Chemical Brothers

British-based, Grammy winning electronic band Chemical Brothers is one of the leading figures in the dance genre. The band consists of Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands, which are sometimes referred to as Chemical Ed and Chemical Tom respectively.

Simons was born in Herne Hill, South London on June 9, 1970, while Tom Rowlands was born January 11, 1971 in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. Both displayed an interest and talent for music early on. Simons was particularly taken with hip hop and groove, while Rowlands was enamored with the bagpipes and Public Enemy.

But before Chemical Brothers ever came into existence, Rowlands formed the ultimately unsuccessful band Ariel. When it fell apart, Rowlands and Simons began DJing together at the club Naked Under Leather.

The duo proved a successful combination, and they eventually formed a band by the name The Dust Brothers. But as their popularity continually grew, The Beastie Boys producers who held the rights to that name threatened legal action. By 1995, Simons and Rowlands deemed it wise to officially change the band name.

They began mixing and producing various singles, which they featured at the influential nightclub Heavenly Sunday Social. As resident DJs, they had access to some of the up and coming figures in music such as Noel Gallagher of Oasis. A frequent visitor, he asked the twosome to remix his new song. Although he ultimately changed his mind, the track went on to become the hugely successful “Wonderwall.”

1995 saw the release of their first album entitled Exit Planet Dust. Entering the charts at number nine, the album featured Beth Orton on vocals. Their first number one hit came not long after with “Setting Sun,” which featured Gallagher.

In 1997, they released “Block Rockin’ Beats,” which finally put them on the international music map. Not only was this a number one hit for the band, but it also won them a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

Their following albums were Dig Your Own Hole, Surrender, and Come With Us, which featured Richard Ashcroft of The Verve. After over a decade together, Simons and Rowlands went back to the studio for a best of album while also working on a Kylie Minogue remix of “Slow.”

Not showing any signs of slowing down, Push the Button hit the shelves in 2004. The album featured emerging rap star Q Tip, and it went on to win a Grammy. Their latest album, We Are the Night, had its release date on July 2, 2007.

The band has been compared to the likes of Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and The Prodigy, all of which are considered hugely influential figures in the electronic genre. They are particularly renowned for their live acts, which often fill entire stadiums, project psychedelic images, and incorporate lasers and strobes.

Although the band never truly left the music scene, their press did diminish greatly after they failed to produce another international hit such as “Block Rockin’ Beats.” They were recently thrust back into the limelight, however, thanks to the relationship between Simons and fellow musician Lily Allen. Allen, who recently announced her pregnancy, is due to have the child in 2008.