Howling Bells are an Indie rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in late 2004 by three members of the disbanded band Waikiki. They released their self-titled debut album in 2006, and followed it with Radio Wars in 2009.

Howling Bells was formed by three former members of Australian group Waikiki (sister and brother Juanita Stein and Joel Stein, and Glenn Moule). After recruiting bassist Brendan Picchio, the band moved to England to record their eponymous debut album in Liverpool, with producer Ken Nelson. Recording of the album was delayed for several months as Nelson was preoccupied working with Coldplay. In the meantime the band lived together in one room in a house in London and took menial employment. Guitarist Joel Stein later told smh.com.au: "We stole to eat when we first moved to Britain."

Howling Bells was released in May 2006 on the Bella Union label. It received much critical acclaim including 9/10 in NME and 7.8/10 from Pitchfork. It placed eleventh in NME's list of best albums of 2006.

Howling Bells' style of music was described by MOJO as "blues-noir desolation" and by The Guardian newspaper as "bruising, narcotised rock'n'roll". In its review of the album, NME wrote: "by turns beguiling and enthralling, this is an extraordinary album." Metro newspaper said: "Two months into 2006 and already the best debut album of the year seems settled.". The final track on the album, I'm Not Afraid, was written by Juanita's and Joel's father, Peter Stein, himself a musician. The album cover featured sepia-toned artwork by Finnish artist Mikko Rantanen.

Howling Bells spent much of the next two years touring Europe, Australia and parts of the USA. They played on the NME New Music tour in 2006 and at the 2007 NME Awards show and performed at numerous festivals over the 2006 and 2007 summers, including Reading/Leeds, Latitude Festival and across Europe.

Howling Bells' first tour, in October and November 2005, was supporting Editors in Europe. They have also supported US band The Killers in the USA, Europe and Australia, Placebo in Australia and Europe, The Futureheads in the UK, and Mercury Rev in Europe, as well as Snow Patrol on their Australian tour and Razorlight in the UK. They supported Coldplay on their 2009 North American leg of the Viva la Vida Tour and on some dates of Coldplay's 2009 European tour.

In 2008 they signed a deal with London-based Independiente Records and recorded their second album, Radio Wars, at The Sound Factory in Los Angeles with Dan Grech-Marguerat, who has engineered records alongside producer Nigel Godrich, including Radiohead, Air and Paul McCartney. Radio Wars was released in the UK in March 2009 and, after signing to Nettwerk Music Group, was released in the USA in July 2009.

Radio Wars signalled a change in direction for Howling Bells, their music becoming generally brighter and more accessible, with a greater emphasis on keyboards. Consequently, reviews were mixed. A review on the website of the BBC claimed "the second chance may well have been squandered", while gigwise.com called it "an album of mashed-up half ideas". More positive reviews came from The Independent on Sunday ("Bigger, brasher...this might be the album that elevates Howling Bells from a band you wouldn't switch off to one you would actively seek out"), Music Week ("This longplayer could help cement their position as pioneers of eerie indie"), New! magazine ("Deliciously dark and romantic, their epic songs are slightly gothic, but stay on the right side of cool!"), indielondon.co.uk ("Howling Bells’ return is a resounding success") and ABC ("anthemic, edgy, stomping indie rock at its best"). As well as showcasing more 'colourful' music, Radio Wars also contrasted markedly with Howling Bells in terms of its cover. It featured a photograph of each band member against backgrounds of cyan, magenta, yellow and lilac respectively. Artwork for the album was by Mark James and photography by Clare Shilland.

Juanita Stein explained to Repeat Fanzine the background to the band's change of musical approach that resulted in the different sound of Radio Wars. She said: "The first record was more me in my bedroom kind of wallowing over lost love and falling in love – it was a very, very romantic and brooding process. But with this one, it’s pretty much been a unanimous process, like every member of the band has added their flavour. In terms of the new songs, they have a very, very different energy – hugely different. In general, the lyrics are a lot more immediate, whereas the last record was a lot more nostalgic. This album is a lot more modern in a way and instant. You know, it’s talking less about innate feelings and more about the impact between myself or ourselves, and the world around us".

Howling Bells headlined a tour of the UK in March 2009, supported by The Joy Formidable and Chew Lips. They played the V Festival in Australia in April 2009, before touring North America with Coldplay in May and June 2009. The band returned to Europe to play summer festivals in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Turkey, Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Their UK appearances included The Hop Farm Country Park, Hard Rock Calling and V Festival. They then supported Coldplay once more on three nights of their European tour.

In March 2009, music website gigwise.com proclaimed Juanita Stein "the sexiest woman in rock".

• Brendan Picchio (bass)
• Joel Stein (lead guitar)
• Juanita Stein (vocals/rhythm guitar)
• Glenn Moule (drums)

Albums

• Howling Bells - CD & CD DIGIPAK (2006) - Bella Union, 8th May 2006

CD - BELLACD114:

1. "The Bell Hit"
2. "Velvet Girl"
3. "Low Happening"
4. "Broken Bones"
5. "Wishing Stone"
6. "A Ballad For The Bleeding Hearts"
7. "The Night is Young"
8. "Across The Avenue"
9. "Setting Sun"
10. "Blessed Night"
11. "In The Woods"
12. "I'm Not Afraid"

• Radio Wars - CD & Special Edition Hardback Book Pack - Independiente, 2nd March 2009

CD - ISOM76CD:

1. "Treasure Hunt"
2. "Cities Burning Down"
3. "It Ain't You"
4. "Nightingale"
5. "Let's Be Kids"
6. "Ms. Bell's Song / Radio Wars Theme"
7. "Golden Web"
8. "Into The Chaos"
9. "Digital Hearts"
10. "How Long"
11. "To L.A" (Hidden track)

Special Edition Hardback Back Book Pack - ISOM76CDX:

CD1 (Radio Wars):

1. "Treasure Hunt"
2. "Cities Burning Down"
3. "It Ain't You"
4. "Nightingale"
5. "Let's Be Kids"
6. "Ms. Bell's Song / Radio Wars Theme"
7. "Golden Web"
8. "Into The Chaos"
9. "Digital Hearts"
10. "How Long"
11. "To L.A" (Hidden track)

CD2 (Paradiso - recorded live at Paradiso, Amsterdam, 22nd November 2008):

1. "Setting Sun" (Live)
2. "Wishing Stone" (Live)
3. "Cities Burning Down" (Live)
4. "Treasure Hunt" (Live)
5. "Nightingale" (Live)
6. "Into The Chaos" (Live)
7. "Radio Wars Theme" (Live)

Singles

• "Low Happening" - CD digipak (Bella Union, 2006) & digital download (Bella Union, 2005)

CD digipack - LIBSP7183.2:

1. "Low Happening"
2. "The Wild"
3. "This City's Burning"

• "Wishing Stone" - CD & Gold 7" (Bella Union, 27th February 2006)

CD - BELLACD115:

1. "Wishing Stone"
2. "The Wild"
3. "This City's Burning"

7" - BELLAV115:

1. "Wishing Stone"
2. "This City's Burning"

• "Blessed Night" - CD & Mauve 7" (Bella Union, 1st May 2006)

CD - BELLACD116:

1. "Blessed Night"
2. "Starry Eyes"
3. "The Bell Hit" (BBC 6 Music Session)

7" - BELLAV116:

1. "Blessed Night"
2. "Highway 99"

• "Setting Sun" - CD & White 7" (Bella Union, 18th September 2006)

CD - BELLACD124:

1. "Setting Sun"
2. "Today"
3. "Low Happening" (BBC 6 Music Session)

7" - BELLAV124:

1. "Setting Sun"
2. "False Eyelashes" (Robert & Demetriss Tubert)

• "Low Happening" (re-issue) - CD, 7" & digital download (Bella Union, 5th March 2007)

CD - BELLACD136:

1. "Low Happening"
2. "Low Happening (Dogsend Squash Club Remix)"
3. "4 Play Documentary" (CD-ROM Video)
4. "Low Happening" (CD-ROM Video)

7" - BELLAV136

1. "Low Happening"
2. "Low Happening (!Forward Russia! Remix)"

Digital Downloads:

1. "Low Happening (The Presets Remix)"
2. "Low Happening (Dogsend Squash Club Remix)"
3. "Low Happening (Little People Remix)"
4. "Low Happening (!Forward Russia! Remix)"

• "Into The Chaos" - Yellow limited issue 7" & digital download (Independiente, 17th November 2008)

7" - ISOM132S:

1. "Into The Chaos"
2. "The Spirited Ones"

• "Cities Burning Down" - Red limited issue 7" & digital download (Independiente, 23rd February 2009)

7" - ISOM134S:

1. "Cities Burning Down"
2. "Hearts & Armor"

Note: The b-side was listed online as 'Dublin', although no known recording has been released

Digital Downloads:

1. "Cities Burning Down"
2. "Hearts & Armor"
3. "Cities Burning Down (Radio Edit)"

• "Digital Hearts" - Blue limited issue 7" & digital download, (Independiente 18th May 2009)

7" - ISOM136S:

1. "Digital Hearts"
2. "Stories"

Digital Downloads:

1. "Digital Hearts"
2. "Radio Wars Theme Pt.II"

• "Breaking My Back"

Released as a digital download 'bonus track' on iTunes (UK only), (Independiente 2nd March 2009):

Released as 'Track 2' on the "Cities Burning Down (EP)" iTunes (USA only):

• "Low Happening" (stage performance version) (2005)
• "Wishing Stone" (2006)
• "Blessed Night" (2006)
• "Setting Sun" (2006)
• "Low Happening" ('story' version) (2007)
• "Broken Bones" (2007) (Note - Broken Bones was not released as a single)
• "Cities Burning Down" (2009)

• Album Chart Show, Channel 4 TV

Filmed at KOKO, Camden, London, 23rd October 2006

Broadcast 28th October 2006.

• The JD Set, Channel 4 TV.

Filmed at The Cathouse, Glasgow, 8th December 2006.

Broadcast 17th February 2007.

• 4-Play, Channel 4 TV.

Filmed at The Barfly, Camden, London, 23rd November 2006.

Broadcast 10th March 2007.

• The JD Set, Channel 4 TV.

Filmed at The Cluny, Newcastle, 10th March 2009.

Broadcast 1st May 2009.

UK

• BBC 6 Music with Gideon Coe, 1st December 2005
• BBC Radio 1 with Steve Lamacq, 10th April 2006
• XFM Radio, 23rd April 2006
• BBC 6 Music with Tom Robinson, 18th May 2006
• BBC Radio 2 with Mark Radcliffe, 2nd November 2006
• BBC 6 Music with Marc Riley, 8th March 2007
• BBC 6 Music with Marc Riley, 5th November 2008
• BBC 6 Music with Stephen Merchant, 7th December 2008
• BBC Radio 2 with Zoe Ball, 7th February 2009
• BBC 6 Music with George Lamb, 17th February 2009
• NME Radio, 10th March 2009

Non-UK

• 3 Voor 12, Behind Closed Doors, Amsterdam, 1st April 2006
• JTV, 31st March 2007
• Aligre FM Radio, Paris, 28th January 2009

Between July 2005 and September 2009 Howling Bells played over 350 live gigs in many countries, including around 50 festival appearances. Their earliest recorded live appearance was at the Spectrum, Sydney, Australia on 1st July 2005, although the band has spoken of playing live in Liverpool during the period of recording their debut album in early 2005.

The city they have played in most frequently is London (over 35 times), followed by Manchester (13), Sydney (11) and Glasgow (10). The venue they have played most often is the Academy complex in Manchester (5 times).

• Howling Bells at MySpace
• Howling Bells Official forum/message board
• Howling Bells fan site
• Howling Bells-2009 interview with Juanita