Doves comprise Williams brothers Jez (guitar) and Andy (drums), and Jimi Goodwin (bass, vocals), and their origins, although complicated, can be traced back to the early 1980's.
In 1981, brothers Andy and Jez Williams formed a band with school mate and bass player, Tim Whiteley, recording and gigging from the age of 12 onwards. Jez and Whiteley eventually became members of Metro Trinity in 1988, a Manchester indie band, with Jonny Male (latterly of Republica) and released a Debris Flexi Disc (Manchester Indie Fanzine) with the Inspiral Carpets. Metro Trinity played a number of gigs including the legendary Hacienda club, and also released an EP, "Die Young", on Cafeteria Records, recorded in Brixton, with drummer Colin Rocks (who was eventually replaced by Andy Williams due to other commitments). Meanwhile, Goodwin was playing lead guitar in a band called The Risk, who used to practice at Handforth Youth Club and perform in various Manchester pubs and venues.
In 1991, the Williams brothers and Goodwin formed a dance collective called Sub Sub, who became famous for the early 1990s hit single "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)", which reached number 3 in the UK singles chart. However, their inability to produce a second hit drove them into obscurity, and in 1995 the band's Ancoats studio burned down, causing them to abandon Sub Sub and start afresh as a band, called Doves, in 1998.

Doves recorded 3 EPs in 1998 and 1999, establishing their new alternative rock sound, and eventually released their debut album, 2000's "Lost Souls", which received a Mercury Music Prize nomination. Second album "The Last Broadcast" was released 2 years later, and had more success, reaching number 1 in the UK album chart along with another Mercury Music Prize nomination, and with single "There Goes the Fear" climbing to number 3 in the UK singles chart. The following year the band released a B-sides compilation, "Lost Sides".

Third studio LP, "Some Cities", was recorded in cottages tucked away in Darlington, Snowdonia, and around Loch Ness. Released in February 2005, it travelled to number 1 in the UK album chart, and was preceded by the single "Black and White Town," which reached number 6 in the UK singles chart.

Doves have an unofficial fourth member, Martin Roman Rebelski, who plays keyboards, and has produced 2 solo albums, "Thanks For Your Thoughts" (in 2003) and 2005's "Stickers On Keys".