The Futureheads
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Sunderland, Tyne and Wear , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
The Futureheads are a post-punk group originating from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, established in 2000. The lineup features Ross Millard on vocals and guitar, David "Jaff" Craig handling vocals and bass guitar, along with brothers Barry Hyde (vocals and guitar) and Dave Hyde on drums. Their band name is inspired by the Flaming Lips' album Hit to Death in the Future Head. Their musical style is influenced by post-punk and new wave pioneers such as Gang of Four, Devo, XTC, Wire, and Fugazi.
Formation and Early Period
The group came together at City of Sunderland College as a four-piece, comprising Barry Hyde, David "Jaff" Craig, Peter Brewis on drums, and Ross Millard. Prior to this, Millard and Craig had collaborated in a local band. Rehearsals took place at the Sunderland City Detached Youth Project facility, an initiative designed to engage young people through music activities. Their initial performances in 2000 helped build their local reputation. Subsequently, Dave Hyde replaced Brewis on drums; Brewis went on to establish Field Music.
In a 4Music interview on Channel 4, Barry Hyde explained that Dave Hyde took over drumming duties after Barry borrowed his younger brother’s golden guitar to learn chords, leaving Dave without an instrument.
2003–2005: Debut Album Period
Their inaugural live show occurred in December 2000, followed by the release of EPs Nul Book Standard (2002) and 1-2-3-Nul! (2003). The band's first single, "First Day," reached number 58 on the UK Singles Chart in August 2003.
The self-titled debut album was launched in September 2004 through 679 Recordings. Production was split between Andy Gill of Gang of Four, who handled five tracks, and Paul Epworth, who produced the remainder. The song "Decent Days and Nights" gained additional visibility by featuring in the soundtracks for video games Burnout 3 and EA's Rugby 2005.
On 21 February 2005, they released a rendition of Kate Bush's "Hounds of Love", which climbed to number eight on the UK Singles Chart and earned NME Single of the Year honors. The Futureheads toured across the US alongside Franz Ferdinand and opened for prominent acts including the Pixies, Foo Fighters, and Snow Patrol, broadening their audience reach.
In May 2005, they performed at BBC Radio One's One Big Weekend held in Sunderland. Additionally, on 8 May—coinciding with Sunderland A.F.C.'s Championship victory—they appeared live at the Stadium of Light as pre-match entertainment, capitalizing on local enthusiasm to enhance their profile.
2005–2006: News and Tributes Era
During the creation of their second album News and Tributes, they issued a standalone EP titled Area in November 2005. The album drew inspiration from the 1958 Munich air disaster. According to NME, production was completed within five weeks. The lead single "Skip to the End" was released on 15 May ahead of the album's launch on 29 May 2006.
Growing frustrated with major label constraints, the band severed ties with 679 Recordings. Hyde expressed their strong desire to leave the contract rather than continue producing records under its limitations.
2006–2008: This Is Not the World
In 2006, The Futureheads launched their own independent label, Nul Records, dedicated to distributing their music independently. Their third studio album, This Is Not the World, was finalized by June 2007 and officially released in May 2008. Lead vocalist Millard characterized this album as having a more punk-influenced sound compared to their previous work and disclosed that the band nearly disbanded following their second release.
On 9 November 2007, the band made the track "Broke Up the Time" available as a complimentary download on their official website. They also announced a series of UK performances and a comprehensive tour to promote the new album. In December 2007, they unveiled a music video for "The Beginning of the Twist" alongside another free track titled "Crash."
The album's second single, "Radio Heart", was issued on 19 May 2008, with its accompanying video debuting on 16 April. Subsequently, the third single, "Walking Backwards", was released on 4 August 2008.
2008–2010: The Chaos
On 8 December 2008, The Futureheads released the single "I Wouldn't Be Like This If You Were Here." The following year, they appeared at Przystanek Woodstock, recognized as Europe's largest open-air festival held in Poland. In November 2009, they provided fans with a limited-time free download of the song "Struck Dumb" for a fortnight. Their fourth album, The Chaos, was launched on 26 April 2010 in the UK and subsequently on 1 June 2010 in the US through Dovecote Records.
2011–2019: Rant, and hiatus
In 2011, The Futureheads took part in an event organized by the Sunderland A.F.C. foundation known as Foundation of Light.
Their fifth studio effort, Rant, released on 2 April 2012, represented a notable stylistic departure as it consisted entirely of a cappella performances. This album included newly recorded versions of their own songs, traditional folk adaptations, and covers spanning pop and dance genres. Rant earned a nomination for the Artrocker Album of the Year award in 2012.
By 2015, Dave Hyde confirmed that the band had ceased commercial activities, with members focusing on teaching careers and individual projects; Barry Hyde was engaged in creating a "piano-based" solo record. Despite this hiatus, The Futureheads reunited in April 2016 to produce a health awareness video for BUPA, featuring their song "Heartbeat Song."
2019–present: Reunion, and Powers
In January 2019, The Futureheads announced their comeback via social media platforms, revealing that new music had been written and recorded throughout 2018. They also publicized their first live performances since 2013. On 5 June, they released "Jekyll," the lead single from Powers, marking their first album release in seven years, which arrived on 30 August.
Other projects
Ross Millard became involved with Frankie & the Heartstrings, contributing to their 2015 album Decency. Dave Hyde forms one half of Hyde & Beast alongside Neil Bassett, previously of the Golden Virgins, while Jaff occasionally collaborates with School of Language.
In June 2016, Barry Hyde debuted his solo album Malody through Sirenspire Records. Recorded at First Avenue Studios in Heaton, Newcastle with producer Dave Curle, this collection comprises eleven tracks including covers of Prince’s "Sometimes It Snows in April" and Tom Waits’ "Lonely." The album delves into Hyde’s personal struggles with chronic mental health issues—a subject he has openly discussed during interviews and live shows.
Current members
- Barry Hyde – lead vocals and guitar (2000–2013, 2019–present)
- Ross Millard – guitar and backing vocals (2000–2010, 2011–2013, 2019–present)
- David "Jaff" Craig – bass guitar and backing vocals (2000–2013, 2019–present)
- Dave Hyde – drums and backing vocals (2000–2013, 2019–present)
Former members
- Peter Brewis – drums and backing vocals (2000)
- Alex Roberts – guitar and backing vocals (2010–2011)
Discography
- The Futureheads (2004)
- News and Tributes (2006)
- This Is Not the World (2008)
- The Chaos (2010)
- Rant (2012)
- Powers (2019)
- Christmas (2025)