October 21, 2013 8:25PM ET

Go Behind the Scenes With Placebo

Check out these exclusive shots as the band plays their first U.S. shows in six years

Rolling Stone's Most Recent Stories

Placebo, Behind the Scenes, The Wilten, Los Angeles, CA, October 18th 2013

In honor of their new album, Loud Like Love, Placebo returned to the U.S. last week, playing two sold-out shows in New York on October 15th and Los Angeles on October 18th. The gigs marked the British band’s first U.S. appearances in six years. "To have two sold-out shows, to have this warm reception after six years is really encouraging," lead singer Brian Molko told Rolling Stone when we visited with him in the Wiltern dressing room downstairs before the group took the stage that night. Rolling Stone had a photographer on hand to follow the group and capture all the excitement, nerves and energy of a band playing their first L.A. show in more than half a decade.

By STEVE BALTIN

Joseph Llanes

The glamorous life of a band getting ready for a sold-out show, guitarist/bassist Stefan Olsdal irons before playing to thousands of fans.

Joseph Llanes

Playing the man in the mirror, Molko lost in thought as he enjoys a quiet moment alone before show time.

Joseph Llanes

The band making the walk upstairs to get onstage and “speak our truth,” as Molko calls it.

Joseph Llanes

When Rolling Stone arrived at the Wiltern just before seven to sit down with Molko, the line snaked around the block. “The faithful and the devoted,” the singer calls the fans.

Joseph Llanes

Olsdal and the band just after taking the stage, bathed in light.

Joseph Llanes

"It's when you get in the city you're going to perform that you get nervous. I still get nervous anyway, but I was really nervous before the New York show. But it was pretty amazing, the reception was phenomenal," Molko told us of his pre-show jitters.

Joseph Llanes

"When we step out on to the stage there's a bit of a sensory overload at first and it's almost like a car crash in slow motion, when your life flashes before your eyes," Molko says. "It kind of takes 20 minutes for things to settle and to feel completely comfortable with that sensory overload."

Joseph Llanes

Standing in the shadows as drummer Steve Forrest does his thing. "It feels like a rebirth," Molko says of coming back after four years between albums.

Joseph Llanes

Molko at sound check getting ready for the show. “There is a lot of expectation tonight,” he says.

Joseph Llanes

"Whenever I change a lyric it's because I feel like it’s kind of my right to," Molko says. "What Pink Floyd used to do was tour an album for maybe six months before they would record it, which is very difficult to do today with smart phones. Perhaps you would've arrived at a different place in your songwriting if you'd been able to test out a bunch of different ideas with an audience beforehand."

Joseph Llanes

Of the long time between shows, Molko says, "It's having to prove yourself again and it's having to prove yourself worthy. But it's very good because it really gets in the way of ever becoming complacent. I'm quite pleased for the insecurity and nerves because if I didn't have it then I would really start to question whether or not there was anything vital left."