Jonathan Train - Calling All Angels
I need a sign, to that blonde girl from Bleecker Street, Red Lion Sat 12:34 we had a moment...
Out to LA Radiohead - High and Dry
💙 For That Someone Who'll Know It's for Them “I'm not putting their name here because they'll know exactly who they are when they hear it!!!
Michelle Foo Fighters - Times Like These
🖤 For Anyone Having a Rough Week “To anybody who's had one of those weeks where nothing seems to go right...
Bastille began as one songwriter’s bedroom project and became one of the biggest British bands of the 2010s. Dan Smith’s mix of chanting choruses, cinematic synths, history and pop culture references produced “Pompeii,” one of the most streamed alternative songs of its decade, and a career built on genre-hopping curiosity.
Bastille at a glance
Formed
2010, London
Long-time members
Dan Smith (vocals, songwriting), Kyle Simmons (keyboards), Will Farquarson (bass, guitar), Chris “Woody” Wood (drums)
Genres
Indie pop, alternative rock, electronic pop
Breakthrough
Bad Blood (2013)
Name
From Bastille Day, July 14, Dan Smith’s birthday
Formation
Dan Smith had been writing and recording songs on his own when he recruited friends to play them live. The band took its name from Bastille Day, which falls on Smith’s birthday. Early self-released singles and constant gigging around London led to a deal with Virgin Records.
The albums
Bad Blood (2013)
A U.K. No. 1 album and a worldwide success, thanks to “Pompeii,” with its wordless chant and story of the ancient city frozen in time. “Things We Lost in the Fire,” “Laura Palmer” and “Of the Night” kept the hits coming. Bastille won the BRIT Award for British Breakthrough Act in 2014.
Wild World (2016)
Bigger and more guitar-heavy, with “Good Grief” and “Send Them Off!”
Doom Days (2019)
A concept album set over one night out at a party as the world falls apart, with “Joy” and “Those Nights.”
Give Me the Future (2022)
A science-fiction concept album about escaping into technology and imagination, with “Distorted Light Beam” and “Thelma + Louise.”
Between albums, Bastille released popular mixtapes and collaborations, most famously “Happier” with Marshmello (2018), one of the biggest singles of that year.
Dan Smith
Smith is a film and literature obsessive, and his lyrics constantly reference movies, myths and history. His voice, often stacked into choral harmonies, is the band’s signature.
Legacy
Bastille helped define the 2010s crossover between alternative rock and electronic pop, alongside The 1975 and Imagine Dragons. Their willingness to collaborate across genres has kept them current, and “Pompeii” remains a staple of alternative radio.
About this article: Written and fact-checked by The Alternative One editorial team, the programmers and music writers behind the station’s on-air shows. Official artist website: www.bastillebastille.com. Last reviewed October 2, 2026. Read our editorial standards or tell us about a correction.
Have a favorite song that deserves another spin? Looking to share a track with friends, family, or someone special? Send us your request, and we'll do our best to feature it on the air.
