Phoenix

Artist Image: Phoenix
Attribution
Image Credit: Raph_PH (PhoenixAllyPal300917-8), CC BY 2.0

Biography

The French group Phoenix draw elements from their eclectic '80s upbringing to arrive at a satisfying synthesis of rock and synthesizers. Vocalist Thomas Mars, bassist Deck d'Arcy, and guitarist Christian Mazzalai were a garage band based out of Mars' house in the suburbs of Paris. Mazzalai's older brother Branco joined the band on guitar when his band Darlin' disbanded in 1995. The group got its touring start on the French bar circuit doing Hank Williams and Prince covers to drunken audiences. Two years later the band took on the name Phoenix and pressed 500 copies of a single on its own label, Ghettoblaster. The A-side was a punk rock song and the other a chugging Krautrocker, hinting at their eclectic tastes. Shortly after, they were signed to the Paris-based Source Records. Phoenix became well acquainted with labelmates Air when they acted as their backing band on several U.K. TV appearances. The result of the electronic exposure was a single called "Heatwave," which was very similar in approach to '70s disco. United, the group's debut album, appeared in 2000 on Astralwerks and was recorded over two months. The album featured guest appearances from friends and family, including Thomas Bangalter (Daft Punk), Philippe Zdar (Cassius), and d'Arcy's mother's choral society on the track "Funky Squaredance." From that point, they issued Alphabetical (2004), It's Never Been Like That (2006), and their mainstream breakthrough, the critically adored Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (2009). Part of the extended break between the third and fourth albums was due to Mars becoming a father (with his partner, director Sofia Coppola).

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1999
Number of Albums 27
Record Label
Website www.wearephoenix.com
Wikipedia Phoenix on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

What are the names of the three members of Phoenix?

Thomas Mars, Deck d'Arcy and Christian Mazzalai

...links Biography Edit Phoenix was founded in 1995 by Thomas Mars, Deck d'Arcy and Christian Mazzalai . The trio knew each other from the elementary scho...
How many albums has Phoenix released?

five

..., and also has played for several times in the Air. Phoenix has released five albums to date: United, Alphabetical, it's Never Been Like That, Wolfgan...
When was Edit Phoenix founded?

1995

...lbums 5.2 Singles 6 external links Biography Edit Phoenix was founded in 1995 by Thomas Mars, Deck d'Arcy and Christian Mazzalai. The trio knew each o...
What was Mazzalai's brother Branco known as?

Laurent Branco witz

...t a fourth band member: Mazzalai's brother Branco (later known as Laurent Branco witz ) joined the group as a guitarist. Together they started playing ...
What was the name of the record label that Phoenix started?

ghetto Blaster

...Phoenix as band members. 2 the band started their own record label, ghetto Blaster , which they in 1997 their first single, Party TimeCity Lights relea...
In what year did Phoenix release their first single Party TimeCity Lights?

1997

...2 the band started their own record label, ghetto Blaster, which they in 1997 their first single, Party TimeCity Lights released. 1 2 a short time lat...
When did the band sign their first record?

Source Records

... Party TimeCity Lights released. 1 2 a short time later, the band signed their first record deal with Source Records , which was also connected to Air....
What was the name of the company that Source Records was connected to?

Air

... Party TimeCity Lights released. 1 2 a short time later, the band signed their first record deal with Source Records, which was also connected to Air ....
Who is the lead vocalist of Phoenix?

Thomas Mars

...n). Phoenix is a French indie pop band from Versailles, consisting of Thomas Mars (lead vocals), Deck d'Arcy (basskeyboardsbacking vocals), Christian ...
What is Deck d'Arcy's job?

basskeyboardsbacking vocals

...ailles, consisting of Thomas Mars (lead vocals), Deck d'Arcy ( basskeyboardsbacking vocals ), Christian Mazzalai (guitarbacking vocals) and Laurent Bran...
Who sings basskeyboardsbacking vocals?

Deck d'Arcy

...ie pop band from Versailles, consisting of Thomas Mars (lead vocals), Deck d'Arcy (basskeyboardsbacking vocals), Christian Mazzalai (guitarbacking voc...
Which two albums have been critically acclaimed?

United and Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

...e they have released such critically acclaimed records as United and Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix , they are best known for their singles If I Ever Feel Be...
Who was Mazzalai's older brother?

Laurent Brancowitz

...tion and early years 1.2 United, Alphabetical, and Live! In 1995, Laurent Brancowitz , Mazzalai's older brother, permanently joined the band on guitar ...
How many copies of a single did Phoenix release on their own label?

500

... Daft Punk. Two years later the band took on the name Phoenix and pressed 500 copies of a single on their own label, Ghettoblaster. Phoenix quickly be...
When did Phoenix begin releasing singles?

1999

...nces. Thirty Days Ago (20002004) edit Phoenix began releasing singles in 1999 , the first of these being Heatwave and Party Time, the latter of which w...
When was the single Too Young released?

22 May 2000

...pear on their debut album, United. The single Too Young was released on 22 May 2000 , along with remixes of the track by Zoot Woman and Le Knight Club....
What was the name of Phoenix's first album in 2000?

United

...In 2000, the group released their first album, United , which contained the European minor hit single If I Ever Feel Better. Alphabetical was Phoenix's...
When did Phoenix release their fourth album?

May 2009

...broke the top 40 in their native France. Exactly three years later, in May 2009 , Phoenix issued its fourth effort, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which pro...
What was the name of the band's first album that broke the top 40 in France?

It's Never Been Like That

...early four years. The disc charted on the Scandinavian top 10. It's Never Been Like That followed in May 2006, this was the band's first album that br...
What was their most commercially successful album?

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

...ee years later, in May 2009, Phoenix issued its fourth effort, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix , which proved to be their most commercially successful album, ...
Where did Lisztomania rank on The Rock Songs list?

5

...another big hit, Lisztomania, which rose to 4 on The Alternative Songs and 5 on The Rock Songs charts. The final single, Lasso, became the band's thir...
What was the name of the American hit that climbed to 4 on The Alternative Songs?

Lisztomania

...sted at 3 on The Rock Songs list and was followed by another big hit, Lisztomania , which rose to 4 on The Alternative Songs and 5 on The Rock Songs ch...
What was the name of the final single from the band's third Alternative Songs top 40 hit?

Lasso

... The Alternative Songs and 5 on The Rock Songs charts. The final single, Lasso , became the band's third Alternative Songs top 40 hit and eventually Wo...
In what year did the French Electro altRock quartet release their fifth album?

2013

... Phoenix was awarded a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album. In April 2013 the French Electro altRock quartet released their fifth album, Bankrupt!...
When did Phoenix release their debut album United?

2000

...e Stars single. Soon after, Phoenix released their debut album United in 2000 . The name Phoenix was officially chosen in 1996 when Laurent Brancowitz ...
When was the name Phoenix officially chosen?

1996

...ir debut album United in 2000. The name Phoenix was officially chosen in 1996 when Laurent Brancowitz permanently joined Pheonix after his other band ...
Where are Phoenix based?

Paris, France

...uel de HomemChristo) went on to form Daft Punk. Phoenix are based in Paris, France and their music has been featured in such films as Shallow Hal and ...
When did Phoenix appear in Marie Antoinette?

2006

...s been featured in such films as Shallow Hal and Lost In Translation. In 2006 the band themselves appeared Marie Antoinette, which like Lost In Transl...
Who directed Marie Antoinette?

Sofia Coppola

...ed Marie Antoinette, which like Lost In Translation, was directed by Sofia Coppola , Thomas Mars' partner. The band's fourth album, Wolfgang Amadeus Ph...
Who was a guest appearance on the album United?

Thomas Bangalter

...t album United appeared in 2000, featuring a guest appearance from Thomas Bangalter (Daft Punk) and production work by Philippe Zdar (Cassius). The gr...
Who produced Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix?

Philippe Zdar

... appearance from Thomas Bangalter (Daft Punk) and production work by Philippe Zdar (Cassius). The group's mainstream breakthrough came with 2009's Wol...
In what year did Phoenix publish a memoir called Liberté, Égalité, Phoenix!?

2019

...ztomania on television, advertisements, and the video game Rock Band. In 2019 , Phoenix even published a memoir, Liberté, Égalité, Phoenix!. Phoenix gr...
Electronic exposure was a single called what?

Heatwave

... on several U.K. TV appearances. The result of the electronic exposure was a single called Heatwave , which was very similar in approach to '70s disco....
What was the name of the band's first three albums?

United (2000), Alphabetical (2003), and It's Never Been Like That (2006),

...Their first three albums, United (2000), Alphabetical (2003), and It's Never Been Like That (2006), were released through Source, Virgin Records, and ...
What was the title of the album's lead single?

1901

...usic. It was certified gold in Australia, Canada, and the United States. 1901 , the album's lead single, was certified platinum in the US by the RIAA a...
What was the name of the album released by the band in 2013?

Bankrupt!

...certified gold. After signing with Atlantic Records, the band released Bankrupt! (2013), which peaked at number three in the band's home country of Fr...
Where did Lisztomania peak on the Ultratip chart?

16

... Lisztomania did not enter the Wallonia Ultratop 50, but peaked at number 16 on the Ultratip chart. Lisztomania did not enter the Swiss Singles chart,...
Which chart is an extension of the Billboard Hot 100?

Bubbling Under Hot 100

...chart on the Billboard Hot 100 but did peak at number 11 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, which is an extension of the Billboard Hot 100. Fences d...