Northern Irish and Scottish alternative rock band Snow Patrol, formed in Dundee, Scotland in 1994. The band's first three records were released by independent labels and were commercially unsuccessful. Having moved to a major label, they released their 2003 album
Final Straw which crossed quadruple platinum sales in the UK. The band achieved huge success in 2006 with
Eyes Open, which sold 4.7 million copies worldwide. Snow Patrol has been nominated for three BRIT Awards and has won five Meteor Ireland Music Awards. Worldwide, the band has sold over 7 million albums.
One year later, with a successful North America run under their belt and the mainstream appeal of
Chasing Cars maintaining the band's presence on American radio,
Eyes Open was certified gold in the United States and later rose to platinum status. Snow Patrol also became the first U.K. rock act in 13 years to break into the Top Five of the Billboard singles charts, a feat they sought to revisit with the release of 2008's
A Hundred Million Suns. Led by the single
Take Back the City, the album features a more positive and romantic mood, something that Gary Lightbody had consciously avoided in the past.
Originally an indie rock band, Snow Patrol have sought a more emotional, alternative rock and power pop sound in recent years on the heels of mainstream success with the songs
Chocolate,
Run,
Chasing Cars.
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