A forgotten British band from the 1990s has experienced an extraordinary resurgence in popularity, all thanks to an unexpected social media share from global superstar Billie Eilish.
The surprise endorsement
Black Box Recorder, the little-known British group consisting of Sarah Nixey, Luke Haines and John Moore, had been inactive for over two decades with no plans for a reunion. Their fortunes changed dramatically when the Grammy-winning artist randomly shared their 1998 track Child Psychology on her social media platforms.
Billie's dedicated fans immediately rushed to listen to this unexpected recommendation, creating a surprise surge in popularity that actually exceeded the band's original success during their initial run. Despite the song never cracking the Top 40 during its original release, it has now amassed over 63,000,000 streams on Spotify, with the group attracting nearly two million monthly listeners.
Celebrating with a landmark show
In response to this remarkable revival, Black Box Recorder have announced a major comeback performance at the prestigious London Palladium on May 22, 2026. This one-off gig will mark their first headline performance in 17 years and occurs almost exactly three years after Billie Eilish originally shared their song on her Instagram story.
Band member Sarah Nixey expressed her astonishment at the time, sharing the snap on X (formerly Twitter) and writing: 'Child Psychology shared by @billieeilish. The song was released 25 years on Chrysalis Records who thought it would make a great first single for our debut album, #EnglandMadeMe. No one was more surprised than me.'
The band's history and unexpected humour
In a 2018 interview with Electricity Club, Sarah reflected on the controversial nature of the track that has now found new life. 'The chorus in Child Psychology is a very British, wry response to a young woman recounting her privileged but unhappy childhood,' she explained. 'I laughed when I first heard that song, although I do realise that not everyone shares this humour.'
She also noted that the song's 'tough love' chorus might feel too brutal in today's climate, given increased awareness around child and adolescent mental health issues. 'In 1998, when I was a young woman myself, it seemed quite amusing,' she added.
The band's debut album England Made Me, named after Graham Greene's 1935 novel, earned comparisons to Portishead and received general critical praise. Their follow-up, Facts of Life, took a synth-oriented direction and produced their first major hit, leading to a Glastonbury performance in 2000.
Black Box Recorder released their final studio album, Passionoia, in 2003, showcasing a more dance-pop sound. Rumours of a fourth album in 2009 never materialised, and the band quietly entered permanent hiatus.
This London Palladium show represents a significant milestone for the reunited trio, who last performed together in 2018 when Sarah made a surprise guest appearance during a show by John and Luke following the re-release of a Black Box Recorder box set. 'Luke called me the night before and asked if I wanted to do it,' she recalled. 'I was excited but nervous, as I hadn't been on stage for years, and we hadn't rehearsed. It felt good though, and I have always loved being on stage with Luke and John.'
