Island EMI has hailed Keo’s “extraordinary achievement” after the breakthrough band scored the biggest-selling debut album by a group in more than two years.
The London band's Put A Smile On For Me achieved first-week consumption of 23,527 units to enter the chart at No.2, behind Taylor Swift's The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore (29,591 sales).
As noted in Alan Jones' charts analysis, the quartet were heading for No.1 until a tranche of CDs of the new version of Swift’s album were unleashed on Wednesday.
The sales breakdown for Put A Smile On For Me was 19,835 physical, 1,781 downloads and 1,911 streams.
According to Official Charts Company data, the haul makes Keo the first UK male band in over 10 years to surpass 20,000 first-week units with a debut album since Blossoms' self-titled record in 2016. It is also the biggest debut by any band since The Last Dinner Party's Prelude To Ecstasy secured first week sales of 32,846 in February 2024.
It’s a huge moment for the band and everyone involved, and we couldn’t be more excited about what comes next
James Talbut, Island EMI
“We’re immensely proud of Keo and everything they’ve achieved with this record," said James Talbut, senior A&R Island EMI. "To debut at No.2 with over 20,000 week one sales is an extraordinary achievement for a band who released their very first song just 18 months ago.
"From the outset, Keo have had a clear and uncompromising creative vision, with a depth of storytelling across their music and visuals that has really set them apart and helped build an incredibly engaged audience. To see that translate into this level of success – the biggest-selling debut by a band since The Last Dinner Party – is a phenomenal result. It’s a huge moment for the band and everyone involved, and we couldn’t be more excited about what comes next.”
The band also claimed the No.1 spot on both the Official Vinyl Albums Chart and Official Record Store Chart.
Keo’s lead vocalist and guitarist Finn Keogh wrote all 11 songs on the album (one with Gulliver Ellis), and has just turned 23. His bandmates are 25-year-old brother Conor Keogh (bass), 22-year-old Jimmy Lanwern (guitar) and 27-year-old drummer Oli Spackman.
The fast-rising group supported Wolf Alice before performing on the main stage at Reading & Leeds this summer. Their October UK headline tour sold more than 9,000 tickets in its first 24 hours and is now completely sold out, including a date at O2 Forum Kentish Town.
They subsequently announced their biggest headline show to date at O2 Academy Brixton, London on March 12, 2027, which sold out ahead of Put A Smile On For Me's release.
PHOTO: Hermione Sylvester
