30 Unique Facts We Bet You Never Knew About Florence + The Machine

18 April 2019, 3:39 pm EDT By Ruby Karnick

Florence + The Machine, world renowned for their unique brand of indie rock music, is actually the collaboration of vocalist Florence Welch, keyboardist Isabella Summers, and other musicians. Their music is famous for its dramatic and eccentric production combined with the powerful vocal performance from Florence Welch. Here are a few amazing facts about the English indie rock band:

The band has a total of six Grammy Awards nominations including the Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album. The band performed at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.
The Florence and the Machine performed at the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, along with other musical performers including Barry Manilow and A.R. Rahman. The concert, in which the Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo was the winner, was hosted by acclaimed Hollywood actors Anne Hathaway and Denzel Washington.
The band's current line-up is singer Florence Welch, keyboardist Isabella Summers, along with Robert Ackroyd, Christopher Lloyd Hayden, Tom Monger and Mark Saunders.
The most famous single "What the Water Gave Me," was reportedly inspired by a Frida Kahlo painting, as Welch stated that in her childhood, news about children getting swept out to sea, kept popping up, and that made her think of the idea of sea being an entity needing sacrifice.
With one of her song being featured on the most popular "Gossip Girl," Welch became close friends with the star of the show - Blake Lively, and performed three songs at her wedding to Ryan Reynolds.
It was reported that Welch was terrified in her teens and had felt so awkward in her own skin, always very self-conscious. She is also known to have been very shy and nervous, which led to her routine of drinking before her shows. The ritual lasted for nearly four years, but ended when she fell of the stage and broke her foot, during the Coachella performance.
Summers, the keyboard player, is also known to have worked creatively - written, produced and remixed with other artists including Iggy Azalea, Beyonce, Rita Ora, and The Game.
The lead singer Welch, in an interview with the Telegraph, said that she had been the go-to-performer for her town, by the age of seven, for any kind of functions, but mostly funerals.
Before the Florence and the Machine, the lead singer reportedly wrote songs for another band - Ashok, which had on the whole one album released. The said album featured the song "Happy Slap," which eventually became the most popular single "Kiss with a Fist," on their debut album "Lungs."
Their massive hit sing "Dog Days Are Over," was reportedly covered by Jenna Ushkowitz and Amber Riley on an episode “Special Education” of "Glee," which till date, is one of the most highly praised covers the show has done.

The signature trademark of the lead singer Welch - her flaming red hair, is actually not her natural hair, as she is in fact a brunette and is known to be dying it since the age of nine.
The band's name Florence + The Machine had actually been an inside joke between lead singer Florence Welch and Isabella Summers, initially, who had nicknamed themselves as Florence Robot and Isabella Machine respectively.
With just an hour for their very first gig, they still didn't have a name. For a long time, Welch considered using "Florence Robot/Isa Machine," but later decided to use "Florence And The Machine."
In the early days of the band's career, when they had just started out, they were playing in London venues such as The Lock Tavern and for people such as Blue Flowers and Filthy Few. It was reported that her band members would fail to turn up to some of the gigs, so she would do them a capella.
It is reported that much of the songs in the band's debut album "Lungs," was written about her temporary break-up with boyfriend Stuart Hammond. While the two have gotten back after that, their permanent break-up in 2011 fueled much of her songwriting for the band’s sophomore album, "Ceremonials."
The most popular fashion label Gucci is said to have designed costumes for the lead singer Welch, to wear during the band's shows, in the year 2011 and 2012.
In fact, in the year 2011, the label designed a whole line inspired by the singer, and the models were even asked to wear red wigs down the runway. However, Welch, on the other hand, claims to have been obsessed with the way the famous Stevie Nicks from the "Fleetwood Mac" band, dresses and presents herself on stage.
Summers was actually Welsh's younger sister's babysitter, who was six years senior to her. In fact, she started writing music with Summers, at the age of 18, the latter became the first member and as "the Machine" in "Florence + the Machine."
It is reported that before making it big, Welch cornered the famous DJ/promoter Mairead Nash in a bathroom of a bar and sang the Etta James's "Something's Got a Hold on Me." She had received a phone call around a week later, offering her to perform at a club night.
Their third album "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful," topped at the UK charts and even debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. It also peaked at number one in a total of eight countries and the top ten of twenty.

For her first tour, supporting MGMT in the year 2008, she reportedly travelled with her dad in a camper van, because she didn't have any money.
"Florence and the Machine" first rose to prominence with BBC promoting the band as part of "BBC Introducing," following which their music was praised across the media.
The band also received the Brit Awards "Critics' Choice" award at the 2009 Brit Awards. Their debut album "Lungs" also won the Best Album award at the Brit Awards on February 16, 2010.
Welch, in an interview, revealed that she has been suffering from dyslexia, anxiety and dyspraxia. She had in fact had a very difficult childhood, with her parents divorcing at the age of 11. At the age of 13, she also witnessed her bipolar grandmother commit suicide.
Following this, the young Flo channeled her frustrations into songs and started focusing on her musical career. This led to the famous Florence Welch that the fans see today.
In the year 2012, Welch had the opportunity to share the stage with The Rolling Stones, during the Stones’ five-show run at the O2 Arena and performed “Gimme Shelter,” with the legendary band.
Their debut album "Lungs," peaked at number two on the UK Albums chart, a position it held for five weeks. After twenty-eight consecutive weeks on the chart, the album reached the number one position on January 17, 2010.
The band recorded a classical cover of Ben E. King's 1961 song "Stand by Me" in the year 2016, which was featured as the main theme to the video game "Final Fantasy XV."
"Florence and the Machine" was the headlining act at Glastonbury Festival in the year 2015, making the lead singer Florence Welch the first British female headliner of this century.
Their most famous single "Dog Days Are Over" was reportedly recorded with no instruments in a studio which was the "size of a loo." The band was widely praised by music critics, with Welch's vocals being lauded.