996–present)
  • Chris Geddes – keyboards, piano, percussion (1996–present)
  • Richard Colburn – drums, percussion (1996–present)
  • Sarah Martin – backing and occasional lead vocals, violin, guitar, flute, keyboards, recorder, percussion (1996–present)
  • Bobby Kildea – guitar, bass (2001–present)
  • Dave McGowan – bass, keyboards, guitar (2018–present; touring musician 2012–2018)

Former members

  • Stuart David – bass (1994–2000)
  • Isobel Campbell – backing and occasional lead vocals, cello, guitar (1996–2002)
  • Mick Cooke – trumpet, guitar, bass, percussion (1998–2013; touring musician 1996–1998)

Timeline <timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:90 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1994 till:21/12/2025 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors = 

id:vocals   value:red        legend:Lead_vocals
id:bvocals  value:pink       legend:Backing_and_occasional_lead_vocals
id:guitar   value:green      legend:Guitar
id:bass     value:blue       legend:Bass
id:keys     value:purple     legend:Keyboards,_piano,_percussion
id:violin   value:drabgreen  legend:Violin,_flute,_recorder
id:cello    value:darkblue   legend:Cello
id:trumpet  value:skyblue    legend:Trumpet,_percussion
id:drums    value:orange     legend:Drums,_percussion
id:touring  value:coral      legend:Touring_musician
id:album    value:black      legend:Studio_album
id:EP       value:gray(0.6)  legend:Extended_play
id:bars     value:gray(0.93)

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1994 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1994

LineData = 

layer:back
 color:album
 at:06/06/1996
 at:18/11/1996
 at:07/11/1998
 at:06/06/2000
 at:03/06/2002
 at:06/10/2003
 at:06/02/2006
 at:11/10/2010
 at:19/01/2015
 at:13/09/2019
 at:06/05/2022
 at:13/01/2023

 color:EP
 at:12/05/1997
 at:28/07/1997
 at:13/10/1997
 at:07/12/1998
 at:21/06/2004
 at:27/05/2008
 at:08/12/2017
 at:19/01/2018
 at:16/02/2018

BarData = 

bar:Murdoch text:"Stuart Murdoch"
bar:Jackson text:"Stevie Jackson"
bar:David   text:"Stuart David"
bar:Kildea  text:"Bobby Kildea"
bar:McGowan text:"Dave McGowan"
bar:Geddes  text:"Chris Geddes"
bar:Martin  text:"Sarah Martin"
bar:Campbell text:"Isobel Campbell"
bar:Cooke   text:"Mick Cooke"
bar:Colburn text:"Richard Colburn"

PlotData= 

width:13 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Murdoch   from:01/01/1994  till:end         color:vocals
 bar:Murdoch   from:01/01/1994  till:end         color:guitar width:3
 bar:Murdoch   from:01/01/1994  till:end         color:keys width:7
 bar:Jackson   from:01/01/1996  till:end         color:guitar
 bar:Jackson   from:01/10/1996  till:end         color:bvocals width:3
 bar:Geddes    from:01/01/1996  till:end         color:keys
 bar:Colburn   from:01/01/1996  till:end         color:drums
 bar:Campbell  from:01/01/1996  till:01/01/2002  color:cello
 bar:Campbell  from:01/10/1996  till:01/01/2002  color:bvocals width:3
 bar:Campbell  from:01/01/1998  till:01/01/2002  color:guitar width:7
 bar:David     from:01/01/1994  till:01/09/2000  color:bass
 bar:Martin    from:01/10/1996  till:end         color:violin
 bar:Martin    from:01/01/1998  till:06/06/2000  color:keys width:3
 bar:Martin    from:06/06/2000  till:end         color:keys width:7
 bar:Martin    from:01/01/2002  till:end         color:guitar width:9
 bar:Martin    from:06/06/2000  till:end         color:bvocals width:3
 bar:Cooke     from:01/01/1996  till:01/01/1998  color:touring
 bar:Cooke     from:01/01/1996  till:01/01/1998  color:trumpet width:3
 bar:Cooke     from:01/01/1998  till:01/01/2013  color:trumpet
 bar:Cooke     from:01/01/2001  till:01/01/2010  color:guitar width:7
 bar:Cooke     from:01/01/2001  till:01/01/2010  color:bass width:3
 bar:Kildea    from:01/01/2001  till:03/11/2018  color:bass
 bar:Kildea    from:01/01/2001  till:03/11/2018  color:guitar width:3
 bar:Kildea    from:03/11/2018  till:end         color:guitar
 bar:Kildea    from:03/11/2018  till:end         color:bass width:3
 bar:McGowan   from:01/01/2012  till:03/11/2018  color:touring
 bar:McGowan   from:01/01/2012  till:03/11/2018  color:bass width:3
 bar:McGowan   from:03/11/2018  till:end         color:bass
 bar:McGowan   from:03/11/2018  till:end         color:guitar width:3
 bar:McGowan   from:03/11/2018  till:end         color:keys width:7

</timeline>

Discography

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Studio albums

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Sister project

Template:Navbox musical artistTemplate:Brit British Breakthrough Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AM bio
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  3. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1"./
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ The Glasgow veterans flit between acoustic indie and disco bangers on their camp and scatterbrained ninth album, NME, by Dan Stubbs, 14 January 2015
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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