White Rose Movement

Formed in 2002, the five-piece White Rose Movement blended Depeche Mode-inspired synth-pop textures, the urgent rhythms of dance-punk, and electroclash’s sardonic edge. The Norfolk-via-London group took its name from the pacifist German resistance cell that opposed the Nazis during World War II and comprises vocalist Finn Vine, guitarist Jasper Milton, bassist Owen Dyke, keyboardist Taxxi, and drummer Ed Harper. Their first shows came as support for Pink Grease and Felix da Housecat; after inking a deal with Independiente in 2004, they entered the studio with Paul Epworth—the producer behind early recordings by Maxïmo Park and Bloc Party—and issued the debut single Love Is a Number in spring 2005. That same year they completed a headline tour opening for the Kills while continuing work on their first album, previewing it with the Alsatian single in autumn 2005. Early in 2006 the band joined the Rakes on the road, then delivered both their third single, Girls in the Back, and the full-length album Kick in the United Kingdom that spring. A brief run of American concerts followed, highlighted by an appearance at the 2006 Coachella Festival, before they returned to Europe for a summer schedule of headline dates and festival sets across the U.K. and the Continent.