The Chemical Brothers

The Chemical Brothers brought big beat from club culture into the pop mainstream, pairing dense breakbeats, acid-house textures and psychedelic detail with hooks built for large rooms. Formed in Manchester in 1992 by Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands, the English duo initially performed as The Dust Brothers before changing their name to avoid confusion with the American production team of the same name.

Their debut album, Exit Planet Dust, sold more than one million copies and entered the UK Albums Chart at number nine. After signing to Virgin Records, they followed it with Dig Your Own Hole in 1997 and Surrender in 1999, both of which reached number one in the UK. The run established the pair as central figures in late-1990s electronic music, while their singles “Setting Sun” and “Block Rockin’ Beats” each reached number one on the UK singles chart.

Later albums broadened the duo’s approach beyond big beat. Come with Us (2003), Push the Button (2005) and We Are the Night (2007) all topped the UK albums chart, bringing neo-psychedelic, house and pop elements into their production. Their records have regularly featured guest vocalists, including Noel Gallagher, Beth Orton, Bernard Sumner, Q-Tip, St. Vincent, Beck and Aurora. Aurora later joined Rowlands in the supergroup Tomora.

Across their career, The Chemical Brothers have scored 13 UK top-20 singles and won six Grammy Awards. Those include Best Rock Instrumental Performance for “Block Rockin’ Beats,” Best Dance Recording for “Galvanize,” and Best Dance/Electronic Album for No Geography (2018).