- published: 28 Apr 2011
- views: 818956
Hard-Fi are an English rock band formed in Staines, Surrey in 2003, though they are commonly misconceived to come from Feltham. The band's members are Richard Archer (lead vocals and guitar), Kai Stephens (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Steve Kemp (drums and backing vocals). Founding member Ross Phillips (guitar and backing vocals) left the band on 6 May 2013 but returned in 2014 for promoting the release of the Best of... album and the one-off gig on 13 February 2014.
They achieved chart success with their third single, "Hard to Beat" and then followed by other successful singles such as "Cash Machine" and "Living for the Weekend", which all reached top 15 in the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album Stars of CCTV was released on 4 July 2005, and although receiving critical acclaim (NME called it the Album of the Year and it was nominated for the Mercury Prize and two Brit Awards; Best British Group and Best British Rock Act), it didn't reach No. 1 in the UK albums chart until six months later on 22 January 2006. It originally entered the charts at number 6. The band's second album Once Upon a Time in the West was released on 3 September 2007 and reached number 1 in its first week. Their third album Killer Sounds, which features the singles "Good for Nothing", "Fire in the House" and "Bring It On", was released on 19 August 2011 and debuted at number 9 on the UK Album Chart.
They have stated that they are heavily influenced byIt started off alright
We'd go out Friday night
And have a drink and do whatever made us feel alright
We'd stay out all weekend
Try taking everything
But never hurt no-one and so what
You only live once - i thought
'Till I got caught
That weren't enough for you
You'd go out Monday too
And Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 'till it all caught up with you
You're everyone's best friend
'Long as they've got something
I did not know you no more
Heartbreak - a sickness i can't see
Oh-no-no-no-no-no-no
Feltham is singing out
Feltham is singing out
Tonight a light's gone out
21 years old and out
Feltham is singing out
We all went out one night
You got us in a fight
You owed some money
To a monkey who had seen you right
You sold your furniture
So you could pay him off
They cut the power
Can't afford it you slept on the floor
You can't hold down a job
So then you had to rob
First from your mom and then your friends and then the local shop
But as a criminal
You're just no good at all
You got your collar felt
So dumb, you thought about skipping bail
Now you're in jail
Feltham is singing out
Feltham is singing out
Tonight a light's gone out
21 years old and out
Feltham is singing out
You don't like prison life
You loved to watch the sky
And you get beat and injured
End up throwing up all night
You could not take no more
So when they closed the door
Tied up your sheets - strang yourself up
And then you were no more, no more
Every day i,i,i see your face
As i walk on by past that awful place
23 hours in a cell
Each and every day just locked up living hell, living hell, living hell
Feltham is singing out
Feltham is singing out