Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes
Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes are an English punk rock band formed in 2015 by frontman Frank Carter with guitarist Dean Richardson. Famed for their raucous live shows, the band released their debut album Blossom in 2015, and the follow-ups Modern Ruin in 2017 and End of Suffering in 2019. Their fourth album, Sticky, was released in October 2021.[4] A fifth, Dark Rainbow, is set for release in January 2024.[5]
Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England |
Genres | |
Years active | 2015–present |
Labels | International Death Cult (Kobalt) |
Spinoff of | Gallows, Pure Love, Heights |
Members |
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Past members |
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Website | www |
History
Formation, Rotten EP, and Blossom (2015)
After leaving the band Gallows in 2011 due to artistic differences, Carter started Pure Love, a project with guitarist Jim Carroll, ending that band in 2015 to form Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes with guitarist Dean Richardson, formerly of Heights.[6][7][8] Carter and Richardson had met a few years earlier, when Carter asked Richardson, who was also a designer and coder, to make him a website.[9] With The Rattlesnakes, Carter returned to his hardcore roots, while retaining some of the power-pop sensibilities of Pure Love.[9]
On 4 May 2015, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes released the three-track EP Rotten.[10] The three songs would also appear on the band's debut full-length album, Blossom, released on International Death Cult on 14 August 2015.[11][12] It peaked at #18 on the UK Albums Chart.[13] Carter has described Blossom as being "about sadness and not knowing what to do with it."[14]
Modern Ruin and live album (2016–2018)
The band finished recording Modern Ruin in January 2016, just a few months after the launch their first album.[15] Modern Ruin was released on International Death Cult on 20 January 2017.[6] It peaked at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart,[13] and number 23 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.[16] The album has a moodier feel than Blossom.[17] It was recorded by Thomas Mitchener, formerly the band's touring bassist, in his Broadfields studio in Watford, England, which is also where Blossom was recorded.[15][18]
In November 2017 the band announced a live album.[19] 23 Live At Brixton Academy was released on 9 March 2018, having been recorded at their 8 December 2017 headline show at the O2 Academy Brixton in London, where they played every song from their first two albums plus their new single "Spray Paint Love".[19][20]
End of Suffering and Blossom reissue (2019–2020)
The band released their third album, End of Suffering, on International Death Cult on 3 May 2019.[8] The album peaked at #4 on the UK Albums Chart.[13] NME wrote that the album "resembles a firework display on this dazzling record" where Carter "continues to mine increasingly sensitive territory, with impressive results."[21] Some of the tracks address Carter's mental-health battle.[22] Three singles were released off the album: "Crowbar", "Anxiety", and "Kitty Sucker".[23] Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello guests on the song "Tyrant Lizard King". The collaboration came about after Carter ran into Morello in Spain at the festival Resurrection, and performed "Killing in the Name" with Morello's band Prophets of Rage.[24] Following the album's release, the band toured in support of it, culminating in a sold-out show to 10,000 fans at London's Alexandra Palace in February 2020.[25] However, any further tour plans throughout 2020 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing a premature end to the End of Suffering album cycle.
In light of this period of unanticipated inactivity, the band unearthed archive recordings from their debut album Blossom and announced a reissue to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its release in June 2020. The reissue features live versions of the record's original ten tracks, in addition to three previously unreleased studio tracks.[26] One of the unreleased tracks, "Fire", was released ahead of the reissue as the lead single, with the rest of the album following in October 2020.[27]
Sticky and Dark Rainbow (2021–present)
Following the cancellation of any further tour plans in support of End of Suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the band began working on new music. This culminated in the release of the single "My Town", featuring Idles frontman Joe Talbot in April 2021.[28] The band then announced their fourth album, Sticky, alongside its eponymous single in July 2021. The record, released on 15 October 2021, was produced by guitarist and primary band member Dean Richardson and features further guest appearances from Lynks, Cassyette and Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie.[29]
In September 2023, the band announced their return with a new single, entitled "Man of the Hour". It serves as the lead single from their fifth studio album Dark Rainbow, which is set for release on January 24, 2024. The band also announced a world tour in support of the album, to take place between February and May 2024 in the UK, Europe, Australia and North America.[5]
Musical style
The band's musical style has been associated with rock, punk rock and hardcore genres. According to Carter they "perfectly fill the gap between indie, punk and rock and roll."[18] Carter has described the band's songwriting style as a mixture of all the musical genres the band likes, "pouring it together in a melting pot that is real and new."[30] He told the BBC in 2017, "Punk to me is not a sound, it's not a fashion, it's not a lifestyle. It's a mindset. You either have it or you don't."[31]
Performances
Carter is known as a dynamic live performer, delivering high-energy sets.[21][32] The band has also aimed to foster a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment at their live performances. They encourage equality and empowerment with their fans, with Carter calling for only female and non-binary fans to crowdsurf in a safe environment during certain songs.[33][34][35] In 2019 Carter was quoted as saying, "Rock gigs have been dominated by men for years - all bands need to work to empower women."[33]
The Rattlesnakes' first tour was the Rotten UK Tour from May to June 2015.[36] In March 2016 they toured the UK and Ireland.[37] They performed on the Kerrang! Tour 2016 in support of Sum 41.[38] In February 2017, they supported Biffy Clyro on tour.[39] In October 2017, the band cancelled their North American tour, following the cancellation of four weeks of touring in Europe, so that Carter could focus on his mental health and wellbeing.[40] The band had to pull out of some shows in the summer of 2018, including the INmusic Festival in Croatia, after they were involved in a bus crash.[41]
After playing a secret set at Reading Festival in 2018, the band played the festival's main stage in 2019.[42] In the spring and summer of 2019, they toured the UK and Europe, and performed at the Hellendoorn Dauwpop Festival, Primavera Sound, Deichbrand, and Sziget Festival.[43] They supported Foo Fighters on their 2019 European Tour,[44] and supported Bring Me the Horizon on their 2019 Australia Tour.[45] The band headlined the 2019 Monster Energy Outbreak Tour.[32] Their 2019 North American tour was set to begin on 23 September 2019 in New York City, with The Beaches as the opening band on most dates,[32] but the tour was cancelled due to Carter being in a car crash several days before the first show.[46] The Rattlesnakes will headline a tour of Australia in 2020 and played three UK sold-out shows in February, at the Alexandra Palace, Glasgow's Barrowlands and the Manchester Academy.[47]
Members
Current members
- Frank Carter – lead vocals (2015–present)
- Dean "Deano" Richardson – guitar, synthesizer, piano, backing vocals (2015–present)
Current touring musicians
- Tom "Tank" Barclay – bass, keyboards, synthesizer, backing vocals (2016–present)
- Gareth Grover – drums (2016–present)
- Elliot "El" Russell – guitar, keyboards, synthesizer (2019–present)
Former members
- Memby Jago – drums (2015–2016)
- Thomas "Mitch" Mitchener – guitars, synthesizer, keyboards (2017–2018), bass (2015–2016)
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
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UK [48] |
AUS [49] |
BEL (FL) [50] | ||
Blossom |
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18 | 81 | — |
Modern Ruin |
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7 | — | 108 |
End of Suffering |
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4 | —[upper-alpha 1] | 177 |
Sticky |
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8 | — | 189 |
Dark Rainbow |
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TBA |
Live albums
Title | Album details |
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23 Live At Brixton Academy |
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End of Suffering Live to Vinyl |
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Extended plays
Title | EP details |
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Rotten |
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Loss |
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EOS_REMIXES_001 |
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Singles
- "Juggernaut" (2015)
- "I Hate You" (2015)
- "Devil Inside Me" (2016)
- "Snake Eyes" (2016)
- "Lullaby" (2016)
- "Wild Flowers" (2016)
- "Modern Ruin" (2017)
- "Vampires" (2017)
- "Spray Paint Love" (2017)
- "Crowbar" (2019)
- "Anxiety" (2019)
- "Kitty Sucker" (2019)
- "Fire" (2020)
- "My Town" (featuring Joe Talbot) (2021)
- "The Drugs" (2022)
- "Parasite" (2022)
- "Man of the Hour" (2023)
Music videos
- "Juggernaut" (2015)[52]
- "Trouble" (2015)[53]
- "Devil Inside Me" (2016)[54]
- "Snake Eyes" (2016)[55]
- "Lullaby" (2016)[56]
- "Wild Flowers" (2017)[57]
- "Vampires" (2017)[58]
- "Spray Paint Love" (2017)[59]
- "Crowbar" (2019)[60]
- "Anxiety" (2019)[61]
- "Kitty Sucker" (2019)[62]
- "Fire" (2020)[63]
- "My Town" (2021)[64]
- ”The Drugs” (2022)
- ”Parasite” (2022)
- "Man of the Hour" (2023)
Awards and nominations
Year | Organisation | Award | Result |
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2016 | Kerrang! Awards | Spirit of Punk | Won |
2017 | Heavy Music Awards | Best UK Band | Nominated[65] |
Association of Independent Festivals Awards | Live Act of the Year | Nominated[66] | |
2019 | Kerrang! Awards | Best British Live Act | Nominated |
Notes
- End of Suffering did not enter the ARIA Albums Chart, but peaked at number 36 on the ARIA Digital Album Chart.[51]
References
- "Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - 'Modern Ruin' - Reviews - Rock Sound Magazine". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- Monger, James. "Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes / Frank Carter Modern Ruin". All Music. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
- "Album review - Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Modern Ruin". 17 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- "NEWS: Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes detail fourth album, 'Sticky'!". 5 July 2021.
- Duran, Anagricel. "Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes announce new album 'Dark Rainbow' and world tour". NME. BandLab Technologies. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- Cooper, Leonie (20 January 2017). "Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – 'Modern Ruin' Review". NME. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Senior, Nicholas (30 January 2017). "Album Review: Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – 'Modern Ruin'". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Gray, Josh (24 April 2019). "Between Love And Hate: Frank Carter Interviewed". Clash Music. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
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- Shutler, Ali (3 May 2019). "Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes are on a mission: "A revolution starts with a big fucking change"". Upset Magazine. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes: "Now I just don't care if I upset people. What I care about is the music that I'm making, and making sure it's heard a lot."". Music & Riots. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes: Heatseekers Albums". billboard.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "frank carter & the rattlesnakes". Punk Rock Theory. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Browne, Lois (29 January 2017). "Stand Up And Speak Out: Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
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- "Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes Share New Live Album From Brixton Academy". DIY. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- McMahon, James (30 April 2019). "Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – 'End Of Suffering' review". NME. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Divita, Joe (15 July 2019). "Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes: Managing Anxiety + What Helps Us". Loudwire. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "LISTEN TO FRANK CARTER AND THE RATTLESNAKES' NEW SONG, KITTY SUCKER". Kerrang!. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "WHY TOM MORELLO IS ON THE NEW FRANK CARTER ALBUM". Kerrang!. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Ed, Mason. "In Pictures: Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes' Biggest-Ever Show". Kerrang. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- "Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Announce Deluxe Edition Of Debut Album Blossom". Kerrang!. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- "Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Blossom (Deluxe)". Banquet Records. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
- Williams, Keegan (29 April 2021). "News: Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Release New Single "My Town" Feat. Joe Talbot". New Noise. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- "Frank Carter shares new single Sticky, announces album and UK/European tour". Louder Sound. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- Morawitz, Owen (29 April 2019). "FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES". Hysteria. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Blake, Jimmy (12 February 2017). "Frank Carter: Grime is more punk than punk at the moment". BBC. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Kaufman, Spencer (15 July 2019). "Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes to headline 2019 Monster Energy Outbreak Tour". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Trendell, Andrew (6 September 2019). "Frank Carter: "Rock gigs have been dominated by men for years – all bands need to work to empower women"". NME. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Murphy, Sam (12 December 2016). "Frank Carter Delivers Stirring Speech Before Inviting A Girls-Only Stage Dive At Brisbane Show Read". Music Feeds. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Ralph, Caitlyn (2 May 2017). "Frank Carter Delivers Speech About Respecting Women at Concerts". Alt Press. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Redrup, Zach (29 April 2015). "Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes add more dates to June 2015 UK tour!". Deadpress. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes Announce UK and Ireland Tour". DYI. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "Meet Your Final Band on the Kerrang! Tour 2016". Kerrang!. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "Frank Carter documents Biffy Clyro support tour with new video for 'Vampires'". Upset Magazine. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes Cancel U.S. Tour". Kerrang!. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Bassett, Jordan (26 June 2018). "Queens of the Stone Age shimmied and shook their way through the first night of Zagreb's INmusic Festival". NME. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "Frank Carter: 'We're Gonna Have Two of the Biggest Circle Pits the Festival Has Ever Seen'". readingfestival.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "Frank Carter Drops New Single; Announces Third Album and Headline Tour". Kerrang!. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Krol, Charlotte (6 March 2019). "Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes and Slaves lead Foo Fighters support acts at huge shows in Scotland and Ireland". NME. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "BRING ME THE HORIZON // 'FIRST LOVE' AUSTRALIA TOUR 2019". Hysteria. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- Lavin, Will (23 September 2019). "Frank Carter postpones U.S. tour dates following horrific car crash". NME. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- "Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes announce 2020 Aussie headline tour". tonedeaf.thebrag.com. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "FRANK CARTER/THE RATTLESNAKES | full Official Charts history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- Ryan, Gavin (22 August 2015). "ARIA Albums: Soundwave Acts Debut At 1 and 2". Noise11. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- "Discografie Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes". Ultratop. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
- "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes (21 June 2015), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Juggernaut [Official Video], retrieved 8 May 2019
- Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes (26 October 2015), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Trouble [Official Video], retrieved 8 May 2019
- Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes (29 January 2016), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Devil Inside Me [Official Video], retrieved 8 May 2019
- FCATRVEVO (14 June 2016), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Snake Eyes, retrieved 8 May 2019
- FCATRVEVO (27 October 2016), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Lullaby (Official Music Video), retrieved 8 May 2019
- FCATRVEVO (5 January 2017), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Wild Flowers, retrieved 8 May 2019
- FCATRVEVO (6 March 2017), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Vampires, retrieved 8 May 2019
- FCATRVEVO (1 November 2017), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Spray Paint Love, retrieved 8 May 2019
- FCATRVEVO (15 January 2019), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Crowbar, retrieved 8 May 2019
- FCATRVEVO (17 April 2019), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Anxiety (Official Video), retrieved 8 May 2019
- FCATRVEVO (22 May 2019), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Kitty Sucker (Official Video), retrieved 8 May 2019
- FCATRVEVO (18 June 2020), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Fire
- FCATRVEVO (27 April 2021), Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - My Town ft. Joe Talbot
- "CATEGORY SPOTLIGHT: BEST UK BAND". heavymusicawards.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- "FRANK CARTER, IDLES RECEIVE AIF AWARDS NOD". M Magazine. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2019.