Ed Macfarlane

Lore & Background

Ed Macfarlane formed Friendly Fires in 2006 with bandmates Jack Savidge and Edd Gibson. The band gained acclaim for their self-titled debut album in 2008, which was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. Macfarlane's dynamic live performances and synth-driven sound have been central to the band's identity.

In Their Own Story

The series revolves around the adventures of a diverse group of five 10-year-old children (later retconned to be varying ages), using code names Numbuhs 1 through 5, who are the main home operatives of what is known as Sector V, which is part of a worldwide global espionage-style organization called the Kids Next Door. Their mission is to fight crimes against children (such as homework, flossing, doctor, baths, bedtime, teeth brushing, babysitters, sharing, doing chores, etc.), many of which are willingly committed by 'evil' adults, senior citizens, teenagers, and occasionally other children. Numbuh 1 is a level-headed, no-nonsense British boy named Nigel Uno, leader of Sector V. Numbuh 2 is an overweight, nerdy American boy named Hogarth 'Hoagie' Pennywhistle Gilligan, Jr. Numbuh 3 is a friendly, happy-go-lucky Japanese girl named Kuki Sanban. Numbuh 4 is a short-tempered, irrational Australian boy named Wallabee 'Wally' Beetles. Numbuh 5 is an intelligent, relaxed, French-born African-American girl who speaks in illeism named Abigail 'Abby' Lincoln.

Reader's Guide

KND agents utilize a vast array of mechanical, electronic gadgets, weapons, and machinery, collectively referred to as 2×4 (two-by-four) technology. The KND's 2×4 technology was originally conceived as being constructed from an assortment of objects, mostly common household ones. However, as the series progressed, the kind of objects their technology would be constructed from became bigger, consisting of things such as large vehicles and small buildings. Not only that, but the complexity of their technology, such as their defensive weaponry and means of transportation, advanced to such absurd levels as to be considered science fiction, despite all of it still being constructed from nothing but an assortment of objects. Following a period of training, every member of the Kids Next Door chooses a number or alphanumeric code (deliberately pronounced and spelled as 'Numbuh') and is sent to a 'sector' that acts as their home base. The sector headquarters, like some of the organization's bases and facilities, are high-tech tree houses, with both treehouse and the tree it is in being of ludicrous proportions, and often suited to their environment. This includes a base constructed beneath the Arctic ice shelf, and a base built into a large pine tree. The main headquarters of the Kids Next Door is a treehouse Moon Base.

Did You Know?

• Ed Macfarlane is the frontman of Friendly Fires, not a member of Arctic Monkeys.
• He was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize with Friendly Fires' debut album.
• Macfarlane's stage presence includes dancing and crowd-surfing during live shows.