The Chemical Brothers

The Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo from Manchester, made up of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Active since 1989, they start out in the Manchester club scene and become one of the best-known acts associated with big beat, while also working across breakbeat, electronic, techno, neo-psychedelia and progressive house.

Formation and early releases

Rowlands and Simons meet while studying at the University of Manchester in 1989, where they share an interest in dance music, club culture and the city’s music scene. Before adopting their current name, they perform as The Dust Brothers, but change it after objections from the American production duo of the same name. Their new name comes from their track “Chemical Beats”.

The pair begin DJing in Manchester in 1992 and then start making their own recordings. Their first single, “Song to the Siren”, appears on their own Diamond Records label before being reissued by Junior Boy’s Own in 1993. Early releases also include the EPs Fourteenth Century Sky and My Mercury Mouth, both from 1994.

Albums and chart success

Their debut album, Exit Planet Dust (1995), reaches number nine in the UK Albums Chart and sells more than one million copies worldwide. It includes collaborations with Beth Orton and Tim Burgess, and helps establish the duo internationally. Their track “Chemical Beats” also appears in the 1995 video game Wipeout.

After signing with Virgin Records, they release Dig Your Own Hole (1997) and Surrender (1999), both of which reach number one in the UK. Dig Your Own Hole includes “Block Rockin’ Beats” and “Elektrobank”, while Surrender features guest appearances by Noel Gallagher, Bernard Sumner, Bobby Gillespie, Jonathan Donahue and Hope Sandoval. Singles from Surrender include “Hey Boy Hey Girl”, “Out of Control”, “Let Forever Be” and “Music: Response”. The video for “Let Forever Be”, directed by Michel Gondry, draws attention for its visual effects.

Later albums Come with Us (2002), Push the Button (2005) and We Are the Night (2007) also reach the top of the UK Albums Chart. Come with Us features Richard Ashcroft and Beth Orton, with singles including “Star Guitar”, “It Began in Afrika”, “Come with Us” and “The Test”. The duo also produce New Order’s “Here to Stay” for the film 24 Hour Party People.

Collaborations, remixes and later work

Across their career, The Chemical Brothers work with a wide range of artists, including Noel Gallagher, Beth Orton, Bernard Sumner, Q-Tip, Beck, St. Vincent and Aurora. Rowlands and Aurora later collaborate as the project Tomora. They also remix music by Primal Scream, Manic Street Preachers, The Charlatans, Spiritualized and Mercury Rev.

The compilation Singles 93-03 appears in 2003 and includes new tracks “The Golden Path” and “Get Yourself High”. Push the Button features Q-Tip, Tim Burgess, Kele Okereke and Anwar Superstar, and includes “Galvanize”, one of their best-known tracks. We Are the Night includes guest appearances by Klaxons, Midlake, Ali Love and Willy Mason, with singles such as “Do It Again”, “The Salmon Dance” and “Midnight Madness”. In 2008 they issue the compilation Brotherhood, which includes the full Electronic Battle Weapon series.

Their seventh studio album, Further (2010), is issued alongside a series of films made for each track. They also compose the soundtrack for Hanna (2011), contribute additional music to Black Swan, and release the concert film Don’t Think in 2012, documenting a performance at Fuji Rock Festival. That same year they write “Theme for Velodrome” for the cycling events at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Later they release “This Is Not a Game” for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1.

Born in the Echoes appears in 2015 and includes collaborations with Q-Tip, Beck, St. Vincent, Ali Love and Cate Le Bon. During its tour, Adam Smith temporarily replaces Simons at live shows while Simons takes a break from touring for academic work, before returning to the live line-up in 2016. No Geography follows in 2019 and wins three Grammy Awards, including Best Dance/Electronic Album. Singles from the album include “Free Yourself” and “We’ve Got to Try”. In 2021 they release “The Darkness That You Fear” and “Work Energy Principle”. Their tenth studio album, For That Beautiful Feeling, appears in 2023 and includes “No Reason”, “Live Again”, “Skipping Like a Stone” and its title track. A biography, Paused in Cosmic Reflection, is also published that year.

Awards and recognition

The Chemical Brothers receive multiple Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Instrumental Performance, Best Dance Recording and Best Dance/Electronic Album for No Geography. They have 13 top-20 singles in the UK, including the number-one singles “Setting Sun” and “Block Rockin’ Beats”.

Members and background

Ed Simons is born on 9 June 1970 and studies history at the University of Manchester after attending Dulwich College. Tom Rowlands is born on 11 January 1971, grows up in Henley-on-Thames and attends Reading Blue Coat School. Before forming the duo, Rowlands is a member of Ariel.