Despite it name, Placebo makes anything but harmless rock music. Rather, it's the very combination of the Brit-based trio's searing, feedback-riddled song structures, coupled with its lyrical ambiguities on the nature of sexuality and identity, that has made the group one of the most dangerous bands around today. After releasing a self-titled debut record in 1996 and scoring several U.K. hits with singles such as "36 Degrees" and "Nancy Boy," Placebo was greeted in the U.S. as quirky critical darlings. The group didn't start drawing much commercial attention in the states until Placebo was personally asked by David Bowie -- who has made a career out of publicly exploring and re-creating his identity -- to play at a Madison Square Garden concert celebrating his 50th birthday party early last year. By the time Placebo started work on its sophomore album, "Without You I'm Nothing," the group had fully re-integrated original drummer Steve Hewitt -- who left the band prior to recording "Placebo" -- back into the mix. American-born frontman Brian Molko had also grown tired at his own public posturing, which when combined with the band's financial success at home, made Placebo an open target for other groups to take cheap shots at. For "Without You I'm Nothing," Molko and multi-instrumenalist Stefan Olsdal focused on expanding Placebo's sonic palette, and the band now seems less interested blurring the lines between sexual roles and norms than crafting literate rock songs and harrowing ballads. While in New York City to headline the Virgin Records showcase at this year's CMJ music conference, MTV News Online's David Basham talked with Placebo about its new album and the striking video for the first single, "Pure Morning." The band also addressed how it crafted death threats into a "hidden" track on "Without You I'm Nothing," and its appearance in Todd Haynes' new glam-era film, "Velvet Goldmine." For more from the gender-bending Brit band, check out this week's MTV News Online feature, which includes a transcript of our interview with Placebo, as well as RealVideo clips of the group's videos and live performance at the 1998 CMJ Music Fest.