Howling Bells | |
|---|---|
 Howling Bells, The Tuning Fork, September 2014 From left to right: Joel Stein, Glenn Moule, Juanita Stein, Gary Daines | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | Indie rock |
| Years active |
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| Labels | Bella Union, Liberation, Independiente, Play It Again Sam, Hostess, Nettwerk, Cooking Vinyl, Birthday Records |
| Past members | Juanita Stein Joel Stein Glenn Moule Gary Daines Brendan Picchio |
| Website | howlingbells |
Howling Bells are an Australian indie rock band that formed in Sydney in 2004. The band obtained popularity following the release of its 2006 self-titled debut album. The lineup consists of Juanita Stein (vocals, rhythm guitar), Glenn Moule (drums), Juanita's brother Joel Stein (lead guitar), and Gary Daines (bass guitar).
Originally called Waikiki, the band changed its name and musical style preceding its move from Australia to England. Howling Bells' debut album, Howling Bells, was produced by Ken Nelson. The album charted in the Top 100 in the UK and just outside the Top 50 in Australia, and it was included on Album of the Year lists for a number of publications. The band's next release, Radio Wars (2009), received mixed reviews, although it charted higher than its predecessor in both the UK and Australia. The band supported Coldplay on the third leg of the North American Viva la Vida Tour. In 2009, Gigwise named Juanita Stein "the sexiest woman in rock." Their third album, The Loudest Engine (2011), received largely favourable reviews but underperformed on the charts in comparison to the bands' two prior releases. In 2011, original Howling Bells bass guitarist, Brendan Picchio, left the band. Their fourth album, Heartstrings, was released in June 2014.
Howling Bells have been labelled as "melodic blues" and "country-goth." They were influenced by The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, and were often compared to Mazzy Star and The Velvet Underground.