Snow Patrol are a British alternative rock band formed at the University of Dundee in Dundee, Scotland in 1994. The group comprises four Northern Irish members; Gary Lightbody (vocals, guitar), Nathan Connolly (guitar, backing vocals), Jonny Quinn (drums), Johnny McDaid (piano, guitar, backing vocals), and Scottish member Paul Wilson (bass guitar, backing vocals). Initially an indie rock band, their first three records, the EP
Starfighter Pilot (1997), and the studio albums
Songs for Polarbears (1998) and
When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up (2001), were commercially unsuccessful and were released by the independent labels Electric Honey and Jeepster. The band signed on to the major record label Polydor Records in 2002.
Snow Patrol rose to national fame with their major label debut,
Final Straw, in 2003. The album was certified 5× platinum in the UK