Oscar Sansom: Last News

Placebo have shared an official live video for the latest single ‘Try Better Next Time’ – check it out below.The duo – comprised of Brian Molko Stefan Olsdal – released the track earlier this month as the third preview of their forthcoming eighth album, ‘Never Let Me Go’, which arrives on March 22.Today (January 21) Placebo posted an Oscar Sansom-directed live performance of the song to their official YouTube channel.The clip sees Molko and Olsdal – augmented by their touring band members – performing among stacks of old-school television sets, which display the performance in grainy VHS-quality.In keeping with the aesthetic of the ‘Try Better Next Time’ artwork, Placebo are illuminated by flashing red lights as they play on a rectangular stage set up. You can watch the video here:The upcoming ‘Never Let Me Go’ will also feature the previous 2021 singles ‘Surround By Spies’ and ‘Beautiful James’, the latter of which marked the band’s first new material in five years.Placebo are due to showcase the record on a UK and Ireland headline tour in November/December.

Robbie Williams has opened up about the impact Placebo‘s ‘Nancy Boy’ had on him.The 1997 track was the fourth single from their self-titled debut album. Using a homophobic insult as its title, it explored fluid sexuality and drugs, something Williams has now said “embraced the confusion” for him.In a short clip taken from his appearance in the documentary film Placebo: This Search For Meaning, he reflected on the significance of the song.

Placebo have discussed how their all-star, warts-and-all new documentary movie paints a bold new picture of the band, driven by “the desire to break the form and to do something new”.Frontman Brian Molko and bassist–guitarist Stefan Olsdal of Placebo took to the stage at the premiere of their new documentary film Placebo: This Search For Meaning on Thursday night (October 3) to discuss the themes of the film – including addiction, mental health, gender politics and the film’s rare and unseen footage following the band’s relationship with David Bowie.The film – directed by BAFTA winner Oscar Sansom and set for cinematic screenings throughout October – features revealing in-depth interviews with the band alongside CCTV-style contributions from celebrity fans including Benedict Cumberbatch, Robbie Williams, Yungblud, Garbage‘s Shirley Manson and IDLES’ Joe Talbot, alongside live performances of tracks from the band’s 2022 album ‘Never Let Me Go’. As well as touching on the band’s history, it delves deeper into the core meaning, purpose, philosophy and impact of Placebo over the band’s 30-year lifespan.“Our reaction was like, ‘OK, but we really can’t make just another bog-standard documentary’,” Molko said in discussion with 6 Music’s Matt Everitt following the premiere screening at Leicester Square’s Vue cinema.“’What are you going to do, Oscar? How are you going to subvert the form itself? How are you going to stop everybody from being bored? We can’t just have a series of talking heads here’.

Placebo have announced details of a second feature-length documentary, This Search For Meaning. Check out the trailer below.The project is an intimate and enlightening portrait of the band, which explores both the meaning and subject matter behind their songs, while also diving into their evolution as a group and as human beings.Created by Scottish award-winning filmmaker Oscar Sansom, the documentary won’t simply present a narrative about the origins of the band, it’ll instead take a deep dive into the legacy they created through their themes of surveillance, culture, scrutiny, sexuality, gender identity, addiction, trauma and more.It’ll also include informal conversations with both vocalist-guitarist Brian Molko and bassist–guitarist Stefan Olsdal, as well as contributions from artists who either admire or have been inspired by Placebo.

EXCLUSIVE: Band Placebo are getting the rockumentary treatment with This Search For Meaning, which will feature new interviews with band members Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal as well as contributions from the likes of Shirley Manson, Yungblud and Robbie Williams.