Arcade Fire formed during the summer of 2003, after Win Butler spotted Régine Chassagne singing jazz standards at a Montreal art exhibit. The grandson of famed swing-era bandleader Alvino Rey, Win was quickly charmed by Chassagne’s performance, leading the two to launch a songwriting partnership. Romance followed shortly thereafter, and the duo expanded its sound by gathering Richard Reed Parry on organ, Tim Kingsbury on bass, and Win Butler’s younger brother William on synthesizer and percussion.
