- UK Indie rock band formed in 2007, from London England. Members are Florence Welch (lead vocals, percussion), Isabella Summers (backing vocals, keyboards), Robert Ackroyd (guitar), Chris Hayden (backing vocals, drums, acoustic guitar), Mark Saunders (bass guitar, backing vocals), Tom Monger (harp, xylophone), and Rusty Bradshaw (keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals).
- As a teenager, Florence Welch performed with Isabella Summers in a band called Florence Robot/Isa Machine. The name morphed into Florence + the Machine. Welch considered several genres, including country and folk music, before finding an indie rock sound that she wanted to develop. Welch also was a member of a band named Ashok, which released an album in 2007.
- Florence + the Machine released their debut album, Lungs, in 2009. It established the band as an International success. The album peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200 chart, and at #1 in the UK. Six singles were released – all charted in the UK, with You’ve Got the Love peaking at #5. In the U.S., Dog Days are Over peaked at #21. As the band developed a following, sales steadily grew, such that the album ultimately sold over 1 million copies in the U.S. and 3 million worldwide.
- The song Cosmic Love from the Lungs album has been featured in the TV shows Grey’s Anatomy, The Vampire Diaries, V and Nikita.
- Ceremonials was their second album, released in 2011. It peaked at #1 in the UK, and at #6 in the U.S., ultimately selling over 1 million copies. Again, it performed well in the European market, with a Calvin Harris remix version of the single Spectrum (Say My Name) peaking at #1 in the UK. The album received 2 Grammy nominations.
- Their most recent album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, was released in 2015. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and it received 5 Grammy nominations. The song What Kind of Man received 2 Grammy nominations, and peaked at #8 on the Alternative Songs chart.
- Their cover of the classic Ben E. King song Stand By Me was released in 2016, as the main theme song to the video game Final Fantasy XV. It peaked at #15 on the Hot Rock Single chart.
- Florence + the Machine has not been embraced in the U.S. like they have in Europe. If you are looking for music that is a diversion from the over-produced pop sound that is so prevalent today, I recommend that you give this band a listen. They are known for their dramatic and eccentric production, and Welch’s voice is powerful. You’ll hear them on public radio all the time. Here is their song What Kind of Man, performed on Live From Austin City Limits.