| The Chemical Brothers are made up of | | | | After a break of almost two years, the |
| childhood friends Tom Rowlands and Ed | | | | Chemical Brothers returned with a new |
| Simons, and are a Grammy Award winning | | | | single which signalled a subtle change |
| electronic music sensation. Originally | | | | in direction. Hey Boy, Hey Girl was |
| referred to as the The Dust Brothers | | | | immediately a more commercial record, |
| until a legal threat from another band | | | | and as a result went to number 3 in the |
| of the same name, they changed their | | | | UK charts and gained them huge |
| name in 1995 after a successful tour of | | | | publicity. |
| the U.S. | | | | The third album, Surrender, was released |
| The Chemical Brothers are one of the few | | | | in June 1999, again featuring the likes |
| bands that successfully made the | | | | of Noel Gallagher on backing vocals. The |
| transition to arena-sized concerts, and | | | | album reached number 1 in the UK and |
| the fact they are an electronic act | | | | received widespread recognition from all |
| makes this feat even more impressive. | | | | sections of the music press. |
| Along with The Prodigy, The Chemical | | | | Memorable gigs at Glastonbury and a UK |
| Brothers have become known as pioneers | | | | tour followed. The album Come With Us |
| of the big-beat electronic dance genre, | | | | was released in 2001, but it was less |
| and have a reputation unsurpassed for | | | | well received than any of their previous |
| their use of complicated sound and light | | | | work. This didn't prevent it topping the |
| effects to produce amazing live gigs. | | | | UK charts in its first week of release |
| In the studio, they have been releasing | | | | however, as they proved their fan base |
| albums since 1995, when they first put | | | | was loyal to the core. |
| out Exit Planet Dust. Shortly after its | | | | Early in 2003, the Chemical Brothers |
| release they were snapped up by Virgin | | | | went back into the studio to work on new |
| Records, under which they started their | | | | material, including The Golden Path, a |
| own offshoot label, Freestyle Dust. | | | | collaboration with Wayne Coyne, lead |
| During that year's Glastonbury Festival, | | | | singer of The Flaming Lips. This came |
| Rowlands and Simons met up with Noel | | | | out in September 2003, around the same |
| Gallagher from Oasis, who told them how | | | | time their Singles 93-03 (best of) album |
| much he liked their debut album, and | | | | was released. |
| that he would like to sing on a future | | | | The following year, they were back in |
| track. They got together and recorded | | | | the studio to work on their fifth studio |
| Setting Sun, the song being released in | | | | album, Push The Button, again featuring |
| October 1996. It gave the duo their | | | | collaborations with Tim Burgess, Kele |
| first number one single, and also | | | | Okereke and Anwar Superstar, amongst |
| starting a popular trend they would | | | | others. The album was released in |
| continue, of working with guest | | | | January 2005 and saw good initial sales, |
| vocalists. | | | | but it wasn't until July 2007 that the |
| In 1997 the Chemical Brothers released | | | | Chemical Brothers released their |
| their second album, Dig Your Own Hole, | | | | best-selling sixth album, We Are the |
| after recording it at their studio in | | | | Night. |
| south London. During that summer they | | | | To help promote this, the Chemical |
| toured extensively, playing clubs and | | | | Brothers embarked on a hugely sucessful |
| festivals, particularly in the United | | | | UK tour this December. Their latest |
| States. In Tokyo, they became residents | | | | single from the album, The Salmon Dance, |
| in the Liquid Rooms. | | | | is out now. |