Friendly Fires, who hail from St Albans, United Kingdom, took their name from the first track from the debut album of seminal Blackpool band Section 25, who recorded on the famous Factory Records. The band members had known each other since school days and have played together in various groups of many genres as their music tastes matured. The band's debut 12" Photobooth was the first release on the indie label People in the Sky in 2006 and was followed by the Cross the Line EP a year later. Next single 'Paris' (released on Moshi Moshi Records) created a murmur of interest in the band, with the song being nominated for Best Dancefloor Filler at the NME Awards. A three-track 12" remix EP was the band's last on People in the Sky before they signed to XL Recordings for their debut album. Since the release of the band's two-years-in-the-making self-titled debut album in September, 2008 the world has taken note. Friendly Fires toured a large chunk of their homeland on the NME tour and also took in Europe, the US - including the Coachella festival - and Mexico. Friendly Fires' 2009 will be filled with festivals including Glastonbury, Lollapolooza, Roskilde and Splendour in the Grass.