Louis XIV

Louis XIV formed in San Diego, California, in April 2003 by vocalist and guitarist Jason Hill, guitarist Brian Karscig, drummer Mark Maigaard, and bassist James Armbrust. Their eponymous debut, recorded in a Paris basement, released on Pineapple Recording Group on 14 November 2003, sold over 22 000 copies in six months. In early 2004 the band issued the Illegal Tender EP and gained exposure after appearances on Jonathan Ross and BBC Radio 1, earning support from Brody Dalle and Josh Homme at the 2004 NME Awards. The single "Finding Out True Love Is Blind" led to an Atlantic Records deal in late 2004. The band released The Distances From Everyone To You EP (11 September 2007) and Slick Dogs And Ponies (28 January 2008). They disbanded in July 2009 after Brian Karscig left, briefly reunited in 2012, and split again in 2013.