The Arcade Fire Band Biography
"The Arcade Fire" was originally formed by Win Butler, Richard Parry, Régine Chassagne, Tim Kingsbury and William Butler. The band formed in the summer of 2003. The newly launched indie rock band from Montreal, was initially created when Win Butler spotted Chassagne singing Jazz music at a local art exhibit. From then on, Win and Chassagne became completely inseparable - professionally, and personally.
With Parry on the organ, Kingsbury playing the bass, and William Butler in control of percussion and the synthesizer, the Arcade Fire splashed out an ecletic mix of bossa nova, punk, and classicly tinged songs.
A self-titled EP then appeared in 2003. During that same year, the Arcade Fire signed a contract with Merge and prepped for their first studio album. During it's recording, the band delt with several tragedies. Chassagne's grandmother passed away in June 2003, while Butlers' grandfather, swing-era composer/arranger Alvino Rey, and Parry's aunt perished within a month of each other in spring 2004. Heartache turned into beauty when Chassagne married Win six monthes earliar. The Arcade Fire's debut album 'Funeral' arrived in September 2004 - which was a massive hit.