After nine years together, Famous has chosen to enter an indefinite hiatus. The London-based band is currently releasing a final trilogy of singles, with the impressive ‘Demons in London’ and ‘Revelation’ already out, while the concluding track ‘Europe’ is still to be released. Their performance at the ICA in London on 2nd October will be their largest headlining show and will also mark their last.
This concludes the journey of a band that many expected would endure through anything. Famous has developed a reputation for adapting to new circumstances, having gone through various lineup changes over nearly a decade. Their departure will take place in a manner that is uniquely theirs, a small event infused with a blend of spectacle and introspection.
In a conversation with Jack Merrett, the band’s vocalist and its only consistent member, he states, “It’s crucial for me, primarily for our own sake but also for those who have appreciated our work, that we conclude in a way that aligns with the absurd melodrama that has defined it all.”
Famous gained recognition amid a wave of innovative new artists emerging from the South London scene just before the pandemic, and they provided artistic sustenance throughout it. They were part of a collective that included acts such as Black Country, New Road, black midi, Martha Skye Murphy, Hotel Lux, Squid, Legss, deathcrash, Jerskin Fendrix, Goat Girl, and Sorry.
Nonetheless, something set Famous apart, largely due to Merrett’s fervent and unwavering commitment to their music. Reflecting on their 2019 breakout ‘mini-album’ ‘England’, it truly feels like a breakthrough—an attempt to break free from one’s own limitations. The influences are apparent: David Bowie, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson, The Beatles, Matty Healy. However, beneath this blend of inspirations, the music and particularly Merrett’s lyrics held a sense of fragility.
Merrett shares, “I aspired to be a famous musician since I was 10, and that has shaped my life’s direction. It's undeniably been a product of my considerable personal privilege to pursue that dream for this long—but now I’m 28.”
The grand concept of Famous has been on Merrett's mind since the band's formation in 2016. “We've always attempted to approach the band with a kind of relentless focus. We had strict ideas about what was permissible and what wasn’t—how we present ourselves, how we use social media, what we would and wouldn’t compromise on regarding the music.”
Merrett acknowledges the irony, “There was always this painful ambition tempered by a continual obscurity. It’s amusing to think about the contradiction of being so driven by ambition, yet…”
He doesn’t complete that thought, yet it suggests the reason why yet another lineup change felt like the tipping point. One current member decided to focus on another project, leading Merrett to a realization.
“We’ve had numerous people come and go. It’s like the opposite of Hotel California—you can always leave. A few years ago, I might have reacted with, ‘Oh, that’s unfortunate. I’ll find someone else and carry on.’ I used to have this unyielding determination to make it work, but this time, I realized that drive had faded.”
He reflects, “I’m proud of myself for envisioning a life that extends beyond this one defining aspect I’ve clung to since childhood.” He adds, “Alongside the bittersweet realization that a childhood version of myself won’t come to fruition, there’s a kind of measured contentment in understanding that this isn’t the sole measure of success.”
Looking back, Merrett could sense this conclusion approaching, “On some level, I feel like I have been hovering at the brink of calling it quits for a while. Part of the decision to end now is tied to the fact that we had a perfect trajectory to conclude on. We recorded these three songs, which are among the pieces I’m most proud of, reflecting our best work.”
Between the breakout ‘England’ and this final trilogy, there’s the ‘The Valley’ EP (2021) and the complete realization of Famous’ sound in their debut album ‘Party Album’, released nearly a year before their last show. Upon revisiting these recordings in light of the news, you can detect the emergence of a world beyond Famous for Merrett, signaled by song titles like ‘What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?’ and the lyrics proclaiming ‘This is the last song ever’. Merrett remarks, “That’s how I’ve positioned the existential stakes necessary to create something dramatic in the music, which has always been the aim.”
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