Scottish rockers
Idlewild formed in Edinburgh in late 1995, originally comprising singer
Roddy Woomble, guitarist
Rod Jones, bassist
Phil Scanlon, and drummer
Colin Newton. A year of steady touring preceded the release of the band's 1997 Human Condition label debut single, "Queen of the Troubled Teens," which immediately found favor with Radio 1 DJ
Steve Lamacq; the media exposure brought
Idlewild to the attention of Fierce Panda, which agreed to issue their sophomore effort, "Chandelier" (their first record with new bassist
Bob Fairfoull). A mini-album, Captain, followed on Deceptive in early 1998, and as word spread of their chaotic live shows, the group signed to Food to release
Hope Is Important in late October.
100 Broken Windows followed in early 2001 with a subsequent U.S. tour early that spring. The next year,
Idlewild issued
The Remote Part. "American English" and "You Held the World in Your Arms" were massive hits in Europe, making the album
Idlewild's most successful album to date. While touring Europe in fall 2002 in support of their third album, founding bassist
Bob Fairfoull was suddenly kicked out of the band. Guitar technician
Alex Grant stepped in to fill his shoes for the remaining European dates.
Gavin Fox (bass) and
Allen Stewart (guitar) were added permanently to the band in 2003, just prior to the American release of
The Remote Part in March.
Warnings/Promises followed in 2005.
Fox left the band the following spring and was replaced by former
Astrid bassist
Gareth Russell.
Woomble made his solo debut with
My Secret Is My Silence. It was released in the U.K. in July 2006.
Idlewild's fifth full-length album,
Make Another World, was released the following year. It was their first release on the newly rejuvenated Sequel label. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide