Hedi Slimane's famous photography transcends past the world of fashion and into music as well. Discovering and photographing bands such as Littl'ans, Eight Legs, and The Rakes, Hedi used most of these musicians for his fashion shows while at Dior Homme, but now the main attraction he offers them is a launch to stardom. Yesterday, April 17,2010, I attended a free show at Other Music in NYC that was headlined by Hedi's latest favorite band, The Drums. He photographed them at a show in California in November of last year and they became the main feature on his website just a few months later. After a short tour of Europe, the band, with facebook fan increases in the thousands after just weeks, took a short break back home in the States and did a pair of shows in the city. The band is set to return to Europe and continue touring there through this summer, along with the release their first album entitled "The Drums" on June 7th. Their sound has been compared to a mix of the Smiths, Joy Division, and Orange Juice. Before the show I was able to meet with the band members and ask about their work with Hedi Slimane. I was told that "he just called us up" and started taking pictures of the band, as well as the fact that he was a "nice guy." One member also revealed that the band still retains some contact with Hedi. The Drums took stage shortly after the minuscule venue was filled, fitting (according to management estimates) 100-125 people, and proceeded to play their hearts out and treat their fans with a performance of pure energy and bliss. The set list included some of the bands staple songs such as "Best Friend" and the trademark "Let's Go Surfing" as well as some new numbers from the upcoming album. After giving their drumsticks and a guitar pick to a devout five year old fan wearing a drums tee, complete with vintage looking leather jacket and slick hairdo, the boys from Brooklyn walked off into the crowd amidst raving applause and cheering, as the following act, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart took the stage.
Link to The Drums in Hedi Slimane's Rock Diary:
http://www.hedislimane.com/rockdiary/index.php?e=viewSpe&rockdiarySpeHomeNo=13
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