People In Planes

People in Planes formed as an alternative pop/rock group rooted in Cardiff, Wales. Childhood friends vocalist Gareth Jones and guitarist Peter Roberts, who grew up together in Porthcawl, drew their initial impetus to start a band from repeated listens to Supergrass’ I Should Coco during their teenage years. Bassist Kris Blight and drummer John Maloney later completed the lineup, and the quartet—originally operating under the name Tetra Splendour—issued Splendid Animation in 2002 through the EMI subsidiary Wishakismo. Support slots with Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Biffy Clyro followed, along with an appearance at the 2002 Reading Festival. When the EMI arrangement dissolved, the musicians regrouped with fresh material, recruited keyboardist Ian Russell, and adopted their current aerodynamic name.

The band tracked its debut album, As Far as the Eye Can See, under producer Sam Williams, the same individual responsible for the Supergrass record that had first shaped their sound. Their inaugural American performance took place at New York’s Mercury Lounge during a period of mounting industry interest, leading to a contract with Wind-Up Records in spring 2005. A self-titled EP appeared shortly thereafter, and the full-length debut reached stores worldwide in March 2006. Actor Joaquin Phoenix helmed the video for the opening single, “If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode).” The group remained stateside through late 2006 before heading home to develop its next project, Beyond the Horizon, which surfaced in September 2008.