The band history begins in the summer of 1999, when Liverpool musicians and DJs, Reuben Wu and Daniel Hunt met the Glaswegian Helen Marnie and Bulgarian-born and Oxford graduate Mira Aroyo. According to Daniel, "Helen introduced Mira to the band. It was all quite organic. We didn't put up any adverts. We just met people. We fell over each other at a bar". Even if they were influenced by artists like Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, The Human League, Gary Numan, My Bloody Valentine, and others, they managed to create their unique sound. Their name was taken from the song Ladytron by Roxy Music.
Their first song recorded was He Took Her to a Movie. In 1999 the group issued an EP entitled Miss Black and Her Friends in Japan only, followed by Commodore Rock EP and Mu-Tron EP in 2000.
In 2001 Ladytron released their critically acclaimed debut album, 604 on the Emperor Norton/Invicta HIFI labels. Four singles supported the album: He Took Her to a Movie, Playgirl, Commodore Rock, and The Way That I Found You. The single Playgirl brought some national and international attention to the band and it's the only single with music video from this era.
Their sophomore album Light & Magic was released on 17 September 2002 on Emperor Norton/Invicta HIFI, and featured a darker sound and the introduction of digital synths along their analog gear. The album was promoted by three singles: Seventeen, Evil, and Blue Jeans. The single Seventeen became a club hit and it's one of their essential songs. They toured over a year to support this album.
Softcore Jukebox released in 7 October 2003, is a compilation put together by the members of Ladytron and showcases different genres, from alternative rock to hip-hop. It also includes two songs performed by Ladytron: the single remix of Blue Jeans renamed Blue Jeans 2.0 and a cover of Tweet's Oops Oh My. The cover art appears to be a homage to Roxy Music's Country Life.
In 3 October 2005 Ladytron released their third album, Witching Hour on Island label. This album was a quantum leap evolution of their music featuring live drums and buzzy guitars mixed with their trademark sound. It was supported by two singles, Sugar and Destroy Everything You Touch, and additionally in USA by Weekend. Witching Hour is considered by many fans and critics to be Ladytron's best album to date. Destroy Everything You Touch became the band's most known song and it's performed live on almost every concert.
Witching Hour was followed in 2006 by Extended Play, a two-disc EP CD/DVD compilation that features exclusive unreleased remixes and UK B-sides, as well as a 35-minute bonus DVD. In the same year Ladytron recorded The Harmonium Sessions, which contained four reworked songs from their third studio album.
The group took to the road on the strength of their massive cult following, booking sold-out tours across North America and Europe, and playing for capacity crowds in China and Latin America. Without any real label support, Ladytron toured exhaustively over the next two years, performing for over 4,000 people in Bogota, Columbia - where their show was eventually shut down by local military - and opening for Nine Inch Nails in early 2007 at the request of Trent Reznor. They also managed the club Korova from Liverpool, where they are co-owners.
Along their career, Ladytron have produced remixes for many artists, including Placebo, Blondie, Dave Gahan, Goldfrapp, Bloc Party, Kings of Convenience, Gang of Four, She Wants Revenge, Soulwax, Nine Inch Nails, Simian, Indochine, and Apoptygma Berzerk.
In 2 June 2008 the group returned with their most successful album, Velocifero, released on Nettwerk. This album was recorded in Paris, with the band handling production duties with Alessandro Cortini (Modwheelmood, Nine Inch Nails) and Vicarious Bliss (Justice, DJ Mehdi). Their sound evolved to an even more organic sound and harsher beats. Reuben states that "velocifero" literally means "bringer of speed" and is also the name of a classic retro styled scooter. Three singles helped the album promotion: Ghosts, Runaway, and Tomorrow. The opening song from Velocifero, Black Cat, was offered as a free download from their official site.
In early 2009, Ladytron announced that they were in the studio with Christina Aguilera, writing songs for her new album Bionic. They also toured North America with The Faint (co-headline tour), and performed two special shows with Brian Eno at the Sydney Opera House in the summer. In the same year they announced that they will be the opening act for Depeche Mode on few concerts in Eastern Europe, but these concerts were cancelled due to Dave Gahan's illness. In the same year the band issued their first live album entitled Live at London Astoria 16.07.08 on iTunes only and later on CD.
In 2010 Ladytron issued Velocifero (Remixed and Rare). A Best Of album is expected to be on sale in 2010. Currently the band is recording their fifth studio album which is set to be released in Spring 2011.
To date, Ladytron have released:
- 4 studio albums: 604 (2001), Light & Magic (2002), Witching Hour (2005), Velocifero (2008);
- 1 live album: Live at London Astoria 16.07.08 (2009);
- 1 remix album: Velocifero (Remixed and Rare) (2010);
- 1 compilation: Softcore Jukebox (2003);
- 5 EPs: Miss Black and Her Friends (1999), Commodore Rock (2000), Mu-Tron EP (2000), Extended Play (2006), The Harmonium Sessions (2006);
- 13 singles: He Took Her to a Movie, Playgirl, Commodore Rock, The Way That I Found You, Seventeen, Evil, Blue Jeans, Sugar, Destroy Everything You Touch, Weekend (US Only), Ghosts, Runaway, Tomorrow.
http://www.ladytron.com
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From Wikipedia:Ladytron are an electropop/New Wave band originally formed in Liverpool, UK. Ladytron formed in the summer of 1999 when Liverpool musicians and DJs Reuben Wu and Daniel Hunt met dual singers Glaswegian Helen Marnie and Bulgarian-born Mira Aroyo. The band's name was taken from the song of the same name by Roxy Music.