Louis XIV (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | San Diego, California , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Louis XIV was a rock group originating from San Diego, California, in the United States. Between 2003 and 2007, they issued four EP records and produced three albums spanning from 2003 to 2008, with the final two albums released under Atlantic Records. The ensemble disbanded in 2009 but briefly reunited in 2013 before dissolving once more later that year.
Formation (2003–2004)
In April 2003, while residing in Paris, France, lead vocalist and guitarist Jason Hill, guitarist Brian Karscig, and drummer Mark Maigaard established the band. Bassist James Armbrust became part of the lineup soon after.
Their self-titled debut album was recorded during spring 2003 in a Parisian basement using a 16-track tape recorder. Released in November 2003 through Pineapple Recording Group—a label created by Hill and Karscig—the album sold over 22,000 copies within six months, mainly through live performances, their official website, and select independent retailers. The album gained recognition in the UK following an appearance on the Jonathan Ross show alongside Oasis and airplay on BBC Radio 1. Prominent industry figures such as Brody Dalle from Distillers and Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age endorsed the band at the 2004 NME Awards.
Illegal Tender EP and The Best Little Secrets Are Kept (2005–2007)
The band took part in the 2005 T in the Park festival, where they received praise as "the best band of the festival." Hill also directed and released a video for the instrumental track "The Hunt."
The independent label Stolen Transmission issued a three-track CD featuring "Hey Teacher" and "God Killed the Queen." Upon their return to California, local radio stations including San Diego’s XETRA-FM began playing an unreleased song titled "Finding Out True Love Is Blind," which led to two limited-edition EPs named Pink and Blue. The single ranked within the top five on eight major West Coast radio stations, culminating in a contract with Atlantic Records at the end of 2004.
In January 2005, the group self-produced the EP Illegal Tender, followed by their sophomore full-length album, The Best Little Secrets Are Kept, produced by Hill himself. The album’s cover art depicts a nude woman with song titles inscribed on her back; a censored version was distributed through Walmart. Singles released from this album included "Finding Out True Love Is Blind" and "God Killed the Queen."
During 2005, NME characterized their music as "music to flunk rehab to," while both Rolling Stone and MTV listed them among the top ten bands to watch. The video for "Pledge of Allegiance," directed by Hill, featured the album cover model gradually undressing. Additionally, the "Paper Doll" video premiered exclusively on alt-porn platform SuicideGirls, under the direction of pioneer Eon McKai, showcasing models in varying degrees of undress.
In 2007, Louis XIV was invited by David Bowie and Alicia Keys to perform at their BlackBall charity event supporting AIDS in Africa. Bowie named Louis XIV as one of his favorite emerging bands in several Conde Nast publications. Hill and Karscig also provided vocals on three tracks for the Killers’ 2006 album Sam's Town. Violinist Ray Suen joined Louis XIV as a touring member during the Killers’ Sam's Town Tour (2006–2007). The band toured extensively across Australia, Mexico, and the United States while participating in multiple AIDS-related charity events. Their songs "Louis XIV" and "Finding Out True Love Is Blind" appeared on comedian Jimmy Carr's DVD titled Comedian.
Their subsequent EP, The Distances from Everyone to You, was released digitally via the iTunes Store on September 11, 2007. This collection includes a rendition of Queen's theme from Flash Gordon, which was later adopted by the Sci Fi Channel for its television series adaptation of Flash Gordon.
Slick Dogs and Ponies era and dissolution (2008–2009)
From February through April 2009, Louis XIV joined The Killers on their Day & Age World Tour. Their third studio album, Slick Dogs and Ponies, was released on January 29, 2008. This record featured the singles "Guilt by Association" and "Air Traffic Control," but overall it faced predominantly unfavorable critiques.
In an interview with NME dated June 30, 2009, The Killers' frontman Brandon Flowers implied that Louis XIV had disbanded. The band officially announced this breakup on July 3, 2009, through a post on their MySpace page, revealing that Karscig was leaving to pursue his new project, The Nervous Wreckords. Karscig explained that the group had started to feel more like a business venture than a close-knit band, which stifled their creative inspiration. Nonetheless, he left the door open for potential future reunions.
Reunion and second breakup (2012–2013)
After performing several dates during their "Return of the King" tour in 2012 as support for The Killers, Hill confirmed in March 2013 that Louis XIV had reformed. Despite this reunion, the band dissolved once again later that same year.
”Banned from Alabama” incident
Louis XIV attracted controversy due to their sexually explicit lyrics. In 2005, the Hoover Board of Education in Alabama withdrew an invitation for the band to play at Hoover High School. The decision was based on complaints about their lyrics, a prior drug possession arrest in California, and worries about possible misconduct. Consequently, the group earned the nickname "banned from Alabama."
During a November 17, 2007 interview with Reverb Magazine while touring Melbourne, Hill commented:
Spending time with us reveals we’re always joking and having fun. Yet Hoover, Alabama prohibited our performance—we only learned about it through CNN after the VMAs in Miami. Although banned, we still received payment for the show and stayed an extra day—it was absurd. I've been accused of sexism and chauvinism; a San Francisco newspaper even published an article titled "10 Reasons Why You Should Not Like Louis XIV," praising our music but condemning our ethics. That’s inaccurate; I’ve also been labeled racist over playful nicknames like "Chocolate Girl" and "Vanilla Girl." Often negative publicity is the highest form of praise.
Band members
- Jason Hill – vocals, guitar, bass, piano, engineering, production
- Brian Karscig – guitar, vocals, bass, piano
- James Armbrust – bass
- Mark Maigaard – drums
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Highest chart rankings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US Heatseekers | ||
| 2003 | Louis XIV
|
— | — |
| 2005 | The Best Little Secrets Are Kept
|
159 | 8 |
| 2008 | Slick Dogs and Ponies
|
— | 6 |
EPs
| Year | Information |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Pink
|
Blue
| |
| 2005 | Illegal Tender
|
| 2007 | The Distances from Everyone to You
|
Singles
| Year | Track | US Alt. |
SCO | UK | Corresponding Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Finding Out True Love Is Blind" | 28 | 45 | 57 | The Best Little Secrets Are Kept |
| "God Killed the Queen" | - | - | 68 | ||
| 2007 | "Guilt by Association" | - | - | - | Slick Dogs and Ponies |
| 2008 | "Air Traffic Control" | - | - | - |