Feeder

• Grant Nicholas - vocals, guitar
• Taka Hirose - bass
• Jon Lee - drums (died 2002)

Feeder are the kind of band you can’t help but like; heroically average, unflinchingly workmanlike. The West Brom of stadium acts, if you will. Which of us can claim not to have pranced about with a tennis racket to that song? Oh, you know, that song. Well, I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s all over the radio…

Formed in 1995 by Grant Nicholas, Taka Hirose and Jon Lee, the band batted out a number of EPs and albums of sturdy pop punk to limited acclaim, until they released Echo Park in 2001, which reached number 5 in the album charts thanks largely to the rather cool single Buck Rogers. Following the tragic suicide of drummer Jon Lee in January of 2002, their work took on a rather more downhearted feel, although Nicholas has always claimed that the album Comfort In Sound (released the same year) was going to be a bit more miserable anyway. They recruited ex-Skunk Anansie boy Mark Richardson to take over sticks, and their work has been determinedly gloomy and gloopy and not at all like Cold Patrol ever since. Say what else you like about them, but that’s four albums that’ve reached the top 10. Four. For reasons known only to the editorial staff, Q also like bumming them to death. There’s a singles compilation out in May 2006.