Bell X1 (band)

Bell X1 (band)

Bell X1 are an Irish rock band from Dublin and County Kildare in Republic of Ireland, known for their wide range of styles, powerful live performances, intelligent and witty lyrics and a dedication to touring. NPR says they deliver “a brilliant co-mingling of electronic music and anthemic pop rock”. The band is named after the Bell X-1, the first supersonic aircraft.

The band released their debut album Neither Am I in 2000. A second and third studio album, Music in Mouth (2003) and Flock (2005) followed respectively before Tour De Flock, a live CD and DVD set recorded in the Point Theatre, was released in 2007.

In recent years Bell X1 have gained success in the United States after the song "Eve, the Apple of My Eye", taken from the Music in Mouth album, featured during an infamous lesbian kiss scene on an episode of The O.C.. Shortly afterwards they began frequent tours of the United States, culminating in live performances on the Late Show with David Letterman (twice), The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Flock, previously released exclusively in Ireland and later in the United Kingdom, received a North American release in February 2008. Blue Lights on the Runway—the band's fourth studio album was released in Ireland on 20 February 2009 and in the United States on 3 March 2009. It gave the band their second Choice Music Prize nomination. A fifth album, Bloodless Coup, released in 2011, gave the band their third Choice Music Prize nomination.

Bell X1 are festival and arena headliners in their native Ireland and play to ever growing numbers on their regular US and European tours. The band recently had two songs in the Top 20 Irish Songs of All Time poll conducted by Dublin's Phantom 105.2 FM. Aside from U2, they are the Irish band with the most airplay in their native country and, according to Billboard, also the second biggest live performers.