Inspired by the likes of The Libertines, The Strokes and Black Lips, Palma Violets' ragged punk energy, catchy Brit pop melodies and "last gang in town" attitude made them one of the buzz bands tipped for stardom when they emerged late in 2012. Led by joint frontmen Sam Fryer and Alex Jesson, the old school friends met up randomly at the Reading Festival in 2011 and were soon plotting a music career. Basing themselves at a rundown artist's squat-cum-studio in Lambeth, South London, they took their name from a type of candied sweet and soon built up a cult following thanks to a series of small, sweaty, high energy gigs. Signed up by legendary indie label Rough Trade, lead single Best Of Friends was named Track of the Year by the NME and the band were nominated for the BBC Sound of 2013 Award, before debut album 180 (2013) - produced by Pulp's Steve Mackey - came crammed with reverb-drenched, ramshackle indie pop anthems, overflowing with teenage exuberance and uncontained excitement.
