Viva Brother
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Defunct | 2012 (initially) |
| Fate | Disbanded in 2012; reformed in 2017 |
| Headquarters | Burnham, Berkshire , England |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Viva Brother is a rock band hailing from Burnham, Berkshire, England. Originally performing under the name Brother, they secured contracts with Geffen Records in October 2010 and EMI Publishing the following month. Their first album, Famous First Words, was released on 1 August 2011 and attained a peak position of #34 on the UK Albums Chart. The group disbanded on 1 April 2012. Subsequently, in June 2012, the members established the synthpop ensemble Lovelife. On 22 September 2017, Viva Brother teased a reunion through social media and officially announced it on 3 October, scheduling a comeback performance at The Garage in London on 30 November.
Origins and debut release (2010–2012)
Before adopting the name Brother in 2010, the band had performed as Kill the Arcade and Wolf Am I.[1] Their initial style was largely emo-oriented. They later described their evolved sound as "gritpop," drawing inspiration from acts such as Blur, the Smiths, and Morrissey. Leonard Newell attributed this musical transition to attending the club night We love the 90's. Their demo track "Darling Buds of May" caught the attention of BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe, who showcased it on his program and blog. The band shared footage of spontaneous performances and promotional clips funded by local gigs.[2] They finalized agreements with Geffen Records in October and EMI Publishing in November 2010.[3]
In January 2011, Brother entered the studio with producer Stephen Street to record their debut album. On 5 March, during an appearance on Soccer AM, they revealed the album's title as Famous First Words. The lead single "Darling Buds of May" was released on 27 June 2011, following "New Year's Day," which came out on 8 May. After encountering a legal dispute with another band named Brother, they adopted the name Viva Brother in June 2011.[4]
Released on 1 August 2011, Famous First Words received largely negative reviews for its perceived lack of innovation but managed to reach #34 on the UK Albums Chart. The album's final single, "Time Machine," was issued on 3 October 2011.
Second album plans and dissolution (2012–2016)
Via Twitter updates, the band shared photos from countryside sessions recording their sophomore album, targeting a release within 2012. However, Viva Brother announced their breakup on 1 April 2012; although initially thought to be an April Fools' prank, this was subsequently verified. The former members regrouped as Lovelife, a pop outfit including Newell, Jackson, Colucci, and Ally Young from Mirrors.
Reformation (2017–present)
On 22 September 2017, Viva Brother posted an enigmatic video across social media platforms hinting at an announcement scheduled for 3 October. They confirmed their reunion that day and arranged a return performance at The Garage in London for 30 November. Concurrently, they released a new song titled "Bastardo" on Spotify.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | JPN | ||
| Famous First Words |
|
34 | 46 |
| II |
|
— | — |
Singles
| Year | Single | Highest chart position | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Alt | |||
| 2011 | "Darling Buds of May" | 39 | Famous First Words |
| "Still Here" | — | ||
| "New Year's Day" | — | ||
| "Time Machine" | — | ||
| 2017 | "Bastardo" | — | II |
| "Womankind" | — | ||
| "I Don't Wanna Be Loved" | — | ||
| "—" indicates singles that did not enter the charts. | |||