While the two founders, Molko and Olsdal, both attended the American International School of Luxembourg at the same time, they never actually got to know each other there. The way they met was a chance encounter at a London subway station in 1994. Olsdal spotted Molko with his instrument, on his way from his guitar lesson and suggested they play a gig together. After their show, they decided to form a band. After several early names, they ended up sticking with “Placebo”, a Latin phrase meaning “I shall please” also meaning medicine that does not actually heal. They were soon joined by Robert Schultzberg on the drums, Olsdal’s fellow Swede whom he’d known from high school.
The next year, in 1995, they put out their first single titled “Bruise Pristine”, a split single with another song also on the track by another band named “Soup” (who never went on to achieve anything big, not to be confused with the Norwegian rock band by the same name). In 1996, Placebo was signed by Caroline Records. Their self-titled debut album, "Placebo", came out the same year, in June 1996. It became quite a hit, reaching the #5 spot on the OCC chart in the band’s home country of the UK; while also charting in France and Greece. They also got to go on their first international Placebo concert tour across Europe, performing in France, Italy, Switzerland, and more.
After the debut album’s release, drummer Schultzberg left due to tensions within the band, and got replaced by Steve Hewitt. Soon after, their 1997 single “Nancy Boy” became a massive hit in the UK.
Since then, they have put out 7 more studio albums, thus they have 8 in total. The best selling one among them is “Without You I’m Nothing” from October 1998, which ended up selling over 1 million copies worldwide. Meanwhile, the latest new Placebo album came out in March 2022, with the title “Never Let Me Go”.
The biggest hits in the Placebo setlist to date are “Every You Every Me” (1998), “The Bitter End” (2003), “Where Is My Mind” (also 2003), and “Song to Say Goodbye” (2006). The band’s current line-up consists of the two founders, vocalist-guitarist Molko and bassist-guitarist Olsdal. They also a long-lasting feud with the American rap rock band Limp Bizkit, stemming from a backstage fight at a 1998 Placebo concert show at the Irving Plaza in New York City, New York.
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