The debut album Simplicity was produced by Charlie Francis (REM, Turin Breaks) and released to critical acclaim in the UK in 2001. Uncut magazine declaring Belasco “have bigger songs and bigger ambitions than the majority of new guitar acts. Watch out Coldplay!” While Coldplay can still rest easy, Belasco have achieved a huge amount over the past five years. They have sold over 30,000 records across the world. Played gigs across the globe (150 in 2003 alone) including European festivals such as Isle Of Wight (UK), Haldern and Bochum Total (Germany), Alive (Belgium) and Music In My Head (Holland) with the likes of PJ Harvey, Cardigans, Paul Weller, Iggy Pop, Bright Eyes and Patti Smith. In early 2005 this success culminated in the band signing a singles deal with Vertigo/Mercury (Razorlight, Thirteen Senses) and recorded two singles – “Something Between Us” and “Chloroform”. On its release, Something Between Us again receiving plaudits (the Guardian making it Single Of the Week) and the bands darker than dark video – produced by Nick Walters was playlisted on MTV2 UK. The video is also one of the first music videos added to the I-tunes new video purchase store in the US. Unfortunately the band had a bad experience with Mercury (one of many small bands shown the darker side of the major labels) and the deal ended acrimoniously in early 2006. Ironically 2006 has seen the band stepping up to the next level. The band had tracks added to the Hollywood film “Incubus” (starring Tara Reid) and EA Games Fifa Soccer 2007 video game. The bands music also featured several times on huge US show One Tree Hill. The Virgin/EMI compilation album Alternative Ballads II (released in Germany in early 2006) features Belasco’s “Breathe” alongside songs by Blur, Athlete, Radiohead and Nick Cave. Throughout 2006 the band has also been working on new album “61”. |
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