Fuel For Florence
Fuel For Florence | |
|---|---|
 Clockwise from left: Jesudason, Bolt, Collin, Elliot | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Norwich, England |
| Genres | Indie rock, post-punk revival, alternative dance, alternative rock |
| Years active | 2006 – |
| Labels | Unsigned |
| Website | [1] |
| Members | Dan Jesudason, Jonny Collin, Joe Bolt, Alex Elliot |
| Past members | Nick Smart, Andrew Roberts |
Fuel For Florence are an English Indie Rock quartet comprising Dan Jesudason (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Jonny Collin (Guitar), Joe Bolt (Bass, Backing Vocals) and Alex Elliot (Drums). Drawing influences from Joy Division, The Smiths, Death From Above 1979, The Cure and Saul Williams, they brought a fresh and unique brand of alternative rock to the forefront of the Norwich Music Scene in late 2009.
The band was formed in late 2006 as an acoustic, post-rock two-piece consisting of Collin and Jesudason; however, they were not satisfied with the untextured sound they were producing, so recruited Bolt as a bassist in 2007, followed by a series of drummers, settling on Alex Elliot in May 2009. There was a notable shift in style from their humble beginnings to a sharper, rawer and somewhat darker sound, and their rapidly rising fanbase alerted the bosses at NME to their arrival on the music scene, famously dubbing them "What Karl Marx would have listened to".
Formation and Early Years (2006-2011)
Jonny Collin, Dan Jesudason, Alex Elliot and Joe Bolt first met in 2004, however it wasn't until September 2007 that Collin and Jesudason started composing what would become their band's future songs, at Jesudason's home in West Caister, formerly owned by The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins. In 2008, Joe Bolt and drummer Nicholas Smart were recruited, hoping to perform under the name Franz Fucking Ferdinand. This however was misread deliberately as "Fuel For Florence" in an attempt by an announcer at a Childrens Charity Gig to maintain a pre-watershed atmosphere, (thus not infringing on the FFF brand or copyright laws). In protest, the band spontaneously covered several Franz Ferdinand songs during this gig. Backstage after the gig, tensions frayed and a brawl broke out between Jesudason and Smart, as to whether they should keep the name Fuel For Florence. Smart was seen later that evening staggering out from the venue with a bloody nose and later released a statement claiming he had left the band, due to "musical differences".
These shocking events led to the band going on hiatus in February 2008, with Collin and Jesudason struggling to maintain the band's high-profile status. In June 2009 however, over a year after Smart had left the band, Collin invited schoolfriend Alex Elliot to join the band on a performance-based contract. Practices occurred sporadically, but proved to be successful, and Jesudason asked Elliot to join the band on a permanent basis.
It was at this time that Fuel For Florence re-issued "Sunday Sunset", which was met with widespread fanfare in Japan as this peaked at 2. Due to the distance and travel costs, Fuel For Florence sent a video message stating their thanks, and a specially recorded version of the song with Japanese lyrics.
It was in late 2009 that the band's friends and family joined up with Fuel to tour with them. This made long trips somewhat more bearable, as by this stage rhythm guitarist, Jonny Collin, was in full-swing with his side project - DJ Shakespeare (with a certain Harry Bamber who later joined Klaxons) - and would deafen the band with his subjective electronic minimalist music. By hiring Sam Collinson, Collin forgot all of his electronic roots. In his own words he said: "I was too busy trying to 'get some' that I forgot all about my side-project, and my minimalist electronic beginnings, and decided the only way I could have a stable relationship was to stop fucking around and concentrate on some music which could get me wankered." Collin later retracted this statement after DJ Shakespeare released a double-sided single (Word Material / You're Nothing But An Angsty Fuck).
"You're Nothing But An Angsty Fuck" is rumoured to be a dig at Jesudason, who confided in the numerous breakdowns in his relationshit because he was not willing to 'put out'. Collin became jealous, and flatly told Jesudason he was an 'angsty fuck' (a claim which he has since rejected). The band have not offered any clarity or closure on this issue and there are frequent murmurs as to why Jesudason will not commit. One tabloid suggested Collin and Jesudason's relationship had gone beyond the point of no-return, and Collin was angry that despite all of Jesudason's promiscuous ways, he was never considered once. In response to this Collin filed a lawsuit for slander and damage to image rights, but his case was dismissed when it became apparent he could not fulfill his payments to his lawyers. Jesudason offered to help, but Collin soon realised this would only fuel the tabloids further, and so the band decided to take a break from touring, until Collin's clean-image was restored.
On 14 February 2010, Fuel For Florence digitally released their eponymous debut EP - Kitsune, featuring the anthemic first single "Fuel For Florence", the more subdued power ballad "You Fall Into Love" and the crunching, wittily titled "Relationshit".
Kitsune, EP has not as of yet achieved any chart success of note.
This has frequently been justified by bassist Joe Bolt, currently holding an offer at Oxford University, by a "fan-base intellectually incapable of being able to download said EP, and also the music industry for declaring that the EP which came in at 12:51, was too long to be considered a single, and too short to be an album. Otherwise it would have been a #1 hit for sure."
February 2010 proved a successful month for the band, since they played in their first major gig, the annual Valpy Bandfest. Despite banter from the crowd (mainly directed at the conspicuous rhythm guitarist, Collin), they were extremely well-received and a riot almost ensued when they were not allowed to play their final piece, a cover of Hummer. Still, it could be argued that the fledgling band finished on a high note, with a climactic acapella ending to "You Fall Into Love". This version has never been recorded, and is now a rare collectors' item. Jesudason's charismatic sex appeal and earthy vocals soon earned him marriage proposals after their set. Uncharacteristically flustered, the two proposals have been listed as "pending" by Jesudason.
In the summer of 2010, the band's meteoric rise in the Norfolk music scene was capped off by headlining for the first time: Fuel for Florence + Colt.44 at the B2 in Norwich. Despite a meagre attendance, Fuel provided their performance of the summer, unveiling their newest singles - "Before It Gets Dark" and "I See You Still". Unfortunately, they were again ushered off stage too soon, before they could reveal "The Manatee", Jesudason's personal favourite, the inspiration for which was reportedly not the famed sea-cow, but the tragic breaking of his heart. Fuel also played a rather low-key gig at East Ruston Village Hall, with a relatively intense 45 minute set. Drummer, Elliot, declared post-performance: "Considering the amount of practice, that was a really good performance. Those pricks didn't deserve us.". New tracks, "The Manatee" and "If June Was Endless" were premiered.
Fuel For Florence release "I See You Still" in November 2010, and immediate chart success followed. Peaking at 13 and 27 in the UK and US Charts respectively, and being received as the #1 single in Austria. Fuel For Florence then played "I See You Still" on the Ö3 Austria Top 40 radio show, which was well-received.
Fuel are rumored to be working on their eagerly anticipated album, entitled This Is The Third Reich.
December 2010 was a time of real turmoil for the band as their precocious rhythm guitarist got himself grounded for partying too hard at the Colman's Mustard shop Christmas party. Rumour has it that Collin was seen in the early hours of the morning wandering through the streets of Norwich talking coherently about golf before staggering home to enraged parents. The subsequent ban on future sorties for the guitarist meant that the band were unable to practise throughout what was a very difficult winter. Thus, the opinions of the band were divided. Jesudason and Elliot decided enough was enough and briefly formed an all-guitar trio with rising star Dan Mortham, whereas Bolt calmly interested himself in playing bass for various local nu metal bands, occasionally providing vocals. Collin was left at home to think about his actions. Eventually, the band were reconciled in early January 2011 when Mortham's deal with a promising Serbian producer about creating a Neofolk album fell through the roof and Collin was eventually allowed out of his room. Private grumbling by Elliot could still be heard about the overall point of a rhythm guitarist.
Fuel are currently "on hiatus" due to university commitments. Rumours have begun to spread about musical differences being the reason for the temporary split, with Elliot developing a taste for Oasis after moving up north to Manchester. Collin, Jesudason and Bolt have refused to speak to him on principle.
Musical Style
Fuel For Florence's variation of abrasive, spiky and dark alternative indie guitar rock pays homage to the post-punk bands of the 70s, and are equally complementary to the droning vocals of Ian Curtis and the guitar pop (albeit with somewhat suicidal lyrics in both cases) of The Smiths. Fuel For Florence went as far as describing The Smiths as the anomaly of the 80s in that they produced good music, which created a general backlash from the music public (although NME interestingly greeted it with aplomb.). Their sound does however stay loyal to the modern contemporary bands which shaped its sound. Stylings can be recognised from the likes of Bloc Party and Foals, using razor sharp, overlapping riffs coupled with Jesudason's ambiguous yet cutting lyrics. Upon their appearance on the music scene, parallels were made with Jesudason and enigmatic Bloc Party frontman, Kele Okereke, yet Jesudason responded angrily to these references, stating that he thought Kele was "not the nicest person you could meet" and later went on to add that he "didn't really influence [him] in the slightest. It's just the fact that the way popular music is nowadays, people see a black frontman of an indie band and they instantly want to draw comparisons to Bloc Party, and I find that quite sad." Collin has once stated in an interview that he often listens to Sonic Youth and riot grrl band Sleater-Kinney and sometimes will even listen to rock greats Santana, Zeppelin. This seems somewhat unlikely however, given the care-free way he strums a guitar which suggests more Moby Than Motörhead.
Florence's Favourite Sons
Dan Jesudason frontman of FFF, and voted #3 in FHM's top-10 sexiest rockstars (beaten only by Karen O, and Beth Ditto). This singer-songwriter of Sri Lankan descent conjoined to his hand-me-down guitar and 'screw him' eyes will melt the hearts of all young girls (of whom there are many) who besot their souls upon him.
Jonny Collin is the blunt edge of the quartet. His eagle eyes and ever pouted lips will be ready for any hot male eyeing him up in the crowd. He enjoys going to the cinema and long walks on the beach.
Josef Bolt more than just a bassist, he will provide backing vocals when required (although somewhat coyly), and is the most experimental of the four musicians. Some of his more extroverted bass performances can be heard on early recordings, but he has been much more subdued in recent releases.
Alex Elliot is a capable multi-instrumentalist, also playing the guitar. In his early career he would frequently drop his drumsticks, mid-performance, and look at Jesudason in a frenzy asking 'What can I do?'. Fuel later cello-taped the drumsticks to Elliot's arms, and he has been playing this way ever since. This did however lead to a hospitalisation in one incident however when the drumstick on his left arm snapped and a splinter went into his radial artery. Surgery was performed successfully and Elliot made a full recovery. Alex Elliot appeared at Fuel's next gig, at a school in Brundall, with a prosthetic arm in tow. He threw it into the stage, revealing his actual arm. Due to the fact one of the girls at the school had lost an arm however, Elliot was removed from the premises for disrespectful behaviour and was given a caution by the band manager, Sam Collinson.
The Fifth Member
The boys are regularly asked the question 'Is there a fifth member?', to which their usual reply is 'No'. However during an interview last year, vocalist Dan muttered that he gets help from the late, great Kurt Cobain when finding it difficult to get that perfect song. Many other artists have been mentioned, not as inspiration, but as if 'close friends'. Here is a list of rumoured fifth members:
- Robert Key
- Bruce Wayne
- Ed Milliband
- Gael Monfils
- Emile Heskey
- Sam Collinson (citation needed)
DiscographyAlbums
Singles
ReferencesExternal links
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