Editors

Tom Smith – guitar, lead vocals
Chris Urbanowicz – lead guitar
Russell Leetch – bass
Ed Lay – drums

Beginning life as the hopelessly monikered Snowfield, Tom Smith, Chris Urbanowicz, Russell Leetch and Ed Lay met at Stafford University, England, in 2003. Now renowned for their technical ability as much as their intense live shows, Editors' precocity should come as little surprise – all graduates of a music technology course – the band moved to Birmingham soon after graduation. Their post-punk laden, guitar-driven rock mixed the despair of Joy Division with the aggression of The Cure and Bauhaus. The results gave their music a neo-gothic edge that has since become their trademark.

Typecast as Midlands misery guts by some quarters of the music press, Tom Smith’s priest-like dress sense and introspective, Ian Curtis-esque vocals, didn’t deter a frantic record label bidding war once a demo became available. Editors’ story of Generation X, post-university oblivion will be familiar to many: half the band relocated to call centres after graduation to scrape together a living. Guitarist, Urbanowicz, when not being pestered by A&R men, worked in a shoe shop. The band’s experience of suburban alienation amidst the concrete tower blocks and rain-lashed flyovers of Birmingham infiltrated their music.

“The city may have had an effect on the music we were making,” Urbanowicz explains. “We weren’t 100 per cent pleased about where we were when we were writing it: It’s not the prettiest of places, grey and soulless, and when you put people in a room after a hard day’s work they’re going to be a little bit aggressive.”

Editors' call centre frustration ended after netting a deal with Kitchenware in 2004. Meanwhile, their intensely brooding and dramatic music evolved into the ferocious and dynamic beast typified on debut long player, ‘The Back Room’.

Debut single, ‘Bullets’, arrived in January 2005 to a respectable chart placing and a salivating indie press. Selling out within days, it’s booming rhythm section and sky-scraping guitars earned it comparisons with U2. Although reluctant to accept their status as Joy Division copyists, Editors befriended the likes of fellow gloom merchants, Elbow and Interpol.

If ‘Bullets’ raised expectations, their second single, ‘Munich’, underlined their ambition. A startling release, the song found its way into the top twenty and paved the way for television appearances.  The band reconvened to Chapel Studios in sleepy Lincolnshire in early 2005 to set to work on their debut album, ‘The Back Room’. Released in July 2005, it was a slow-burning epic, garnering widespread praise for its combination of melody and aggression. The standout moments were numerous – the cold resignation of ‘All Sparks’, the aching 80s balladry of ‘Camera’ and the all embracing magnetism of ‘Open Your Arms’ to name but few. ‘The Back Room’ confirmed Editors possessed a g.php of song-writing well beyond their years.

Third single, ‘Blood’, was released in July 2005 to coincide with the album. Combined with a host of well-received festival appearances – most notably at Glastonbury – positive word of mouth continued to spread amongst fans. The band threatened to eclipse headliners, Franz Ferdinand on an autumn guest support slot, and December’s sell-out Barfly club tour rounded off an exceptionally good year.

Tom Smith’s status as an unconventional indie pin-up increased once he was seen stepping out with Guy Garvey’s former beau and Radio 1 DJ, Edith Bowman. It no doubt added to the column inches, but Smith’s frequent pronouncements that his songs weren’t autobiographical only added to the enigma. A re-release of ‘Munich’ in January 2006 ensured they begun the year with a flyer. “I’ve got a million things to say,” wails Smith on ‘Lights’. With talent and intensity to burn, Editors have an extremely bright future ahead of them. 

Discography:

Singles:

‘Bullets’ - (2005 – Kitchenware)
‘Munich’ - (2005 – Kitchenware)
‘Blood’ - (2005 – Kitchenware)
‘Munich’ (re-release) – (2005 – Kitchenware)

Albums:

‘The Back Room- (2005 – Kitchenware)