Funeral for a Friend
Encyclopedia
Funeral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore
band, from Bridgend. Formed 2001, they have released five studio albums, seven EPs, sixteen singles, one DVD, and one compilation album.
, one of Davies favourite bands at the time.
During the start of the New Year they parted ways with second guitarist Kerry Roberts (Kris Coombs-Roberts's brother) and found a suitable replacement in Darran Smith (ex-Tripcage). The band recorded four tracks at Mighty Atom Studios for a proposed self financed EP with another Welsh band From This Moment On. Upon hearing the tracks, Mighty Atom Records
approached the band and offered a two album deal, resulting in their debut EP
, Between Order and Model
(2002). Before the EP's release, Andi Morris (bass) quit, with Phillips and Evans also leaving. The band then recruited Gareth Davies (later Ellis-Davies) on bass and Ryan Richards on drums. Matt Davies became the band's only primary vocalist, with Gareth Davies performing backing melodies and Richards taking over Evans' screaming role.
In 2003, Funeral for a Friend recorded their second EP, Four Ways to Scream Your Name
, produced and mixed by Colin Richardson
. In mid-2003, the band secured their first Kerrang!
award, winning the award for "Best UK Newcomer", beating The Darkness, who won in all other nominated categories. Funeral for a Friend's win was largely attributed to their fervent fan base, as the awards winner was decided by public vote online at the official Kerrang! Web site. In August 2003, Funeral for a Friend opened the Concrete Jungle stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals
.
, produced and mixed by Colin Richardson
, was released to critical acclaim in the UK. The album did not see a concurrent release in the US (eventually released there on 13 July 2004); instead, a seven-track "mini-album", entitled Seven Ways to Scream Your Name
, was released, and featured songs from the band's Between Order & Model and Four Ways to Scream Your Name EPs. In the United Kingdom the album received a Gold certification a year after its release on 29 October 2004, which was achieved with a sales figure of over 100,000.
Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation saw three top-twenty singles
including "Juneau
" (#19), "She Drove Me to Daytime Television" (#20) and "Escape Artists Never Die" (#19). Funeral for a Friend toured feverishly to promote Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation, including a series of European dates in which they opened for their idols, Iron Maiden
. This was met with a mixed reception, as their style and fan base bore little resemblance to the heavy metal background of Iron Maiden. In 2004, the band headlined the second stage of the Reading and Leeds Festivals
.
On 14 June 2005, the band released their second album Hours
through Atlantic Records
. The album was produced by Terry Date
and was recorded in two Seattle studios owned by the grunge
band Pearl Jam
. The album featured unusual methods of recording, for example Matt Davies' vocals were recorded whilst in a moving car and on a crowded Seattle street, for the song "Drive". In August of the same year, the band won a Kerrang! Award for "Best British Band".
Funeral for a Friend performed several low-profile shows in Wales, including Bangor University
and Bridgend
Recreation Centre, prior to the release of Hours. This contrasted against their subsequent shows, which included playing alongside bands such as Atreyu
, Saosin
, Hawthorne Heights
and Thrice
on the 2005 Vans Warped Tour
. The band also performed on the main stage of the Reading and Leeds Festivals, having to leave the Warped Tour early to do so. The band also played on the main stage of the Taste of Chaos tour in the US in 2006, alongside bands such as Story of the Year
, Deftones
and Thrice.
Funeral For a Friend closed the promotional jaunt for Hours in the Summer of 2006, with a series of UK shows rescheduled from February. Most of the original dates had been canceled because Matt Davies had suffered from a bout of laryngitis. Several other shows were scheduled in the UK to complement these rescheduled dates, and the tour culminated in a slot below headliners Guns N' Roses
at the Download Festival
at Donington Racetrack. The rest of 2006 was spent writing and recording the band's third album, Tales Don't Tell Themselves released in May 2007.
page. On 19 March 2007, Into Oblivion (Reunion)
, the first single from the album, premiered on the Zane Lowe Show on Radio One. It was given a 7 May physical release, and the video can be seen and the song heard on their MySpace. It reached number 39 in its first week of release on downloads and reached number 16 in the Official UK chart on 13 May 2007.
A selection of intimate shows to promote the album were played on 12, 13 and 14 April 2007 in intimate coastal venues in the south of England. Only 200 tickets were available for each show and these had to be applied for via an e-mail sent to members of the FFAF mailing list. Names were then picked out of a hat and the selected people were offered the opportunity to buy a pair of tickets to the gig, exclusive t-shirts were given to anyone paying using paypal mobile. On 8 May 2007 the band released Tales Don't Tell Themselves in its entirety for fans to preview via their MySpace page. This album is the first on which Matt plays guitar. On 10 May 2007 the band played another intimate gig for Kerrang! 105.2
at the Wolverhampton
Civic Hall Bar, in which they played "Walk Away" for the very first time. This is one of the tracks which Matt plays guitar on live, alongside "Raise The Sail" and "The Sweetest Wave", which were debuted on the full tour in May 2007. The album was their highest charting yet, reaching Number 3 in the UK Album Charts.
On 16 July 2007 Walk Away
, was released as the second single from Tales Don't Tell Themselves and reached number 40 in the UK singles charts. It was announced in a newsletters that "The Great Wide Open" would be the next single and would be released as an EP. The EP, The Great Wide Open
was released on 15 October 2007 through Atlantic Records, negating the release of the single itself.
On 11 May 2008, it was announced via a MySpace bulletin that the band would be shooting a video for the first single from the album, "Waterfront Dance Club", on 17 May. "Waterfront Dance Club" was played exclusively for the first time on Radio 1's Rock Show on 2 June 2008, where it was also announced that the single would be released as a double A-side with the track "Beneath the Burning Tree". Both singles were also released as a limited edition 7" on the same date. The album's title was confirmed as Memory and Humanity
by Rock Sound
magazine on 30 June 2008, and that its release would take place in October 2008. On 2 July 2008, the band announced the UK tour of Memory and Humanity, commencing 14 October 2008.
9 August 2008 saw the debut of the video for the single "Kicking and Screaming" on MySpace. Later that month on the 27th, it was announced that the band had licensed their new record to Victory Records
for the U.S. and Canadian releases.
The album was released via the label on October 28, 2008. It was also released via Roadrunner Records
in the rest of the world, apart from the UK, where it was released through the band's own label, Join Us. The release was followed by a tour in Britain, Ireland and northern Europe, supported by Canadian hardcore punk
act Cancer Bats
.
On 4 September 2008, it was announced via a MySpace blog post that Gareth Davies had left the band, to be replaced by Gavin Burrough (Hondo Maclean
, Ghostlines, The Future). "As some of you may know, Gareth has been living in America for the past couple of years, and recently got married. Ultimately, the strain of travelling between continents has taken its toll and Gareth made the decision that it would be in the best interests of himself, his family and Funeral to leave the band. We totally respect and understand his choice, wish him all the best in his future and we thank him for being part of our lives for the past 6 years." The first interview to surface with Burrough in the band appeared on the Rocklouder webzine in the week of the Memory and Humanity release. In the 24 January 2009 issue of Kerrang! magazine, it was stated that the band were currently filming the video for the third single off the album, Rules and Games. The single was released on 23 March 2009. They will also be going on tour with We Are the Ocean
supporting to coincide with its release.
It was initially revealed in Kerrang! magazine on 24 June 2009 that the band were to release a greatest hits album, entitled Your History Is Mine: 2002-2009 on 28 September 2009. the Compilation album was released by Atlantic records
because the record deal between the band and the label allowed the Atlantic records to release a compilation CD at any point in the bands career. the band then decided to record four brand new tracks in order to give the greatest hits value to fans. On 21 July 2009, Funeral For A Friend debuted one of the four new songs from the greatest hits album titled Your History Is Mine: 2002-2009. The song was called "Wrench" and premiered on Radio One's Rock Show with Dan Carter. Zane Lowe
credited them as "one of the best British bands of the last decade" upon the release of Your History Is Mine.
that guitarist Darran Smith would be leaving the band, but not before playing his final shows. He wrote a farewell message on the band's website. On 26 April 2010, Funeral for a Friend wrote on their forum about their lineup change, paying homage to the departure of their friend Darran Smith, but also announcing the new member. Gavin Burrough changed instrument from bass to guitar, taking over Darran's place as guitarist, and the new bassist of Funeral for a Friend will be Richard Boucher (Hondo Maclean
, Hurricane-Joe, Ghostlines). The band noted: "He's SO good on bass that we let someone with blonde hair join our band. That ought to be an indication of how great he is." The band stated that they are excited for the new material being made and can't wait to show the fans what they have: "The creative well, is well and truly overflowing. Exciting times. Stay tuned, and be ready."
On 3 May 2010 the band announced that they will be releasing a special new EP to fans who "pledged" through website pledgemusic.com, the "pledge" options include the EP, a signed EP and even an acoustic performance by the band at a fan's residence. On 1 July 2010 the band revealed that the EP will titled The Young and Defenceless and also revealed the cover art. It was also announced via Kerrang!
that the newly recorded EP would be released on 1 September 2010; however, in actuality, the downloadable version was released on 6 September 2010 with the physical copies being planned on being released sometime in the third week of October. On 9 November, Funeral For a Friend released a music video for the track Serpents in Solitude. Towards the end of October 2010 they finished a session of recording for a new album for which a name and date were yet to be announced. On 2 November, they played two new songs, confirmed to be on this album (which was announced as due for release in March 2011), called "Man Alive" and "Front Row Seats to the End of the World". Another song title was confirmed as "Spinning Over the Island".
On 10 January 2011, the band released the official video for the album's leading single "Front Row Seats to the End of the World" and announced their fifth studio album would be called Welcome Home Armageddon. On 17 January, they released the album's artwork and track list On 24 January, it was announced that the album was to be released by Good Fight Music, a move that would reconnect the band with the original label team that released Seven Ways to Scream Your Name
and Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation
. On February 9, the band released the video for their newest single, "Sixteen". On 5 March 2011, the band played their first ever show in South Africa, at the RAMFest in Worcester, outside of Cape Town alongside Alkaline Trio
and Die Antwoord
. They concluded their South African tour by playing in Durban and Johannesburg on the 9th and 12 March 2011 respectively.
Welcome Home Armageddon was released 14 March 2011 in the UK and March 15 in the US. It was announced as a nomination for a inaugural Welsh Music Prize however lost to Gruff Rhys
' Hotel Shampoo
.
On 28 September 2011, Funeral for a Friend announced the release of a new extended play to be released in Novermber. The EP is titled "See You All In Hell" and it will feature only one brand new track while the remainder of the tracks are acoustic, live session recordings and remixes of tracks from Welcome Home Armageddon
as well as a cover of Strife
. The band has expressed an eagerness to return to the studio and write the follow up to ‘Welcome Home Armageddon’ and they describe ‘High Castles’ as being a "good indication of where we’ll be taking things on the next record." The release of the EP is accompanied by a UK tour by the band in October with support from Escape The Fate
, The Amity Affliction
, The Bunny The Bear and Straight Lines. On 13 October 2011, Funeral For A Friend released a new digital single from the EP titled "High Castles", the only original track from the EP. See You All In Hell was released on 7 November.
and melodic hardcore
. Their musical style has also been cited as alternative rock
, emo
and screamo
as well as being seen as a fusion of metal, rock and emo. Deftones
, Iron Maiden
and The Get Up Kids
has been said to be their primary influences. The band has commented on the uses of the tag emo, drummer Ryan Richards stated: "I have no more problem with being called emo than with being called metal or hardcore, I just don't think any one term or label does justice to the music we do."
Their earlier EPs and their debut album Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation are considered their heaviest work. Their second album Hours
is seen as being apart of the new wave of emo that occurred during the mid 2000's.
While their next two albums followed a different musical direction. With Tales Don't Tell Themselves they use a more pop-rock and post-hardcore style with classic rock
, alternative country
and 80's heartland rock
influences. The album uses choral elements for tracks like "Into Oblivion (Reunion)
". Their 4th album, Memory and Humanity
returned to a more post-hardcore sound however adopted a more alternative rock influence.
The Young & Defenceless
and their fifth album Welcome Home Armageddon
saw them returning to a more aggressive elements of post-hardcore, combinding melodic hardcore styles. However, it has also been noted that Welcome Home Armageddon incorperates more pop-rock inspired hooks and melodies. The band and critics alike have said that because they released the two on indie labels they had more creative freedom from when they were signed to Atlantic Records. When Welcome Home Armageddon came out, critics were quick to compare and contrast it to Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation.
. James Ding of AbsolutePunk stated that: "...the album still stands tall atop of many recent releases due to the quality of the music on offer, and even though FFAF may have strayed from the style that started their career, this is still a landmark album in modern British rock music". It has influenced acts like: Fightstar
, The Blackout
, Kids In Glass Houses
, We Are The Ocean
and Asking Alexandria
.
In the April 2011 edition of RockSound magazine, Funeral for a Friend were inducted in the Rocksound's Hall Of Fame, proving that they are living legends in the Rock/Metal scene.
Former members
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band, from Bridgend. Formed 2001, they have released five studio albums, seven EPs, sixteen singles, one DVD, and one compilation album.
Formation and Early Years(2001–2003)
When Michael Davies, one of January Thirst's original vocalists, quit in December 2001, Matthew Evans (vocals) and Johnny Phillips (drums) invited Matt Davies (later Davies-Kreye) to try out for the vacated singer position. Soon afterward the band reformed as Funeral for a Friend, the name is derived from a song by Planes Mistaken for StarsPlanes Mistaken for Stars
Planes Mistaken for Stars was a emocore band formed in Peoria, Illinois in 1997. They released music on Deep Elm Records, Dim Mak Records, No Idea Records and Abacus Recordings.-History:...
, one of Davies favourite bands at the time.
During the start of the New Year they parted ways with second guitarist Kerry Roberts (Kris Coombs-Roberts's brother) and found a suitable replacement in Darran Smith (ex-Tripcage). The band recorded four tracks at Mighty Atom Studios for a proposed self financed EP with another Welsh band From This Moment On. Upon hearing the tracks, Mighty Atom Records
Mighty Atom Records
Mighty Atom Records is a Welsh based record label. The company was formed in early 2000 by Dave Simpson and Roger Hopkins. It is known for having been one of a few independent record labels at the forefront of the UK emo scene in the early 2000s, due to its early involvement with Funeral for a...
approached the band and offered a two album deal, resulting in their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Between Order and Model
Between Order And Model
Between Order and Model is the first release by Welsh rock band Funeral for a Friend. It was released on 12 August 2002 through Mighty Atom Records in the United Kingdom. It is currently out of print and sought after by collectors. All of the tracks, excluding "Juno", were included on the band's...
(2002). Before the EP's release, Andi Morris (bass) quit, with Phillips and Evans also leaving. The band then recruited Gareth Davies (later Ellis-Davies) on bass and Ryan Richards on drums. Matt Davies became the band's only primary vocalist, with Gareth Davies performing backing melodies and Richards taking over Evans' screaming role.
In 2003, Funeral for a Friend recorded their second EP, Four Ways to Scream Your Name
Four Ways to Scream Your Name
Four Ways to Scream Your Name is the second EP by the Welsh post-hardcore band Funeral for a Friend. It was released on 21 April 2003, through Mighty Atom Records in the United Kingdom. It is currently out of print and highly sought after by fans of the band. This EP was released on both CD and 7"...
, produced and mixed by Colin Richardson
Colin Richardson
Colin Richardson is a British record producer, mixer and recording engineer. He has worked on over 100 albums, and is most frequently associated with heavy metal and its subgenres such as:*Anathema*As I Lay Dying*Behemoth*Bullet for My Valentine...
. In mid-2003, the band secured their first Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
award, winning the award for "Best UK Newcomer", beating The Darkness, who won in all other nominated categories. Funeral for a Friend's win was largely attributed to their fervent fan base, as the awards winner was decided by public vote online at the official Kerrang! Web site. In August 2003, Funeral for a Friend opened the Concrete Jungle stage at the Reading and Leeds Festivals
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
.
Signing to a major record label and mainstream breakthrough (2003–2006)
On 20 October 2003, after recording for the duration of the summer, Funeral for a Friend's full-length debut album was released. Casually Dressed & Deep in ConversationCasually Dressed & Deep in Conversation
-Reception:The album received very positive reviews from the British music press with NME and Drowned in Sound giving it 8/10 and 9/10 respectively. It was also #17 in NME albums of the year.- In pop culture :...
, produced and mixed by Colin Richardson
Colin Richardson
Colin Richardson is a British record producer, mixer and recording engineer. He has worked on over 100 albums, and is most frequently associated with heavy metal and its subgenres such as:*Anathema*As I Lay Dying*Behemoth*Bullet for My Valentine...
, was released to critical acclaim in the UK. The album did not see a concurrent release in the US (eventually released there on 13 July 2004); instead, a seven-track "mini-album", entitled Seven Ways to Scream Your Name
Seven Ways to Scream Your Name
- Personnel :*Kris Coombs-Roberts – guitar*Gareth Davies – bass guitar*Matt Davies – vocals*Ryan Richards – drums, vocals*Darran Smith – guitar*Written and performed by Funeral for a Friend...
, was released, and featured songs from the band's Between Order & Model and Four Ways to Scream Your Name EPs. In the United Kingdom the album received a Gold certification a year after its release on 29 October 2004, which was achieved with a sales figure of over 100,000.
Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation saw three top-twenty singles
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
including "Juneau
Juneau (song)
"Juneau" is a song by Welsh post-hardcore band Funeral for a Friend. As one of the most popular and well known of the band's songs, it was a hit single being the joint third highest charting single to date...
" (#19), "She Drove Me to Daytime Television" (#20) and "Escape Artists Never Die" (#19). Funeral for a Friend toured feverishly to promote Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation, including a series of European dates in which they opened for their idols, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
. This was met with a mixed reception, as their style and fan base bore little resemblance to the heavy metal background of Iron Maiden. In 2004, the band headlined the second stage of the Reading and Leeds Festivals
Reading and Leeds Festivals
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of annual music festivals that take place in Reading and Leeds in England. The events take place simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. The Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm...
.
On 14 June 2005, the band released their second album Hours
Hours (album)
Hours is the second album by Welsh rock band Funeral for a Friend. The album was released on 14 June 2005, through Atlantic and Ferret Records. The album was produced, recorded and mixed by Terry Date, with co-production by the band. Hours is notable for the band showcasing their more melodic side...
through Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. The album was produced by Terry Date
Terry Date
Terry Date is an American record producer and engineer, specializing in the rock and metal genres...
and was recorded in two Seattle studios owned by the grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
band Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
. The album featured unusual methods of recording, for example Matt Davies' vocals were recorded whilst in a moving car and on a crowded Seattle street, for the song "Drive". In August of the same year, the band won a Kerrang! Award for "Best British Band".
Funeral for a Friend performed several low-profile shows in Wales, including Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
and Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
Recreation Centre, prior to the release of Hours. This contrasted against their subsequent shows, which included playing alongside bands such as Atreyu
Atreyu (band)
Atreyu is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of vocalist/lyricist Alex Varkatzas, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Marc McKnight and drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller...
, Saosin
Saosin
Saosin is an American rock band originally hailing from Newport Beach, California. The band was formed in 2003 and recorded its first EP, Translating the Name, that same year with original singer Anthony Green. Green left Saosin following the band's decision to sign with a commercial label,...
, Hawthorne Heights
Hawthorne Heights
Hawthorne Heights is an American rock band from Dayton, Ohio, formed in 2001. Their line-up currently consists of lead-singer and rhythm guitarist JT Woodruff, lead-guitarist and vocalist Micah Carli, bassist and backing vocalist Matt Ridenour, and drummer Eron Bucciarelli...
and Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
on the 2005 Vans Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
. The band also performed on the main stage of the Reading and Leeds Festivals, having to leave the Warped Tour early to do so. The band also played on the main stage of the Taste of Chaos tour in the US in 2006, alongside bands such as Story of the Year
Story of the Year
Story of the Year is an American rock band formed in St. Louis, Missouri in 2000. The band was initially named 67 North but was then changed to Big Blue Monkey...
, Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
and Thrice.
Funeral For a Friend closed the promotional jaunt for Hours in the Summer of 2006, with a series of UK shows rescheduled from February. Most of the original dates had been canceled because Matt Davies had suffered from a bout of laryngitis. Several other shows were scheduled in the UK to complement these rescheduled dates, and the tour culminated in a slot below headliners Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
at the Download Festival
Download Festival
The Download Festival is a three day rock music festival held annually at Donington Park, England . It usually takes place in June...
at Donington Racetrack. The rest of 2006 was spent writing and recording the band's third album, Tales Don't Tell Themselves released in May 2007.
Tales Don't Tell Themselves (2007)
Funeral for a Friend mentioned the writing of this album during their UK shows in summer 2006 and they started writing and recording at the end of the tour. Tales Don't Tell Themselves was released on 14 May 2007 in the UK, having been leaked to the internet on 10 May 2007. The band released video diary updates of the recording on their MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page. On 19 March 2007, Into Oblivion (Reunion)
Into Oblivion (Reunion)
"Into Oblivion " is the opening track, and first single, from Funeral for a Friend's album, Tales Don't Tell Themselves. It was a single released on 7 May 2007 reaching number 16 in the UK charts in its first week. The album followed on May 14...
, the first single from the album, premiered on the Zane Lowe Show on Radio One. It was given a 7 May physical release, and the video can be seen and the song heard on their MySpace. It reached number 39 in its first week of release on downloads and reached number 16 in the Official UK chart on 13 May 2007.
A selection of intimate shows to promote the album were played on 12, 13 and 14 April 2007 in intimate coastal venues in the south of England. Only 200 tickets were available for each show and these had to be applied for via an e-mail sent to members of the FFAF mailing list. Names were then picked out of a hat and the selected people were offered the opportunity to buy a pair of tickets to the gig, exclusive t-shirts were given to anyone paying using paypal mobile. On 8 May 2007 the band released Tales Don't Tell Themselves in its entirety for fans to preview via their MySpace page. This album is the first on which Matt plays guitar. On 10 May 2007 the band played another intimate gig for Kerrang! 105.2
Kerrang! 105.2
Kerrang! Radio is a specialist rock music radio station broadcasting to the West Midlands, England. The station's format mixes modern & classic rock with speech programmes targeted at young people and an adult rock audience. Broadcasting on FM in the West Midlands and DAB & Freeview and online,...
at the Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
Civic Hall Bar, in which they played "Walk Away" for the very first time. This is one of the tracks which Matt plays guitar on live, alongside "Raise The Sail" and "The Sweetest Wave", which were debuted on the full tour in May 2007. The album was their highest charting yet, reaching Number 3 in the UK Album Charts.
On 16 July 2007 Walk Away
Walk Away (Funeral for a Friend song)
"Walk Away" is the second single and ninth track from the Funeral for a Friend album Tales Don't Tell Themselves, and reached number 40 in the UK Charts.-Music video:...
, was released as the second single from Tales Don't Tell Themselves and reached number 40 in the UK singles charts. It was announced in a newsletters that "The Great Wide Open" would be the next single and would be released as an EP. The EP, The Great Wide Open
The Great Wide Open
The Great Wide Open is a "mini-album" from Funeral for a Friend, the title track taken from the album Tales Don't Tell Themselves. Originally planned as the third single from the album , it was later deferred by two weeks and expanded to a mini-album in order to release the live tracks recorded in...
was released on 15 October 2007 through Atlantic Records, negating the release of the single itself.
Memory and Humanity and Your History Is Mine (2008–2009)
On 26 January 2008, drummer Ryan Richards made an announcement on the band's forum, stating that FFAF were to spend the first few months of the year recording, with a view of releasing a four or five track EP in March or April 2008. After writing more material than originally planned, the band decided to scrap plans for the EP and released a full-length album instead. Ryan also announced that the new album would contain screaming vocals, riffs and would be closer to Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation than any of their other albums, although would still be significantly different and more technical, citing that they want to move forward, and never back to any old style.On 11 May 2008, it was announced via a MySpace bulletin that the band would be shooting a video for the first single from the album, "Waterfront Dance Club", on 17 May. "Waterfront Dance Club" was played exclusively for the first time on Radio 1's Rock Show on 2 June 2008, where it was also announced that the single would be released as a double A-side with the track "Beneath the Burning Tree". Both singles were also released as a limited edition 7" on the same date. The album's title was confirmed as Memory and Humanity
Memory and Humanity
- Personnel :Funeral for a Friend:*Kris Coombs-Roberts – guitar*Gareth Ellis-Davies – bass guitar, backing vocals*Matthew Davies-Kreye – vocals, guitar *Ryan Richards – drums, backing vocals, keyboard...
by Rock Sound
Rock Sound
Rock Sound is a British magazine which champions rock music. The magazine aims at being more "underground" and less commercial, whilst also giving coverage to more well known acts.-History:...
magazine on 30 June 2008, and that its release would take place in October 2008. On 2 July 2008, the band announced the UK tour of Memory and Humanity, commencing 14 October 2008.
9 August 2008 saw the debut of the video for the single "Kicking and Screaming" on MySpace. Later that month on the 27th, it was announced that the band had licensed their new record to Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....
for the U.S. and Canadian releases.
The album was released via the label on October 28, 2008. It was also released via Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
in the rest of the world, apart from the UK, where it was released through the band's own label, Join Us. The release was followed by a tour in Britain, Ireland and northern Europe, supported by Canadian hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
act Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats are a hardcore punk/sludge metal band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-Background:Cancer Bats originated in May 2004 with singer Liam Cormier and guitarist Scott Middleton, former member of Toronto heavy metal band At the Mercy of Inspiration...
.
On 4 September 2008, it was announced via a MySpace blog post that Gareth Davies had left the band, to be replaced by Gavin Burrough (Hondo Maclean
Hondo Maclean
Hondo Maclean was a post-hardcore/metalcore outfit from Bridgend, Wales. On February 16, 2007 they announced that they had stopped the band but would start a new project called The Future, who have also since split up...
, Ghostlines, The Future). "As some of you may know, Gareth has been living in America for the past couple of years, and recently got married. Ultimately, the strain of travelling between continents has taken its toll and Gareth made the decision that it would be in the best interests of himself, his family and Funeral to leave the band. We totally respect and understand his choice, wish him all the best in his future and we thank him for being part of our lives for the past 6 years." The first interview to surface with Burrough in the band appeared on the Rocklouder webzine in the week of the Memory and Humanity release. In the 24 January 2009 issue of Kerrang! magazine, it was stated that the band were currently filming the video for the third single off the album, Rules and Games. The single was released on 23 March 2009. They will also be going on tour with We Are the Ocean
We Are the Ocean
We Are the Ocean is a 5 piece post-hardcore band from Loughton, Essex, England.The band has played hundreds of shows since their formation, including several festivals during 2008 such as Slam Dunk, Offset Festival, Middlesbrough Music Live, and Taste of Chaos...
supporting to coincide with its release.
It was initially revealed in Kerrang! magazine on 24 June 2009 that the band were to release a greatest hits album, entitled Your History Is Mine: 2002-2009 on 28 September 2009. the Compilation album was released by Atlantic records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
because the record deal between the band and the label allowed the Atlantic records to release a compilation CD at any point in the bands career. the band then decided to record four brand new tracks in order to give the greatest hits value to fans. On 21 July 2009, Funeral For A Friend debuted one of the four new songs from the greatest hits album titled Your History Is Mine: 2002-2009. The song was called "Wrench" and premiered on Radio One's Rock Show with Dan Carter. Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
credited them as "one of the best British bands of the last decade" upon the release of Your History Is Mine.
Break from Atlantic records and Welcome Home Armageddon (2009–present)
On 23 April 2010, Funeral for a Friend announced on FacebookFacebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
that guitarist Darran Smith would be leaving the band, but not before playing his final shows. He wrote a farewell message on the band's website. On 26 April 2010, Funeral for a Friend wrote on their forum about their lineup change, paying homage to the departure of their friend Darran Smith, but also announcing the new member. Gavin Burrough changed instrument from bass to guitar, taking over Darran's place as guitarist, and the new bassist of Funeral for a Friend will be Richard Boucher (Hondo Maclean
Hondo Maclean
Hondo Maclean was a post-hardcore/metalcore outfit from Bridgend, Wales. On February 16, 2007 they announced that they had stopped the band but would start a new project called The Future, who have also since split up...
, Hurricane-Joe, Ghostlines). The band noted: "He's SO good on bass that we let someone with blonde hair join our band. That ought to be an indication of how great he is." The band stated that they are excited for the new material being made and can't wait to show the fans what they have: "The creative well, is well and truly overflowing. Exciting times. Stay tuned, and be ready."
On 3 May 2010 the band announced that they will be releasing a special new EP to fans who "pledged" through website pledgemusic.com, the "pledge" options include the EP, a signed EP and even an acoustic performance by the band at a fan's residence. On 1 July 2010 the band revealed that the EP will titled The Young and Defenceless and also revealed the cover art. It was also announced via Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
that the newly recorded EP would be released on 1 September 2010; however, in actuality, the downloadable version was released on 6 September 2010 with the physical copies being planned on being released sometime in the third week of October. On 9 November, Funeral For a Friend released a music video for the track Serpents in Solitude. Towards the end of October 2010 they finished a session of recording for a new album for which a name and date were yet to be announced. On 2 November, they played two new songs, confirmed to be on this album (which was announced as due for release in March 2011), called "Man Alive" and "Front Row Seats to the End of the World". Another song title was confirmed as "Spinning Over the Island".
On 10 January 2011, the band released the official video for the album's leading single "Front Row Seats to the End of the World" and announced their fifth studio album would be called Welcome Home Armageddon. On 17 January, they released the album's artwork and track list On 24 January, it was announced that the album was to be released by Good Fight Music, a move that would reconnect the band with the original label team that released Seven Ways to Scream Your Name
Seven Ways to Scream Your Name
- Personnel :*Kris Coombs-Roberts – guitar*Gareth Davies – bass guitar*Matt Davies – vocals*Ryan Richards – drums, vocals*Darran Smith – guitar*Written and performed by Funeral for a Friend...
and Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation
Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation
-Reception:The album received very positive reviews from the British music press with NME and Drowned in Sound giving it 8/10 and 9/10 respectively. It was also #17 in NME albums of the year.- In pop culture :...
. On February 9, the band released the video for their newest single, "Sixteen". On 5 March 2011, the band played their first ever show in South Africa, at the RAMFest in Worcester, outside of Cape Town alongside Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio
Alkaline Trio is an American punk rock band that formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996. The band's line-up consists of Matt Skiba , Dan Andriano , and Derek Grant...
and Die Antwoord
Die Antwoord
Die Antwoord is a hip hop group from Cape Town, South Africa, consisting of three members: Ninja, Yo-Landi Vi$$er and DJ Hi-Tek.-Background:...
. They concluded their South African tour by playing in Durban and Johannesburg on the 9th and 12 March 2011 respectively.
Welcome Home Armageddon was released 14 March 2011 in the UK and March 15 in the US. It was announced as a nomination for a inaugural Welsh Music Prize however lost to Gruff Rhys
Gruff Rhys
Gruffydd Maredudd Bowen Rhys is a Welsh musician, performing solo and with several bands, including Super Furry Animals who obtained mainstream success in the 1990s. He also most recently formed the electro-pop outfit Neon Neon with Boom Bip. Their album Stainless Style was nominated for the 2008...
' Hotel Shampoo
Hotel Shampoo
Hotel Shampoo is the third solo album by Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys, released on 14 February 2011. The title of the record is a reference to Gruff’s habit of hoarding mini shampoo bottles and other complimentary hotel products whilst on tour, and the miniature hotel he built from them...
.
On 28 September 2011, Funeral for a Friend announced the release of a new extended play to be released in Novermber. The EP is titled "See You All In Hell" and it will feature only one brand new track while the remainder of the tracks are acoustic, live session recordings and remixes of tracks from Welcome Home Armageddon
Welcome Home Armageddon
-Critical Reception:The critical reaction to the album has been generally favourable:Rocksound"Welcome Home Armageddon is an extremely satisfying album, for fans old and new...
as well as a cover of Strife
Strife
Strife is a first-person shooter video game developed by Rogue Entertainment and published by Velocity, based on the Doom engine from id Software. Strife added some role-playing game elements and allowed players to talk to other characters in the game's world...
. The band has expressed an eagerness to return to the studio and write the follow up to ‘Welcome Home Armageddon’ and they describe ‘High Castles’ as being a "good indication of where we’ll be taking things on the next record." The release of the EP is accompanied by a UK tour by the band in October with support from Escape The Fate
Escape The Fate
Escape the Fate is an American post-hardcore band from Las Vegas, Nevada formed in 2005 and originally from Pahrump, Nevada. They have released three EPs and three full-length studio albums. Dying Is Your Latest Fashion was the band's debut album and only album to feature vocalist Ronnie Radke...
, The Amity Affliction
The Amity Affliction
The Amity Affliction is an Australian post-hardcore band from Gympie, Queensland formed in 2002.The band's current line-up is Joel Birch , Ahren Stringer , Ryan Burt and Troy Brady...
, The Bunny The Bear and Straight Lines. On 13 October 2011, Funeral For A Friend released a new digital single from the EP titled "High Castles", the only original track from the EP. See You All In Hell was released on 7 November.
Musical style and influence
Funeral for a Friend have shown a progression and maturity with each record. Although their music has developed around post-hardcorePost-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
and melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on vocal melody. The genre is commonly defined with fast hardcore drum beats, complex guitar riffs and melodic singing with occasional screaming and shouting.-History:...
. Their musical style has also been cited as alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, emo
Emo
Emo is a style of rock music and its associated subcultureEmo may also refer to:- Businesses :* Emo , an Irish oil company and filling station chain* Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario...
and screamo
Screamo
Screamo, though used loosely to generally describe music that features screamed vocals, is actually a musical subgenre of hardcore punk which predominantly evolved from emo, among other genres, in the early 1990s...
as well as being seen as a fusion of metal, rock and emo. Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
and The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-90's emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music...
has been said to be their primary influences. The band has commented on the uses of the tag emo, drummer Ryan Richards stated: "I have no more problem with being called emo than with being called metal or hardcore, I just don't think any one term or label does justice to the music we do."
Their earlier EPs and their debut album Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation are considered their heaviest work. Their second album Hours
Hours (album)
Hours is the second album by Welsh rock band Funeral for a Friend. The album was released on 14 June 2005, through Atlantic and Ferret Records. The album was produced, recorded and mixed by Terry Date, with co-production by the band. Hours is notable for the band showcasing their more melodic side...
is seen as being apart of the new wave of emo that occurred during the mid 2000's.
While their next two albums followed a different musical direction. With Tales Don't Tell Themselves they use a more pop-rock and post-hardcore style with classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
, alternative country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
and 80's heartland rock
Heartland rock
Heartland rock is a genre of rock music that developed in the 1970s and reached its commercial peak in the 1980s, when it became one of the best-selling genres in the United States. It was characterized by a straightforward musical style, a concern with the average, blue collar American life, and a...
influences. The album uses choral elements for tracks like "Into Oblivion (Reunion)
Into Oblivion (Reunion)
"Into Oblivion " is the opening track, and first single, from Funeral for a Friend's album, Tales Don't Tell Themselves. It was a single released on 7 May 2007 reaching number 16 in the UK charts in its first week. The album followed on May 14...
". Their 4th album, Memory and Humanity
Memory and Humanity
- Personnel :Funeral for a Friend:*Kris Coombs-Roberts – guitar*Gareth Ellis-Davies – bass guitar, backing vocals*Matthew Davies-Kreye – vocals, guitar *Ryan Richards – drums, backing vocals, keyboard...
returned to a more post-hardcore sound however adopted a more alternative rock influence.
The Young & Defenceless
The Young & Defenceless
-Personnel:*Matthew Davies-Kreye – lead vocals*Kris Coombs-Roberts – guitar*Gavin Burrough – guitar, backing vocals*Richard Boucher – bass guitar*Ryan Richards – drums, aggressive vocals*Romesh Dodangoda - producer-External links:...
and their fifth album Welcome Home Armageddon
Welcome Home Armageddon
-Critical Reception:The critical reaction to the album has been generally favourable:Rocksound"Welcome Home Armageddon is an extremely satisfying album, for fans old and new...
saw them returning to a more aggressive elements of post-hardcore, combinding melodic hardcore styles. However, it has also been noted that Welcome Home Armageddon incorperates more pop-rock inspired hooks and melodies. The band and critics alike have said that because they released the two on indie labels they had more creative freedom from when they were signed to Atlantic Records. When Welcome Home Armageddon came out, critics were quick to compare and contrast it to Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation.
Legacy
They have been said to be a prominent influence on the British post-hardcore scene, primarily with their debut album Casually Dressed & Deep in ConversationCasually Dressed & Deep in Conversation
-Reception:The album received very positive reviews from the British music press with NME and Drowned in Sound giving it 8/10 and 9/10 respectively. It was also #17 in NME albums of the year.- In pop culture :...
. James Ding of AbsolutePunk stated that: "...the album still stands tall atop of many recent releases due to the quality of the music on offer, and even though FFAF may have strayed from the style that started their career, this is still a landmark album in modern British rock music". It has influenced acts like: Fightstar
Fightstar
Fightstar are an English alternative rock band from London. They formed in 2003 and their lineup comprises lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Simpson, guitarist and vocalist Alex Westaway, bass guitarist Dan Haigh and drummer Omar Abidi...
, The Blackout
The Blackout (band)
The Blackout is a post-hardcore band from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, formed in 2003. After some time backing Lostprophets on their Liberation Transmission Tour, along with Dopamine, Covergirl, Kids In Glass Houses, The Guns and Men, Women and Children, they released their first mini-album The Blackout!...
, Kids In Glass Houses
Kids in Glass Houses
Kids in Glass Houses are a Welsh rock band from Cardiff, and are considered a significant part of the Cardiff music scene. The band's name is inspired by the lyrics "not throwing stones at you anymore" from Glassjaw song "Tip Your Bartender". The band achieved success on the strength of the singles...
, We Are The Ocean
We Are the Ocean
We Are the Ocean is a 5 piece post-hardcore band from Loughton, Essex, England.The band has played hundreds of shows since their formation, including several festivals during 2008 such as Slam Dunk, Offset Festival, Middlesbrough Music Live, and Taste of Chaos...
and Asking Alexandria
Asking Alexandria
Asking Alexandria are a British metalcore band from York, North Yorkshire. Founded in 2008 when Ben Bruce contacted his old companions upon returning to the UK after residing in Dubai...
.
In the April 2011 edition of RockSound magazine, Funeral for a Friend were inducted in the Rocksound's Hall Of Fame, proving that they are living legends in the Rock/Metal scene.
Members
Current members- Matthew Davies-Kreye – lead vocals
- Kris Coombs-Roberts – guitar, backing vocals
- Gavin Burrough – guitar, backing vocals (previously bass)
- Ryan Richards – drums, unclean vocals
- Richard Boucher – bass
Former members
- Kerry Roberts – guitar
- Matthew Evans – vocals
- Andi Morris – bass
- Johnny Phillips – drums
- Gareth Davies – bass, backing vocals
- Darran Smith – guitar
Discography
Studio albums- Casually Dressed & Deep in ConversationCasually Dressed & Deep in Conversation-Reception:The album received very positive reviews from the British music press with NME and Drowned in Sound giving it 8/10 and 9/10 respectively. It was also #17 in NME albums of the year.- In pop culture :...
(2003) - HoursHours (album)Hours is the second album by Welsh rock band Funeral for a Friend. The album was released on 14 June 2005, through Atlantic and Ferret Records. The album was produced, recorded and mixed by Terry Date, with co-production by the band. Hours is notable for the band showcasing their more melodic side...
(2005) - Tales Don't Tell Themselves (2007)
- Memory and HumanityMemory and Humanity- Personnel :Funeral for a Friend:*Kris Coombs-Roberts – guitar*Gareth Ellis-Davies – bass guitar, backing vocals*Matthew Davies-Kreye – vocals, guitar *Ryan Richards – drums, backing vocals, keyboard...
(2008) - Welcome Home ArmageddonWelcome Home Armageddon-Critical Reception:The critical reaction to the album has been generally favourable:Rocksound"Welcome Home Armageddon is an extremely satisfying album, for fans old and new...
(2011)