Bloc Party are a British indie rock band, composed of Kele Okereke (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Russell Lissack (lead guitar), and Gordon Moakes (bass guitar, synths, backing vocals, glockenspiel). Former member Matt Tong (drums, backing vocals) left the band in 2013. That year, the record was also certified platinum in Britain. The band built on this success in 2007 with the release of their second studio album,
A Weekend in the City, which reached a peak of number two in the UK Albums Chart and number twelve in the
Billboard 200. In August 2008, Bloc Party released their third studio record,
Intimacy which entered the UK Albums Chart at number eight and number eighteen on the
Billboard 200. The band went on a hiatus in October 2009 to focus on side projects. They reunited in September 2011, and shortly thereafter released their fourth album,
Four, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number three. In 2013, Bloc Party released their third EP titled
The Nextwave Sessions in August; the band then began an indefinite hiatus to continue with their respective side projects. Bloc Party have sold over 3 million albums worldwide.