Archive

It’s been an extraordinary 30 years for Archive, spanning 12 studio albums that encapsulate restlessly inventive shifts in sound, vision and personnel that has ensured the music has remained fresh, dynamic and absorbing.

Since their formation in Croydon, South London in 1994, Archive have operated as masters of their own destiny, eschewing prevailing trends for a more unique musical blend of their own. Right from the start Archive had taken off in France, making the cover of monthly rock bible Les Inrockuptibles around the release of their second album. After selling out two nights at the prestigious Elysée in Paris, and signing a deal with Warner France, none other than acclaimed film director Luc Besson commissioned Archive to write the soundtrack for Michel Vaillant, a drama set around the 24 hour Le Mans race.

In 2004, fourth studio album Noise made Archive superstars across Europe. 2009 saw the conceptual pairing of Controlling Crowds I-III. It included the track ‘Bullets’, another of Archive’s best-loved songs, and proof of the increasing socio-political nature of Archive lyrics. “It was our protest album!” says Keeler “and our most ambitious too in some ways”. The tour that accompanied The False Foundation was Archive’s most ambitious to date, it saw the band playing inside a giant cube of visual projections, to packed audiences right across Europe. As Keeler says “I think they were our most impressive visual shows to date. I think we recreated the otherworldly mood and ominous feel of The False Foundation really well, certainly the fans seemed to be blown away with the show”.

In 2023 in add of the massive European tour Archive did a very successful campaign with Balenciaga. They composed the soundtrack for the Netflix Original film "Wingwomen" that was number 1 in 80+ countries across the world.

During summer 2024 Archive headlined some of the best summer festivals: Tbilisi Open Air Festival, Rock Werchter, Les Deferlantes, Festival de Beauregard.

In 2025 Archive will embark on a European tour for a month in major venues including 2 nights at the 6000 capacity Zenith Arena in Paris.

For 30 years, Archive have been on an incredible journey: musical, spiritual and emotional.