The Boyfriends (British band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Indie rock music |
The Boyfriends were an English indie quartet hailing from London, consisting of Martin Wallace on vocals, Richard Adderley handling guitar duties, David Barnett playing bass, and Paddy Pulzer on drums. Prior to this, Adderley and Pulzer had collaborated in the band Jack. The group attracted attention from prominent media such as The Guardian, The Independent, and NME, which recognized them as Morrissey's preferred emerging band.
Career
On 9 August 2004, The Boyfriends issued a split single alongside The Long Blondes. Their live performance at Glastonbury Festival caught the eye of Cardiff-based Boobytrap Records, who subsequently signed the band. In 2005, their debut single "I Love You" was released and secured them a position in NME's list of Top 50 essential bands to watch. That same year, they had the distinction of being the first act to perform on Glastonbury's newly established John Peel Stage. Drawing sonic parallels with The Smiths, they garnered Morrissey's admiration, leading to an invitation to support his 2006 European tour.
Throughout 2006, they put out two additional singles and launched their self-titled album in October. However, the band dissolved shortly after completing a tour with The Divine Comedy. By 2007, Boobytrap Records had ceased operations and the band's official website was no longer accessible. Geraint John, head of Boobytrap, attributed the band's breakup partly to ineffective management.
Following the dissolution, Adderley, Barnett, and Pulzer remained active collaborators. Barnett initiated The New Royal Family, a supergroup featuring Adderley alongside musicians from Gay Dad, Luxembourg, Scarlet's Well, and Salad. Their song "Anyone Fancy A Chocolate Digestive?" was adopted as theme music by podcasts associated with football clubs Vancouver White Caps and East Fife FC. Additionally, Barnett became a member of Luxembourg, with Adderley providing production support for both projects.
Discography
Studio albums
- The Boyfriends (Released 2 October 2006 via Boobytrap Records)
Singles
| Date | Single | B-side(s) | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 September 2004 | "No Tomorrow" | "I Love You" | Filthy Little Angels | Split 7" release with The Long Blondes |
| 13 February 2006 | "I Love You" | "Remember" | Boobytrap Records | Released as a 7" vinyl only |
| May 2006 | "Adult Acne" | "Tears Before Bedtime" | Boobytrap Records | Available exclusively on 7" vinyl |
| September 2006 | "Once Upon a Time" | "They Don't Know About Us", "Apathy In The UK" | Boobytrap Records | Issued as a CD single |