The Rapture were an indie rock band based in New York City. The band's final
line-up consisted of lead vocalist/guitarist Luke Jenner,
drummer/percussionist Vito Roccoforte and keyboardistbassist/percussionist
Gabriel Andruzzi. The band mixed influences from many genres including
post-punk, acid house, disco, electronica and rock, pioneering the
post-punk revival genre. They were forerunners of the post-punk revival of
the early 2000s, as they mixed their early post-punk sound with electronic
and dance elements. History
= Formation, Mirror and Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks=
In 1998, drummer Vito Roccoforte and guitarist/vocalist Luke Jenner formed
the Rapture. They released a single, "The Chair That Squeaks", on Hymnal
Sound that same year. After heavy touring, they released a debut
mini-album, Mirror, on Gravity Records in 1999. Bassist Matt Safer joined the
band prior to the 2001 release of the six-song EP Out of the Races and Onto
the Tracks on the Sub Pop label. = Echoes=
With the help of the DFA production team, the band released "House of
Jealous Lovers" in 2002 and eventually released their first full-length album
Echoes. The album secured two Top 40 singles in the UK and also was met with
critical acclaim, being awarded Album of the Year by pitchforkmedia.com and
runner up in NME only to the White Stripes. Gabriel Andruzzi joined the
band full-time after the record was completed to help tour.
In the wake of the success of "House of Jealous Lovers", The Rapture opened for
the Sex Pistols in a football stadium in England, and underwent a large major
bidding war eventually signing with Vertigo Records out of the UK and
Strummer Records both owned by Universal Music.
In January 2004, the Rapture toured with Franz Ferdinand on the NME Awards Tour.
Later that year, the band toured on the main stage of the Curiosa Festival
alongside Interpol, Mogwai, and The Cure.
The album's main song, Echoes, was used as opening for the British series
Misfits. = Pieces of the People We Love=
The Rapture released their second full-length album, Pieces of the People
We Love, on Universal Motown Records in September 2006 after Strummer folded.
Paul Epworth, Ewan Pearson and Danger Mouse produced the album. Recorded
mostly in New York city at Sear Sound but also recorded a few songs in Los
Angeles to work with Danger Mouse. The bulk of the recording being handled by
Epworth and Pearson. The title track features Cee Lo Green on backing vocals.
The Rapture also toured with Daft Punk on the North American leg of their tour
in 2007. Playing such venues as Red Rocks in Colorado, and the Greek Theatre
in Berkeley California. In an interview with Dave Owen of Access
All Areas and I Can't Breathe Media Luke Jenner stated that Justin Timberlake
originally sang on the track "No Sex For Ben": "We were recording with Timbaland,
'cause he beatboxes on the track and Justin was upstairs with Duran Duran and
he came down and sang on the track, but when we got it back from the label
someone had removed JT's vocals." In 2008, Luke Jenner left the band in
the wake of his mother's death and son's birth. After a few months he returned to
the band. On July 14, 2009 on The Rapture's
official website they announced that bassist Mattie Safer decided to leave
the band and add "We are sad to see him go but it seems it is the best for all
of us." The Rapture have been working on new material since Safer's departure in
their Brooklyn studio. In the days following Matt's departure Dave Owen
caught up with Luke Jenner who said that the split was amicable.
In August 2011, The Rapture first appeared on the cover of the publication
The FADER, in its 75th issue. = In the Grace of Your Love and split=
The Rapture released In The Grace of Your Love on DFA Records on September 6,
2011 in the U.S. and September 5 in Europe while Modular released the album
in Australia and New Zealand. Phoenix producer/Cassius member Philippe
Zdar produced the record, which the Rapture recorded in Brooklyn and Paris.
In 2014, a press release for the Red Bull Music Academy tribute to William
Onyeabor featured Luke Jenner as one of the acts participating. In the press
release, Jenner was tagged with the brackets "formerly of The Rapture." It
was unconfirmed by Jonathan Galkin, manager of DFA records, that the band
had split. Use in popular culture
"Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks" featured in the film adaptation of Bret
Easton Ellis novel The Rules Of Attraction.
The song "Echoes" plays in a scene of the film Superbad and is the opening
theme for the E4 television series Misfits .
The song "The Devil" plays in a scene during the episode "Rocket Club" in the
television series Aliens in America. Their song, "Whoo! Alright, Yeah…Uh Huh"
is the official anthem for New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer. The same
song is used on the EA sports game Madden 2007, under the name "W.A.Y.U.H"
"The Sound" was featured in the video game Need for Speed: ProStreet, the song
was also used in an episode of CSI in 2007.
"No Sex for Ben" is featured in The Music of Grand Theft Auto IV a
soundtrack that is bundled with the special edition version of Grand Theft
Auto IV. This song was number 26 on Rolling Stone‍ '​s list of the 100 Best
Songs of 2008. The song was also featured on the third season premiere of
Gossip Girl and was a major hit in Australia.
The song "How Deep Is Your Love?" is used in an episode of the British teen
drama Skins in 2012. "House of Jealous Lovers" is featured in
the NBA2K15 video game. "Pieces of the People We Love" is used
as the opening track for "Tales from the Borderlands" Episode 3 - Catch A Ride.
Discography = Albums=
Mirror Gravity Echoes DFAUniversal
Pieces of the People We Love Universal/Vertigo
In the Grace of Your Love DFA = Extended plays=
Out of the Races and Onto the Tracks Sub Pop
= Compilation albums= Tapes !K7
Mixtape with songs chosen by the band = Singles=
References External links
The Rapture official website MC Steinberg interviews The Rapture on
New York Noise August 2011 Pitchfork interview with The
Rapture September 2011 Spin Magazine interview
with The Rapture