Placebo discography

The discography of English alternative rock band Placebo comprises eight studio albums, three compilation albums, six extended plays, and numerous singles, spanning from their self-titled debut in 1996 to their most recent release, This Search for Meaning, in 2025.^[1] Formed in London in 1994 by vocalist-guitarist Brian Molko and bassist-guitarist Stefan Olsdal, the band's output has been characterized by glam-infused alternative rock with introspective lyrics, achieving cult status and consistent commercial performance in the UK and Europe.^[2] Placebo's studio albums include Placebo (1996), Without You I'm Nothing (1998), Black Market Music (2000), Sleeping with Ghosts (2003), Meds (2006), Battle for the Sun (2009), Loud Like Love (2013), and Never Let Me Go (2022), all of which peaked within the UK Top 20.^[3] Three albums—Placebo, Without You I'm Nothing, and the 2004 compilation Once More with Feeling: Singles 1996–2004—have been certified platinum in the UK for sales exceeding 300,000 units each, while Black Market Music, Sleeping with Ghosts, and Meds hold gold certifications for over 100,000 units.^[4] The band's early extended plays, such as Nancy Boy (1997) and Bruise Pristine (1997), helped establish their breakthrough, with singles like "Nancy Boy" and "Pure Morning" both reaching number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.^[4][1] In total, Placebo has amassed 17 UK Top 75 singles, accumulating 58 weeks on the Official Singles Chart, alongside covers and live releases—including their first official live album Collapse Into Never in 2023—that underscore their enduring influence in alternative music as of November 2025.^[4] Their discography reflects evolving production styles, from the raw punk edges of their debut era to the polished electronica elements in later works, with reissues and deluxe editions periodically expanding availability of B-sides and rarities.^[1]

Albums

Studio albums

Placebo's studio albums represent the core of the band's creative output, spanning over two decades and showcasing their evolution from raw alternative rock to more layered, electronic-infused soundscapes. The group has released eight full-length studio albums, all of which achieved commercial success, particularly in the UK where every entry reached the top 20 on the Official Albums Chart. These records collectively account for the majority of Placebo's estimated 14 million albums sold worldwide.^[3] The following table summarizes the studio albums, including release details, production credits, track counts, key chart peaks, and certifications where applicable. The debut album Placebo established the band's signature sound, blending glam rock influences with punk energy and themes of alienation and identity, setting the stage for their breakthrough with singles like "Nancy Boy." Subsequent releases like Without You I'm Nothing and Black Market Music expanded on this foundation, incorporating trip-hop and electronic elements while exploring emotional vulnerability and relationships, contributing to over 1 million combined sales in Europe alone. By Sleeping with Ghosts and Meds, Placebo delved deeper into introspective lyrics on loss and addiction, with production emphasizing atmospheric guitars and synths, achieving gold status in multiple markets and solidifying their international fanbase.^[8][4] In the later phase, Battle for the Sun, Loud Like Love, and Never Let Me Go marked a maturation, shifting toward broader alternative rock with prominent electronic and orchestral textures, addressing contemporary themes like climate anxiety and personal resilience; this evolution is evident in the polished production and thematic depth, with Never Let Me Go marking their highest UK chart entry in over two decades. Commercially, the studio catalog's milestones include multiple gold certifications in the UK for mid-period albums, reflecting sustained popularity, while global sales underscore Placebo's enduring impact in alternative music.^[3]

Live albums

Placebo's live albums document the band's dynamic stage presence, often featuring extended arrangements, acoustic reinterpretations, and crowd interactions that distinguish them from studio recordings. These releases, primarily emerging in the late 2000s and 2020s, highlight performances from key tours and special events, emphasizing the raw energy of their alternative rock sound.^[9] The band's first official live audio release was iTunes Live: London Festival '09, a digital EP recorded during their Battle for the Sun tour. Captured on July 14, 2009, at the Roundhouse in London, it was released on December 7, 2009, via Dreambrother Ltd. The 19-track set includes live renditions of tracks from Battle for the Sun alongside earlier hits, with notable extensions in songs like "Battle for the Sun" (running over five minutes with improvised guitar solos) and "Slave to the Wage" (featuring audience sing-alongs). The track listing is as follows: This EP did not achieve significant chart success, reflecting its exclusive digital format and promotional nature tied to the iTunes Festival.^[10][11] In 2015, Placebo issued MTV Unplugged, an acoustic live album recorded on August 19 at The London Studios in London as part of the MTV Unplugged series. Released on November 27 by Vertigo (a Universal Music imprint), it features stripped-down versions of 17 tracks spanning their career, including a cover of the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?" with guest Majke Voss Voss on vocals. Notable differences include slower, introspective arrangements like the extended piano-led "Meds" (over seven minutes) and harmonized "Protect Me from What I Want," emphasizing emotional depth over rock intensity. The track listing includes: The album peaked at No. 16 on the UK Albums Chart, No. 2 in Germany, No. 3 in Austria, and No. 26 in France, earning gold certification in France for over 50,000 units sold. This release, produced with a full orchestra, marked a milestone in showcasing Placebo's versatility during their 20th anniversary celebrations.^[12][13][14] Placebo's 2023 Placebo Live box set, released December 15 by SO Recordings, compiles three distinct live audio recordings from their Never Let Me Go tour, marking the band's first comprehensive live collection. This multi-disc format includes vinyl, CD, and Blu-ray elements, with bonus footage and an exclusive poster, highlighting career-spanning sets that blend new material with classics. The set captures the band's post-pandemic touring resurgence.^[9][15]

• Collapse Into Never – Live in Europe 2023: Recorded July 29, 2023, at Ciudad Deportiva Guillermo Amor in Benidorm, Spain, this 19-track double vinyl features energetic crowd participation, such as extended choruses in "The Bitter End" and a medley-like "Scene of the Crime" reprise. Key tracks include live debuts of Never Let Me Go songs with fuller band arrangements. It peaked at No. 71 on the UK Album Downloads Chart. Track listing highlights: "Forever Chemicals" (5:08), "Beautiful James" (4:01), "Bionic" (4:22), "Loud Like Love" (5:16), "The Bitter End" (3:35). Full list available via SO Recordings.^[16][17]
• This Is What You Wanted – Live in Mexico City: From April 17, 2023, at Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, this 20-track set emphasizes Latin American tour highlights, with prolonged intros in "Chemtrails" (over six minutes) and high-energy transitions. It includes opener "Opening Titles" (instrumental) and closes with covers like "Running Up That Hill." No individual chart data, but part of the box set's acclaim. Track listing highlights: "Forever Chemicals" (5:10), "Hugz" (4:38), "Try Better Next Time" (4:35), "Fix Yourself" (4:12), "Shout" (5:50).^[18][19]
• Live From the White Room: A seven-track CD recorded at Twickenham Studios in London, focusing on acoustic-infused Never Let Me Go selections with minimal audience, presented as a TV special. Notable for intimate deliveries, like the piano-driven "Surrounded By Spies." Track listing: "Beautiful James" (3:58), "Fix Yourself" (3:30), "Happy Birthday in the Sky" (4:10), "Sad White Reggae" (3:25), "Surrounded By Spies" (4:20), "Try Better Next Time" (4:15), "Chemtrails" (5:30). No separate chart entry.^[20][15]

In 2025, the deluxe box set This Search for Meaning, released October 3 by SO Recordings, incorporates the This Is What You Wanted – Live in Mexico City audio CDs alongside a documentary film and bonus tracks from Never Let Me Go. Tied to the band's 30th anniversary and a reflective tour documentary, it reissues the Mexico performance in a four-disc format with enhanced production, including surround sound mixes, but adds no new live recordings. This edition underscores Placebo's enduring live legacy without new chart data as of late 2025.^[21][22]

Compilation albums

Placebo's compilation albums serve as retrospective collections that aggregate key tracks from their studio discography, often highlighting singles, covers, and rarities to celebrate milestones in the band's career. These releases provide fans with curated overviews of their evolution, distinct from full-length studio or live albums by emphasizing thematic or chronological selections rather than new original material. The band's compilations have included greatest hits packages, cover song anthologies, and deluxe box sets incorporating unreleased content, reflecting their alternative rock legacy spanning over two decades. The first major compilation, Once More with Feeling: Singles 1996–2004, was released on 25 October 2004 by Virgin Records.^[23] This single-disc collection focuses on the band's early singles from their debut through Meds, featuring 19 tracks including radio edits and the new songs "I Do" and "Twenty Years," selected to chronicle their chart success and tenth anniversary. Available in CD, vinyl, and digital formats, it peaked at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart, spending 15 weeks in the top 100, and achieved Platinum certification in the UK for sales exceeding 300,000 units.^[23][24] It also received Gold certification in Mexico for 50,000 units.^[25] In 2003, Placebo issued Covers as a limited-edition bonus disc accompanying the special edition of Sleeping with Ghosts, released on 22 September by Hut Records.^[26] This 10-track compilation gathers the band's interpretations of songs by artists such as Kate Bush ("Running Up That Hill"), the Pixies ("Where Is My Mind?"), and the Smiths ("Bigmouth Strikes Again"), chosen for their personal resonance and to showcase Placebo's stylistic range outside original compositions. Initially available only in CD format with the album bundle, it was reissued as a standalone album on 5 March 2007 by Virgin Records in CD and later color vinyl editions.^[27] The release did not achieve significant standalone chart positions but contributed to the promotional success of Sleeping with Ghosts, which topped charts in several European countries. No major certifications were awarded to Covers.^[28] A Place for Us to Dream, released on 7 October 2016 by Universal Music, marks the band's 20th anniversary with a two-disc (or four-LP box set) retrospective spanning 36 tracks.^[28] Curated to include hit singles like "Pure Morning" and "Every You Every Me," B-sides, and the new track "Jesus' Son," it draws from their entire catalog up to Loud Like Love to provide an archival overview of their alternative rock trajectory. Formats include double CD, limited-edition colored vinyl box set, and digital, with the vinyl emphasizing collectible appeal through 180-gram pressings. The album peaked at number 18 on the UK Albums Chart.^[29] No certifications have been reported for this release. Updating their archival efforts post-Never Let Me Go (2022), Placebo released the four-disc deluxe box set This Search for Meaning on 3 October 2025 via SO Recordings.^[22] This career-spanning collection combines remastered tracks, live recordings, and unreleased material, serving as a celebratory overview of their three-decade journey. It features the full documentary film This Search for Meaning on Blu-ray and DVD, a CD of the live album This Is What You Wanted capturing performances from their 2022-2023 tour, and a remastered edition of Never Let Me Go with bonus tracks including previously unreleased rarities. Available exclusively in a six-panel digipak slipcase format with Blu-ray, DVD, and two CDs, it highlights the band's enduring impact without entering major album charts as of late 2025, prioritizing archival depth over commercial singles focus.^[30][31]

Non-album releases

Extended plays

Placebo's extended plays have primarily functioned as promotional tools and creative outlets between full-length albums, often featuring B-sides, remixes, covers, and live recordings to engage fans and introduce the band's sound to new audiences. These releases, typically containing 4 to 8 tracks, helped fill gaps in the discography during periods of touring or album production, such as the early promotional efforts in Japan and the U.S.-focused introductory EP in 2007. Unlike their studio albums, EPs emphasized experimentation with covers and non-album material, bridging the gap to subsequent records like Without You I'm Nothing (1998) or Loud Like Love (2013). No new EPs have been released since 2016, with the band's focus shifting to studio albums and compilations through 2025.^[1] The band's debut EP, a split release titled Bruise Pristine / M.E.L.T.D.O.W.N., emerged in 1995 as an early showcase before their self-titled album. Issued by Fierce Panda Records in a limited 7" vinyl format, it paired Placebo's "Bruise Pristine" with a track from the band Soup, highlighting the raw alternative rock style that defined their initial sound. This promo-style EP did not chart independently but served as a crucial stepping stone, introducing key tracks that later appeared on the debut album. Track listing:

1. Bruise Pristine
2. M.E.L.T.D.O.W.N. (by Soup).^[32]

In 1997, Placebo released the Japan-exclusive Nancy Boy EP through Virgin Records, a mini-album format CD aimed at promoting their breakthrough single and debut album in the Asian market. Limited to 7 tracks, it included radio edits, non-album B-sides, and a cover of The Smiths' "Bigmouth Strikes Again," offering unique content not widely available elsewhere. Formats were CD only, with no independent chart performance noted, though it supported the single's international push. Track listing:

1. Nancy Boy (Radio Edit)
2. Bruise Pristine (Radio Edit)
3. Bigmouth Strikes Again
4. Eyesight to the Blind
5. Miss Moneypenny
6. Swallow (Hush Mix)
7. Hug Bubble (Brad Wood Remix).^[33]

The Covers EP, a 2003 promotional 12" vinyl tied to the Sleeping with Ghosts era, featured four reinterpretations of influential tracks, released in a limited edition by Hut Records. This EP underscored Placebo's affinity for glam and alternative influences, with no commercial chart entry but significant fan appeal for its exclusive recordings. Track listing:

1. Where Is My Mind? (Pixies cover)
2. Bigmouth Strikes Again (The Smiths cover)
3. I Feel You (Depeche Mode cover)
4. Johnny and Mary (Robert Palmer cover).^[34]

Extended Play '07, issued in 2007 by Virgin Records as a U.S.-only CD, acted as an entry point for new listeners amid the Meds tour cycle. Spanning 8 tracks, it compiled radio edits of one single from each prior album plus three live performances, including a cover of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill." Available in CD format, it did not chart but boosted visibility during their Projekt Revolution Tour appearance. Track listing:

1. Nancy Boy (Radio Edit)
2. Every You Every Me (Single Mix)
3. Taste in Men (Radio Edit)
4. The Bitter End
5. Meds (feat. Alison Mosshart)
6. Nancy Boy (Live)
7. Meds (Live)
8. Running Up That Hill (Live, Kate Bush cover).^[35]

The 2012 B3 EP on Vertigo Records marked a return to original material post-Battle for the Sun, released in digital and vinyl formats with 5 tracks blending new compositions and B-sides. It filled the gap before Loud Like Love, emphasizing electronic and rock fusion without notable chart success. Track listing:

1. B3
2. I Know You Want to Stop (Minxus cover)
3. The Extra
4. I.K.W.Y.L.
5. Time Is Money.^[36]

Finally, Life's What You Make It (2016, Elevator Music) was a digital-first EP commemorating the 20th anniversary of their debut, featuring covers and live cuts in CD and vinyl editions. With 6 tracks on vinyl, it connected to the retrospective compilation A Place for Us to Dream, highlighting acoustic reinterpretations but no independent charting. Track listing (vinyl edition):

1. Life's What You Make It (Talk Talk cover)
2. Jesus' Son (Nick Cave cover)
3. Twenty Years (Piano Version Live at Evening Urgant Moscow 2016)
4. LSD (Live)
5. English Summer Rain (Live)
6. Autoluminescent (Rowland S. Howard cover).^[37]

Singles

Placebo has released 33 official singles since 1996, primarily to promote their studio albums, with additional standalone and cover versions contributing to their catalog. These releases have been issued in various formats, including 7" vinyl, CD, cassette, and digital downloads, often accompanied by B-sides featuring exclusive tracks, remixes, or live recordings. Many singles achieved commercial success, particularly in Europe, where the band has a strong fanbase; for instance, "Nancy Boy" topped the Finnish Singles Chart and reached number 15 in France, while "Pure Morning" peaked at number 11 in Australia and number 4 in Italy. In the UK, several singles earned certifications, such as "Every You Every Me," which was awarded Silver by the BPI for sales exceeding 200,000 units. Unique releases include cover versions like the Kate Bush song "Running Up That Hill" (2008), which featured remixes and peaked at number 44 on the UK Singles Chart, and the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?" (2015) from their MTV Unplugged album, released as a digital single with no UK chart entry but significant streaming impact. Promotional singles, such as "The Never-Ending Story" (2009) for the film soundtrack, and remix editions, like the 12" vinyl versions of "Slave to the Wage" (2000), highlight the band's experimental approach to single promotions. No new singles have been released since 2022, though the 2025 deluxe box set This Search for Meaning includes unreleased bonus tracks and rarities from prior sessions but no fresh material. The following table lists all official singles chronologically, including release date, parent album (or note if non-album or cover), formats, selected B-sides, UK Singles Chart peak (where applicable), and notable international peaks or certifications. Chart data is sourced from the Official Charts Company; formats and B-sides from Discogs; certifications from BPI records. Non-charting UK singles (post-2009) are noted as such, reflecting the shift to digital streaming where traditional chart entry became less common.

Video releases

DVDs

Placebo's official DVD releases primarily consist of live concert films and documentaries that capture the band's performances and creative evolution. These video products complement their touring history, offering fans visual documentation of key moments from their career. The band's first major DVD came during the promotion of their 2003 album Sleeping with Ghosts, followed by a compilation of visuals and a later live recording from their 2010 world tour. In 2025, they released their second feature-length documentary, marking a reflective phase in their discography. The debut live DVD, Soulmates Never Die: Live in Paris 2003, was recorded on October 18, 2003, at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy during the European leg of the Sleeping with Ghosts tour. Released on March 15, 2004, by Virgin Records and Elevator Music in the UK, with subsequent North American distribution, it features a full 21-song concert setlist spanning their catalog up to that point, including tracks like "Bulletproof... Cupid" and "Special Needs," with a runtime of approximately 100 minutes for the main performance. Special features include behind-the-scenes footage of the band's preparations and post-show interactions, multi-angle viewing options for select songs, and interviews with band members Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal, and Steve Forrest. The DVD was directed by Russell Thomas and produced to highlight the band's energetic stage presence in front of a sold-out crowd of over 17,000.^[38] In 2004, Placebo also issued Once More with Feeling: Videos 1996-2004, a promotional DVD companion to their singles compilation of the same name, released on October 25 by Elevator Music. This collection compiles 17 music videos from their early career, such as "Nancy Boy" and "Pure Morning," presented in chronological order with a total runtime of about 129 minutes, including director commentaries and alternate versions for some clips. It serves as a visual retrospective of their rise from 1996's self-titled debut to the Sleeping with Ghosts era, emphasizing their evolving aesthetic in alternative rock visuals. The DVD was packaged in a limited-edition slipcase and targeted fans seeking a non-concert video overview. We Come in Pieces, released on October 31, 2011, in Europe by Eagle Vision (with U.S. distribution following on November 1), documents a live performance at London's Brixton Academy on September 28, 2010, as the finale of the Battle for the Sun world tour. The main concert footage runs 109 minutes and includes 20 tracks, with 15 making their DVD debut, such as "Ashtray Heart" and "Bright Lights," captured in high-definition with dynamic multi-camera setups to showcase the band's theatrical live energy. The deluxe edition adds a second disc with the 60-minute behind-the-scenes documentary Coming Up for Air, which follows the tour across 10 countries, plus six bonus live performances from various shows. The live concert was directed by Paul Shyvers, with the tour documentary directed by Charlie Targett-Adams and additional bonus content by Andreas Nilsson, highlighting the lineup's chemistry post-Steve Hewitt's departure.^[39] Placebo's most recent DVD release, This Search for Meaning, arrived on October 3, 2025, via SO Recordings and Elevator Music as part of a four-disc deluxe collection that includes Blu-ray, DVD, and two audio CDs. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Oscar Sansom, this feature-length documentary (runtime approximately 90 minutes) explores the band's lyrical themes, personal struggles, and artistic growth over three decades, featuring interviews with Molko and Olsdal, archival footage, and performances from their 2022 Never Let Me Go tour. Special features encompass unreleased live recordings from Mexico City in 2023, bonus tracks, and a digital booklet with reflections on their evolution. Tied to the promotion of their 2022 album Never Let Me Go, it provides conceptual depth rather than straight concert footage, addressing gaps in visual documentation from recent tours with no additional live DVDs announced as of late 2025. In October 2025, official live performance clips from the documentary, including "Surrounded by Spies" filmed at Twickenham Studios on October 1, 2025, were released as promotional content.^[40]

Music videos

Placebo's music videos serve as a visual extension of the band's alternative rock aesthetic, frequently incorporating themes of androgyny, surrealism, and emotional introspection to complement their singles. Since their debut single in 1996, the band has released music videos for the majority of their 33 singles, resulting in over 30 official promotional videos as of 2025, with production evolving from gritty, low-budget indie efforts in the late 1990s to more polished, narrative-driven works post-2000. These videos have garnered recognition, including nominations at major awards, highlighting their artistic impact alongside the audio releases. The band's early music videos emphasized raw energy and visual experimentation on limited budgets, often shot in simple studio settings to capture their glam-influenced, post-grunge style. For instance, the video for "Nancy Boy" (1997), directed by Howard Greenhalgh, features the band performing amid flashing lights and colorful backdrops, employing trippy, psychedelic imagery to underscore themes of gender fluidity and rebellion.^[41][42] Similarly, "Teenage Angst" (1997), also directed by Greenhalgh, adopts a minimalist approach with distorted visuals and live performance elements, reflecting the DIY ethos of their independent label origins. As Placebo's commercial success grew with albums like Without You I'm Nothing (1998), their videos incorporated higher production values, surreal narratives, and collaborations with acclaimed directors. The video for "Every You Every Me" (1999), directed by Matthew Amos and filmed live at London's Brixton Academy, uses mirrored reflections and reversed footage to evoke themes of duality and obsession, earning a nomination for Best British Video at the 1999 Brit Awards.^[43] Howard Greenhalgh returned for several key videos in this era, including "Slave to the Wage" (2000), shot on a modest budget in urban locations to depict themes of addiction and excess through shadowy, noir-inspired cinematography. "Special K" (2001), another Greenhalgh project, blends performance footage with abstract animations, exploring drug culture and euphoria in a style that marked a shift toward more conceptual storytelling. In the 2000s and 2010s, Placebo's videos reflected maturing themes like relationships and societal critique, with increased budgets enabling international shoots and special effects. "Infra-Red" (2006), directed by Robert Hales, was filmed in Prague's historic sites, using dramatic lighting and slow-motion sequences to convey isolation and desire, produced on a mid-range budget typical of their major-label era. The video for "Too Many Friends" (2013), directed by Saman Kesh, adopts a black-and-white aesthetic with social media overlays to satirize digital overload, earning a nomination for the Grand Jury Award in the Music Video category at the 2014 SXSW Film Festival.^[44][45] Later works like "Loud Like Love" (2014), directed by Kesh and shot in Los Angeles, featured a $20,000 budget for its mirrored party scene and destructive climax, symbolizing fractured relationships through high-production surrealism.^[46][47] The band's most recent videos, tied to the 2022 album Never Let Me Go, continue this evolution with introspective visuals amid environmental motifs. "Beautiful James," directed by Gregg Houston and released in late 2021, employs soft lighting and intimate close-ups in studio settings to explore loss and vulnerability, maintaining a contemplative tone without extravagant effects.^[48] By 2025, additional visual content emerged through live performance clips filmed at Twickenham Studios for the documentary This Search for Meaning, including renditions of "Surrounded by Spies" and "Beautiful James," which function as promotional extras blending concert energy with thematic depth.^[49][50] Overall, Placebo's videography demonstrates a progression from experimental minimalism to sophisticated narratives, consistently amplifying the emotional core of their discography.