Portishead Announce First US Tour in 3 Years : July 12, 2011

Portishead recently announced they would be embarking on a headlining tour of North America this fall. It will be the first time the English band has performed shows in [...]

portishead Biography

The English music group Portishead was formed in Bristol in 1991. The band got its name from the town of Portishead, which is near Bristol. Band members include Adrian Utley, Beth Gibbons and Geoff Barrow. Dave McDonald is sometimes called a fourth member. He served as an engineer on “Portishead” and “Dummy.”

In 1994, Portishead released “Dummy,” their debut album. Credits for “Dummy” listed Beth Gibbons and Geoff Barrow as a duo. Shortly after “Dummy” was released Adrian Utley officially became a band member. He co-produced “Dummy,” co-produced eight songs and played on nine of them. The album was a hit in the United States and Europe and spawned the singles “Glory Box,” “Sour Times” and “Numb.” In 1995, the set was awarded a Mercury Music Prize.

In 1997, Portishead released their second album, “Portishead.” The sound had a harsher, grainier sound than “Dummy.” Three singles were released from the set: “Only You,” “Over” and “All Mine.” From 1999 through 2005 the band went on hiatus, with band members concentrating on solo projects and other endeavors. The band reunited in Bristol to perform at Tsunami Benefit Concert. The band released “Third,” their third album, in 2008. In July 2011, Portishead announced they were planning a full tour of North America, their first in more than a decade, starting in October.