Placebo: First encounters

New-ish Placebo drummer Steve Forrest nearly set himself up for a sit com moment thanks to a scant knowledge of late 90s British androgopop:

Yes, he tells my paper from Sydney, Australia, where Placebo were touring recently, he even thought lead androgynous singer Brian Molko, 37, was a girl.

He recalls: "My tour manager played a Placebo CD and I said, 'This chick's cool. She has a really good voice'."

It was only later, when Forrest met Molko in person, that he realised Molko is a guy.

... and only then after two or three weeks, when he realised he peed standing up. It says here.

You'd have to think that Molko would probably be flattered and delighted if someone thought he was an actual girl. Providing it wasn't an ugly girl.

Placebo: Steve out, Steve in

It probably makes sense that Placebo have replaced former drummer Steve with another Steve - it makes it so much easier when you don't have to learn a new name, doesn't it? It's a bit like when Elsie Tanner's second husband was, luckily, also called Tanner.

The band have poached Steve Forrest from Evaline, the band who supported them on their 2006 tour. Future support acts will do well to count their members as they pack up on the last night, lest Brian has pinched a bassist or a keyboard player.

Mariya (to whom thanks for the tip-off) points out that Evaline don't appear to have heard the news yet, as their MySpace still lists Forrest as a member. [UPDATE: It's been changed in the last hour to list Greg Petersen as drummer. We're assuming - since Placebo is their #2 friend, this is all been done with good grace.