Placebo returns to Petersburg

Local fans of Placebo will have the chance to see the British alternative rock band perform in the city this week as part of its European Tour.

By Tatyana Sochiva

The St. Petersburg Times

Published: September 12, 2012 (Issue # 1726)

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Placebo is due to perform at Yubileiny stadium this Sunday.

The upcoming performance will be Placebo’s third visit to St. Petersburg. The last one was in 2010 to support its sixth studio album, “Battle for the Sun.” This time, the cult band has no new release, but is expected to play classic hits and probably a new single, “B3,” from its seventh album, which is expected to be released next spring.

“Our last album, ‘Battle for the Sun’ was loud stadium rock, so most likely we’ll try to get away from that a little,” frontman Brian Molko was quoted by Rolling Stone as saying in an interview with the magazine. “Our new record will be eclectic, interesting and with a couple of surprises.

Placebo’s musical style has evolved rapidly since the band was founded in 1994. Its current lineup consists of singer-guitarist Molko, bass guitarist Stefan Olsdal and drummer Steve Forrest, who replaced Robert Schultzberg in 2008. Having started out as a punk-pop band, the musicians have since leaned toward rock, though each new album has seen its own musical experiments. One thing that has not changed over the years is Molko’s androgynous appearance and distinctive vocals.

International recognition came to Placebo in 1998 with the group’s second album “Without You, I’m Nothing.” The success of it allowed the band to start global tours, including with music legends such as David Bowie and Marilyn Manson. Its third studio album “Black Market Music” (2002) sold more than a million copies. Since then, the group has released three more successful albums: “Sleeping with Ghosts” (2003), “Meds” (2006), which caused the greatest stir, and “Battle for the Sun” (2009), its first album with the new drummer. In 2009, Placebo won the MTV Music Europe Award in the “Best Alternative” category.

From St. Petersburg, Placebo will go on to perform in Moscow, Kiev and Minsk, before continuing to work on material for its upcoming new studio album.

Placebo will perform at 7 p.m. on Sept. 16 at the Yubileiny Sports Stadium, 18 Prospekt Dobrolyubova.

M. Sportivnaya. Tel. 498 6033.