Keane: A whistle-stop tour of the piano-rockers' history

Keane may have had a rather tumultuous career over the last 25+ years, but their popularity around the world has never wavered - even when they went on hiatus for six years. Thankfully, they reunited to release their fifth album in 2019, 'Cause and Effect', which peaked at Number 2 in the UK - proving that their reunion was well worth it.

With five studio albums now under their belt, 2024 marks 20 years since the release of their debut 'Hopes and Fears'. Now that they are part way through an impressive world tour in honour of their early work and gave an incredible performance at Glastonbury, here's a little more about the piano-rockers...

WATCH: Keane - Everybody's Changing (Live)

Keane: Members of the band

Keane is made up of Tom Chaplin on lead vocals and guitar, Tim Rice-Oxley on piano and bass guitar with Richard Hughes on drums. Jesse Quin joined the band in 2007 as an additional member, playing bass, electric and acoustic guitar, before joining as a permanent member in 2011. Dominic Scott was a founding member, playing electric guitar, but left in 2001.

When did Keane form?

In 1995. Tim Rice-Oxley was studying classics at University College London, and decided to form a band with his old school friends - the original line-up of which included founder and guitarist Dominic Scott and Richard Hughes on drums, and they mainly focused on covers of U2, Oasis and The Beatles. They were called 'The Lotus Eaters' at the time.

Also studying at UCL around the same time was none other than Chris Martin of Coldplay fame. After hearing Tim's piano skills in 1997, he was keen (sorry) to snap him up for his own band, but Tim refused as he had his heart set on his own group, later stating that he was "seriously interested" in the offer.

This sparked Tim to recruit another old school friend into the band - Tom Chaplin, although Dominic and Richard didn't love the idea to begin with. The change in line-up also meant a name change for the band.

Where did their name come from?

Having originally been called The Lotus Eaters, Tom Chaplin's addition to the group caused them to rethink the name, and instead named themselves after a friend of Tom's mum, Cherry Keane, who passed away and left money for the musician's family.

Tom later said: "I used some of the money to see me through the harder times with the music." They shortened the name to Keane not long after.

WATCH: Keane - The Way I Feel (Live)

What was Keane's first single? What was their first album?

The band's first-ever single was 'Call Me What You Like', released in 1999 on the band's own label, Zoomorphic. They sold copies of the track after live performances in an attempt to start a following for their music.

The group were invited to a recording studio in France, where they wrote four tracks that would later appear on their debut album, 'Hopes and Fears', but guitarist Dominic Scott chose to leave the band shortly after the recording stint as he felt the band "wasn't going anywhere".

Dominic's pessimism started to have an effect on the remaining members of the band, but a gig in December 2002 at the Betsey Trotwood in London brought good fortune for Keane as Simon Williams - who'd discovered Coldplay - attended, and later released their first commercial single, 'Everybody's Changing', in 2003.

After a record label battle over Keane, they signed to Island records and the song became the second single released from debut album 'Hopes and Fears', in 2004.

'Somewhere Only We Know'

Arguably one of the most well-recognised and beloved songs off the album, 'Somewhere Only We Know' was released as a single in February 2004 as the first single from 'Hopes and Fears'. It peaked at Number 3 in the UK charts, and in May 2024 was certified 3x Platinum by the BPI - meaning that its had over 1.8 million sales in the UK alone.

Lily Allen's cover for the John Lewis Christmas advert in 2013 gave the track a new lease of life, reaching the top of the UK charts, but the original remains a fan-favourite.

Tom and Tim discussed the enduring nature of the track with Absolute Radio's Tim Burgess in May 2024, with Tom explaining that he'd been caught off guard by the "soaring second chorus moment".

"It took me by surprise," he admitted, continuing: "I think it was just that extra bit of magic that I hadn't really heard in one of our songs before. I guess that clearly was the same for lots of other people because it's definitely endured, hasn't it?"

Which other albums have Keane released?

After the success of 'Hopes and Fears' which peaked at Number 1 in the UK and was certified 9x Platinum, Keane got back in the studio in 2005 whilst on tour, writing their second album 'Under The Iron Sea'.

The record was released in June 2006 and spawned singles 'Is It Any Wonder?', 'Leaving So Soon?' and 'Crystal Ball', peaking at Number 1 and scoring a 3x Platinum certification in the UK. Album track 'A Bad Dream' later appeared in an episode of Scrubs in 2007.

Third album 'Perfect Symmetry' was released two years later in 2008, containing 'Spiralling' and 'The Lovers Are Losing' and going to Number 1 in the UK with a Platinum certification. The 'Night Train' EP was released in 2010 - and although it's technically not an album, it did contain eight new singles, so many fans consider it to be the band's unofficial fourth record.

'Strangeland' was the band's official fourth album. It was released in 2012 and peaked at Number 1 in the UK as well as receiving a Gold certification. The record spawned singles 'Silenced by the Night', 'Disconnected' and 'Sovereign Light Café'.

The band put out 'The Best of Keane' in 2013, and then promptly went on a hiatus so that the band's members could focus on solo projects. Six years later, Keane announced that they would be reuniting, and put out fifth album 'Cause and Effect' in September 2019, which peaked at Number 2 - becoming the band's first album not to reach the top spot.

On 9th April 2021, Keane announced on their social media platforms they would be participating in Record Store Day 2021 Drop 2 on 17th July, with the special early release of their EP 'Dirt' on 12" vinyl, featuring four previously unreleased tracks from 'Cause and Effect' sessions.

This came with the announcement that the full release of the EP would be on 13th August 2021.

Two decades on from the release of their debut album, Keane are celebrating with a remastered reissue of 'Hopes and Fears' on Friday 10th May 2024.

Are they on tour?

Keane have just finished their 2024 tour dates. Marking 20-years since the release of their debut 'Hopes and Fears', the band embarked a world tour where they hit UK arenas in May 2024.

Keane's 2024 'Hopes and Fears Tour' dates in the UK ran from 3rd May up to 10th May 2024.

When did Keane split up and why?

After releasing 'The Best of Keane' in 2013, the band decided to "take a bit of time out from being Keane", according to Tom, and went on an indefinite hiatus. Although that remains the official reason for the split, there were a few things bubbling away under the surface that contributed to that point.

Tom's well-publicised problems with drink and drugs came to a head, and after the birth of his daughter in early 2014, he decided he needed to get clean, having previously received treatment from The Priory in 2006.

Tim's marriage had broken down in 2012, reportedly due to him being on tour so often. He was arrested for drink driving in 2014, and he told CBS in 2019: "It left me in a place, eventually, where I really needed some help, I suppose."

WATCH: Keane - Somewhere Only We Know (Live)

Keane's solo projects

Tom Chaplin

Tom Chaplin went solo following Keane's hiatus, releasing his debut solo album 'The Wave' in October 2016. It peaked at Number 3 in the UK and spawned the single 'Quicksand', as well as the 'Carried By The Wave Tour' which saw him sing at venues in Brighton, Bristol, Nottingham, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and London. He also released Christmas album 'Twelve Tales of Christmas' in November 2017.

As a side note, Tom appeared on The Masked Singer in January 2022, performing as the character Poodle and making it to 8th place. He sang 'Rocket Man' by Elton John, 'What's New Pussycat?' by Tom Jones, 'Symphony' by Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson and 'Unwritten' by Natasha Bedingfield.

Later that year, Tom released his third solo album, 'Midpoint', on 2nd September 2022, which included songs such as 'All Fall Down' and 'Overshoot'.

Tim Rice-Oxley and Jesse Quin

Tim and Jesse continued to work on their country music side-project, Mt. Desolation, which they'd began in 2010. Their self-titled debut was released in 2010, and follow-up 'When the Night Calls' came out in 2018.

WATCH: Mt. Desolation - On Your Way (Official Video)

Are they back together?

Thankfully, yes! Tom reached out to Tim in 2017, telling CBS: "I hadn't realised just how deep his pain had been with his marriage breaking down and how much of a hole he'd been in. And then once I heard the songs on 'Cause and Effect', you know, it really made sense."

They announced the news in a Facebook post in March 2019, revealing that they'd been working on new music together - and released their album 'Cause and Effect' in September of that year, as well as the 'Dirt' EP in August 2021. They are back to stay - even completing a world tour in 2024.

Have Keane ever played the Isle of Wight Festival?

They sure have - Keane took to the IOW stage in 2007, playing on the Sunday as special guests, before returning in 2019 to perform as the closing act of the festival.

WATCH: Keane chat to Absolute Radio at the Isle Of Wight Festival 2019

Have Keane ever played Glastonbury?

Keane have played Glastonbury no less than five times - taking to The Other Stage in 2004 before headlining the Pyramid Stage just a year later in 2005, then performing a last-minute set on the Avalon Stage in 2010 and returning to the festival in 2019 on the Acoustic Stage.

They returned to the Farm in 2024 for an incredible set on the Pyramid Stage on Saturday afternoon, performing all their biggest hits and thrilling the expansive crowds who'd turned out to see them.

Awards won by Keane

Keane have received plenty of nominations and awards over the years - most notably winning the BRIT Awards for Best British Album ('Hopes and Fears') and Best British Breakthrough Act in 2005. They were also nominated for Best British Group and Best British Single for 'Everybody's Changing' that year, as well as a nomination at the 2010 BRITs for Best BRITs Album of 30 Years, losing out to Oasis for '(What's the Story) Morning Glory?'

The band have received two nominations at the GRAMMY Awards over the years, getting a nod for Best New Artist in 2006 and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or a Group With Vocals for 'Is It Any Wonder?' in 2007.

Tim took home a hugely prestigious Ivor Novello Award in 2004, winning Composer of the Year, and the band also received a nomination at the Mercury Music Prize Awards for Best Album in 2004 for 'Hopes and Fears'.

Keane: Let The Music Move

In June 2021, Keane took to their Instagram to announce their support for Let The Music Move. The movement invites artists and fans to call on the UK government to do more to support the future of the music industry.

Sharing information about the movement to their Instagram, Keane wrote: 'Today we are joining our fellow artists, music professionals and fans to call on the UK government to do more to support the future of the music industry, and mitigate the Brexit-related impacts of restrictions, costs and delays on European touring. #LetTheMusicMove'.

Scroll through to see our favourite live moments from Keane:

WATCH: Keane - Is It Any Wonder? (Live)

You can hear Keane's biggest hits on the Absolute Radio playlist.

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