Enjoy ‘Nancy Boy’ below. Visit Placebo at their official site. MP3 at bottom.

MP3: Placebo – Drag

Placebo – Because I Want You (Bloc Party Remix)

The Meds single goes under the knife.

Read about drummer Steve Hewitt’s recent departure here.

MP3: Placebo – Because I Want You (BP Remix) [alt link]

Enjoy an acoustic version of their 1999 single, ‘Every You Every Me’, below.

MP3: Placebo – Song To Say Goodbye

Check out Brian Molko and the gang performing a disjointed version of ‘Dancing Queen’ in the clip below from this summer’s visit to MTV2. Enjoy an original Placebo tune at bottom.

MP3: Placebo – Meds

Official word courtesy of the band’s MySpace blog (thanks for the tip, Lauren!): *PLACEBO PARTS COMPANY WITH DRUMMER STEVE HEWITT. Placebo have parted company with drummer of 11 years, Steve Hewitt, due to personal and musical differences. Brian Molko commented “Being in a band is very much like being in a marriage, and in couples – in this case a triple – people can grow apart over the years. To say that you don’t love your partner anymore is inaccurate, considering all that you’ve been through and achieved together. There simply comes a point when you realize that you want different things from your relationship and that you can no longer live under the same roof, so to speak.”

The split is amicable and a sad time for both parties. Steve Hewitt replaced Robert Schultzberg behind the drum kit in 1996 whilst the band were promoting Placebo’s eponymous debut album and went on to record the following 4 studio albums ‘Without You I’m Nothing’, ‘Black Market Music’, ‘Sleeping With Ghosts’ and most recently ‘Meds’. Placebo have just returned from the USA where they were part of the high profile ‘Projekt Revolution Tour’ alongside Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance. The band are now taking a well earned break. Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal will begin work on Placebo’s 6th studio album next Spring and are in no rush to find an immediate replacement for Steve.*

MP3: Placebo – Special K

This is getting out of control!

Here’s the official statement: *”It is with great regret that we confirm the cancellation of the Fflam Festival for 2007. After the initial postponement due to torrential weather conditions, we have made every possible effort to try and secure a new date for the festival this summer. Unfortunately, we cannot find a date that suits all parties and due to artist availability, we are not in a position to deliver the brilliant line-up of bands we always intended if we go ahead.

At this stage, we are left with no option but to cancel the festival for 2007 and put all our efforts into making it a huge success in 2008. We would like to thank all the people in the local community who have stuck by us and supported us throughout the past couple of months. For those who bought tickets, full refunds will be available from point of purchase.”*

What a bummer. Manic Street Preachers, Keane & Placebo were just some of the acts to be included on the stellar bill. Download some tracks from the bands below.

MP3s: Manic Street Preachers – A Design For Life + Keane – This Is The Last Time + Placebo – Nancy Boy (via Chodorowski)

See below for the brand new official clip to Placebo’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ (Kate Bush cover) from the extended version of their latest LP, Meds. MP3 of the track at bottom.

MP3: Placebo – Running Up That Hill

Placebo’s Extended Play ’07 EP is due out on July 31st (in the States only).

Its eight tracks include five classics as well as three live tunes (also previously released). The goal of the short-player is to give a mini best-of compilation to new fans whom are discovering the British trio for the first time via this summer’s Projekt Revolution Tour – more info on those shows here.

Extended Play ’07‘s track listing is as follows:

‘Nancy Boy’/'Every You Every Me’/'Taste In Men’/'Bitter End’/'Meds’/'Pure Morning’ (live from Arras)/’Infra-Red’ (live from Nimes)/’Running Up That Hill’ (live from Santiago)

MP3: Placebo – Meds

Say it ain’t so! (Oh, but it is.)

We just got official word that Placebo will be touring with Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, Julien-K and HIM all summer long across North America.

A less fitting bill, I cannot think of.

However, for those who dare to brave the swarms of modern rock radio loving fans in mega-sized ampitheaters, check out the full set of dates, here on Placebo’s MySpace page.

In more Placebo news, I just realized that I absolutely adore their iTunes celebrity playlist, created last spring. Elbow, Devendra, Interpol – what’s not to love? Check out each of the eight tunes they selected here.

MP3: Placebo – Every You Every Me

It takes a lot for me to travel to the much-dreaded Roseland Ballroom. In fact, before last night, I haven’t even stepped foot in the 3200-capacity venue in close to five years. However, in spite of some stiff competition last night including but not limited to Lily Allen @ Fillmore, Junior Boys @ Bowery, James Morrison @ Knitting Factory and Rosie Thomas @ Southpaw, I ventured to midtown, once again, to check out one of the few bands that made it through the mid-90s Britpop whirlwind – Placebo.

Though the setlist was nearly identical to the last time I saw the trio, back in November at Nokia Theater, the energy of last night’s show had escalated at least a notch or two. ‘Every You Every Me’ was glorious, ‘The Bitter End’ was dazzling and the encore-opening Kate Bush cover was the best I’ve ever heard the song performed – by anyone. I’m unsure how many more decent albums we can still expect to see from Placebo, now 13 years into their career, but if last night was any indication – the gems they’ve already given us (five full-lengths for those counting at home) are more than enough, already.

Setlist: Infra-Red/Meds/Because I Want You/Drag/Space Monkey/Sleeping With Ghosts/I Know/Song To Say Goodbye/Follow The Cops Back Home/Every You Every Me/Special Needs/One Of A Kind/Without You I’m Nothing/Bionic/Blind/Special K/The Bitter End//Running Up That Hill/Taste In Men/Twenty Years

MP3: Placebo – Special Needs