The Parlotones

The Parlotones is a South African indie rock band from Johannesburg. Formed in 1998, the group consists of Kahn Morbee (vocals and rhythm guitar), Paul Hodgson (lead guitar), Glenn Hodgson (bass guitar, keyboards and backing vocals), and Neil Pauw (drums and percussion).[1] The Parlotones’ early sound was rooted in Brit-rock, but eventually grew to incorporate a wider spectrum of musical genres. The lyrics focus on personal themes, of love and everyday life, paired with catchy melodies that engage their audience.

The Parlotones
The Parlotones performing in 2011
Background information
OriginJohannesburg, South Africa
Genres
Years active1998–present
Labels
Websitetheparlotones.co.za
Members
  • Kahn Morbee
  • Neil Pauw
  • Glenn Hodgson
  • Paul Hodgson

Within four years, the band signed with Sovereign Entertainment and released their debut album Episoda. The Parlotones have released 8 studio albums and are one of South Africa’s best-selling music artists of all time, enjoying multi-platinum success.[2] They have won 9 South African Music Awards, and, in 2009, were the first South African band to headline at the Coca-Cola Dome.[3] With their success, the band have championed many philanthropic causes, including The Little Wing Music Foundation, the Anene Booysen Foundation, and the Africa-Unite campaign.

History

Formation and early years (1998-2002)

The band formed in Johannesburg in the summer of 1998. Kahn Morbee failed to start a band in high school, explaining that "no one ever gave me a chance", so he decided to enrol at the University of Johannesburg. Shortly after, he was introduced to Neil Pauw, who had attended the same high school in Roodepoort. On hearing Morbee’s original songs, Neil realised they shared a music vision and they decided to start a band.[3] At university Kahn met Paul Hodgson, after they were removed from the campus library for playing guitar inside. The next day Kahn asked Paul to join the band. At the time, Paul's younger brother, Glen Hodgson was still in high school, but asked him to join as a bassist.[1] Their early sound was influenced by The Smiths, The Cure, and R.E.M., but their capability was described by Kahn as "punkish and squeaky", and settled on the punk-influenced band name "Crayon".[4]

In July 2002, well-known underground musician, John Boyd joined the band, adding synth elements and doing the band’s on-stage engineer during live shows.[1] Around the same time, the band met Raphael Domalik and signed the band to his record label, Sovereign Entertainment. This prompted the band to change their name to something less "immature", as Kahn described it. They decided on The Parlotones, as a variation of Parlophone Records. A record label that had signed their biggest influences Radiohead, who expanded their early influence to include Travis and Jeff Buckley.[5] The group's first release, a South Africa-only EP entitled Superstars, was released in late-2002 and distributed it at performances.

Episoda, Borderline Patrol, and university radio (2003-05)
"We had a great time in Andrew’s studio and I think you can hear it if you listen to the album. It was quite a rough recording and definitely doesn’t sound as polished as the later albums we recorded. We experimented with a lot of things that were new concepts to us."

 —Paul Hodgson, on recording Episoda.[6]

By 2003 the band had become prominent in the Johannesburg underground music scene, and had garnered a "small, but loyal" fanbase. John met Andrew Lester, lead singer of 57, who had built his own home studio and had produced his band's debut album. After a short meeting with the rest of the band, Andrew agreed to record a full-length album for R12,000 (equivalent to $2,270 in 2019). Their record label couldn't afford the studio time, so the band put their money together and went into the studio.[6] After a month, they released Episoda to praise from fellow bands and fans.[7]

At first, the album failed to appeal to national radio stations, like 5FM as it lacked "little commercial potential", explained Paul, and was "definitely too weird for mainstream radio".[6] However, the university radio stations put the album on "high rotation" and it became a regular top download on local music websites. Shortly after regional stations, like Highveld and East Coast Radio, add the song Long Way Home to their playlist, which became an "instant crowd-pleaser". This moderate success lead the band to tour in regional music festivals and guest television appearances, on shows like Jip and Good Morning Live.[8]

It was during this time, John decided to retire from music and pursue a career in marketing.[9] The band went on to record and release a second EP, Borderline Patrol, in late 2004.[10] The EP was well received by national radio stations with their first hit-single Beautiful, charting successfully on 5FM. Closely followed by their second single Here Comes a Man, a Boom Boom Room cover, entering the Top 20.[8] In April 2005, at a celebration for Cosmopolitan South Africa's twenty-one years of publishing, The Parlotones were invited to share the stage with eight bands.[11] In order to "stand out and be remembered" and fit with the party theme "vintage glam", Kahn suggested the band apply A Clockwork Orange inspired tears with mascara.[3] Kahn later spoke about how he desired a "trademark", noting how he was influenced by "Robert Smith's lipstick [and] Morrissey's quaff".[12]

RadioControlledRobot to now (2005-09)

The first album to reach mainstream success was their second release, Radiocontrolledrobot through Sovereign Entertainment, which came out in July 2005.[13] It was produced by Dave Birch at Tropical Sweat Studios in Durban, South Africa.[14][15] The album won the "Best Rock Album" award at the 2006 South African Music Awards.[16] The ballad "Beautiful" was used in an Irish Fujifilm television commercial, which led to a European licence deal with Universal Music.[17] The album achieved Gold status in 2007.[18] Their next album, A World Next Door to Yours, was released in September 2007;[13] and became biggest-selling South African rock album of that decade. [19] [20] Sign with Universal Music.[21]

They are spokespersons for both Live Earth and Earth Hour, along with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Prince Charles, and Rihanna. [22] [23] [24] [25]

Life Design to present (2009-present)

The Parlotones' video to the single "Life Design", from their third studio album Stardust Galaxies; was added on MTV Europe. [26]

In 2009 the Parlotones played the Midem Talent Showcase in Cannes, France, where they met the American band Blue October. The Parlotones were subsequently invited to play their first US tour as the opening act on Blue October's Pick Up the Phone Tour for their Approaching Normal album. The match-up proved successful and the Parlotones have gone on to play several more US tours as headliners.

The band performed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Celebration concert along with Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, and Shakira.

The Parlotones also recorded a song with the lead singer of Freshlyground, Zolani Mahola, called Stardust Galaxies.

The Parlotones staged an original rock theatre production, Dragonflies and Astronauts, which was broadcast live around the world in 3D via DIRECTV and in 2D on Facebook. The 3D broadcast was so well received in the United States that the satellite provider scheduled 100 re-airings, while more than half of the worldwide viewership on Facebook was from the US. Dragonflies and Astronauts featured songs from the band’s catalogue, including 16 songs that were Top 40 hits in South Africa.

Their song "Rock Paper Scissors", featured on the popular American TV series One Tree Hill.[27]

In October 2011, The Parlotones were the opening act for the Cape Town and Johannesburg concerts of Coldplay's tour to South Africa.[28][29]

In February 2012, The Parlotones were introduced to radio programmers, music supervisors and other industry executives at Michele Clark's Sunset Sessions event in San Diego, CA. They also showcased at the South by Southwest festival in March 2012 and their song "Honey" subsequently charted at the Triple-A radio format. They also participated at the Sunset Sessions Rock event in June 2012. Michele Clark became their US manager and was featured in The Parlotone's movie "This is Our Story".

In September 2012, it was announced that the band was officially moving to Los Angeles, California. [30][31][32] The Parlotones relocated to the US in January 2013. The band played two sold-out farewell shows at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden and Ellis Park Stadium. The first venue the band played at following their move was The Viper Room in Los Angeles.[33] They toured the US consistently and continued to have success with radio and music supervisors.

In 2014, the band joined both the Sunset Sessions and SXSW industry festivals again before touring Europe and heading back to South Africa.

After 12 years alongside record/management label, Sovereign Entertainment, The Parlotones officially announced their departure from both their record label and South African manager on 10 July 2014. [34]

Later that year, they announced that all touring was postponed until further notice due to lead singer Kahn Morbee having vocal cord complications requiring surgery.[35] Performances missed as a result of the surgery included a fundraising concert for the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital in August 2014.[36] The Parlotones resumed touring in 2015 in support of their new album Antiques & Artifacts in a 21 concert South African tour running from April to May.[37][38] In September 2015, Morbee was announced as one of the coaches for the South African version of The Voice.[39]

Awards and nominations
Awards Year Category Nominated Work Result
South African Music Awards[40] 2006 Best Rock Album Radiocontrolledrobot Won
YOU Magazine Awards[40] 2007 Best Band The Parlotones Won
FHM Reader's Choice (South Africa)[40] Best Band The Parlotones Won
MK89 Awards[41] Best Video Beautiful Nominated
RESFest[16] Best Video Beautiful Nominated
Caxton's Best of Joburg [40] Best Band The Parlotones Won
People’s Choice Awards (South Africa)[40] 2008 Best Music Act The Parlotones Won
The Loeries [40] Craft Award I'll Be There Won
MTV Africa Awards [40] Best Group The Parlotones Nominated
Best Alternative
International Songwriting Competition [42] Music Video Overexposed 1
Performance Giant Mistake 2
Music Video I'll Be There Honourable Mention
MK Awards [40] 2009 Best Video I'll Be There Won
Best Animation
Best Serenade
South African Music Awards [43][44] Best Music Video Overexposed Won
Record of the Year I’ll Be There Nominated
Best Global Chart DVD Unplugged Nominated
International Songwriting Competition [42] Music Video Push Me To The Floor 2
Rock Life Design Honourable Mention
Music Video
South African Music Awards [45] 2010 Record of the Year Push Me To The Floor Nominated
Best Rock Album: English Stardust Galaxies Won
Best Music Video Push Me To The Floor Won
International Songwriting Competition [42] Rock Life Design 1
Music Video Honourable Mention
Music Video Stars Fall Down 2
Adult Album Alternative Honourable Mention
Performance We Call This Dancing Honourable Mention
Adult Contemporary Remember When Honourable Mention
South African Music Awards [46] 2011 Best Music Video Stars Fall Down Won
Life Design Nominated
Best Selling DVD Live Design Won
Best Global Chart DVD Won
Best Rock Album: English Nominated
South African Music Awards [47] 2012 Best Music Video It's Magic Won
International Songwriting Competition [42] Music Video Honey Spiders 1
Adult Album Alternative Honey Spiders Honourable Mention
South African Music Awards [48][49] 2013 Best Music Video Honey Spiders Won
Best Live DVD Dragonflies and Astronauts Nominated
MTV Africa Awards [50] 2014 Best Alternative The Parlotones Nominated
South African Music Awards [51][52] Music Video of the Year Sleepwalker Won
Best Rock Album Stand Like Giants Nominated
Best Collaboration Sleepwalker Nominated
Duo or Group of the Year The Parlotones Nominated
South African Music Awards 2019 Best Rock Album style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated
2019 Best Music Video style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated

Europe, Asia & MTV
  • They released their album Stardust Galaxies in the UK and Europe in June 2010.
  • The single "Life Design" was released in the UK in April 2010.

Wine brand

On 16 September 2009, The Parlotones together with Hands on Wine[53] released a red wine, "Giant Mistake", named after their single from the album, A World Next Door to Yours. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (54%), Shiraz (23%), Pinotage (12%), and Cabernet Franc (11%).[54]

In April 2010 a white wine, "Push Me to the Floor", was released, named after their single from the album Stardust Galaxies. The wine is a blend of Chenin blanc (60%), Gewürztraminer (15%), Chardonnay (20%,) and Viognier (5%).[55]

On 5 October 2010 a rosé, "We Call This Dancing", was released, named after the song from Stardust Galaxies. The wine is a blend of Wellington Pinotage (55%), Wellington Shiraz (25%), and a balance – a blend of 30 different varietals from the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus (20%).[56]

Band members

Principal members

Early members

  • John Boyd – synth, sound effects (2002–2004)
The Current Line-Up
  • Kahn Morbee (2010)
  • Paul Hodgson (2010)
  • Glen Hodgson (2010)
  • Neil Pauw (2010)

Discography
Main article: The Parlotones discography

Studio albums

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References
  1. "Biography : The Parlotones". Spirit of Rock. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  2. "The Parlotones, The Daylights, Farewell Typewriter". San Jose. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  3. Marais, Rick (22 October 2014). "The Parlotones frontman tells his story". Roodepoort Northsider. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  4. Scott, Katy (20 February 2015). "The Parlotones UK and Ireland Tour". The South African. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  5. Nevitt, Lisa. "Kahn Morbee at the Zip Zap Circus Charity Event". CapeTownMagazine. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  6. Hodgson, Paul (20 August 2015). "Recording Episoda". Paul Hodgson's Blog. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  7. Mkele, Yolisa (22 May 2015). "Local Legends: Would you take 'em home?". TimesLive. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  8. "The Powerzone Music Festival 2005". Women24. 29 August 2005. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
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  10. de Olim, Charles (28 July 2005). "No prizes for originality". Tonight. Zaire: Cape Times. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  11. "Cosmo 21st Birthday bash". BizCommunity. 20 April 2005. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
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  14. Mail & Guardian, Perfect Control, September 2, 2005
  15. All Music, Radio Controlled Robot, April 2, 2007
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