Fightstar

Fightstar are a British rock band from London that formed in 2003. The band is composed of lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Simpson, guitarist and co-vocalist Alex Westaway, bassist Dan Haigh and drummer Omar Abidi. Generally considered a post-hardcore band as a whole, Fightstar are known to incorporate metal, alternative rock and other genres into their sound. During the band's early days, they were viewed sceptically by critics because of Simpson's former pop career with Busted. Their live shows got a more positive reaction, and their 2005 debut EP, '' They Liked You Better When You Were Dead'', was a critical success.

The band released their debut studio album, ''Grand Unification'', the following year; ''Kerrang!'' editor Paul Brannigan called it "one of the best British rock albums of the last decade". Fightstar received a nomination for Best British Band at the 2006 ''Kerrang!'' Awards before releasing their second album, '' One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours'', in 2007. A compilation album including B-sides and rarities, '' Alternate Endings'', was released the following year. The band self-funded and co-produced their third album, '' Be Human'' (2009), which featured orchestral and choral elements. It was their highest-charting album, peaking at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart.

Fightstar went on hiatus in 2010, allowing its members to concentrate on other projects. This included two folk-oriented solo records by Simpson and a synthwave side project operated by Westaway and Haigh called Gunship. Fightstar reunited in 2014 and released their fourth studio album, '' Behind the Devil's Back'', the following year. The record added electronic elements to their eclectic sound. All four studio albums have charted in the top 40 and received critical praise. In November 2015, Fightstar once again went on hiatus, with Simpson rejoining Busted for the first time in over a decade.

History

Origins (2003–2004)

In 2003, when Charlie Simpson was still a member of the pop punk band Busted, he met fellow songwriter-guitarist Alex Westaway and drummer Omar Abidi at a party. During the party, an impromptu jam session took place. Simpson, Westaway and Abidi played a loop of Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name", and agreed to attend a gig a few days later. After the show, they returned to Simpson's flat and played guitars and a v-drum kit; they then wrote their first song, "Too Much Punch". Westaway later invited his school friend Haigh to practise with the band, and they began booking rehearsal sessions. Abidi was studying sound engineering at college, and guitarist Alex Westaway had recently moved to London after dropping out of university. Future bassist Dan Haigh, also based in London, worked for a game development company.

Simpson was becoming increasingly frustrated with Busted's music because he could not explore his own creative desires. The music he wrote did not fit Busted's established pop style. Simpson's time with Fightstar reportedly caused tension in Busted, which was amplified when Fightstar announced a 14-date UK tour. Simpson told Busted's manager in December 2004 over the phone that he was leaving the pop trio to focus on Fightstar, and wanted to do something his "heart was in". At a press conference at the Soho Hotel in London on 14 January 2005, Busted's record label announced that the band had split up after Simpson's departure several weeks earlier.

''They Liked You Better When You Were Dead'' (2004–2005)

After Simpson's decision to focus on Fightstar, the band entered Criterion Studios in London with producer Mark Williams to begin work on their first EP, ''They Liked You Better When You Were Dead''. It was released as a mini-album, containing nine tracks written during the six months Simpson and Westaway lived together. Recording sessions were often interrupted, since Simpson was in the midst of a sold-out series of Wembley shows with Busted.

''They Liked You Better When You Were Dead'', released on 28 February 2005 after a brief UK promotional tour. It was a critical success, though Punknews.org reviewed it negatively. Alex Westaway, the band's lead guitarist and co-lyricist, drew its artwork (based on Edward Norton) for the booklet; the EP's lead single, "Palahniuk's Laughter", was inspired by David Fincher's film ''Fight Club'' (1999), which in turn was based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. "Palahniuk's Laughter" received heavy rotation on music-video channels and spent many weeks on charts based on video and radio requests. The track, originally entitled "Out Swimming in the Flood", was renamed after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The EP's UK version contained five tracks (including a sixth hidden track), and was ineligible for the UK Singles Chart. It was released the following year in North America as an extended mini-album by Deep Elm Records. The release was praised by critics, despite initial scepticism due to Simpson's former pop career with Busted.

''Grand Unification'' (2005–2006)

After the release and promotion of ''They Liked You Better When You Were Dead'', the band were approached by their management about whom they wanted to produce their debut full-length album. They requested Colin Richardson; initially sceptical about their chances, Richardson agreed to collaborate after he listened to their demos. Fightstar entered studios in west London and Surrey with Richardson in October 2005. Richardson, who had previously produced albums for Funeral for a Friend, Machine Head and Fear Factory, was meticulous during pre-production and took five days to tune the drums. When recording began, he called the band "very focused" and said that there was a "real buzz because nobody knows what to expect." ''Grand Unification'' is a loose concept album, influenced by and based on the ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' anime series. With lyrics loosely based on the personal experiences of Charlie Simpson and Alex Westaway, its underlying concept revolves around two people who experience the last few days of their lives before the end of the world.

''Grand Unification'' was released in the UK on 13 March 2006 by Island Records, preceded by the single releases of " Paint Your Target", " Grand Unification Pt. I" and " Waste a Moment". The album debuted at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart, and its first single ("Paint Your Target") reached number nine on the Singles Chart. That month, Fightstar were listed by the US rock magazine '' Alternative Press'' as one of 100 bands to watch in 2006 and ''Kerrang!'' editor Paul Brannigan called the album "one of the best British rock albums of the last decade". The band played at the Download Festival at Donington Park, and followed Biffy Clyro and Funeral for a Friend at the Full Ponty festival in Wales. Fightstar toured several countries, including Australia, Japan and the UK, with Funeral for a Friend for three months in 2006. The band released ''Grand Unification'' in North America on 17 April 2007 on Trustkill Records. This version was different from the British and Japanese versions because it features "Fight For Us" (the B-side of the fourth single " Hazy Eyes") as a bonus track.

''One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours'' (2007–2008)

After leaving Island Records due to a disagreement over the band's artistic direction, Fightstar signed with the independent label Institute Records (a division of Gut Records) for their second album. According to Charlie Simpson, the band and Island had come to a "cross road" when the label began pushing Fightstar to create a more "mainstream" record. The band recorded ''One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours'' in Los Angeles with Matt Wallace

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