The four-piece consists of members Dan Smith, Chris 'Woody' Wood, Will Farquarson and Kyle Simmons. The name of the band derives from Bastille Day – an event celebrated on Dan Smith's birthday, July 14.

In December 2010, record label EMI Music announced that they had offered Bastille a record contract with Virgin Records. Their debut single, "Overjoyed" was subsequently released in April 2012. Their second single, "Bad Blood" – which shares the same title as the band's first studio album, followed in August 2012,and received moderate success in the United Kingdom, charting at number ninety.

The third track to be taken from Bad Blood, titled, "Flaws", became the group's first to enter the charts inside the Top 40, debuting at number twenty-one. In February 2013, ahead of the release of their debut album, the band's fourth single, "Pompeii", was released to huge demand, charting at number two in the UK.

Their first studio album, titled Bad Blood, was released in March 2013 and debuted atop the UK Albums Chart. The band initially included two other musicians on violin and cello, but dwindled down to the four current members.

Smith, Wood, Farquarson, and Simmons played together before the band was started, but all of their first songs were written and recorded by Smith. Bastille debuted in June 2010 with their limited edition 7"/45 rpm single featuring the two tracks "Flaws" and "Icarus".

Released through London-based independent record label, 'Young & Lost Club', only 300 copies were pressed. This was followed by the release of the EP Laura Palmer later in 2011. After debuting further tracks online through sites such as YouTube and MySpace, the band received a great amount of media attention and fans.

The group subsequently secured a few support slots, and later performed at major UK festivals including Glastonbury, the Isle of Wight and Blissfields. On 27 April 2012, their first official release, "Overjoyed", was released through Virgin Records, as confirmed by EMI on 1 May 2012.

Following its video premiere in November 2011, popular music publication, Q Magazine introduced the track as its 'Track of the Day' for 7 March 2012. The second single to be released from the upcoming album was title-track, "Bad Blood".

An accompanying video for the single was released on the band's official VEVO channel on 29 June 2012, and digitally through Virgin Records on 20 August 2012. Bastille were also named 'New Band of the Day' by British newspaper The Guardian in July 2012.

The song charted moderately at number 90 in the United Kingdom, and saw the group's first entry into the chart. August 2012 saw the band perform at UK festivals; Reading and Leeds, as well as supporting British singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé.

They later played a small headlining tour, titled 'Flaws Tour' in October 2012, with Swiss Lips as their support act. Their third single, a re-release of their first 7" non-album single "Flaws", was a commercial success, earning the group their first position in the UK Top 40, debuting at number-twenty-one.

In February 2013, Bastille confirmed the release of the fourth single to be taken from Bad Blood. "Pompeii" was positively reviewed by critics, reaching number two in the United Kingdom,and topping the Scottish Singles Chart.

Their debut album followed a week later at the end of their Bad Blood Tour, and placed at number one in the UK Albums Chart. On 11 March, Bastille were announced to be playing at Leeds and Reading Festival in August 2013.

In an interview with Digital Spy in March 2013, "Laura Palmer" was revealed to be the fifth single to be released from the album, by lead vocalist, Dan Smith. It was released on 3rd June 2013, and an accompanying video for the track premiered through the band's official VEVO page on 12 April 2013.

The group joined English rock band Muse as a supporting act on their The 2nd Law Tour in May 2013 and did so again in June 2013. In May of 2013, Bastille released their Haunt EP in the USA via iTunes.

On September 3rd, Bastille released their "Bad Blood" album in the US via iTunes.