While Molko was brought up in a strict household that disapproved of artistic expression (his father wanted him to become a banker) he rebelled by affecting an androgynous image, wearing nail polish, lipstick and eyeliner, and listening to punk and glam rock. In his late teens, he came out as bisexual.
Molko and Stefan Olsdal both attended the International School of Luxembourg in Luxembourg, but they were never friends. When Molko moved to London to study drama at Goldsmiths College, where he graduated with a degree, he met Olsdal at South Kensington Tube Station. Molko invited Olsdal to one of his gigs in a club, which he played with Steve Hewitt. Olsdal was impressed with Molko's voice, and together they formed Ashtray Heart; eventually they changed the name to Placebo. Together with drummer Robert Schultzberg (a friend of Olsdal's from Sweden) performed together in 1996. Schultzberg did not fit in the band, however, and was soon replaced with Steve Hewitt, who played on Placebo's demo tracks.
Molko's musical influences include David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Dead Kennedys, Bad Religion, Sonic Youth, PJ Harvey, Nick Drake, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joy Division, The Cure and The Pixies. Molko taught himself to play guitar. At the age of 16 he got a Telecaster replica as a present from his parents. Soon After, he bought a real telecaster. He plays other instruments such as bass, harmonica, keyboard, saxophone, drums and turntables. Occasionally, Molko works as a disc jockey at clubs, he's definately not very good at it. Nowadays Molko listens to electro-clash artist Peaches, his old favourite, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and many others.
Along with Hewitt and Olsdal, he had a small role in the 1998 film Velvet Goldmine, for which Placebo performed the T. Rex song 20th Century Boy. He played Malcolm, a singer of the fictional glam rock band, The Flaming Creatures.
In 2005, Molko's long-term partner, Helena Berg, gave birth to his first child, Cody. He said he named the child after his long-time friend who died in a car accident.
He has performed as a guest vocalist on tracks by:
Timo Maas - Pictures, Like Siamese and First Day
Alpinestars - Carbon Kid
Trash Palace - The Metric System, Je t'aime, moi non plus (duet with Asia Argento)
the AC Acoustics - Crush
Kristeen Young - No Other God
Dream City Film Club - Some
Jane Birkin - Smile.
He also wrote the English lyrics to 'Pink water' version 3, a song by Indochine from the album that is due to be released at the end of 2006. Molko is friends with David Bowie, with whom he sang Placebo's Without You I'm Nothing and 20th Century Boy live. He has used a Fender Jaguar, Fender Thinline Telecaster, Gibson SG in the past and currently plays Gretsch guitars .
He lives in London but frequently travels to Paris.
The April 17th, 2007 Placebo show in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Sokol Auditorium was canceled after Molko was rushed to the emergency room after fighting flu symptoms for a number of days. The band has promised to re-schedule that show near the end of the summer.
Crush
Brian Molko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because I know him
Go there for him
Go there first
I'll wait for him
Because I owe him
Go there for him
Because I must
Go there for him
I'll wait for you
Go there first
My place is nowhere
My name is cursed
Before you come here
Call friends and family first
There's a reason for this
I am, I am, I am
I'm crushed you saw this
I am, I am, I am
There's a reason for this
I am, I am, I am
Now no one lives here
Not even dust
The ones swept through here
More crushed than us
There's something in here
It's not just lust
If someone lives here
It's given liken first
There's a reason for this
There's a reason for this
I am, I am, I am
I'm crushed you saw this
I am, I am, I am
There's a reason for this
I am, I am, I am
Seen all kinds of things here
I've heard things said
We wear no shoes here
We share no bread
I left my friends here
Some things still dead and done
Before you come here
Call home instead
There's a reason for this
I am, I am, I am
I'm crushed you saw this
I am, I am, I am
There's a reason for this
I am, I am, I am
There's a reason for this
I am, I am, I am
I'm crushed you saw this
I am, I am, I am
There's a reason for this
I am, I am, I am
The lyrics to Brian Molko's song "Crush" are enigmatic and evocative. The song is a first-person narrative that is both introspective and cryptic at the same time. The singer is waiting for someone, and they are doing so for several reasons, but they do not clarify who this person is, nor why it is so important for them to be there. The song also alludes to the existence of an "inside" that only a select few can enter. This inside is mysterious and has a hold over the singer. They describe it as a place where no one lives "not even dust," and the ones who do enter it are "more crushed than us."
Despite the absence of clarity, there is a poignant sense of urgency in the rasping vocals of Molko. The song seems to speak of a profound sense of loss, perhaps of the loss of innocence, of a place that was once beautiful, vibrant, and full of life, but is now nothing more than an empty shell. There is a feeling of longing, an ache for something that is just beyond the grasp of the singer, and this feeling is expressed beautifully in the repeating refrain of "There's a reason for this/I am, I am, I am/I'm crushed you saw this/I am, I am, I am." Overall, the song is about memory, loss, and longing, and it is a visceral and cathartic listen.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll wait for him
I'll be patient and remain here until he arrives.
Because I know him
I understand and am familiar with who he is.
Go there for him
I'll go to him wherever he is.
Go there first
I'll be the first to arrive at his location.
Because I owe him
I feel responsible for him in some way and need to assist him.
Because I must
I have an obligation to help him, regardless of any personal inconvenience.
I'll wait for you
I'll be here, patiently waiting for your arrival.
My place is nowhere
I don't belong anywhere specific.
My name is cursed
My reputation has been tarnished and spoken of negatively.
Before you come here
Prior to coming to my location,
Call friends and family first
please reach out to your loved ones before coming here.
There's a reason for this
There is purpose behind my actions and behavior.
I'm crushed you saw this
I feel defeated and overwhelmed that you have witnessed this.
Now no one lives here
No one currently resides in this space.
Not even dust
It's so vacant that even dust isn't present.
The ones swept through here
Those who have passed through here.
More crushed than us
Those individuals felt more overwhelmed and defeated in this space than we do.
There's something in here
This contains an intangible feeling or presence.
It's not just lust
This emotional presence is something deeper than just physical attraction.
If someone lives here
If there is someone who resides in this space,
It's given liken first
they must have a strong inclination or bond to the space before living here.
Seen all kinds of things here
I have experienced and been exposed to a variety of events in this space.
I've heard things said
I have been told various pieces of information while in this space.
We wear no shoes here
In this space, we embrace a casual and relaxed environment.
We share no bread
We do not engage in traditional acts of hospitality in this space.
I left my friends here
I have previously abandoned my social circle in this space.
Some things still dead and done
Certain events that occurred in this space have been left in the past and cannot be changed.
There's a reason for this
There is an underlying justification for my feelings and decisions.
I am
I exist and am present in this space and time.
I'm crushed you saw this
I feel defeated and overwhelmed that you have witnessed this.
There's a reason for this
There is purpose behind my actions and behavior.
Contributed by Adeline V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
frihed
Really well done! The beginning especially was amazing!