Feeder is a Welsh-Japanese rock band formed in Newport, South Wales in 1994. They have released 12 studio albums, 12 compilations, four EPs, and 43 singles, spending a combined total of 185 weeks on the singles and albums charts as of 2024, while accumulating 25 top 75 singles between 1997 and 2012. At the peak of their commercial success, Feeder won two Kerrang! Awards in 2001 and 2003; they were inducted into their Hall of Fame in August 2019.
Feeder are one of the prominent acts of the 'Cool Cymru' movement in Wales in the 1990s. They are also one of the Britpop-era bands to have continued success long after their peak. Their 2024 album Black/Red debuted at number eight, three decades after the group formed, and 25 years after their first top 10 album Yesterday Went Too Soon.
The band was formed in 1994, although an earlier incarnation under the name of "Reel" was formed in 1992 by vocalist and guitarist Grant Nicholas, drummer Jon Lee and bassist Simon Blight, three of the four members of Raindancer, after the departure of that band's other member, guitarist John Canham. However, Blight left Reel later in 1992, and the band played with many session bassists before hiring Taka Hirose in 1994 and re-establishing themselves as Feeder; that year, the band signed with The Echo Label.
Feeder garnered media attention in 2001 for their third album, Echo Park, and its lead single, "Buck Rogers", which later became a UK top five single. Jon Lee died by suicide at his Miami home in January 2002, after which the remaining members began to record and play with former Skunk Anansie drummer Mark Richardson. They released their fourth album, Comfort in Sound, later that year; it touched on themes such as loss and coming to terms with death, while also exploring themes of positivity. Richardson was ultimately made an official member, remaining so until May 2009 when he returned to a reformed Skunk Anansie. Feeder have since worked with a roster of drummers live and in the studio, including Tim Trotter, Karl Brazil and former Elviss drummer Geoff Holroyde.
Between 2010 and 2017, the band charted four more top 20 albums, with the latest of these being 2017's The Best of Feeder their second consecutive top 10 album. In 2019, the band signed a deal with Believe UK to release their tenth studio album, Tallulah.
Also Known As: Reel, Renegades
Members:
Grant Nicholas - lead vocals, lead guitar, piano (1994-present)
Taka Hirose - bass guitar, backing vocals (1995-present)
Former members:
Jon Lee - drums, percussion (1994-2002; died 2002)
Mark Richardson - drums, percussion (2002-2009)
Genre(s):
Britpop,
alternative rock,
indie rock,
post-Britpop,
post-grunge
Active From: 1994-present