Love And Rockets

Love And Rockets Artistfacts

  • 1985-
    Daniel AshGuitar, vocals
    David JBass, vocals
    Kevin HaskinsDrums
  • Guitarist Daniel Ash, bassist David J, and drummer Kevin Haskins started Love And Rockets in 1985. They had been three-fourths of the post-punk band Bauhaus, with vocalist Peter Murphy the one Bauhaus member who didn't join them. Their core period of activity lasted from 1985 to 1999. They got back together from 2007 to 2009 and then slated a tour for 2023.
  • Love and Rockets didn't carry the dolorous Bauhaus sound forward. Their music is an eclectic mix of styles with a more upbeat energy, pop vibes, and the cutting-edge electronic instrumentation that was becoming available in the '80s.
  • Other than the #3 hit single "So Alive" and its attendant Gold-certified album, Love And Rockets, the band were not among the top tier for record sales. They were, however, very influential, as attested to by the 2009 tribute album New Tales to Tell: A Tribute to Love and Rockets. It features acts like The Flaming Lips, Better Than Ezra, and The Dandy Warhols.
  • Kevin Haskins and David J (birth name David John Haskins) are brothers. They were inspired to start their first band, named Submerged Teeth, after seeing a Sex Pistols show.
  • The band's name comes from a comic book series started in 1982 by brothers Gilbert, Jaime, and Mario Hernandez. Also titled Love and Rockets, it was one of the first examples of the "alternative comics" movement, which features stories that fall outside the usual super-hero gimmick.
  • The band's first release was a cover of "Ball Of Confusion" in 1985. They put it out as a single, saw it rise to #18 on the Canadian chart, and quickly followed it up with their debut album, Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven.
  • From 1982 to 1984, Haskins, Ash, and Bauhaus roadie Glenn Campling worked on a side-project named Tones on Tail. Most of that group's output was lost, but around 2019, Campling found some recordings and gave the old group new life.
  • Interestingly, a Tones on Tail promotional image showed the band standing in front of a sketch of giant bumblebee-men that look very similar to the costumes the group wore in the music video for another side project, this one being The Bubblemen of 1988. The Bubblemen featured the exact same lineup as Love And Rockets. They released a single titled "The Bubblemen Are Coming," which includes additional tracks "Bees," "Bubblemen Rap," and "Bubblemen Rap (Dub Version)."
  • The cover of the band's 1996 album Sweet F.A. shows a photograph of a burned guitar salvaged from a fire that tore through a house owned by their label, American Recordings. The inferno destroyed the band's equipment and months of recordings. It also injured industrial metal pioneer and Psychic TV frontperson Genesis P-Orridge. A legal battle ensued, with Love And Rockets being found not responsible for the fire but still saddled with steep legal bills.

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