Florence + the Machine, Howe Zoe

The story of Florence ] The Machine makes an exhilarating contrast to the fortunes of those pre-packaged, stage-schooled pop stars who just wanted to be famous.

A bookish south London child who had sung at family funerals, Florence Welch exploded onto the international scene after her wild art school party days and a series of life-changing meetings with people like co-writer Isabella Summers, manager Mairead Nash and producer Paul Epworth.

The first two albums, Lungs and Ceremonials, went multi-platinum and Florence + The Machines emotional, quasi-mystical brand of pop brought them international fame. Meanwhile Florences idiosyncratic fashion sense had grabbed the attention of Gucci and Karl Lagerfeld, so guaranteeing the band an eye-catching icon to match the music.