Jump to content

The Blackout (band)

From Alfawiki
The Blackout
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded2003 in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Headquarters
Merthyr Tydfil
,
Wales, United Kingdom
ProductsMusic albums, EPs, singles

The Blackout is a rock group originating from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, established in 2003. Their first album, We Are the Dynamite, debuted in 2007, followed by their sophomore effort The Best in Town in 2009. The third studio album, Hope (2011), achieved a peak position of number 27 on the UK album chart. Their fourth album, Start the Party, was released in 2013. The band's final output was the five-track EP Wolves, accompanied by a farewell tour that concluded in their hometown in March 2015.

Origins and initial phase (2003–2006)

Initially formed under the name Ten Minute Preview in 2003, the band later adopted the name The Blackout, inspired by a T-shirt referencing the New York City blackout of 1977. They shared stages with prominent Welsh bands such as Funeral for a Friend, Kids in Glass Houses, and The Automatic, as well as established groups including Reuben and Fightstar. On 23 October 2006, they released their EP The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout! through Fierce Panda Records, which led to a nomination for Best British Newcomer by Kerrang!.

We Are the Dynamite (2007–2008)

The Blackout launched their debut album We Are the Dynamite on 1 October 2007 via Fierce Panda Records. The album was preceded by the single "The Beijing Cocktail", released on 24 September 2007. This record became Fierce Panda's fastest-selling release to date. To support the album, they embarked on a UK headline tour comprising 14 dates, featuring Flood of Red and Pierce the Veil, followed by participation in the European Taste of Chaos tour alongside The Used, Rise Against, and Gallows.

Their follow-up single "It's High Tide Baby!" facilitated additional tours across the UK and Europe. In April 2008, The Blackout toured the US Midwest as support for blessthefall, culminating with a performance at New Jersey’s Bamboozle Festival. May saw them take to the main stage at Give It a Name festival alongside bands such as Silverstein and Billy Talent. Their live performances were enhanced by appearances from The Fuel Girls. Supporting Story of the Year on their UK tour, both acts concluded with a set at Leeds' Slam Dunk Festival. On 8 September, The Blackout made their first appearances in Japan during a four-date tour with Alesana. Returning to Europe, they toured with fellow Welsh band Attack! Attack!, then headlined a UK tour supported by The Medic Droid, We Are the Ocean, and From First to Last. Notably, this tour made them only the third unsigned band ever to sell out London's Astoria venue, following in the footsteps of The Darkness and Enter Shikari.

The Best in Town (2009)

After parting ways with Fierce Panda Records in 2008 and halting plans for further singles from We Are the Dynamite, The Blackout signed with Epitaph Records in February 2009. Their second album, The Best in Town, was recorded at Sonic Ranch, Texas, with production led by Jason Perry of band A, completing vocal sessions in Southend on Sea by January. In March 2009, they produced music videos for singles "Children of the Night" and "Saves Our Selves" in Los Angeles while liaising with Epitaph's US branch. The lead single "Children of the Night" was released on 18 May. To promote this album, they toured alongside The Urgency, Hollywood Undead, and Silverstein, playing major festivals including Download Festival—where they performed twice due to an unexpected cancellation—and Hevy Music Festival. They also headlined Butserfest with acts like Go:Audio and We Are the Ocean.

In early 2010, The Blackout participated in the Kerrang! Relentless Energy Drink Tour alongside bands such as My Passion, Young Guns, and All Time Low. Sean Smith provided backing vocals on You Me at Six's 2010 album Hold Me Down and joined them for significant live appearances. June 2010 saw them supporting Paramore during a Belfast concert; frontwoman Hayley Williams acknowledged their previous support slot at Give It a Name Festival. Later that year, during autumn, they toured Europe with Limp Bizkit, fulfilling an important ambition influenced by Limp Bizkit’s impact on their musical style.

Hope (2011–2012)

On 28 September 2010, lead vocalist Sean Smith revealed that work had begun on their third studio album. By 11 November, the songwriting process was completed, and recording sessions finished by the end of November. The album title, Hope, was unveiled by Kerrang! on 12 January 2011. Smith characterized the record as a blend of hopeful and darker elements, presenting a contrast to their previous release, The Best in Town. Released on 4 April 2011, the album included an exclusive track titled "Ambition Is Critical," which was made available as a complimentary download.

In February 2011, The Blackout joined My Chemical Romance as support on their World Contamination Tour. The music video for "Higher and Higher" premiered on 1 March. That summer, they secured prominent slots on the main stages at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. Their touring schedule also featured support from Texan rock rapper Hyro Da Hero and Michigan-based pop-punk group The Swellers, alongside a European tour backing Funeral for a Friend. The band headlined the closing act at Merthyr Rock festival in their hometown before embarking on their most extensive UK and European headline tour to date, supported by We Are the Ocean, Canterbury, and Page 44.

In January 2012, The Blackout stepped in for Sum 41 as headliners on the Kerrang! Tour with New Found Glory, following an injury to Sum 41’s frontman. They returned to the studio in May with producer Jason Perry to work on their fourth album but paused to perform at Slam Dunk Festival supporting Taking Back Sunday. At June’s Kerrang! Awards, frontman Sean Smith received a nomination for 'Tweeter of the Year,' while the band took home the Devotion Award. During July 2012, they supported Blink-182 on four European dates of their 20th Anniversary Tour and were confirmed for appearances at T in the Park as well as Reading and Leeds Festivals that summer.

Start the Party (2012–2014)

On 24 August 2012, The Blackout unveiled "Start the Party," the first single from their upcoming album sharing the same name, during a warm-up gig at the Sugarmill in Stoke-on-Trent ahead of Reading Festival. The track debuted on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on 17 September 2012, coinciding with announcements regarding the album title, release date set for 21 January 2013, a supporting tour scheduled for January, and the launch of its music video. The single was additionally made available for free download through their official website. The follow-up single, "Running Scared," premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 22 November 2012. Both music videos were shot on location in Ibiza, Spain. In April 2013, "Radio" was issued as the third single from the album.

In August 2014, The Blackout revealed plans for a UK headline tour slated for November, featuring support acts Chiodos and When We Were Wolves.

Split and reunion

December 2014 saw The Blackout announce their disbandment alongside final shows scheduled for March 2015. Their last festival performance took place at Takedown Festival in Southampton on 7 March 2015.

In 2019, members Sean Smith and James Davies formed a new group named Raiders. During an interview in September 2021, Smith disclosed that The Blackout had been invited to open for Funeral For A Friend in 2019 but declined due to logistical difficulties; consequently, Raiders took over that engagement.

On 5 June 2023, The Blackout reunited for a sold-out show at Redhouse Cymru and subsequently appeared at Download Festival later that month. On 12 July 2023, they announced their first UK tour since disbanding in 2015.

Band members

  • Gavin Butler – lead vocalist
  • Sean Smith – co-lead vocalist
  • James "Bob" Davies – rhythm guitarist, backing vocals
  • Matthew Davies – lead guitarist, backing vocals
  • Rhys Lewis – bassist
  • Gareth "Snoz" Lawrence – drummer and percussionist

Albums

Year Title UK Chart Position
2007 We Are the Dynamite 93
2009 The Best in Town 38
2011 Hope 27
2013 Start the Party 35

EPs

Year Title
2004 Pull No Punches
2006 The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout!
2014 Wolves

Singles

Title Year UK[1] UK Rock[2] UK Indie[1] SCO[3] Album
"Hard Slammin'" 2007 - 8 23 - The Blackout! The Blackout! The Blackout!
"The Beijing Cocktail" 90 - 4 37 We Are the Dynamite
"It's High Tide Baby!" 2008 - - 21 -
"Children of the Night" 2009 128 1 - 28 The Best in Town
"Save Our Selves (The Warning)" 189 9 - 59
"I Don't Care (This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things)" 107 7 9 55
"Higher & Higher" 2011 171 2 26 - Hope
"Never by Your Side" - - - -
"The Storm" - - -

-

"You're Not Alone"

-

-

-

"Start the Party"

rowspan="2"|2012

-

22

-

rowspan="2"|Start the Party

"Running Scared"

-

35

-

}

Additional tracks

Music videos

  • The Beijing Cocktail
  • It's High Tide Baby!
  • Children of the Night
  • Save Our Selves (The Warning)
  • I Don't Care (This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things)
  • Ambition is Critical
  • Higher and Higher
  • Never by Your Side
  • The Storm
  • You're Not Alone
  • Start the Party
  • Running Scared
  • Radio
  • Take Away The Misery
  • Wolves

Accolades

  • The Blackout received a nomination for the British Newcomer award from Kerrang! and performed at the launch event for Kerrang!'s New Breed.
  • In December 2006, they secured Best New Welsh Act at The Pop Factory awards, an event broadcast on ITV1 Wales.
  • Awarded Best Unsigned Band in the 2008 Readers Poll conducted by Kerrang! magazine.
  • Sean Smith ranked third in Kerrang!'s Readers Poll for Sexiest Male in 2008.
  • Their track "Save Ourselves (The Warning)" was shortlisted for Best Single at the Kerrang! Awards 2010.
  • At the Kerrang! Awards in 2011, they garnered three nominations: Best Video ("Higher & Higher"), Best Album (Hope), and Best British Band.
  • Sean Smith was nominated for 'Tweeter of the Year' at the 2012 Kerrang! Awards, ultimately won by Hayley Williams.
  • Received the Devotion award at the Kerrang! Awards ceremony in 2012.

External links
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named UK Indie Singles Chart
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named UK Rock Singles Chart
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Scottish Singles Chart
Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=The_Blackout_(band)&oldid=86440"