Hard-Fi bio

Hard-Fi are an English rock band from Staines, Surrey - a suburban location that has significantly influenced their musical style and lyrics. Staines is traditionally seen as a cultural wasteland by many critics. However it is the town's proximity to London that puts it in a position to produce a band that can be influenced by the scene, although not necessarily part of it. The band were signed to newly formed independent label, Necessary Records, owned by Warren Clarke. Hard-Fi's debut album Stars of CCTV was initially recorded as a nine track mini-album in a disused mini cab office; it was then mixed in a variety of unusual acoustic environments - in bedrooms, in pubs, and in their producer, Wolsey White's, BMW. 1000 copies of this record were pressed with only 500 going on public sale. It quickly sold, receiving critical acclaim and radio play. The band were then licensed to the Atlantic Records label (a major), where they were given the chance to re-record the album. The band went back to the cab office to maintain their unique sound. Their debut album's launch party was scheduled to be July 7 2005 at Cheekees night club in Staines (where their top ten single "Tied Up Too Tight" was filmed), however this was cancelled due to the ill health of Archer's mother. Her death resulted in the band pulling out of the Glastonbury festival. The launch party was rescheduled for July 13 2005 and the venue changed to Ladbroke Grove, London. Hard-Fi gained increased prominence in the UK when Stars of CCTV was nominated for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize. It split the vote with Antony and the Johnsons who received the final casting vote. Hard-Fi supported Green Day at their two massive gigs at Milton Keynes Bowl, England. After a successful marketing campaign by Atlantic, the Stars of CCTV album re-entered the official UK album chart at No.4 on January 1 2006. Two places higher than it originally went in on the week of its release, the album climbed from No.33. Stars of CCTV finally climbed to No.1 on January 22 2006. The band's re-release of Cash Machine entered the official Top 40 singles chart at No.14 on January 1. A week later the band toasted national recognition as they received two Brit award nominations. Hard-Fi's first full length tour of 2006 sold out in just 15 minutes calling for more dates to be added. They played London's Brixton Academy from May 14 to May 18, making them one of the few bands to play five consecutive nights there. The other artists to do so were The Clash, Bob Dylan, Massive Attack and The Prodigy. However, they were the only band to do it off the back of their debut album. They also have their own video podcast, which is known as 'Hard-Fi Hard-Fi have built their own studio for the follow up to 2005's massive-selling debut album 'Stars of CCTV'.Having searched fruitlessly for a space, the Staines four-piece have retreated to their hometown for the record, which frontman Richard Archer describes as "darker" and "more expansive". The album's working title is Once Upon A Time In The West, and is set to be released some time in May/June. Tracks so far announced as possible album tracks/b-sides are: 'I Can't Get Along (Without You)' 'Television' 'Suburban Knights' 'We Need Love' 'Watch Me Fall Apart' 'Tonight' 'Little Angel' 'I Shall Overcome' *Another possible album track/b-side is the song 'You And Me' which featured on the DVD/CD set 'In Operation' released in May 2006

Source: Wikipedia