Interpol (band)

Interpol is a New York City indie rock band, formed in 1998. Their debut album Turn on the Bright Lights was critically acclaimed, while the follow-up, Antics, has also been a commercial and critical success. The members of the band are: Paul Banks (vocals, guitar); Carlos Dengler (bass); Sam Fogarino (drums); Daniel Kessler (guitar, vocals).

The band's sound is a dark mix of bass throb and choppy, sparse guitar, whilst drawing constant comparisons to post-punk bands Joy Division, The Chameleons and Kitchens of Distinction. Turn on the Bright Lights was spare and tentative, but their second album Antics embraced a fuller, more confident sound. Both Antics and Turn on the Bright Lights were recorded at Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The band formed when Daniel Kessler met drummer Greg Drudy, now a member of screamo band Hot Cross, on the New York University campus. Kessler later added Carlos D., an ex-guitarist, on the bass, after meeting him in a history class. The line-up was complete after Kessler remembered an old friend he met while in Paris. Banks and Kessler ran into each other on the street, after losing touch since Paris, and Banks became lead singer. In 2000, Greg left the band, and Daniel recruited Sam, whom the band knew through his job at a local record store.

Interpol will take time off after their Antics tour for an unknown amount of time. The band released a new single, 'Direction', on Everything Ends, the second soundtrack album to the HBO drama Six Feet Under, on June 28, 2005.

Next Recordings

Sam Fogarino told a reporter from Pitchfork in an interview that Interpol is in the process of recording new material for their third album. Interpol's new record will not be released on Matador Records as its contract with the label is up; rumors have spread of a possible deal with the label Interscope. However, rumours are what they are and the band has so far refused to comment on such label gossip. Fogarino did however say that the process of writing the follow-up to Antics is "moving right along where I think it should...we're all pretty much on fire about it" ^*. Since then an update on the official Interpol website has been posted and has confirmed that the band has been taking some time off, but are now writing their third album. They are expecting it to be released sometime in 2007. They have released the name of one track - "The Heinrich Maneuver.".

Discography

Albums

Image:Turnonthebrightlightscover.jpg|Turn on the Bright Lights
(August 20, 2002)
Matador
#158 US, #101 UK Image:Interpol-Antics.jpg|Antics
(September 28, 2004)
Matador
#15 US, #21 UK

EPs

Image:Interpol_fukd.jpg|Fukd I.D. #3
(December 11, 2000)
Chemikal Underground Image:Precipitate.jpg|Precipitate EP
(January 1, 2001)
Self-Released Image:InterpolEP.jpg|Interpol EP
(June 4, 2002)
Matador Image:BlackEP.jpg|The Black EP
(August 26, 2003)
EMI Image:Interpolremix.jpg|Interpol Remix EP
(November 22, 2005)
Matador

Singles

Year	Title	Chart Positions			Album
Year	Title	US Hot 100	US Modern Rock	UK Singles Chart	Album
2002	“The Interpol EP: PDA / NYC / Specialist”	-	-	#170	Turn on the Bright Lights
2002	“Obstacle 1”	-	-	#72	Turn on the Bright Lights
2003	“Say Hello To The Angels / NYC”	-	-	#65	Turn on the Bright Lights
2003	“Obstacle 1 (remix)”	-	-	#41	Turn on the Bright Lights
2004	“Slow Hands”	-	#15	#36	Antics
2005	“Evil”	-	#24	#18	Antics
2005	“C'mere”	-	-	#19	Antics
2005	“Slow Hands (reissue)”	-	-	#44	Antics

Trivia

The name Interpol supposedly comes from Paul Banks' name. While he was in Spain, kids would tease him "Paul, Paul, Interpaul." Another suggestion as to the reason the band is so called is because the word Interpol suggests order and efficiency, similar to the style in which the band plays.

Daniel Kessler has stated in an interview that the band "...had played shows with no name and then I got to the point where I was like, 'Guys, we're getting decent crowds, but like...we don't have a name so no one knows who to go see again.'" Other names the band considered were Las Armas (The Weapons)^* and The French Letters. They also performed a secret show at Luna Lounge in New York under the pseudonym Cuddleworthy.

Bassist and keyboard player Carlos D. is also a DJ. He often spins at parties while the band is on tour and has hosted several ongoing parties in NYC.

The band has received mail in the past asking them about the recruiting process for the police organization Interpol.

Carlos D. owns an Italian Greyhound named Gaius.

References

Raftery, Brian. "Night Falls on Manhattan". SPIN. April 2005.

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Interpol (band)