Placebo announce ‘This Search For Meaning’ – Documentary, live album, and unreleased material incoming

Mark your calendars—Placebo are about to drop something big. On September 12th, the legendary alt-rock duo will release ‘This Search For Meaning,’ a four-disc deluxe set landing via SO Recordings. It’s a deep dive into the heart and soul of the band, blending documentary film, live performance, and unreleased rarities into one beautifully packaged experience.

At the center of this collection is the much-anticipated documentary ‘This Search For Meaning’. Directed by award-winning Scottish filmmaker Oscar Sansom, the film takes fans on an intimate journey through Placebo’s evolution—both musically and personally. It’s not just a rock doc; it’s an introspective, no-BS look at what drives the band creatively, emotionally, and philosophically. Expect raw honesty, lush performance footage, and a few curveballs along the way.

This isn’t a puff piece. With appearances from longtime admirers and collaborators like Shirley Manson (Garbage), Robbie Williams, Yungblud, Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem), Joe Talbot (IDLES), actor Benedict Cumberbatch, and artist Stuart Semple, the film becomes a kind of meta-conversation about what it means to make art, stay vulnerable, and still keep showing up—on stage and in life. Think confessional, not curated.

The documentary is stitched together with powerful, brand-new performances of tracks from ‘Never Let Me Go,’ filmed at the iconic Twickenham Film Studios (yep, where The Beatles’ Get Back came together). Throw in archival footage, behind-the-scenes moments, and glimpses into their long-standing creative kinship with David Bowie, and you’ve got a film that pulls no punches—just full-spectrum emotion.

And that’s just Disc One.

The deluxe package also includes:

• ‘This Search For Meaning’ on both Blu-ray and DVD
• ‘This Is What You Wanted – Live In Mexico City’ (2x audio CD), recorded in 2023 during their massive ‘Never Let Me Go’ world tour
• A bonus edition of ‘Never Let Me Go’ with extra tracks, including their haunting cover of Tears For Fears’ Shout
• A fold-out poster booklet to complete the collector’s dream setup

Pre-order HERE.

The live album is a juggernaut in itself—capturing Placebo’s electric set at Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, where they played to a sold-out crowd during a globe-trotting run that reached over 1.5 million fans. From the punch of Forever Chemicals to the emotional hit of Running Up That Hill, it’s a full-throttle setlist for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

‘This Is What You Wanted – Live In Mexico City’ track list

1. Opening Titles
2. Forever Chemicals
3. Beautiful James
4. Scene Of The Crime
5. Hugz
6. Happy Birthday In The Sky
7. Bionic
8. Twin Demons
9. Surrounded By Spies
10. Chemtrails
11. Sad White Reggae
12. Try Better Next Time
13. Too Many Friends
14. Went Missing
15. For What It’s Worth
16. Slave to The Wage
17. Song To Say Goodbye
18. Come Undone
19. The Bitter End
20. Infra-Red
21. Shout
22. Fix Yourself
23. Running Up That Hill

Whether you’re a fan from the Nancy Boy days or just discovering Placebo’s darkly tender sonic world, ‘This Search For Meaning’ is a celebration, a confessional, and a time capsule—all in one.

Pre-orders are live now, and you’re gonna want to jump on it.

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