Razorlight shaped in London in 2002 around vocalist/guitarist Johnny Borrell and guitarist/vocalist and Swedish ex-pat Björn Ågren. Attached by bassist Carl Dalemo and drummer Christian Smith-Pancorvo, the combo recorded some near the beginning demos at London's Toe Rag studios, and those songs led to radio experience and the first stirrings of hype.
Mercury Records signed Razorlight in 2003, and the group began recording their debut in between a series of hectic club gigs, working with U2 and The La's cohort, Steve Lillywhite. Lillywhite soon left the project, but Razorlight sustained to write and record their album while still wowing audiences with a spate of live dates, including a physically powerful showing at the 2004 South by Southwest industry fest.
At this point, drummer Smith-Pancorvo quit the group and was soon swaped by Andy Burrows. Reconfigured, Razorlight launched their debut album , Up ALl Night in August 2004. The launch was hailed for its stylish, fizzy mix of The Strokes' sensibilities and post-Britpop cool. Far from hiding their needs to reach commercial success, greater shows with the likes of Queen/Paul Rodgers and Oasis showcased Razorlight to a wider viewers.
The group's increasing demands hit significant mass on their second, self-titled album. Produced by Chris Thomas (INXS, The Pretenders), it generates a number one in the form of America (a Burrows and Borrell co-write), saw them get on a UK arena tour and headling the Reading/Leeds Festival in 2007.
