Bastille is an English indie pop band formed in London in 2010, initially as a solo endeavor by frontman Dan Smith. He later expanded the project to include Kyle Simmons (keyboards), Will Farquarson (bass/guitar), and Chris "Woody" Wood (drums). The band’s name references Bastille Day, which coincides with Dan Smith’s birthday.
Their debut album, Bad Blood (2013), featured the breakthrough single “Pompeii” and became a U.K. number-one smash, eventually reaching triple platinum status. Following releases such as Wild World (2016) and Doom Days (2019) reinforced their global reputation. In February 2022 they released Give Me the Future, their fourth studio album, which also debuted at number one in the U.K.
In October 2024 they released their fifth album titled & (Ampersand), seen largely as a Dan Smith–led personal and experimental project.
In 2025, Bastille launched a celebratory UK arena tour titled "From All Sides – Songs from The First 15 Years." Beginning in Plymouth in November and concluding at London’s O2 Arena, the tour spans nine shows across major cities and supports youth music initiatives through charity donations. It features fan favorites, rare tracks, mixtape material, unplugged segments, and thematic retrospectives spanning their career.
With over 13 million copies sold worldwide and three U.K. number‑one albums, Bastille remains one of the most streamed British acts of the decade. Their music regularly appears in films, TV, and commercials, and their live shows are acclaimed for passionate delivery and emotional depth.
