Phoenix (French band)

History

Phoenix began in the 1990s when school friends Thomas Mars, Deck d'Arcy, and Chris Mazzalai played together as a garage band at Mars's house in Versailles. In 1995, Laurent Brancowitz, Mazzalai's older brother, joined permanently after the end of Darlin', a short-lived band he had formed with Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, who later formed Daft Punk. Two years later the band adopted the name Phoenix and pressed 500 copies of a single on their own label, Ghettoblaster, before signing to Paris-based Source Records. They became acquainted with labelmates Air by acting as their backing band on several UK TV appearances.

United, Alphabetical, and Live! Thirty Days Ago (2000–2004)

Phoenix released their first singles in 1999, including "Heatwave" and "Party Time", the latter appearing on their debut album, United. The single "Too Young" was released on 22 May 2000, with remixes by Zoot Woman and Le Knight Club, and became their first charting single, reaching No. 97 in France and No. 148 in the UK. United was released on 12 June 2000, featuring the singles "Party Time" and "Too Young", with "If I Ever Feel Better" announced as the third single on 22 January 2001, charting at No. 12 in France and No. 4 in Italy. The album received positive reviews but did not achieve mainstream success. "Too Young" appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Lost in Translation, directed by Mars's future wife Sofia Coppola, and in Shallow Hal.

Their second album, Alphabetical, was released on 22 March 2004, reaching more mainstream success with both singles appearing on alternative rock airplay charts. Fashion designer Hedi Slimane commissioned a special mix of their song "Victim of the Crime" from Alphabetical for a Dior Homme runway show. Following the album, the band toured three continents, playing 150 dates, and released a live album, Live! Thirty Days Ago, thirty days after the tour ended.