Snow Patrol hopes for a Lightning Strike (Updated March 27, 2013)

The storm that was Snow Patrol only intensified as 2006's "Eyes Open" served to pave the way for future success. Certified gold in the United States, later rising to platinum status, and ultimately becoming the band's most successful release in America, it truly was the start of something good for these rockers. Outside of North America, they also became the first U.K. rock act in 13 years to break into the Top Five of the Billboard singles chart.

Burning like "A Hundred Million Suns," the band tied that title to its next album in 2008. Bolstered by the lead single "Take Back the City," Snow Patrol was shining again. They joined U2 on the road in the summer of 2009, then spent 2010 spinning out compilation projects. The first, "Up to Now," covered the band's entire history; the second was Lightbody and Simpson's mix album, "LateNightTales," which featured the band's take on INXS' "New Sensation."

Snow Patrol's sixth studio album, "Fallen Empires," bowed in the fall of 2011 with "Call Out in the Dark" tracked to be the first single. It was followed by "This Isn't Everything You Are," "New York," "In the End," and "Lifening." The band immediately planned a backing tour for the project in 2012, with the first date penciled in for the famed 02 in Dublin. The trek also included a stop at Hyde Park, London, as part of the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

This multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated outfit launched 2013 with their first single-CD Greatest Hits package. A newly edited version of the sixteen minute "The Lightning Strike" called "The Lightning Strike (What If This Storm Ends?)" has been released as a new single, and is currently at radio. The entire album will release on May 14.

Snow Patrol Tickets** - Watch Out for the Musical Avalanche

It was a quiet avalanche, though -- and we'll explain that to you later. But for now, just witness the lineup starting off with founding members Gary Lightbody and Mark McClelland from Northern Ireland, then employing the music of guitarist Nathan Connolly, bass guitarist Paul Wilson, and keyboard player Tom Simpson. Of course, Mark McClelland actually left the group back in 2005 after a ton of work done all over the U.K. and a smattering of it in the States. That, unfortunately, might've been a bad move for McClelland given the fact that Fiction Records signed the band back in 2002 and was working with the band toward a true hit record. And that's what they got -- right in 2006.

Snow Patrol Tickets - The Music of Snow Patrol

The album was called Eyes Open, and it achieved more success than any other album for the band before combined. The success was largely due to the infectious and remarkably iconic and immortal track that possessed the radio in a big way -- a track called 'Chasing Cars.' In no time, the album Eyes Open was certified gold with platinum status coming over the horizon. It became the band's most successful release in America ever.

Snow Patrol Tickets - The Sound and Style of Snow Patrol

Soft rock became such a rage for that time -- after all, look at the likes of Coldplay, and of course Belle & Sebastian. Snow Patrol hit it right when they came out with the soft sounds and vocals, complete with a compilation that can only be described as falling snow....