Brian has a chat with his wife. Brian Molko: “I'm not going to suffer so that you think my music is good! –2004: from dresses to business style

One of the most famous underminers of public morality - he could easily wear dresses on stage and admit to using every possible drug (except heroin) - Brian Molko is celebrating his 46th birthday!

Brian Molko was born in Brussels. As a child, he lived with his parents in Scotland, Liberia, Lebanon and Luxembourg. A childhood spent on the road has its advantages - Molko speaks perfect English and French, and can also speak German.

In his youth, before he became famous, Brian had problems with money. Molko was practically homeless and even slept on the floor at times.

Molko and Stefan Olsdal (Placebo bass player) studied together at the American International School of Luxembourg, although they were not in contact. When Brian arrived in London, they ran into Stefan at South Kensington tube station. Molko invited him to one of the club performances, which he played with Steve Hewitt, the future drummer of Placebo.

Brian Molko chose a career as an actor in his youth, but he was never able to graduate from Goldsmiths College in London with a degree in drama. However, this did not stop him from starring in cameo role in the film "Velvet" Goldmine"(1998), which tells about the glam scene of the 80s, and one of the main roles was played by a young Christian Bale.

Molko is bilingual. He knows French perfectly and therefore it was not difficult for him to re-record the single Protect Me From What I Want in French.

When I was young, Placebo's parties on tour turned into orgies with lots of drugs. In an interview with New York Doll magazine in 1997, he stated that "heroin is probably the only drug on the planet that I haven't tried yet," but later revealed that he had also experimented with heroin. In the 2000s, the musician took the path of correction and in 2010 declared that he was absolutely clean.

If Placebo were a drug, it would undoubtedly be pure heroin - dangerous, mysterious and completely addictive.

In the 90s, Molko repeatedly admitted that he was openly bisexual. Years later, in an interview, Brian repented of this, believing that he should have remained silent about his sexuality because the media paid too much attention to this issue, instead of focusing on Placebo's music.

Brian Molko has a son, Cody, born in 2005. Fans of the artist believe that the birth of a child had a positive effect on Molko.

In 2017, Molko, to the grief of all his fans, announced that he would no longer perform some of the most popular songs bands - “Nancy Boy” and “Pure Morning”.

I don't think these are mine best songs. They are quite naive. I like the music in “Pure Morning”, but the lyrics leave much to be desired. If I knew it would become a single, I would have paid more attention to the lyrics

Molko saw putting on a dress on stage as a political act, not a protest.

Dressing in women's clothing was more of a political act. We tried to challenge the homophobia we saw on music scene. Basically, I wanted anyone who was even slightly homophobic in the audience to look at me and say, "Oh, she's hot. I'd like to fuck her," before realizing her name is Brian. and then ask yourself some questions about, well, the fluidity of sexuality itself.

Cover: Placebo website

Thanks to his father's profession, little Brian Molko had the opportunity to travel quite a bit around the world, even managing to live in African countries Liberia and Lebanon. His family finally settled in Luxembourg, the future musician received secondary education at one of the prestigious schools.

Molko's classmate was a certain Stefan Olsdal, who years later became the bassist of the group Placebo. Brian grew up as a quiet and timid child - he had little contact with his peers, being completely immersed in his inner world. He was only interested in performing arts and music.

Deciding to become an actor, the first thing he did was learn how to apply makeup, and at the age of 17, against the wishes of his parents, who saw their son as a successful banker, he moved to London, where he successfully entered the Goldsmiths Theater College. Exactly at student years the young man allowed himself to experiment with cosmetics and try on ladies' clothes and accessories.

At the same time, Brian Molko discovered his gift for composing music and performing songs well. The guy quickly acquired acquaintances among the musical bohemia of the British capital. Together with his friend Stefan, he created the group Ashtray Heart, which was eventually renamed Placebo. In 1995, the first concert of musicians took place at Covent Garden’s Rock Garden.

A year later, Placebo musicians recorded debut album, named after the group. The songs performed by Brian Molko were liked by the public and music critics, so the team very quickly became popular, especially among young people.

Two years later, their second album Without You I’m Nothing was released. In 2000, their CD Black Market Music was released, in 2003 - Sleeping with Ghosts, in 2006 the album Meds was released, and in 2009 a record called Battle for the Sun was released.

Each new disc delighted fans of Brian Molko, who became a world celebrity thanks not only to his piercing voice and alternative music, but also an inimitable image - he still did not disdain makeup, manicure and exploited the image of a glam rock star with all his might.

In 2009, the team received an EMA award in the category "Best alternative band". In 2012, Placebo released a mini-album, called B3. And in 2013, the seventh was released studio album called Loud Like Love.

Personal life

He had an affair with Caroline Finch, also known as Severe Loren, lead singer and guitarist of the band Linoleum. He also had an affair with French model and rock diva Benedict Vian from the band Melatonine. Brian had a long-term relationship with photographer Helena Berg, who gave birth to his son Cody in 2005, and in 2009 the young people separated.

Interesting Facts

He played in the film "Velvet Goldmine", he played the role of Malcolm from the group Flaming Creatures

He became executive producer Sue's Last Ride movie

Openly bisexual

Never hid my drug use experience

Speaks fluent French

A mixture of Italian, French, Scottish and Jewish blood flows in his veins

20 years ago, the leader of Placebo - young, long-haired, with a squeaky voice - was often confused with a girl. Today he is a model of courage, one of the main sex symbols of the rock scene, an icon, the embodiment of stage energy, touring professionalism, and uncompromisingness. He is both the king of the outcasts and a symbol of how to achieve your goal.

We re-read the stacks music magazines and prepared more than 70 clippings from interesting quotes the brilliant Brian Molko.

We are reviving an extensive article from the old site. Especially for the Placebo concert in Kyiv. September 20, 2012, Sports Palace.

Name: Brian Molko.
Date of birth: December 10, 1972.
Place of birth: Brussels, Belgium.
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius.
Nationality: An explosive mixture of Italian, French, Scottish and Jewish blood.
Height: 168 cm.

The son of a Scottish believer and an American international banker of French-Italian blood. During his childhood, the Molko family moved from place to place - Scotland, Liberia, Lebanon, Luxembourg.

The future leader of the Placebo group grew up as a hermit and gave vent to his emotions in theater club. This is where his passion for the stage, dressing up, makeup, and changing images originates. The family tried to raise Brian in strict conservative traditions. Protesting against this, the guy found solace in lipstick, nail polish, mascara, and glam rock records.

After a prestigious school in Luxembourg, Molko moved to London, where he entered the Goldsmiths College of Theater Faculty acting. Student life, freedom of action - fragile Brian finds himself in big city full of freaks creative personalities and the poor, and picks up all possible bad habits.

Against the wishes of his parents, rebel Brian Molko decides to devote himself to music. Together with Stefan Oldsall, he creates the group Ashtray Heart, later renaming it Placebo.

This is what he writes about him Kerrang magazine: “Molko is a 21st century boy who managed to combine the heroic decline of Iggy Pop, the bright androgyny of David Bowie and the messianic self-belief of Jim Morrison.”

I feel comfortable with my appearance, and I feel comfortable with the excitement that my appearance creates in people's minds.

If Placebo were a drug, it would undoubtedly be pure heroin - dangerous, mysterious and completely addictive.

I don't want to die tragically for anything in my life. I want to be old when this happens.

Dresses, in my opinion, are completely impractical in ordinary life, but I love wearing them on stage.

I love being a freak. This is great!

I'm tired of being around men all the time. I want to create a group called Skirt with three girls, where I would play guitar and sing backing vocals. I went shopping while I was in New York and saw a lot of amazing dresses.

I am sincere in my creativity, and it is like catharsis.

The line between paranoid and rock star is much thinner than anyone might realise.

My irrepressible mouth often gets me into trouble, but I am smaller than others and cannot always fight back. So if someone kicks me, I will call my drummer and he will kick them.

Usually guys vertically challenged- aggressive upstarts. I don't consider myself very short, but the thought of growing has never given me peace of mind. Jesus was short, so was Hitler, and look at Napoleon, damn it!

Placebo is music for outsiders and from outsiders. Our concerts are like gatherings of outcasts, and that's cool.

Opinion is like an ass, everyone has one.

The Seven Deadly Sins according to Placebo: laziness, homophobia, racial intolerance, Parental Advisory stickers (note: marked “not recommended for children under 16” on discs and games), violence, retro and sobriety.

On what Brian's parents think of Placebo: They get used to it. I think fear is slowly turning into pride. My parents were outraged at first, but are now getting used to the situation.

We believe that a group should be something larger than life. A musician must be a representative of an alternative reality.

Your pathetic star rock ego doesn't mean shit. You should strive to express your emotions honestly, and not to be a technical virtuoso and pose. I can masturbate without a guitar, thank you!

You have to want to get to the moon to be at least half closer to it.

A smart artist is one who understands that he is being manipulated by the press, and manipulates the press in return.

Thousands of fans send me their photos. And when I stand on stage, I see dozens of Brian Molkos in the front row. Love me, but remain yourself!

You must always be one haircut ahead of your clones.

My frequent desire to change hairstyles gives development to hairdressing!

A stoned group is a happy group.

When I'm sober, I'm bored.

I think we need to make a lot of things legal, not just weed. For example, legalize street sex. Just imagine, it would be so much more fun in London!

I am neither homosexual nor heterosexual. I'm just sex.

If every man in the world could suck himself off, would he do it? Would you even leave the house? Yes, but only to buy a mirror.

Every time you see a rainbow, God is having gay sex.

My bandmates and I are very attached to each other, so it doesn't matter that sometimes I get more attention. It just means that while I'm doing interviews, they can go shopping all day, the bastards.

I live by my own laws. People have a hard time controlling me, which is why they think I'm a jerk.

I am ready to talk for hours about music and its mechanisms. I think about it 90 percent of the time. So I don't think about getting big all the time. But I think a lot about sex.

Of course, I received a religious upbringing. I entrusted my life to Christ when I was eleven. At fourteen I took her back.

I'm quite sure that the dog I had as a child was also gay.

I'm tired of being vulgar, can I be nice a little?

The worst thing is indifference. If you evoke strong emotions in a person, that’s cool. If people despise you, it means that you have found their bare nerve and are rubbing salt into their wounds.

The most beautiful part of my body is definitely my brain.

It's easier to seduce a man because men are stupid.

When you walk into a room and think, “Everyone here wants me,” then everyone will actually want you. It all depends on your thoughts.

Sometimes it seems to me that I have already lived on Earth. Perhaps in past life I was a Parisian whore or something.

I'm afraid of flying, I don't like airplanes. But when you get on a plane with U2 and then you feel the turbulence and you think, “Oh no, we're all going to die,” and then, “Wait, wait... we're on the plane with U2, and they'll live forever. So I'll be fine."

I'm afraid of plane crashes. And also - to lose spontaneity in creativity, to get stuck in a routine.

Some people think that we are complete drug addicts. They expect to see us lying in a ditch with needles sticking out of our arms, quoting Oscar Wilde to the stars. But this hasn't happened for many years.

My main drug is the desire to write beautiful music, give your all emotionally, play strong and exciting concerts.

If I could be reincarnated as a woman, I would become Audrey Hepburn - the epitome of sophistication.

Yes, I'm very lustful. I occupy the happy or unhappy position of bisexual and do not consider lust a sin. People should have sex however and as much as they want, then they will be less inhibited.

Do you know what this is good song, if you can strip it down to a completely naked form and play on one single instrument - the acoustic guitar or piano. If something still catches you, it's a good song.

The world needs to understand that heterosexuality is not the norm, but simply a common phenomenon.

Men who don't cry are not real men.

Straight guys often want me, considering beautiful girl, and it's so much fun!

Oh, I wish Slipknot could eat Oasis.

The Smiths and The Cure remain mine best memories about life in Luxembourg, about those dreary days.

Patti Smith is also very important to me, as is the whole New York scene. new wave, Richard Hell, Lou Reed, New York Dolls... Their appearance was a decisive moment in music. Without them there would be no punk. The popular belief that the British invented punk is actually a huge misunderstanding... The Sex Pistols were not the beginning of punk, the Stooges contributed much more to its emergence.

After Oasis, who copied the Beatles, and Kula Shaker, who imitated George Harrison, there was a large layer of music from the 60s and 70s that was not copied. Travis took the place of the Byrds, and Stereophonics took the place of Lynryrd Skynyrd. Rock in England has become music that is very easy to swallow. We feel quite far from this situation. We are much closer to Radiohead or PJ Harvey, who create their own own world. I hope that my impression is true.

I don't have an image. The one you see on stage during the concert is the primal exhibitionist who lives inside me. In fact, I am quiet, reserved and calm.

Making music is emotionally similar to sex. And if your concert is good, it feels like you're making love to four thousand people.

I would ask any band to think twice about playing in front of Metallica. God bless them! In general, it all depends on whether this group is prone to masochism, and whether they like to be covered in ham. Because that's exactly what happened to me once. And that day I was hit in the balls with an apple. All men reading this can imagine how painful it is.

While recording the album “Without You I’m Nothing” we spent several months in the village. We lived there almost like nuns. I had to concentrate on the disc and clear my head of unnecessary thoughts. We walked along the river bank, fed the ducks, drank good wine, worked at least 12 hours a day without listening to any music. During that time I reached great success in the video game "Super Mario".

About the budget spent on recording Placebo's first album:"You know? I love the Spice Girls! They brought in so much money for the Virgin label that they were able to finance our experiments as well.”

“I hate bloggers! I hate it with all my guts! I think this completely sucks. Every asshole with a computer can open a damn blog and the people who read it think it's true. Texts that are posted online, as a rule, do not provide any value. The Internet provides a platform for cowardly and cowardly types to anonymously express themselves without any responsibility. These are people who will never tell you everything openly, to your face.”

What would I put in a time capsule? Records! IN Lately I go back to listening to records because they sound better and remind me of my childhood. Some rare recordings of Sonic Youth, Grateful Dead, Joy Division with John Peel sessions, Janis Joplin.

If you look back at the work of Kate Bush or David Bowie in the '80s, if you listen to songs like Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" or Peter Gabriel's "Shock The Monkey," those are really crazy, weird avant-garde songs. These people were trying to redefine the boundaries of pop music. These were clean water experiments. And today's rock and even pop music have lost all their charm.

Yes, I really want our group to become incredibly famous. And I won't rest until we're more popular than The Smashing Pumpkins.

I don't think I could go on a date with someone who feels awkward. In general, it is difficult to meet people who would feel at ease next to us.

Steve, our new drummer, this is a huge dose of vitamin C.

Stefan is the Queen of Sweden, I adore him.

I would like to be the owner of the Order of Literature and Art (“Knight of Music and Text”), this would be the most best compliment. I know that Kylie Minogue was awarded such an order, and it saddens me, because she is not even the author of her songs. Probably because I'm less beautiful than Kylie.

There is one minus that I began to smoke less and stopped taking drugs and drinking. Now I eat too much chocolate and drink too much coffee.

Long tours are exhausting, but that's what we do. This is our calling. We are traveling minstrels. We are gypsies. I just can't imagine what else could satisfy us the way our work does. This is very strange because such a nomadic life can make you crazy, emotionally unstable.

Stefan and I started playing music to avoid having to look for serious work.

Times change, but we will always be true to ourselves. Placebo: your supplier of sweet melancholy since 1996.

You started twenty years ago. How do you live today - in the era of the digital revolution, digital music and digital money?

Brian. I try not to think about music from a commercial point of view, but when it comes to today's technologies, they need to be treated in a Darwinian way. Either you adapt or you die out. I think it’s much harder for young bands to make money today. Making music - expensive pleasure, not to mention videos and tours. The music business does not fall out of the traditional capitalist system, where the law of supply and demand operates and the consumer with his choice is at the forefront of everything. Placebo is lucky because we have a lot of long-recorded music that we can distribute on the Internet for virtually nothing, and live off of concerts. But if the consumer king does not want to pay for records new group, musicians have to look for other jobs. It's sad, but it happens all the time. And yet, since we agree with the fact that all responsibility lies with the consumer, then let him not complain about the fact that tickets are becoming more expensive: the listener himself is responsible for such an economy. Personally, I continue to buy records out of principle, I consider it necessary to support the artist, new music. After all, many people have supported us all these years. For me it's a matter of karma.

You unexpectedly made a documentary film Placebo: Alt.Russia. What is he talking about?

Stephen. A film about two things: modern Russian alternative culture and the rock band's impressions of the first trip with concerts in Siberia. When a tour of Siberia came up for us, we decided that this was a wonderful opportunity to document our adventures in unexplored lands. We never denied ourselves the pleasure of playing in the distant and unusual place. We played everywhere: from the temples of Angkor Wat to the snow-covered Alps! We also wanted to find out what other artists, street musicians, filmmakers, sculptors, photographers and independent directors think about their art in today's Russia. Our British media present Russia exclusively in political aspect, but we are also interested in other aspects of life. You have your own world! Down with politics, we just want to see and hear everything first hand. The film is about such people and about the Placebo group. However, the tape also contains very personal moments, especially since I conduct many of the interviews myself. We were lucky enough to have a sold-out premiere at the Beat Film festival in Moscow (May 30 - Ed.), and now the film is playing at festivals all over the world.

Question for you, Brian. You once stated that you were heavily influenced by The Cure, who in turn were heavily inspired by literature. What books inspire you?

Brian. I grew up listening to The Cure, and could not even think that one day I would stand on the same stage with them. They, along with The Smiths, provided the soundtrack to every rainy day of my youth. The process of composing words and music is irresistibly captivating when there is something to rely on. I've borrowed book titles for my songs twice: Lady of the Flowers and Sleeping with Ghosts. But I try not to do that anymore. Playing with words is an important part of the job, and there's a lot of reading involved. A writer needs to read a lot, a musician needs to listen to a lot of music, and I have to do both.

HIT PARADE Placebo*

6th place:

Special K

5th place:

Running Up That Hill

4th place:

Song to Say Goodbye

How did it all begin twenty years ago?

Stephen. Time is a funny thing. Mostly it all seems like a dream now. When you're nineteen and have no responsibility, you think you're superman and you're going to live forever. We loved to play and nothing else mattered. We had some goals, we dreamed of performing on stages. And we moved on, trying to be true to our music. Our goals and ambitions grew with us.

Brian. And I was simply ready to do anything, just not to work hard in the office. I knew I could sing and I could play the guitar. I was unemployed for two and a half years, and when I had a contract to record an album in my pocket at twenty-two, other options were no longer considered. It was fate. Yes, we were completely different then...

What others?

Brian. The main difference is that I was an arrogant bastard. No, really, I was so self-confident! In England they say about such people: “The sun shines from his ass.” I was the greatest! Imagine, you are unemployed, you don’t have a penny - and then a cloud of money falls on you, everyone’s attention, everyone wants to sleep with you, they treat you to booze and drugs! And you're twenty-two... You're just exploding! You're turning into some kind of flaming rock 'n' roll machine! Today I am much less confident in myself than then, I have gained intelligence and experience. There's nothing rock 'n' roll about killing yourself.

Come on, this is rock and roll!

Brian. Ah, well then kill yourself! Kill yourself right now, before my eyes! Forward! Come on, I'll get the knife and you can cut your throat! Then I’ll call the reception and say: someone committed suicide here, it’s so rock and roll!

But the entire mythology of rock and roll is built on the beauty of self-destruction!

Brian. This is not true at all! Of those who started in the sixties and seventies, who is still playing? These are those who didn’t die, didn’t overdose, and didn’t crash their car while drunk.

Many of those guys are amazingly still alive. Let's say Keith Richards.

Brian. Okay, but Keith Richards can't play guitar anymore. I saw the Stones live. Yes, he survived, but other musicians play the guitars! Keith is unable to play even while sitting, he is always two measures behind the group. I don't want to slide into his state.

Stephen. I'll speak for myself. What fascinates me most about music is craftsmanship, but also style, integrity and longevity. One of my favorite bands is Depeche Mode. They're still together and I wouldn't want them to die rock 'n' roll!

Brian. If you wish all this on rock stars, if you want to experience death, destruction and suffering vicariously through them, you don’t have a drop of sympathy! Compassion is the most important thing in our world. This is the art of happiness, what the Dalai Lama taught us when he said: “Compassion and generosity make you happy.” And your words are disgusting.

Perhaps I didn't express my thoughts clearly enough. If you're talking about the brand of rock 'n' roll that's 100 percent healthy, happy, eats right, and goes to the gym three times a week, then I, as a listener, have no sympathy for that. Empathy requires some drama.

Stephen. But you don't have to die for drama!

Not necessarily, but I am sure that true art comes from strong feelings, out of suffering.

Brian. Do you like watching people suffer? Well then you are a sadist!

It's nice to hear this from your lips. And yet, to create, you need, at a minimum, a broken heart.

Brian. Art comes from discipline!

What about inspiration?

Brian. You work hard and with discipline at least five days a week, and then you end up with something you can be proud of. Then it becomes art, not when people stick needles in their arms or when they blow their brains out with a gun in Seattle. Without discipline and diligence, nothing will come of it. Why do you think Pete Doherty hasn't made good music for a long time?

Stephen. People are lousy at learning from other people's mistakes. But we are not such idiots as to hang out at twenty-seven and end up in Club 27.

If there is not a minute of pain, suffering and self-destruction in your life, then what should you sing about?

Brian. There are no people who do not have moments of self-destruction.

Stephen. It's just your opinion. It doesn’t seem to me at all that an artist is obliged to maintain a lifestyle that matches his image. Yes, David Bowie, peace be upon him, killed himself. He killed himself right on stage, but not himself, but his hero - Ziggy Stardust. He was smart. He knew that many people wanted rock and roll to end in death.

There is an interesting difference between how an artist sees himself and how his fans want to see him.

Brian. This should not bother the artist. It's not the fans who create the art. I once posted a photo from the studio on Instagram with the caption “We are writing new album", and someone wrote in the comments: "I hope you are depressed, then great songs will come out." Fuck you! Do you want me to suffer just so that the music seems good to you? It's like saying: I'm ready to put sleeping pills in your drink to make you pass out, and then I'll fuck you in the ass and infect you with AIDS. And when you're deep in shit, great music will flow out of you! So this is nonsense, your mother!

Stephen. And how depressing it is to be in a group that is creatively stuck in an immutable state! We recorded seven records. Doesn't anyone understand that life is evolution? We are developing both as artists and as people.

HIT PARADE PLACEBO*

3rd place:

Vocalist and guitarist of the band Placebo.

Brian Molko was born to an American international banker and a Scottish mother. As a child, Brian moved frequently from country to country due to his father's work. The family lived in Scotland, Liberia, Lebanon and Luxembourg, where he was sent to a prestigious school. Stefan Olsdal, the future bassist of Placebo, also studied there. Brian was a quiet boy who stayed away from noisy companies and kept everything to himself free time dedicated to theater and music. Already at the age of eleven he learned the wisdom of applying makeup. By the age of seventeen, he had finally decided on his choice of profession - he firmly decided to become an actor, contrary to the wishes of his parents, who predicted a career as a banker. Immediately after graduating from school, Brian rushed to London and managed to enroll at Goldsmiths Theater College. He spent the next five years learning the ropes of acting and picking up the bad habits that were so common in the poor London neighborhoods where he lived. The acting environment left an additional imprint on Brian’s already androgynous appearance - he could no longer imagine himself without makeup and women's clothing. Music remained Brian's most important hobby until he discovered his extraordinary talent as a composer and an amazing singing voice. He became more and more proficient at the guitar and gradually began to join the London alternative music scene. At this stage, fate brought him together again with Stefan, who also decided to devote himself to music, and soon after this meeting the Ashtray Heart group was born, soon renamed Placebo. Brian Molko quickly gained the title of one of the most extravagant stars of the English rock scene and nicknames such as "Ladyboy" and "Sex God", and also gained a crowd of fans and spawned a lot of imitators. For a couple of years, basking in his newfound fame, he lived under the motto “sex, drugs, rock and roll.” Journalists avidly speculated on his confessions of bisexuality and addiction to cocaine.

1998 - Velvet Goldmine (as Malcolm from the Flaming Creatures)

1999 - Cruel Intentions (song Every You Every Me)

2001 - / Sue's Last Ride (executive producer)