Fightstar

Fightstar
Frontman Charlie Simpson (left) and bassist Dan Haigh in 2010
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Post-hardcore alternative rock emo alternative metal
Discography	Fightstar discography
Years active	2003–2010 2014–2015 2023–present
Labels	PIAS Gut Island Trustkill Deep Elm
Spinoffs	Gunship
Spinoff of	Busted
Members	Charlie Simpson Alex Westaway Dan Haigh Omar Abidi
Website	fightstarmusic.com

Fightstar are a British rock band from London that formed in 2003. The band is composed of lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Charlie Simpson, guitarist and co-vocalist Alex Westaway, bassist Dan Haigh and drummer Omar Abidi. Generally considered a post-hardcore band as a whole, Fightstar are known to incorporate metal, alternative rock and other genres into their sound. Their 2005 debut EP, They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, was released in 2005 and was a critical success.

The band released their debut studio album, Grand Unification, the following year; Kerrang! editor Paul Brannigan called it "one of the best British rock albums of the last decade".^[1] Fightstar received a nomination for Best British Band at the 2006 Kerrang! Awards before releasing their second album, One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours, in 2007. A compilation album including B-sides and rarities, Alternate Endings, was released the following year. The band self-funded and co-produced their third album, Be Human (2009), which featured orchestral and choral elements. It was their highest-charting album, peaking at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart.

Fightstar went on hiatus in 2010, allowing its members to concentrate on other projects. Fightstar reunited in 2014 and released their fourth studio album, Behind the Devil's Back, the following year. The record added electronic elements to their eclectic sound. All of their four studio albums charted in the top 40 and received critical praise.^[2] In November 2015, Fightstar once again went on hiatus.

On 6 November 2023, Fightstar announced they would be returning for a one-off headline show at OVO Arena Wembley in March 2024 to mark the band's twenty year anniversary.