Feeder

Rock duo who overcame tragedy

Born:

1995

Place of Birth:

Newport

Famous For:

Rock duo who overcame tragedy

Biography:

The support of fans has kept Grant Nicholas and Taka Hirose going after the suicide of fellow founding member Jon Lee.

Nicholas and Lee first joined forces in Newport in the early 90s in short-lived grunge band Temper Temper.

Tokyo-born Hirose joined them after they moved to London in 1995 - initially known as Reel before renaming themselves Feeder.

They paid their dues supporting bands like Terrorvision and Reef before winning chart success with singles Crash and High.

Feeder's breakthrough came in early 2001 when Buck Rogers hit the Top 5, followed by their third album Echo Park.

Support slots with the Manics and Stereophonics followed, but tragedy struck in January 2002 when Lee was found dead at his home in Miami.

Depression caused by marital problems was thought to be the cause of his suicide, and a thousand mourners attended his funeral at St Mary's Church in Newport.

But Nicholas and Hirose were persuaded to carry on as Feeder by Lee's family and fans of the band.

See BBC Wales Music for the latest about Feeder

Moment of Glory:

A Top 5 hit in 2001 with Buck Rogers

your comments

Andy in Caerphilly
Keep on gigging boyz...and lets have more gigs in Cardiff plz.

Pete from Oakdale
Hey - Feeder are one hell of a band. They totally rock - I have all their albums. Rock on, you communist capitalists!!!

Mike, Gosport
feeder r the best band in the world

Zoe, Leicseter
I'm from Newport and it makes me proud to know thses guys are too. (you'd understand too if you grew up in the port) It was so sad when Jon died, I remember having a drink in the old Weatherspoons with one of his relatives the day of his funeral. It's weird looking back thinking what if they had spit up?! They have come so far, going from great to amazing.I love the music they create and can't wait to see the rescheduled show in Birmingham next month with my best wench Paul Bates. Woop! High five to feeder

Rhys Holmes, Newport
Awesome band, my personal favorite. Seen them live so many times: recommend them to every one. Can't wait fot the shows in March and the new material. Keep at it guys.

London
THEY FREAKING ROCK :p

salimah jackson from pencoed!
feeder rok wat more can i say!!! ppl rok on!!!

Laura Allan
feeder rock and rant is sooooo fit! xxx

Sandra Phillips from Llandudno Junction
I discovered Feeder when I saw their "Just in a day" video on one of the music channels on Sky and loved it but never knew they were from Wales until I did a search after the Tsunami concert. Great music to listen to when I walk home from work.

Nawwa Chilombo
Feeder is awesome!

Lisa Llewellyn-Williams, Deri
I have seen Feeder so many times and they always put on a superb performance, one of the best being at Blackwood Miners Institute, polythene one of their best records.

Chiara Rossetti from Bologna Italy
In Italy, Feeder aren't so popular like in the UK! But for me Feeder are the best band in the world! I love them!

Mike, Chepstow
I saw Feeder recently at the tsunami gig in Cardiff - they were amazing. Probally the best band I have ever seen live

Craig Cwmbran
Feeder are one of the best bands around today and did tremendously well to come back through tradegy and still make great records.

Shez in Cwmbran
Absolutely fantastic. I've only seen them once when they supported Stereophonics last Xmas, and they were amazing live - people were going crazy for the guys. Grant is rather sexy too.

Ambrose Neville, Cardiff
As a singer and songwriter Grant Nicholas has inspired me enormously over the years.

Hannah from Cwmbran
I absolutely love the band Feeder... I love all of their songs, especially Buck Rogers! I am sooo pleased they are Welsh and from Newport...which is even better coz thats near me! Feeder have come up with some excellent tunes!

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