Formed in 2000, this UK indie rock quartet can trace its origins to a government-funded youth project in their native Sunderland. Guitarist Barry Hyde was employed at the project as a tutor and through his work met up with fellow guitarist Ross Millard (b. 22 July 1982, Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, England) and drummer Peter Brewis. The trio formed the Futureheads with bass player David "Jaff" Craig, taking their name from a Flaming Lips album. After performing a number of local gigs and recording a limited edition demo tape, Barry's younger brother Dave Hyde was brought in to the line-up to replace the otherwise occupied Brewis. The new look quartet continued to rehearse at all hours and play whenever possible, before setting off on a character-defining European tour. On their return they completed a self-released 7-inch single before recording two EPs for Fantastic Plastic. The material on these releases, 1,2,3 - Nul and First Day, demonstrated the quartet's sound working knowledge of the back catalogue of UK post-punk pioneers such as XTC and Gang Of Four, but it was their frenetic live shows that caught the attention of the record labels.
A recording contract with the Sire Records imprint 679 Recordings followed. Ex-Gang Of Four member Andy Gill produced a number of the tracks on the Futureheads' self-titled debut album, which was released to generally positive reviews in summer 2004. The final single to be taken from the album, a witty cover version of the Kate Bush track "Hounds Of Love', reached the UK Top 10 the following February, helping raise the band's profile. The follow-up News And Tributes was a more mature recording, but despite generally favourable reviews there was a feeling that the youthful charm of the debut had been misplaced somewhere along the line. Sales were less than convincing, and the Futureheads were subsequently dropped by 679. The quartet set up the Nul Records label for the release of their third album, 2008"s This Is Not The World.
