Million Dead
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Cameron Dean, Julia Ruzicka |
| Headquarters | London , England |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Million Dead is a post-hardcore group originating from London, England, initially active between 2000 and 2005, with a reunion announced for 2025.
History
The band was formed in 2000 by Cameron Dean and Julia Ruzicka, who had recently moved from Australia to London. Soon after, Ben Dawson and vocalist Frank Turner joined the lineup. The band's name is inspired by a lyric from the Swedish hardcore punk act Refused. Their initial demo was recorded in September 2001.
Million Dead started their career by supporting acts such as Cave In and The Icarus Line on tour. By late 2002, they secured a deal with Integrity Records / Xtra Mile Recordings and released their first single, "Smiling At Strangers On Trains," which received airplay from John Peel and other DJs. This exposure led to an opportunity to support Pitchshifter on their farewell tour.
Their debut album, A Song to Ruin, was launched in September 2003, accompanied by the single "Breaking The Back." Afterward, they toured with Funeral for a Friend before embarking on a headline UK tour supported by Jarcrew and Minus.
In 2004, guitarist Cameron Dean departed and was succeeded by Tom Fowler. Following performances at various festivals, the band recorded Harmony No Harmony within eight weeks, releasing it in May 2005. To promote the album, Million Dead conducted headline tours across the UK with support from Engerica and Days of Worth, as well as joining Finch on their UK tour as support.
Additionally, Million Dead produced a remix of "Pop Idol" by rapper Blade, creating an instrumental rendition.
In September 2005, due to irreconcilable differences, Million Dead announced their disbandment following a final tour. Their concluding show took place at Southampton's Joiners venue on 23 September 2005.
After the split, Frank Turner pursued a solo career blending folk and punk influences. Tom Fowler and Julia Ruzicka collaborated in bands including Quiet Kill (2005–2006), Who Owns Death TV (2007–2009), and The Idle Hearts (from 2009). Ben Dawson contributed drums to Palehorse, Mothlite, Queen of Swords, Armed Response Unit, and also joined hardcore punk outfit Mïngle Härde, formed alongside Turner. Julia Ruzicka played bass for Future of the Left and toured with Tricky in 2010. She released her debut album under the name This Becomes Us in 2016, featuring guest appearances from prominent vocalists such as Black Francis.
Reflecting on the band's dissolution in 2011, Turner acknowledged their significant creative influence despite internal conflicts. He continues to perform "Smiling At Strangers On Trains" during live shows; this track was also adopted by Mïngle Härde starting in 2019.
On 17 October 2024, an official Instagram account hinted at a comeback. Subsequently, on 23 October 2024, Million Dead confirmed their reunion set for 2025 with original members Frank Turner, Julia Ruzicka, Tom Fowler, Ben Dawson, and Cameron Dean returning.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Highest chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | UK Rock | UK Indie | ||
| A Song to Ruin |
|
154 | 17 | 14 |
| Harmony No Harmony |
|
109 | 4 | 11 |
Singles
| Track | Release Year | Highest Chart Positions | Associated Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | UK Rock | UK Indie | Scotland | |||||||||
| "Smiling At Strangers On Trains" | 2003 | 128 | 14 | 48 | — | A Song to Ruin | ||||||
| "Breaking The Back" | 100 | — | 21 | — | ||||||||
| "I am the Party" | 82 | 8 | 9 | 83 | ||||||||
| "I Gave My Eyes To Stevie Wonder" | 2004 | 72 | 9 | 9 | 75 | Released as a non-album single | ||||||
| "Living the Dream" | 2005 | 60 | — | 9 | 67 | Harmony No Harmony | ||||||
| "After The Rush Hour" | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "To Whom It May Concern" | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| The symbol "—" indicates the release did not chart or was unavailable in that region. | ||||||||||||
Demos
- Million Dead (Initial Demo) – September 2001
- Million Dead (Second Demo) – June 2002
Videography
- "Smiling At Strangers On Trains"
- "Breaking The Back"
- "I Am The Party"
- "I Gave My Eyes To Stevie Wonder"
- "Living The Dream"
- "After The Rush Hour"
- "To Whom It May Concern"
- "Pornography For Cowards"