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Hard-Fi are an English Indie rock band from Staines, Surrey - a suburban location that has significantly influenced their musical style and lyrics.

History

The band were signed to newly formed independent label, Necessary Records, owned by Warren Clarke. Originally recorded as a nine track mini-album in a disused mini cab office; it was then mixed in a variety of unusual acoustic environments - in bedrooms, in pubs, and in their producer, Wolsey White's, BMW. 1000 copies of this record were pressed with only 500 going on public sale. It quickly sold, receiving critical acclaim and radio play.

The band were then licensed to the Atlantic Records label (a major), where they were given the chance to re-record the album. The band went back to the cab office to maintain their unique sound.

Mainstream success

Their debut album's launch party was scheduled to be July 7 2005 at Cheekees night club in Staines (where their top ten single "Tied Up Too Tight" was filmed), however this was cancelled due to the ill health of Archer's mother. Her death resulted in the band pulling out of the Glastonbury festival. The launch party was rescheduled for July 13 2005 and the venue changed to Ladbroke Grove, London.

Hard-Fi gained increased prominence in the UK when Stars of CCTV was nominated for the 2005 Mercury Music Prize. [1] It split the vote with Antony and the Johnsons who received the final casting vote.

Hard-Fi supported Green Day at their two massive gigs at Milton Keynes Bowl, England.

After a successful marketing campaign by Atlantic, the Stars of CCTV album re-entered the official UK album chart at No.4 on January 1 2006. Two places higher than it originally went in on the week of its release, the album climbed from No.33. Stars of CCTV finally climbed to No.1 on January 22 2006. The band's re-release of Cash Machine entered the official Top 40 singles chart at No.14 on January 1. A week later the band toasted national recognition as they received two Brit award nominations.

Hard-Fi's first full length tour of 2006 sold out in just 15 minutes calling for more dates to be added. They played London's Brixton Academy from May 14 to May 18, making them one of the few bands to play five consecutive nights there. The other artists to do so were The Clash, Bob Dylan, Massive Attack and The Prodigy. However, they were the only band to do it off the back of their debut album.

They were also joined on stage by Paul Weller to perform Town Called Malice and Stars of CCTV. Mick Jones, formerly of the band The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite also appeared with them doing E=MC² (song). He had previously helped produce tracks by Richard Archer's prior band, Contempo.

They also have their own video podcast, which is known as 'Hard-Fi: Rockin' the City', that can be downloaded from their official website. In the first episode the bandmates discuss how they formed, and the rise of their successful album Stars of CCTV. They also discuss becoming increasingly more recognised, playing huge gigs with Green Day at the Milton Keynes Bowl, their home-town of Staines, and how it has influenced their music style. This talk is coupled with clips of some of Hard-Fi's music videos such as "Hard to Beat", "Cash Machine", "Tied Up Too Tight" and "Living for the Weekend". Eleven episodes have been released, so far, on iTunes. They are also available to view on their Myspace and their channel on Youtube.

Current recording sessions

Hard-Fi have built their own studio for the follow up to 2005's massive-selling debut album 'Stars of CCTV'.Having searched fruitlessly for a space, the Staines four-piece have retreated to their hometown for the record, which frontman Richard Archer describes as "darker" and "more expansive".

The new single, Suburban Knights, is due to be released on 20 August. The new single had its first play on 18 June 2007 at 19.20 (BST) on Radio 1. The new album Once Upon A Time In The West is scheduled for release on 3 September 2007. Other tracks stated to appear on the album include Can't Get Along', 'We Need Love', 'I Close My Eyes', 'Help Me Please and I Shall Overcome.

Hard-Fi played a packed out 'secret' headlining slot on the Leftfield Stage on 23 June 2007 at Glastonbury. Although they are currently in the studio mixing the record the crowd got to hear We Need Love, Can't Get Along and forthcoming single Suburban Knights before anyone else. The band also included a host of favourites from their debut album Stars Of CCTV.

Members

Richard Archer is the group's frontman as the lead singer and principal songwriter. He is a music graduate from Kingston University. The influence of Staines is often evident in his lyrics.

Ross Phillips contributes guitar and backing vocals. He worked in a local hi-fi shop, in Staines where Archer would come to play his demos on the latest systems. After telling Archer his music was rubbish, Phillips was recruited to play lead guitar for the group.

Kai Stephens plays bass and also sings backing vocals. He initially could not travel to the USA due to past misdemeanors. He has finally received his US visa.

Steven Kemp plays drums. Originally from Lancashire but moved down in his late teens due to a course and never left.

Wolsey White is the band's producer. He is also from Staines. Was previously in a band called Supermodel.

Wrongtom is the in-house remixer and tour DJ.

Discography

(with UK chart positions)

Albums

Album Art	Title	Release Date	UK Chart Position	Certification	Country
File:Stars of CCTV.jpg	Stars of CCTV	4 July 2005	1	2x Platinum - Platinum -	United Kingdom Ireland
File:Hard-fi in operation.jpg	In Operation	8 May 2006	62
	Once Upon a Time in the West	3 September 2007

Singles

Title	B-sides	UK Singles Chart	UK Download Chart	US Modern Rock	Album
"Cash Machine" EP (2004)	Tied Up Too Tight, Sick of It All, Seven Nation Army	16	-	-	Stars of CCTV
"Cash Machine" (original release) (2005)	Dub Machine	-	-	-
"Tied Up Too Tight" (2005)	Middle Eastern Holiday	#15	-	-
"Hard to Beat" (2005)	Tied Up Too Tight (Live), Stronger	#9	#9	#34
"Living for the Weekend" (2005)	Unnecessary Trouble (Live), Peaches (Radio 1 Live Version), Hard to Beat (Axwell Mix), Living For The Weekend (Wolsey White Dub)	#15	#27	-
"Cash Machine" (2006)	Cash Machine (Acoustic), Cash Machine (Roots Manuva Dub Remix)	#14	#18	#15
"Better do Better" (2006)	Polish Love Song, Better Do Better (Wrongtom Wild Inna 81 Version)	#14	-	-
"Suburban Knights" (20. August 2007)		-	-	-	Once Upon A Time In The West

External links

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 Hard-Fi gained increased prominence in the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|UK]] when ''Stars of CCTV'' was nominated for the 2005 [[Mercury Music Prize]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4207346.stm] It split the vote with [[Antony and the Johnsons]] who received the final casting vote.
-Hard-Fi supported [[Green Day]] at their two massive gigs at [[Milton Keynes Bowl]], [[England]]. However, the bands' appearence at Milton Keynes was more notorious for an incident with unpredictable [[Inspiral Carpets]] keyboardist Clint Boon. Richard Archer apparently queue jumped ahead of Boon in the VIP beer tent, and Boon responded by tipping beer over Archer, then chasing him from the tent wieldng a giant cardboard "G" from the Green Day sign.
+Hard-Fi supported [[Green Day]] at their two massive gigs at [[Milton Keynes Bowl]], [[England]].
 After a successful marketing campaign by Atlantic, the ''Stars of CCTV'' album re-entered the official UK album chart at No.4 on [[January 1]] [[2006]]. Two places higher than it originally went in on the week of its release, the album climbed from No.33. ''Stars of CCTV'' finally climbed to No.1 on [[January 22]] [[2006]]. The band's re-release of Cash Machine entered the official Top 40 singles chart at No.14 on [[January 1]]. A week later the band toasted national recognition as they received two Brit award nominations.