Idles are a British rock band formed in Bristol in 2009.[1] The band consists of Adam Devonshire (bass), Joe Talbot (vocals), Mark Bowen (guitar), Lee Kiernan (guitar), and Jon Beavis (drums).
After spending eight years honing their live performances, the band released their debut album, Brutalism, in 2017 to critical acclaim.[2][3] Their second album, Joy as an Act of Resistance (2018), increased their exposure significantly,[4] and was followed by their first UK number one album, Ultra Mono, in 2020.[5] The band released their fourth album, Crawler, in 2021.[6]Tangk, their fifth studio album, was released in 2024 and became the band's second to reach number one in the UK.
Welsh frontman Joe Talbot was born in Newport and spent his late teenage years in Devon.[7] Talbot and bassist Adam Devonshire met in sixth form college in Exeter. Talbot and Devonshire then both moved to Bristol where they studied at the St Matthias Campus of the University of the West of England and decided to start a band.[8] According to Talbot, "It took us a long time to get productive because we didn't know what the fuck we were doing at all, we were fucking terrible for a long time."[9] Talbot and Devonshire went on to open the Bat-Cave Night Club in Bristol.[10] Guitarist Mark Bowen moved from Belfast to study in Bristol and met Talbot while on the DJ circuit.[7]
The band's first release was the Welcome EP in 2012.[11] By 2014 the band comprised Talbot, Devonshire, guitarists Mark Bowen and Andy Stewart, and drummer Jon Beavis.[12] They released a second EP, Meat, which saw them embrace a much harder-edged direction from their early work, and Meta, an EP of remixes, in 2015,[13] and then started writing songs for their debut album.[8] Also in 2015, guitarist Andy Stewart was replaced by Lee Kiernan.
After the 2016 singles "Well Done"[14] and "Divide & Conquer",[15] the band released their first album, Brutalism, in March 2017 to critical acclaim.[8][16][17]DIY gave it 4 stars, calling it "An exhilarating escape along frenzied rhythms and powerhouse rhythms with a ferocious commentary for guidance...as vital as it is volatile."[18]The Line of Best Fit website gave it 9/10, calling Idles "one of the most exciting British bands right now".[19] It received an 8/10 from PopMatters, with Ian King calling it "bracing, caustic, and relentless".[20]Uncut gave it a similarly positive review, calling it "A rare rock record with the rage, urgency, wit and shattering of complacency usually found in grime".[21] Talbot's mother died after a long illness while the band was working on the album and is pictured on the cover, along with a sculpture by Talbot and his father.[12] Her death gave Talbot and the band a new focus.[12] They toured to support Brutalism, and supported the Maccabees on the London shows of their farewell tour,[22] as well as supporting the Foo Fighters for the O2 Arena's 10th Birthday.
After several festival appearances throughout Europe, they began working on their second album, Joy as an Act of Resistance, which was released on 31 August 2018.[12][23][24] Accompanying the release of Joy, the group created an exhibition in collaboration with HM Electric Gallery in London, taking place 30 and 31 August 2018.[25]
During the latter stages of their Joy as an Act of Resistance tour in December 2019, Idles performed three new songs which were confirmed to be from their then-unannounced third album,[28] which Talbot confirmed was finished and being mixed in an interview with Zane Lowe that same month.
Following the promotional single "Mr. Motivator" in May 2020, Talbot announced their third album, Ultra Mono, in June, on Steve Lamacq's Radio 6 show.[29] The album was supported by a further four singles; "Grounds", "A Hymn", "Model Village" and "War" in June, July, August and September 2020, respectively. The record also features guest appearances from Jehnny Beth, Warren Ellis, David Yow and Jamie Cullum.[29] In 2020, Idles received two nominations at the Berlin Music Video Awards: the music video "Never Fight a Man With a Perm" received a nomination for Best Animation and "Mercedes Marxist" was nominated for Best Concept.[30]
Ultra Mono was released through Partisan Records on 25 September 2020 to predominantly positive reviews, with Louder Than War awarding it a 10 out of 10 and describing it as "the album of their career".[31] The band followed the release of the album with a remix of "Model Village", featuring Slowthai.[32]
On 28 September 2021, shortly over a year after the release of Ultra Mono, the band released the single "The Beachland Ballroom". Coinciding with the announcement the band announced the release of their fourth studio album, Crawler, to be released later in the autumn.[37] Prior to the album's release, the second single, "Car Crash", was released. The song was written about Talbot's real-life car accident.[38]
Crawler was released on 12 November 2021 through Partisan Records, and it was met with critical acclaim. Matt Mitchell, writing for Paste, gave the album an 8.8 out of 10 saying that Crawler "is magnetic storytelling tempered with newfound patience".[39] Damien Morris, of The Observer, called Crawler a "thrilling, glass-gargling introspection", giving the album a full five out of five stars.[40] Stuart Berman of Pitchfork gave Crawler a 7 out 10, the highest rating the band has received from the website. Berman said that "the Bristol band’s fourth album plays like the dark origin story for how Idles became the preeminent life coaches of modern post-punk."[41]
After being unable to tour for Ultra Mono due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the two albums were promoted in a worldwide tour from late 2021 to late 2022. During the tour, the band released two music videos from Crawler. The first, "When the Lights Come On", premiered on 13 December 2021 with direction from the company, Holding Hands with Horses.[42] On 8 February 2022, the music video for "Crawl!" was released. The video was a claymation video directed by LOOSE and Edie Lawrence.[43]
In April 2022, the band performed at Coachella Music and Arts Festival, with Desert Sun describing their performance as "rambunctious" and "chaotic".[44]
On 18 October 2023 the band released the single "Dancer", featuring backing vocals by James Murphy and Nancy Whang from LCD Soundsystem. They also announced their fifth album Tangk, which was released on 16 February 2024 and co-produced by the team of Kenny Beats, Nigel Godrich and guitarist Mark Bowen.[45] "Dancer" was later named by NME as the 49th best song of 2023.[46]
On 6 December 2023, the band released the follow-up single "Grace",[47] and later released "Gift Horse"[48] on 14 January 2024. On February 14, the band released a music video for "Grace" that used footage from Coldplay's video for "Yellow". Using deep fake technology, Chris Martin is made to appear as though he is singing "Grace" rather than "Yellow". The idea for the video reportedly came to Talbot in a dream, and was done with not only Martin's approval but his cooperation – filming himself singing the song in order to train the AI to make it appear more realistic.[49]
On 17 April 2024, the band released a music video for "Pop Pop Pop" while on a worldwide tour that started in February 2024.[50] The music video was shot on location in Iceland.
On Friday 28 June 2024 Idles played at Glastonbury where they were the final act performing on the 'Other Stage'. At one point during the performance they were joined on stage by American rapper Danny Brown.
IDLES has been described as a "post-Brexit" political rock band.[60] Their songs include political messages on a diverse range of topics including feminism, mass media and immigration.
In November 2023, just over a month after the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, English punk-duo Bob Vylan criticized IDLES as well as English punk-duo Sleaford Mods of not speaking about the Palestinian cause. "How the fuck can you call yourself a political left-wing band if you are not fucking speaking up for people that have no voice at the moment? It’s a cowardly fucking thing," the band said during a concert in Dublin.[62]
Subsequently Joe Talbot voiced support for Palestine at the launch show for the album Tangk, among others by changing lyrics to include references to Palestine.[63] Since then the band has continuously spoken about the topic, including during a concert at Glastonbury Festival.[64]
Members
Current
Adam Devonshire – bass guitar, backing vocals (2009–present)
