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Black Honey is a British four-piece indie rock band formed in Brighton, England in 2014. The band is composed of lead singer and guitarist Izzy Baxter Phillips, guitarist Chris Ostler, bassist Tommy Taylor, and drummer Alex Woodward, who joined the group after the departure of Tom Dewhurst.[3][4][5][6]

Black Honey
Black Honey performing live at Southside Festival 2019
Background information
Origin	Brighton, England
Genres	Indie rock[1] surf rock[2]
Years active	2014–present
Labels	Duly Noted Foxfive
Members	Izzy B. Phillips Chris Ostler Tommy Taylor Alex Woodward
Past members	Tom Dewhurst
Website	blackhoneyuk.co.uk

The band released an eponymous self-titled debut EP in late 2014 followed by a self-titled debut album in 2018.[7] The album reached number 33 on the UK Albums Chart.[8] Black Honey released their second album, Written & Directed, in March 2021. The album reached number 7 on the UK Albums Chart.

History

Pre-Black Honey

The band started when Izzy met Chris at university and started to write music together. Originally called 'Whats Your Vice?' from 2009 until 2011, the band went through several lineup changes, originally Izzy B. Phillips on vocals and guitar, Chris Ostler on guitar, Tom Chilton on Bass and Cookie on Drums. The band went through a string of bass players and eventually current band member Tommy Taylor joined 'Whats Your Vice?' on drums. They released a song called 'Vampire'.

By 2012 they had changed their name to 'Kill Moon', with Izzy, Chris, Tommy (now on bass) and Tom Dew on drums. The band released a series of singles, as well as an E.P. titled 'Jupiter'.

Some of the songs released and/or performed live included:

• Jupiter (Released as a single in 2012 and the title track of their E.P.)
• Home
• I Lie To You
• Black and Blue (released as a single on 12|08|13)
• Shine (released as a single with a music video posted on 23/01/2013
• You Said It All (released on the Boon Magazine compilation in 2014)

Other potential songs include:

• Tear In Your Heart
• Boot Shaped Bruises
• My Guy
• Not Enough

2014

Black Honey formed in June of 2014, sharing their first song (as Black Honey) called 'Sleep Forever' in the same month. Subsequent songs were released, which eventually formed a self-titled debut E.P. in November of 2014, the E.P. was available on CD and streaming platforms. It featured the songs Sleep Forever, Teenager, The Taste and Bloodlust.[9][10]

2015

They toured during the year as well as played Focus Wales Festival; Live at Leeds; Live at Glasgow; The Great Escape Festival; Wychwood Festival; Croatia Rocks; Secret Garden Party; 2000 Trees; Y Not Festival; Standon Calling; Kendal Calling; and Sunflower Lounge Birmingham.[11]

Black Honey generated a lot of interest in the media during 2015.[12] They released the single: Spinning Wheel during April.[13][14] In July the single: Madonna was released.[15] They were invited to do a BBC radio 1 Session for Huw Stephens and supported Superfood at The Rainbow Warehouse Birmingham on Wed 8 April 2015[16]

2016

Black Honey toured various venues in the Uk during 2016. They supported Catfish And The Bottlemen on their UK tour. A second EP, Headspin, was released later in 2016.[17][18][19]

2017

Black Honey embarked on a headline UK tour during spring 2017.[20] Later in the year they were in the Netherlands for the NPO 3FM Festival. Finally, a UK and Europe arena tour took place where Black Honey supported Royal Blood [21]

2018

2018 began with touring in the UK. They embarked on an autumn tour around the UK to promote the debut album. Next, they were in Europe for a further headline tour later in the year. They released the single "Crowded City", with accompanying video during November 2018.[22]

2019

For 2019 Black Honey were reported to be writing and recording songs for a second studio album which was predicted to be released early 2020. They were NME Front cover stars in April 2019.[23]

Black Honey did a headlining tour during 2019. They also played Live at Leeds (UK Festival) and Handmade Festival, Leicester (UK).

A New song, "I Don't Ever Wanna Love" was now being played during live setlists and during the UK tour, Black Honey came up with additional YouTube material named: "le Crousti Garçons", which was just a bit of fun for the fans.[24][25] The Great Escape, Brighton, 10 May 2019.

The video for the single, "Midnight" was nominated at the Berlin Music Video Awards.[26]

There were more tour dates during 2019 we asll as at Poltimore Festival, Exeter; Dauwpop Fest, Netherlands; Vestrock Fest, Netherlands; Hurricane Festival, Scheeßel, Germany; and Rock Werchter Fest, Belgium.[27] Summer 2019 dates were: Y Not Festival, Matlock, Uk; Neverworld Festival, Edenbridge, Uk; Grape Festival, Slovakia; Summer Well Festival, Domeniul Stirbey, Buftea, Romania; Reading Festival, Uk; Leeds Festival, Uk; and Lost Village, Lincoln, Uk;

In June 2019, Black Honey released a music video for their new single "I Don't Ever Wanna Love" featuring an art deco Ibiza hotel as a backdrop.[28][29]

A change of personnel occurred late in the year and Tom Dewhurst left the band, to be replaced on the drum kit and percussion by Alex Woodward.

2020

First gig of 2020 and first also with new band member Alex Woodward on drums was at the Green Door Store, Brighton (29 January 2020).[30]

A new Black Honey single was released in July 2020 called "Beaches".[31] At the same time a music video was also released. It was directed and produced "in house" by the band during COVID-19 restrictions.[32]

DIY put on a 100th issue party. A live gig under COVID-19-compliant distancing conditions happened. Black Honey headlined the gig on 9 September 2020.

Next for 2020 was another new single release, 18 September 2020, "Run for Cover" along with its accompanying video; released on 25 September 2020. Filmed in an empty working men's club. Directed by Sam Kinsella. Production and styling: Craig Hemming.[33]

2021

New single release, 8 January 2021, "Believer".[34]

New single release, 19 February 2021, "Disinfect", along with accompanying video.[35]

Release of the second album Written & Directed on 19 March 2021. At No. 1 in the iTunes UK Album chart during a lot of release week.[36] The UK official album chart was released on the 26 March 2021 with "Written and Directed" at position No 7 overall. It achieved No 1 in the UK independent chart. Scottish Album chart position #3. UK vinyl chart position: #2. UK cassette chart: #2. UK physical chart: #4.[37]

Between 23rd September and 13th October they headlined a ten-date UK tour.

2022

The band announced a third album, titled 'A Fistful Of Peaches'. The single 'Charlie Bronson' was released on 11/08/2022. Out Of My Mind debuted on 04/10/2022. On 07/11/2022 the band officially announced their new album, along with the release of the single "Heavy".

Band members

• Izzy Phillips – lead vocals, guitar
• Chris Ostler – vocals, guitar, synthesizers
• Tommy Taylor – vocals, bass guitar
• Alex Woodward – drums

Past band members

Tom Dewhurst - drums (2014-2019)

Discography

Studio albums

• Black Honey (2018)
• Written & Directed (2021)

1. I Like the Way You Die
2. Run for Cover
3. Beaches
4. Believer
5. Back of the Bar
6. I Do It to Myself
7. Disinfect
8. Summer '92
9. Fire
10. Gabrielle

• A Fistful of Peaches (2023)

1. Charlie Branson
2. Heavy
3. Up Against It
4. Out Of My Mind
5. Rock Bottom
6. Cut The Cord
7. OK
8. I’m A Man
9. Nobody Knows
10. Weirdos
11. Tombstone
12. Bummer

EPs

• Black Honey (November 2014)

1. Sleep Forever
2. Teenager
3. The Taste
4. Bloodlust

• Headspin (April 29th 2016)

1. All My Pride
2. Headspin
3. On Your Time
4. Mocking Swing

• All My Pride (2017)

1. All My Pride
2. Madonna
3. Somebody Better
4. Sleep Forever
5. Spinning Wheel
6. Hello Today
7. Corinne

Singles

• "Sleep Forever" (Demo) / "Teenager" (Demo) (2014)
• "Spinning Wheel" / "Madonna" (2015)
• "Corrine" / "Mothership" (2015)
• "All My Pride" / "On Your Time" (2016)
• "Hello Today" / "Ghost" (2016)
• "Somebody Better" / "Cadillac" (2017)
• "Bloodlust" / "Ghost" (Acoustic) (2017)
• "Dig" / "Corrine" (Acoustic) (2017)
• "Midnight" / "I Only Hurt the Ones I Love" (2018)
• "Blue Romance" / "Crowded City" (2018)
• "I Don't Ever Wanna Love" (2019)
• "Beaches" (2020)
• "Run for Cover" (2020)
• "I Like the Way You Die" (2020)
• "Believer" (2021)
• "Disinfect" (2021)
• "Fire" (2021)
• "Back of the Bar (Piano Version)" (2021)
• "Charlie Bronson" (2022)
• "Out of My Mind" (2022)
• "Heavy" (2022)

Music videos

List of music videos

Title	Year	Director
"Hello Today"	2016	Nadia Lee Cohen
"Somebody Better"	2017
"Dig"		Shaun James Grant
"Bad Friends"	2018	Black Honey
"I Only Hurt the Ones I Love"		Sam Kinsella
"Midnight"		Shaun James Grant
"Crowded City"		Sam Kinsella
"Baby"	2019
"I Don't Ever Wanna Love"
"Beaches"	2020	Black Honey
"Run for Cover"		Sam Kinsella
"I Like the Way You Die"		Frances O’Sullivan
"Believer"	2021	Sam Kinsella
"Disinfect"		Craig Hemming
"Back Of The Bar"		Jamie Noise
"Fire"		Craig Hemming
"Charlie Bronson"	2022	Craig Hemming
"Out Of My Mind"		Sam Kinsella
"Heavy"		Dakota Schiffer

Awards and recognition

• The gig at Concorde 2 on 14 October 2018 was lauded in the press as one of the finest of the year.[38]
• The video for "Midnight" was nominated for Best Art Director at the Berlin Music Video Awards 2019.[39]

References

External links

• Black Honey official website
• Black Honey Discogs
• Black Honey Musicbrainz

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