supersonic
Artist Information
Biography
BIOGRAPHY April 2011
COMPLETE BIOGRAPHY
Kahn Morbee (Vocals, Guitar), Glenn Hodgson (Bass, Piano, Backing Vocals), Paul Hodgson (Guitar), Neil Pauw (Drums)
In the last 12 months The Parlotones have:
- The Parlotones were the first band in the world to broadcast their show live in 3D to 3D outlets around the world. Their Rock opera "Dragonflies and Astronauts" was carried by Direct TV in the USA in both 3D and 2D as well as Facebook on the 16th of July 2011.
- Won 3 South African Music awards
- released the platinum selling, live recording of their show at The Coco Cola Dome – “Live Design”
- performed at the Opening World Cup Concert to a billion viewers
- completed a 70 city world tour and entered 3 Billboard charts in the USA
- launched a Carbon Free Campaign Free Campaign, with The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC3), to reforest areas in South Africa with indigenous trees. (“Stars Fall Down” is the official soundtrack of the drive and the music video is the visual embodiment of the campaign).
In their home country, South Africa, the band’s profile is such that they were chosen to play the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, Africa Day and at Live Earth. Their innovative, big- production music videos have been nominated for MTV awards and The Parlotones won two awards at the prestigious ISC (International Song Contest), in the US, judged by the likes of Robert Smith, Tom Waits and Rob Thomas.
. In November 2009, fans packed the Dome in Johannesburg and helped the Parlotones make history (first time a South African band headlined this venue) - the CD/DVD “Live Design” documenting the event, bears testimony to this.
Their success is not limited to their music alone – the band have their own brands of wine ‘Giant Mistake’ and ‘Push me the Floor’ which has earned the band a no.1 spots in the Sunday Times wine list and distribution through major European retailers. (The third variant “We Call This Dancing” has just been released).
Their music has also been made available in a limited edition pre-release format on a cellular handset, they have their own branded laptop, a designer running shoe and even a campaign that included a Parlotones meal available from a global food retailer.
In April 2010, The Parlotones played at the Dow Life Earth Run for Water in Cape Town. The Parlotones also performed as part of the 2010 Official FIFA World Cup Kick Off Celebration concert. Other artists included the Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys and Shakira. The concert will took place on June 10th, 2010 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg and was be screened to millions all over the world.
While football fever swept Europe, the band was played on Sky Sports, and were talkSPORT’s official ambassadors for the World Cup in the UK. “Come Back as Heroes” by The Parlotones was the musical anchor of Germany’s national first TV channel ARD for their World Cup image trailer campaign.
The Parlotones are known for their electric, polished stage performances delivered against the backdrop of their deftly crafted and darkly romantic lyrics. Their sound, described as alternative in their formative years has evolved substantially becoming more refined and focused with each album. The band experiment sonically with their sound and various structures are utilised in their songs, including the typical Doo-Wop cycle or traditional Folk structure.It took the bands debut album ‘Radiocontrolledrobot’ two years to reach Gold status and their follow up ‘A World Next Door To Yours’ achieved this in three months. Three months later the album was certified Platinum. Testimony to just how much the band has grown over the past few years.’ A World Next Door To Yours’ remained on the South African top 20 sales chart for more than twelve months and is currently South Africa’s biggest selling rock album of this decade. The album spurned seven radio singles, a very unique situation.
That convoluted journey into the music psyche of South Africa was one which required strong work ethic from the band and an even stronger stomach when it came to attracting the country's media: “We've always had the attitude to just do anything, because everything counts. We've done it all; from having kids throwing water bombs at us, to waxing each other's legs on national television and eating tripe in Soweto. And it really does all count; soon the whole country knows who you are. (Well not 'soon', rather 'eventually.')”.
But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s start from the beginning. Sitting in the studio working on the new album reflecting on their recent rollercoaster rise to fame, it has certainly been an interesting time. In the last eighteen months the band have played over 300 shows and sold over 100 000 records.
In 2005 things really took off with the release of ‘Radiocontrolledrobot’. The debut album was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 2006 South Africa Music Awards and won! From there on the opportunities and breakthroughs just kept on coming. One of bands highlights for the year was the closing slot at The Coke Fest, which saw the Parlotones play AFTER Metallica. How many indie bands can say Metallica opened for them?
The awards kept on coming and by the end of the year the bands hauntingly beautiful and poignant ballad ‘Beautiful’ was used in an Irish Fujifilm commercial which led to a European license deal with Universal Music.
2007 kicked off with a bang with the band performing 70 shows in the UK. In June of that year The Parlotones were selected to perform at The Live Earth concert, the largest festival ever staged. MSN named The Parlotones as on one 10 most memorable performances at Live Earth and likened seeing the Parlotones at this early stage of the career to seeing The Police in the late 70’s.
2008 was a great year with entering the European market. The Parlotones managed to tour Germany with the Wombats, had Razorlight over to perform with them in SA and performed at the St Gallons open air in Switzerland. UK super group, Starsailor came over to support the band on The Powerzone unplugged Festival tour. This resulted in a twelve city tour with Starsailor in the UK
Back at home, their single ‘Ill be there’ was nominated for 2 MTV Africa Awards and won 3 South African Video Awards and they were chosen as the Face of the HD launch in SA.
2009 was off to a great start with critically acclaimed performances at Midem, Canadian Music Week and SXSW. The band was selected to perform at Midem, where they performed with Blue October. A show that has resulted in talks of a tour with Blue October in the USA
The Parlotones has been very well received in the USA with an independent release managing to crack the CMJ top 200 chart in the USA. ‘Overexposed’ won awards locally and in the USA including 2 awards in The International Song Contest (ISC) which boasts heavyweight judges such as Robert Smith, Tom Waits and Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20)
Genre: Melodic indie rock Members : Kahn Morbee (lead vocals), Glenn Hodgson (Guitar and vocals), Paul Hodgson
(bass) and Neil Pauw (drums)
AWARDS/NOMINATIONS
-South African Music Awards 2006 - Best Rock Album -
You Awards 2007 - Best Band -FHM Readers Choice 2007 -MK Awards 2007 - Best Video
-Resfest 2007 Best Video (nomination) -People’s Choice Awards 2008
- Best Music Act -Leisure Options, Best of Joburg, Readers Choice Awards- Best Band 2008 and 2009
-Loerie Kraft Award 2008 (first time a music video has won at the Loeries)
-MTV Africa 2008 – Best Group nomination
-MTV Africa 2008 – Best Alternative nomination
-MK Awards 2009 – Best Video -MK Awards 2009 – Best Animation
-MK Awards 2009 – Best Serenade
-SAMA Awards 2009 –MTN Record of the year (nomination) -SAMA Awards 2009 – Best Global Chart DVD (nomination) -SAMA Awards 2009 – Best Music Video Of The Year -International Songwriting Competition (ISC) 2008 Music Video (first place)
-International Songwriting Competition (ISC) 2008 Performance (second place)
- MK Awards 2010 – “Push Me To The Floor”: Best Video - MK Awards 2010 – “Overexposed” Best Special Effects - International Songwriting Competition (ISC) 2009 * Life Design: Best Rock (nomination) * Life Design: Best Video (nomination) * Push Me To The Floor: Best Video (2nd place)
-SAMA Awards 2010 – “Push Me To The Floor”: Best Music Video Of The Year
-SAMA Awards 2010 – “Stardust Galaxies”: Best Rock Album English
-You Awards 2010 - Best Band
-MTV Mama Awards 2010: Best Video (nomination) “Life Design”
-Leisure Options, Best of Joburg, Readers Choice Awards- Best Band 2010 (winner 3rd year in a row)
-MK Awards 2011: Best Video - Stars fall down (nomination) -MK Awards 2011: Best International breakthrough - Life Design (nomination)
-MK Awards 2011: Best animation - Stars fall down (nomination)
-SAMA Awards 2011 – Best Global Chart DVD
-SAMA Awards 2011 – Best Music Video Of The Year - Life Design (nomination) -
SAMA Awards 2011 – Winner Best Music Video Of The Year - Stars fall down
SAMA Awards 2011 - Best Rock Album (Live)(nomination)
-You Awards 2011 - Best Band
Instrumentation
Kahn Morbee (vocals, guitar), Glenn Hodgson (bass, piano, backing vocals), Paul Hodgson (guitar) and Neil Pauw (Drums)
Discography
Radiocontrolledrobot
Radiocontrolledrobit spawned 8 radio singles of which 5 went top 20 and the album achieved gold status in South Africa.
A World Next Door to yours has achioeved Multi platinum status and is the bigggest selling rock album in SA of 2008.
2009 Stardust Galaxies has reached multiplatinum status and has been released in Africa, Europe, UK and USA.
Links
Press
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From spinal tap to snoop dog, 10 shows that will make Live Earth a day to remember
[+ Show ]
5. The Parlotones: Have you ever wanted to say that you saw a world-famous band play before they wer...
Setlist
Radiocontrolledrobot
Giant Mistake
Louder than bombs
Dragonflies and astronauts
Beautiful
Overexposed
Rock paper scissors
Bird in flight
Here comes the man
I'm Only Human
