caption current_members years_active label article_title landscape past_members background genre image origin name
hard-fi at the 2006 hurricane festival in germany richard archer steve kemp kai stephens 2003 -- present necessary u.s. -rrb- / warner -lrb- uk -rrb- , atlantic -lrb- hard-fi
 yes ross phillips group_or_band rock hard-fi hurrciane-festival . jpg staines , surrey , england hard-fi
hard-fi

hard-fi are an english rock band formed in staines , surrey in 2003 .
the band 's members are richard archer -lrb- lead vocals and guitar -rrb- , kai stephens -lrb- bass guitar and backing vocals -rrb- and steve kemp -lrb- drums and backing vocals -rrb- .
founding member ross phillips -lrb- guitar and backing vocals -rrb- left the band on 6 may 2013 but returned in 2014 for promoting the release of the best of ... album and the one-off gig on 13 february 2014 .
they achieved chart success with their third single , `` hard to beat '' and then followed by other successful singles such as `` cash machine '' and `` living for the weekend '' , which all reached top 15 in the uk singles chart .
their debut album `` stars of cctv '' was released on 4 july 2005 , and although receiving critical acclaim -lrb- `` nme '' called it the album of the year and it was nominated for the mercury prize and two brit awards ; best british group and best british rock act -rrb- , it did n't reach no. 1 in the uk albums chart until six months later on 22 january 2006 .
it originally entered the charts at number 6 .
the band 's second album `` once upon a time in the west '' was released on 3 september 2007 and reached number 1 in its first week .
their third album `` killer sounds '' , which features the singles `` good for nothing '' , `` fire in the house '' and `` bring it on '' , was released on 19 august 2011 and debuted at number 9 on the uk album chart .
they have stated that they are heavily influenced by soul and dance music .
