Bell X1

In the grand tradition of Irish bands named after famous American planes, Bell X1 achieved massive success in their home country and penetrated markets beyond via consistent licensing on American television shows and an early partnership with Universal. Its core members -- Paul Noonan (vocals, guitar, drums), Dominic Phillips (bass), and David Geraghty (guitar, keyboards) -- arose in the '90s as Juniper, an indie rock band also featuring Damien Rice. Hitting the ground running after their split with Rice, Bell X1 combined U2's arena-ready throb, Coldplay's reflective hooks, electronic textures, and folk-rock with varying emphasis over several critically lauded and Irish number one albums. ~ Patrick Sullivan