SUCKER-LOVE.COM

Part #1: The Placeboworld Current Gigs page has been updated and taken on a fantastic transformation!

Not only can you look up and find the date, details and support acts for forthcoming concerts, but you are provided with venue details, ticketing information and handy satellite images of the gig location powered by googlemaps. This feature is particularly handy for Placebo fans travelling far away from home to support their boys on the road.

Part #2: At last the Gig Archive is back! Right now you can access past dates for 2009 and 2007, with the band’s entire performance history to be added to the site over time.

Visitors have the opportunity to contribute their comments, memorabilia and pictures from gigs they’ve attended.

Be sure to contribute by scanning/photographing any tickets, set lists, photos, or by leaving comments about your favourite moments from past concerts you have attended. Eventually we’re going to have a great collaborative resource in our hands!

Placebo have just been announced in the second list of bands to play Australian music festival Soundwave.

Ticketek have sold out of their allocation for Melbourne, and possibly some other venues, however you can still get tickets via the official Soundwave ticketing site, but do it fast! We hope to see as many Placebo fans there as possible!

I’ll be attending all 5 Soundwaves, and any sideshows announced with the Australian Street Team, taking photos of fans and handing out goodies. If you’d like to join us during our festivities, meet ups, or just become a part of the team online, check out our myspace // facebook // live journal.

MAGAZINES: In other news There’s a great review of Placebo’s latest gig at Palacio De Los Deportes, Mexico City in Kerrang! You can read the article here and view the great images by photographer Scarlett Page here.

VOTE: Please continue to keep up the voting for Placebo as Best Alternative Artist for the MTV European Music Awards!

PLACEBO have today announced they have been forced to postpone their forthcoming tour of North America after their lead singer, Brian Molko, collapsed on stage at Summer Sonic Festival in Osaka, Japan. Brian had picked up a virus in Asia which, coupled with jet lag and exhaustion, caused the problem after the first song.

Brian is now back home in London recovering, but has been ordered by his doctors to take a 6 week long period of rest. Regrettably therefore, the band and management have no option but to postpone the forthcoming North American tour.

Riverman Management commented, “This is pretty devastating for everyone – we’ve only ever cancelled 3 shows in Placebo’s 14 year history, however Brian’s health is paramount. Our sincere apologies go out to Placebo’s loyal American fans who have waited a long time to see the band. We will try and do everything to re-arrange the dates as soon as possible”.

The band have had an intensive worldwide schedule this year, promoting their 6th studio album ‘Battle for the Sun’, this includes 24 high profile festival performances over the summer, an unprecedented amount for any band in 2009.

Tickets can be refunded at the point of purchase.

Please keep checking PLACEBOWORLD.co.uk for any additional information.

Recently Brian Molko was the celebrity subject for photographer Olaf Heines. Zeit Online have published a series of photographs called ‘Artists In The Face of Loneliness’.

According to Heines, this particular image is supposed to tell the tale of Brian as a lonely Dandy in the 21st century. The photograph with model Jule was taken in Berlin, 2008. It certainly evokes vivid imagery from the Placebo song, Special Needs; “…think of me stuck in my chair that has four wheels… remember me through flash photography and screams… remember me…”

Heines is not the first photographer to secure Brian as their striking feature subect. Some of you may also recall the gorgeous black and white image of Molks in JB Mondino’s ‘Guitar Eros’ in 2006.

In other band related news, Placebo have been announced as one of the acts for Rock-Am-Ring and Rock-Im-Park for the weekend 5-7 June 2009.

Placebo have been confirmed to headline the Nova Rock Festival in Austria on Saturday 20th June, 2009. The NOVA ROCK Festival, will take place between the 19th and 21st of June 2009, on the Pannonia Fields II, in the beautiful village of Nickelsdorf, Burgenland.

Further information and tickets can be found at www.novarock.at or www.musicticket.at

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Also Brian Molko recently appeared on the Steve Lamacq show via phone to talk about their forthcoming gig in Cambodia to raise awarness against human trafficking. You can hear him discuss this and many aspects of the new album here. Just fast forward to the 1hr 42minute mark and it lasts for a wonderful ten minutes.

On May 31st 2007, Placebo returned to Vilnius, Lithuania as part of their ongoing Meds tour.

The concert was held at Utenos Arena, however before the band took their musical instruments in hand, the crowd were witness to an affectionate (and likely political) display by lead singer Brian Molko and bassist Stefan Olsdal. Concert goers revealed that, Stefan, with the word ‘HOMO’ emblazend accross his torso, walked onto the the Arena stage, knelt and waited for Brian to enter. Upon doing so, Molko and Olsdal locked lips for the entire crowd to see… a kiss that is now being heard round the world in advocacy of gay rights.

Though the pair made no vocal revelation explaining their acts, the current state of unrest in Lithuania regarding the acceptance of gay rights is suggested to be the catalyst.

Well boys, you’ve certainly got our attention, but then you always have. Here’s hoping you’re able to break down a few barriers…or at least get people talking about the issue. Good to see you having fun in the process!

image: placebo.no.lv

Placebo would like to apologise unreservedly to all the fans who attended the Creamfields festival in Lisbon on Saturday night (19th May). The set was cut short due to Brian losing his voice as an extreme reaction to the cold temperatures. He was literally unable to keep singing. The band left the stage for the encore but decided it was impossible to continue.

“We sincerely apologise to all our fans at Creamfields. We understand that it must have seemed confusing as to what was going on and we are sorry we had to cut our set short. Nothing frustrates us more than having on stage problems. In this instance, the problems were simply Brian’s voice. We hate to let our fans down but there was just nothing we could do. It’s certainly not the way we’d hoped to kick off our European tour!!”

It certainly was a let down for fans, but we wish Brian all the best. He has been battling Bronchitis and if you watch the last song before he left the stage, Im sure you can 100% sympathise with why the show had to end early. Best to have a rested Placebo, than no Placebo at all!

At long last the 2007 tour calendar has been updated. Too many to list here, but it features USA, Germany, Italy, Russia, Czech Republic, Greece and more.

USA TV APPEARANCE:
On April 11th, Placebo will be appearing on a brand new show entitled, The Sauce.
6pm EST, Fuse Channel

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On March 29 Placebo held an interactive chat with Chilean fans. You can view a streaming video of their replies at the wow.cl site.

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Placebo are embracing the interactive pop culture mediums of YouTube and MySpace.

As previously mentioned the band have an Official Myspace, and in conjunction with this they now have an Official YouTube page at which you can view interviews, performances and special treats such as the latest messages direct from the band to their fans.

I’m madly scrambling to collect USA tour dates for my trip and I had forgotten to post them here for everyone else! Please keep in mind, this list is incomplete and some are not yet officially confirmed.

01.04.07 – Buenos Aires, Club Ciudad, Argentina
05.04.07 – Lupo’s, Providence, RI
06.04.07 – Boston, MA
07.04.07 – Metropolis Montreal, Quebec
09.04.07 – Guvernment Toronto, Ontario
10.04.07 – Theatre of the Living Arts Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
11.04.07 – Roseland Ballroom, New York
13.04.07 – House of Blues Chicago, Illinois
14.04.07 – Kansas City, MO
15.04.07 – Edgefest (festival), Cisco, TX
18.04.07 – The Fillmore Denver, Colorado
21.04.07 – The Fenix Seattle, Washington
23.04.07 – The Fillmore San Francisco, California
26.04.07 – House of Blues Las Vegas, NV
27.04.07 – Tempe, AZ
29.04.07 – Coachella (festival) Indio, CA

To those in the UK who weren’t able to secure tickets to the intimate Coronet, Elephant and Castle gig, never fear, in an effort to prevent scalpers taking advantage of fans, Placebo have scheduled a second date on March 6th to curb the demand! Purchase tickets.

sources: Placebo MySpace and knives_outx

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY SUCKERLOVERS!

The first trickles of individual shows in America have been released! Stay tuned for further dates!

15.04.07 – Edgefest
Dallas, TX

26.04.07 – House of Blues
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89119 US

27.04.07 – Marquee Theatre
730 North Mill Ave., Tempe, AZ 85281 US

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And while you’re waiting for Placebo to tour your city, read this recent interview that Stefan Olsdal undertook with Michael Melchor of 411 Mania

Placebo may be finally ready to take their proper place in stardom here in the United States.

The band – consisting of Brian Molko (vocals, guitar), Stefan Olsdal (bass) and Steve Hewitt (drums) – have been a fixture in the native England and the rest of Europe (if not all over the world) for several years now. First gaining attention as Ashtray Heart, the band garnered attention with their eponymous 1996 debut under their recent name. While the UK press loves mocking lead singer Molko for his flamboyant ways, the band has gained a powerful fan following abroad.

In The United States, however, the band had a cult following. With the exception of “Pure Morning” (from Without You I’m Nothing), not much had been heard from or about the band here overseas. That has changed within the last year, as their newest album, Meds, has slowly but surely gained attention. With “Running Up The Hill” featured on television shows such as “Bones” and “The O.C.” and an upcoming feature spot on the Coachella Festival lineup, Placebo may soon be a household name in the United States as well as the United Kingdom.

Recently, 411 had a chance to talk to co-founder Stefan Olsdal about the band’s upcoming prominence in the United States. On the phone from Europe, Olsdal was gracious and forthcoming about the new record and breaking over here (USA).

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