The Arcade Fire are Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury, Sarah Neufeld, Jeremy Gara and Win's little brother Will.
2005 was an eventful one for The Arcade Fire. In June 2003, Régine's grandmother Nancy died; in August, Win and Régine were married; in September, the Arcade Fire started recording their debut album. In March 2004, Win and Will's grandfather Alvino Rey died; Richard Parry’s Aunt Betsy passed away in April; in May 2004 the Arcade Fire were signed to Merge Records, and completed their album. It having been something of a heavy hitting year, the band's minds were somewhat a-whirl. The deaths of Nancy , Alvino and Betsy brought to mind all the people they had loved who had died: they decided to call their newly completed album Funeral.
The Arcade Fire reside in Montreal, Quebec. Win moved to Montreal four winters ago, as a panther moves from jungle to jungle—silently, with rocking shoulder blades. Looking for musicians, he found Régine, who combed his sleek fur and removed the thorns from his paws.
Régine had secretly learned to sing, play piano, guitar, accordion, mandolin, flute, drums, and harmonica while her parents weren't watching. Her family fled Haiti (under the dictatorship of Duvalier) in the 1960’s for Chicago, New York, and then finally to Montreal, where Régine grew up.
Win and Régine wrote song upon song; they performed and recorded them with the help of many tiny hands: hands such as Richard Parry's; a hulking brute who knew recording and the finer points of instrumentology. Richard consistently collaborated with Win and Régine, waking up one day to find himself fairly ensconced with them musically—a sort of red-haired lighthouse firmly planted on the Arcade Fire's frontier.
His great winking light helped draw in dozens of moths, as well as his former band-mate Tim Kingsbury. Tim killed the moths, joined the band, and then skillfully played whatever instrument was open to him.
In March 2003, Will Butler slipped across the border into Canada, with the goal of playing music with his brother. This he did until the truant officers caught up with him and forced him back to college in Chicago. But that was later.
With Win and Régine freshly married in August 2003, and a summer's worth of rock and roll at their backs, the Arcade Fire wanted to record an album. But they hadn't a drummer. They persevered in the recording, though, only to discover the man that was to record them at Hotel 2 Tango studios, Howard Bilerman, was a meat-hook fisted, iron-boned drummer of a fellow. Howard graciously agreed to perform on their new album. Once the band begin to tour at a prodigious pace, the suave and debonaire Jeremy Gara signed on full time to pound the skins in an attempt to keep this rag tag crew in time.
Why hell, there was their band, and they recorded. Thousands of tiny luminary hands came out and helped once again: Sarah Neufeld; Owen Pallett; Michael Olsen; Pietro Amato; Anita Fust; Sophie Trudeau; Jessica Moss; Genevieve Heistek; Arlen Thompson; Mark Lawson; Thierry Amar. Sarah Neufeld has since become a full time member of the band, doing the work of an entire string section with her single violin.
The result of all this collaboration is Funeral, the debut full length recording from the Arcade Fire. The CD was released by Merge Records on September 14th, 2004. In the tradition of their itinerant, Depression-era family-musical performing forefathers, the band toured extensively both in North America and Europe well into the Summer and Fall of 2005.
A winter 2007 tour in support of the new album was announced in December 2006. The five night residency in London, UK, will take place from January 29, 2007, to February 2nd, 2007: three nights at St Johns Smith Square and two nights at Porchester Hall, both unusual venues for a "rock" or alternative band, as both venues are associated with classical, sit down concerts. These dates sold out within two minutes of going on sale. On December 11, 2006, the band announced 5 additional shows to be held in their hometown of Montreal, Quebec. The shows will mark the first performance of the band in their hometown since November of 2005 when they supported U2 at the Bell Center. These will be the first headlining shows in Montreal since April 2005, a 3 night stand at the Corona Theatre.
The album, confirmed to be called Neon Bible, is to be released on March 5, 2007 (March 6 in North America), and the Arcade Fire have announced a European tour to take place during March and April in support of the album, which includes dates in the London Brixton Academy and the Paris Olympia
According to sources, including MOJO magazine, the new album makes use of a pipe organ, the Hurdy Gurdy, a military choir, and a full Hungarian orchestra, amongst others. Win Butler described the album as sounding "like standing by the ocean at night."
The first single proper, "Black Mirror" , was announced in January 2007
LISTEN TO A VRAPE DESTRoYIN CIRCLES UNDER THE BRIDGE WHILE A LITTLE FLY IS EATIN AN ELEPHANT ALONG THE STREET WHILE THE SUN IS COMIN TROUGH THE WONDOW SMELLIN THE CAKE AND DANCIN IN CIRCLES :)
I've bought Funeral a few weeks ago. It's crazy and beautiful, powerful...Innovative. It was a good surprise, so far from commercial music. Thanks for it
Ever felt so happy you could cry Tears of laughter fallin' down your face Smiling wide at all passers-by Flick a coin into a beggar's plate
Ever felt you wanna sing and shout. Jump for joy and try to click your heels Stand on your head or do a somersault Hug and kiss your neighbour on the cheek
This is heaven. Peace within yourself. Respecting others Love is what it's all about Love is what it's all about Love is what it's all about.
Just like so many of My Space’s abundant artists and struggling musicians I’m trying to get my music heard by a few new people. If you have spare moment (and my approach has not put you off) please do drop by for a quick listen - You might be glad that you did…
New friends and listeners would be welcomed and any feedback would be really appreciated and taken in - Best wishes – Richie
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e.