Foo Fighters end Adele's unbeaten run at number one

17/04/2011

US rock band Foo Fighters sail straight to the top of the Official Albums Chart with new release Wasting Light deposing Adele’s 21after it’s eleven week reign at number one, the Official Charts Company reports today. 

Wasting Light posted first week sales of over 114,000, ahead of 21’s tally of just over 107,000 a difference of some 6%.

Wasting Light, Foo Fighters’ seventh full-length studio album, gives the Grammy award winning band their third Official Albums Chart number one following Echoes Silence Patience & Grace (2007) and One By One (2002).  Since their self-titled debut album peaked at number three in 1995, they have sold over 4.5 million albums in the UK alone.  Founder member Dave Grohl was the drummer in iconic rock band Nirvana.

Adele may have lost her Official Albums Chart crown but her albums 21 and 19 occupy the number two and number three slots in this week’s chart with combined sales of over 140,000.  Both albums have recorded total sales of over a million with 21 fast approaching the 2 million benchmark.

Official Charts Company managing director Martin Talbot said, “Adele’s unbeaten run at number one may have come to an end but she has already made 2011 her own.  She is a true phenomenon.”

Elsewhere in the Official Albums Chart Top 10, Glee Cast’s Glee The Music Volume 5 is a new entry straight in at number four while Cee Lo Green’s The Lady Killer, which peaked at number three in January, re-enters at this week’s number eight up from last week’s number 14.

In the Official Singles Chart, LMFAO’s single Party Rock Anthem featuring singer Lauren Bennet and writer/producer GoonRock takes the number one spot after a four week climb having first entered the chart at number 22. 

LMFAO previously featured on David Guetta’s Official Singles Chart number one Gettin’ Over You (2010) and  Chuckie’s number nine hit Let The Bass Kick in Miami Girl (2009) but Party Rock Anthem is their first Official Singles Chart number one as lead artists.  LMFAO’s debut album Party Rock (2009) was nominated for Best Electronic/Dance album at the Grammys.  Worldwide the duo have sold over three million singles and 200,000 albums.

LMFAO (aka Redfoo and Sky Blu) and producer Goonroc hail from LA while singer Lauren Bennet, a member of the Paradiso Girls, is originally from the UK and is a former X Factor contestant.

There is just one new entry in this week’s Official Singles Chart Top 10; Chris Brown’s Beautiful People featuring Benny Benassi climbs to number eight from last week’s number 20.  Rihanna’s S&M which spent three weeks a number three earlier this year re-enters at this week’s number seven from last week’s number 12 following the release of a new version featuring a duet with Britney Spears.

Notes to Editors
 
1.   Chart information quoted from this release must be credited to The Official Charts Company
 
2.  The Official Charts Company (OCC) is a joint venture between record labels’ body the BPI and ERA, the Entertainment Retailers Association.   The OCC is responsible for the commissioning, marketing, distribution and management of the UK’s industry standard music and video charts and is endorsed by the BVA (British Video Association).
 
3. The Official Charts Company compiles its charts from sales information gathered across all key distribution (or entertainment) channels including all major high street retail chains, independent stores, supermarkets, mail order internet retailers and digital music service providers. This market research sample equates to 99% of the total UK Singles market; 98% of the total UK Albums market and 90% of the total UK DVD market.
 
 For further information contact:
Amy Howard, Official Charts Company.
T: 01480 860 530  M. 07768 891 264
E: amy@theofficialcharts.com
W:  www.theofficialcharts.com
The Chart Show with Reggie Yates, Sundays  4pm-7pm, BBC Radio 1.
The Official Chart Update with Greg James, Wednesdays 3.30pm-4pm, BBC Radio 1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/
Jo Whiley features Official Albums Chart highlights, Mondays between 8 and 9pm, BBC Radio 2

Ends.                                      

Back to press articles