Snow Patrol

Snow Patrol

Snow Patrol are a rock band formed in Dundee, United Kingdom, in 1994 and active since then. Their line-up includes Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly, Paul Wilson, Jonny Quinn and Johnny McDaid, with Mark McClelland, Iain Archer and Tom Simpson also listed among the group’s members. The band’s music is generally associated with alternative rock, indie rock, noise pop, pop rock, post-britpop and power pop.

Formation and early releases

The band is founded at the University of Dundee in 1994 by Gary Lightbody, Mark McClelland and Michael Morrison, who is a member of Shrug. After briefly performing as Polarbear, they release the EP Starfighter Pilot in 1997 and then adopt the name Snow Patrol. Michael Morrison leaves, and Jonny Quinn joins the group.

Their first two studio albums, Songs for Polarbears and When It’s All Over We Still Have to Clear Up, are issued by Jeepster Records and do not achieve commercial success. The band later signs to Polydor Records in 2002.

Breakthrough and wider success

Nathan Connolly joins Snow Patrol in 2002. The following year, the band releases Final Straw, their major-label debut, and the single “Run” becomes its best-known hit. The album is certified 5x platinum in the UK and brings the band national recognition.

Eyes Open follows in 2006 and includes “Chasing Cars”, a major hit that later is reported as the most-played song of the 21st century on UK radio. The album reaches number one on the UK Albums Chart and is the best-selling British album of the year. Snow Patrol then release A Hundred Million Suns in 2008, the compilation Up to Now in 2009, Fallen Empires in 2011 and Wildness in 2018.

Awards and sales

Over the course of their career, Snow Patrol win seven Meteor Ireland Music Awards. They are nominated for six Brit Awards and one Grammy. Final Straw, Eyes Open and A Hundred Million Suns sell ten million copies worldwide combined.