Editing Funeral for a Friend (section)

===Major record label years and international success (2003–2009)===
====''Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation''====
[[File:Matt Davies 2004.jpg|thumb|right|upright| Matthew Davies performing with Funeral for a Friend in 2004.]]
{{Main|Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation|Hours (Funeral for a Friend album)}}
On 21 August 2003, Funeral for a Friend were awarded a [[Kerrang! Award]] for "Best British Newcomer".<ref>{{cite news|title=Kerrang! 2003 awards winners|publisher=[[BBC]]|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_3172000/3172161.stm|date=21 August 2003|access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref> On 20 October 2003, after recording for the duration of the summer, Funeral for a Friend's full-length debut album was released. ''[[Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation]]'', produced and mixed by Colin Richardson, was released to critical acclaim in the UK. The album did not see a concurrent release in the US (though it eventually released there on 13 July 2004); instead, a seven-track "mini-album", entitled ''[[Seven Ways to Scream Your Name]]'', was released, and featured songs from the band's ''Between Order & Model'' and ''Four Ways to Scream Your Name'' EPs plus Juneau B Side "The Getaway Plan". In the United Kingdom the album received a [[Gold certification]] a year after its release on 29 October 2004,<ref name="bpi">{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |title=BPI > Certified Awards Search |publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]] |access-date=29 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924015932/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx |archive-date=24 September 2009}}</ref> which was achieved with a sales figure of over [[British Phonographic Industry#Certifications|100,000]].<ref name="leedsmusic 1"/>

''Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation'' saw three [[UK Singles Chart|top-twenty singles]] including "[[Juneau (song)|Juneau]]" (#19), "She Drove Me to Daytime Television" (#20) and "Escape Artists Never Die" (#19).<ref name="FFAF UK Charts">{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/funeral%20for%20a%20friend/|title=Funeral FOr A Friend Artist Official Charts|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=13 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313154357/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/funeral%20for%20a%20friend/|archive-date=13 March 2013}}</ref> Funeral for a Friend toured extensively to promote ''Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation'', including a series of European dates in which they opened for [[Iron Maiden]].<ref name="allmusic page">{{cite web |first=Eduardo|last=Rivadavia |title=Funeral for a Friend on AllMusic |url=https://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kjfrxq80ldse |access-date=30 June 2011 |work=[[Allmusic]] |publisher=[[Rovi]]}}</ref> This was met with a mixed reception, as their style and fan base bore little resemblance to the heavy metal background of Iron Maiden.<ref name="leedsmusic 1"/>

The band joined [[Avenged Sevenfold]], [[My Chemical Romance]] and [[Moments in Grace]] for an American tour spanning 17–23 April 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 April 2004 |title=Funeral for a Friend |url=http://www.totalassault.com/?team=funeral+for+a+friend |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040407211053/http://www.totalassault.com/?team=funeral+for+a+friend |archive-date=7 April 2004 |access-date=14 June 2022 |website=Total Assault}}</ref><ref name=":24">{{Cite web |date=23 April 2004 |title=Moments in Grace Tour Info |url=http://www.totalassault.com/?team=moments+in+grace |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040423034440/http://www.totalassault.com/?team=moments+in+grace |archive-date=23 April 2004 |access-date=14 June 2022 |website=Total Assault}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiggins |first=Keavin |date=6 March 2004 |title=Avenged Sevenfold Announce Headlining Tour |url=https://www.antimusic.com/news/04/march/item06.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040315135143/https://www.antimusic.com/news/04/march/item06.shtml |archive-date=15 March 2004 |access-date=14 June 2022 |website=antiMUSIC}}</ref> Coinciding with their shows together, Funeral for a Friend and Moments in Grace teamed up for a [[Funeral for a Friend / Moments in Grace|split 7-inch vinyl]], co-released through [[Atlantic Records]], [[Salad Days Records]], [[Mighty Atom Records]] and [[Infectious Records]], on 20 April 2004.<ref name=":24" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 March 2004 |title=Split for a Friend |url=http://www.theprp.com/oldnews/4111102.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405063240/http://www.theprp.com/oldnews/4111102.shtml |archive-date=5 April 2004 |access-date=14 June 2022 |website=The PRP}}</ref><ref name=":25">{{Cite web |date=22 March 2004 |title=Funeral for a Friend/Moments in Grace Split 7″ |url=http://knifeparty.com/news_archives.php?archive=1081801904&subaction=list-archive& |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040627021515/http://knifeparty.com/news_archives.php?archive=1081801904&subaction=list-archive& |archive-date=27 June 2004 |access-date=14 June 2022 |website=KnifeParty }}</ref> Funeral for a Friend contributed the song "Bullet Theory" (previously-released in the UK but then-unreleased in the US).<ref name=":25" /> In promotion of the split 7-inch vinyl, webzine [[Ultimate Guitar]] held a giveaway contest for five winners to receive a record and a signed poster.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 April 2004 |title=Featured: Funeral For A Friend Giveaway! |url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040403170757/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/ |archive-date=3 April 2004 |access-date=14 June 2022 |website=[[Ultimate Guitar]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 April 2004 |title=UG Contests: Funeral For A Friend Sweepstakes |url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/contests |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405161856/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/contests |archive-date=5 April 2004 |access-date=14 June 2022 |website=[[Ultimate Guitar]] }}</ref> Also in 2004, Funeral for a Friend supported [[Linkin Park]] throughout America and headlined the second stage of the [[Reading and Leeds Festivals line-ups#2004|Reading and Leeds Festivals]].<ref name="contact-history" />

====''Hours''====
In May 2005, the first single from the upcoming second album "[[Streetcar (song)|Streetcar]]" acted as the band's fourth consecutive top 20 single in the United Kingdom by debuting at number 15.<ref name="contact-history">{{cite magazine|url = http://www.contactmusic.com/pages/funeralafriendx26x10x05 | title = Funeral for a Friend – History Music Video | magazine = [[Contactmusic.com]] | date = 14 November 2005 | access-date = 9 October 2012}}</ref> On 14 June 2005, the band released their second album ''[[Hours (Funeral for a Friend album)|Hours]]'' through [[Atlantic Records]]. Produced by [[Terry Date]], the album was recorded in two [[Seattle]] studios owned by the [[grunge]] band [[Pearl Jam]] and featured unusual methods of recording, for example Matt Davies' vocals were recorded whilst in a moving car and on a crowded Seattle street, for the song "Drive". Just two weeks after its release the album was certified a Silver over 60,000 sales<ref name="contact-history"/> and was awarded a Gold for over 100,000 sales on 23 December 2005.<ref name="bpi"/> In August of the same year, the band won a Kerrang! Award for "Best British Band".<ref>{{cite news|title=Green Day triumph at Kerrang! awards|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/aug/26/arts.artsnews|first=Sam|last=Jones|date=26 August 2005|access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref>

Funeral for a Friend performed several low-profile shows in Wales, including [[Bangor University]] and [[Bridgend]] Recreation Centre, prior to the release of ''Hours''. In the United States, they played alongside bands such as [[Atreyu (band)|Atreyu]], [[Saosin]], [[Hawthorne Heights]] and [[Thrice]] on the Maurice Stage of the 2005 Vans [[Warped Tour]].<ref name="MTV-2005"/> The band headlined the British leg of Taste of Chaos across November with support from [[The Used]], [[Killswitch Engage]], [[Rise Against]] and [[Story of the Year]].<ref name="contact-history"/> Funeral for a Friend released the third and last single from Hours, "[[History (Funeral for a Friend song)|History]]", which music video depicts the events of the [[UK miners' strike (1984–1985)|miner strikes of the mid-1980s]] in South Wales.<ref name="contact-history"/>

Funeral For a Friend closed the promotional activity for ''Hours'' in the Summer of 2006, with a series of UK shows rescheduled from February. Most of the original dates had been cancelled because Matt Davies had suffered from a bout of laryngitis. Several other shows were scheduled in the UK to complement these rescheduled dates, and the tour culminated in a slot below headliners [[Guns N' Roses]] at the [[Download Festival]] at [[Donington Park]]. The rest of 2006 was spent writing and recording the band's third album.

====''Tales Don't Tell Themselves''====
{{Main|Tales Don't Tell Themselves}}
[[File:FuneralforaFriend.jpg|thumb|left|Guitarist Kris Roberts (left), former vocalist Matthew Davies-Kreye (front), drummer Ryan Richards (background) and former bassist Gareth Davies (right) performing in 2007]]
Funeral for a Friend mentioned the writing of this album during their UK shows in summer 2006 and they started writing and recording at the end of the tour. ''[[Tales Don't Tell Themselves]]'' was released on 14 May 2007 in the UK, having been leaked to the internet on 10 May 2007. The band released video diary updates of the recording on their [[MySpace]] page. On 19 March 2007, "[[Into Oblivion (Reunion)]]", the first single from the album, premiered on the Zane Lowe Show on Radio One. It was given a 7 May physical release, and the video can be seen and the song heard on their MySpace. It reached number 39{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} in its first week of release on downloads and reached number 16 in the Official UK chart on 13 May 2007.

A selection of intimate shows to promote the album were played on 12, 13 and 14 April 2007 in intimate coastal venues in the south of England. Only 200 tickets were available for each show and these had to be applied for via an e-mail sent to members of the FFAF mailing list. Names were then picked out of a hat and the selected people were offered the opportunity to buy a pair of tickets to the gig, exclusive T-shirts were given to anyone paying using PayPal mobile. On 8 May 2007 the band released ''Tales Don't Tell Themselves'' in its entirety for fans to preview via their MySpace page. This album is the first on which Matt plays guitar. On 10 May 2007 the band played another intimate gig for [[Kerrang! 105.2]] at the [[Wolverhampton]] Civic Hall Bar, in which they played "Walk Away" for the very first time. This is one of the tracks which Matt plays guitar on live, alongside "Raise The Sail" and "The Sweetest Wave", which were debuted on the full tour in May 2007. The album was their highest charting yet, reaching Number 3 in the UK Album Charts.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}

On 16 July 2007, "[[Walk Away (Funeral for a Friend song)|Walk Away]]", was released as the second single from ''Tales Don't Tell Themselves'' and reached number 40{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} in the UK singles charts. It was announced in a newsletters that "The Great Wide Open" would be the next single and would be released as an EP. The EP, ''[[The Great Wide Open]]'' was released on 15 October 2007 through Atlantic Records, negating the release of the single itself.

====''Memory and Humanity'' and ''Your History Is Mine''====
{{Main|Memory and Humanity|}}
On 26 January 2008, drummer Ryan Richards made an announcement on the band's forum, stating that FFAF were to spend the first few months of the year recording, with a view of releasing a four or five track EP in March or April 2008. After writing more material than originally planned, the band decided to scrap plans for the EP and released a full-length album instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ffaf.co.uk/index.php|title=Funeral for a Friend official Site – News|access-date=24 August 2008|archive-date=31 July 2011|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110731131513/http://www.ffaf.co.uk/index.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ryan also announced that the new album would contain screaming vocals, riffs and would be closer to ''Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation'' than any of their other albums, although would still be significantly different and more technical, citing that they want to move forward, and never back to any old style.

On 11 May 2008, it was announced via a MySpace bulletin that the band would be shooting a video for the first single from the album, "Waterfront Dance Club", on 17 May. "Waterfront Dance Club" was played exclusively for the first time on Radio 1's Rock Show<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wq4s|title=Rock Show with Daniel P Carter - BBC Radio 1}}</ref> on 2 June 2008, where it was also announced that the single would be released as a double [[A-side]] with the track "Beneath the Burning Tree". Both singles were also released as a limited edition 7-inch on the same date.<ref>[http://www.dailydischord.com/single.php?id=3535 Daily Dischord "Funeral Dance Club", 4 June<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125191603/http://www.dailydischord.com/single.php?id=3535 |date=25 January 2009 }}</ref> The album's title was confirmed as ''[[Memory and Humanity]]'' by [[Rock Sound]] magazine on 30 June 2008, and that its release would take place in October 2008.<ref>[http://www.rocksound.tv/articles/1522/Funeral-Reveal-New-Album-Title.html Funeral Reveal New Album Title: Rock Sound<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705074729/http://www.rocksound.tv/articles/1522/Funeral-Reveal-New-Album-Title.html |date=5 July 2008 }}</ref> On 2 July 2008, the band announced the UK tour of ''Memory and Humanity'', commencing 14 October 2008.

9 August 2008 saw the debut of the video for the single "Kicking and Screaming" on MySpace. Later that month on the 27th, it was announced that the band had licensed their new record to [[Victory Records]] for the U.S. and Canadian releases.
The album was released via the label on 28 October 2008. It was also released via [[Roadrunner Records]] in the rest of the world, apart from the UK, where it was released through the band's own label, ''Join Us''.<ref>[http://www.dailydischord.com/single.php?id=3710?sid=a3b18d75edd0fb6ce9d7711e86756b0d Daily Dischord "Victory for a Friend", 27 August] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904093244/http://www.dailydischord.com/single.php?id=3710%3Fsid%3Da3b18d75edd0fb6ce9d7711e86756b0d |date=4 September 2009 }}</ref> The release was followed by a tour in Britain, Ireland and northern Europe, supported by Canadian [[hardcore punk]] act [[Cancer Bats]].

On 4 September 2008, it was announced via a MySpace blog post that Gareth Davies had left the band, to be replaced by Gavin Burrough ([[Hondo Maclean]], Ghostlines, The Future). "As some of you may know, Gareth has been living in America for the past couple of years, and recently got married. Ultimately, the strain of travelling between continents has taken its toll and Gareth made the decision that it would be in the best interests of himself, his family and Funeral to leave the band. We totally respect and understand his choice, wish him all the best in his future and we thank him for being part of our lives for the past 6 years."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=1368156&blogID=430087976|title=Featured Content on Myspace|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110074815/http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view|archive-date=10 January 2009}}</ref> The first interview to surface with Burrough in the band appeared on the Rocklouder webzine in the week of the ''Memory and Humanity'' release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklouder.co.uk/articles/6299/RL-TV-Funeral-For-A-Friend.html|publisher=Rocklouder|url-status=dead|title=RL TV! Funeral for a Friend: Rock music features on Rocklouder|access-date=17 October 2008|archive-date=23 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223020948/http://www.rocklouder.co.uk/articles/6299/RL-TV-Funeral-For-A-Friend.html}}</ref> In the 24 January 2009 issue of Kerrang! magazine, it was stated that the band were currently filming the video for the third single off the album, ''[[Rules and Games]]''. The single was released on 23 March 2009. They will also be going on tour with [[We Are the Ocean]] supporting to coincide with its release.

It was initially revealed in Kerrang! magazine on 24 June 2009 that the band were to release a greatest hits album, entitled ''[[Your History Is Mine: 2002–2009]]'' on 28 September 2009. the Compilation album was released by Atlantic records because the record deal between the band and the label allowed the Atlantic records to release a compilation CD at any point in the band's career. The band then decided to record four brand new tracks in order to give the release value to fans.<ref name="welcome home 2011 interview">{{cite web| url = http://www.mediaessentials.co.uk/2011/03/media-essentials-interviews-funeral-for-a-friend/| title = Media Essentials Interview:FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND| first = Lewis | last = Abbey| publisher = Media Essentials| date = 30 March 2011| access-date = 30 April 2011| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110403003236/http://www.mediaessentials.co.uk/2011/03/media-essentials-interviews-funeral-for-a-friend/| archive-date = 3 April 2011}}</ref> On 21 July 2009, "Wrench", one of the new songs, premiered on Radio One's Rock Show with Dan Carter. [[Zane Lowe]] credited them as "one of the best British bands of the last decade" upon the release of ''Your History Is Mine''.