|
Brian Molko born December 10, 1972, in Brussels, Belgium, is a songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Placebo. Apart from being Placebo's most recognized member, Molko is know for his lyrics with deep meanings and for being openly bisexual.
Early lifeBorn to an American international banker father of French-Italian heritage and a Scottish mother, Molko's family moved frequently during his childhood including spells in Scotland, Liberia, Lebanon and Luxembourg. Brian Molko has referred to a period spent in his mother's home town of Dundee, Scotland, as "where I grew up". He describes his childhood as a period when he felt very lonely and alienated; his first performing experiences were through acting in a school drama theater.
While Molko was brought up in a strict household that disapproved of artistic expression (his father wanted him to become a banker) he rebelled by affecting an androgynous image, wearing nail polish, lipstick and eyeliner, and listening to punk.
Brian initially attended the European School of Luxembourg but had to leave due to excessive bullying; he later attended the [[International School of Luxembourg|American International School of Luxembourg]] (AISL) and went on to study drama at Goldsmiths College in London.
CareerMolko and Stefan Olsdal had both attended AISL (though they were never friends); when Brian moved to [[London]], he ran into Olsdal at [[South Kensington tube station]] and invited him to one of his gigs in a club, which he played with [[Steve Hewitt]]
. During a XFM takeover show in December 2009 Molko mentioned that his biggest influence is [[Sonic Youth]] and that his band probably wouldn't exist without them. He also mentioned that at the age of seven [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] was the first band he ever fell in love with. Other musical influences include [[Depeche Mode]], [[David Bowie]], [[Iggy Pop]], [[Deus (band)|Deus]], [[Dead Kennedys]], the [[Beastie Boys]], [[Serge Gainsbourg]], [[PJ Harvey]], [[The Velvet Underground]], [[Joy Division]], [[The Stooges]] and [[The Pixies]]. More recent musical tastes include electro-clash artist [[Peaches (musician)|Peaches]], [[Queens of the Stone Age]], [[Mogwai]], [[The Cribs]], Sad Gray and many others.
Brian taught himself to play guitar; at the age of 16, he got a Telecaster replica as a present from his parents. Soon after, he bought a real Telecaster. He plays other instruments such as bass, harmonica, keyboard, saxophone, drums and turntables. Fluent in French due to his upbringing in Luxembourg, Molko has written and sung a few of Placebo's songs in French as well as English. He has also occasionally worked as a disc jockey at clubs.
Along with Hewitt and Olsdal, he had a small role in the 1998 film Velvet Goldmine, for which Placebo performed the [[T.Rex (band)|T.Rex]] song "[[20th Century Boy]]". He played Malcolm, a singer of the fictional [[glam rock]] band, "The Flaming Creatures", who resembled the early [[Alice Cooper]] band.
Personal lifeIn October 2005, Molko's ex partner , Helena Berg, gave birth to his first child, Cody. He currently lives in east London, but frequently travels to Paris.
Brian stated in a recent interview that he still sees his son frequently as a single father.
In the same year, he was voted as 4th of the 50 sexiest rock stars by Kerrang! magazine readers.
CollaborationsHe has performed as a guest vocalist on tracks by:
- Timo Maas – "Pictures", "Like Siamese", "First Day";
- Asia Argento – "Je t'aime, moi non plus";
- Kristeen Young – "No Other God";
- Dream City Film Club – "Some", "Billy Chic";
- Jane Birkin – "Smile";
- ac acoustics – "Crush";
- Alpinestars – "Carbon Kid";
- Trash Palace – "The Metric System";
- Hotel Persona - "Modern Kids"
- Indochine - "Pink Water 3"
He also wrote the English lyrics to "Pink Water 3", a song by Indochine from the album Alice & June, released in 2005. Molko is friends with David Bowie, with whom he sang Placebo's Without You I'm Nothing and the cover [[20th Century Boy]] live.
EquipmentIn 2010, he has signed an endorsement contract with Orange.
During a 2003 interview with Graham Norton, Molko revealed he collects guitars, and gives them all names - amongst them are his favourite, 'Bitch', and a pink guitar (which he claims is gay) called 'Bertie'.Citation needed
Filmography- (1998) Velvet Goldmine as Malcolm of the Flaming Creatures
- (2001) ''Sue's Last Ride (Executive Producer)
Appearances- Never Mind the Buzzcocks
- Episode #2.06 (1997)
- Episode #8.01 (2001)
- Episode #9.06 (2001)
- Glastonbury Festival (1997)
- BRIT Awards (1999)
- ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien
- Episode dated March 27, 1999
- rage
- Placebo Guest Programme rage (1999)
- Terremoto Festival (Hamburg) (2000)
- Paskvil
- The Kerrang! Awards (2002)
- Rive droite - rive gauche
- Episode dated March 21, 2003
- V Graham Norton
- Tout le monde en parle
- Episode dated May 3, 2003
- Episode dated February 14, 2004
- Double je
- Episode dated June 26, 2003
- Placebo: Soulmates Never Die - Live in Paris 2003
- Le grand journal de Canal+
- Episode dated September 13, 2004
- Episode dated October 13, 2004
- Placebo: Androgyny (2005)
- Live 8 (2005)
- 4Music (2006)
- Rock am Ring (2006)
- Rock im Park (2006)
- Isle of Wight Festival (2006)
- Greenfield Festival (2006)
- The Friday Night Project (2006)
- Soccer A.M. (2006)
- Nova Rock Festival (June 15, 2006)
- Roskilde Festival (July 2, 2006)
- Open'er Festival (July 6, 2006)
- T in the Park (July 8, 2006)
- Oxegen (July 9, 2006)
- Vieilles Charrues Festival (July 21, 2006)
- Festival Internacional de Benicàssim (July 23, 2006)
- Rock-A-Field (July 25, 2006)
- Leeds Festival (August 25, 2006)
- Rock'n Coke (September 3, 2006)
- Siesta Festival (May 29, 2009)
- Rock Am Ring (2009)
- Rock Im Park (2009)
- Open'er Festival (July 5, 2009)
- Rock for People (July 8, 2009)
- Sziget (August 15, 2009)
- Reading Festival (August 28, 2009)
- Leeds Festival (August 30, 2009)
Soundwave Festival Australia]] (20, 21, 26, 27 February and 1 March 2010)
- Pukkelpop Festival (August 19, 2010)
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Brian Molko
|
|
Photo by: hometown.aol.com
|
![James Horner - House of Sand and Fog [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WQFCBTBVL._SL75_.jpg)
