The Enemy

The Enemy claim they originally formed the band "out of boredom" living in the English Midlands but, for whatever reason, it paid off as their energetic, slightly rebellious, anthemic punk-flavoured rock quickly found an enthusiastic audience in an equally disaffected youth market. Until then, Clarke and Hopkins, who went to school together, had been selling TVs for a living, while Watts temped in an office. They built a reputation locally after appearing at Coventry's Godiva festival in 2006, returning the following year as second on the bill to Super Furry Animals. That year they joined the Rock & Roll Riot Tour organised by NME magazine, which predicted they were the band "most likely to break your windows" and had their first hit singles Away From Here and Had Enough. They also impressed on support tours with Manic Street Preachers, Kasabian, Ash, The Fratellis and Oasis, who sang their praises and invited them on their 2009 arena tour. Despite a public falling-out with radio presenter Alex Zane, their following grew and they followed their chart-topping 2007 album We'll Live and Die In These Towns with 2009's successful Music For The People.

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