Playing With Fire (1989) expanded on the psychedelic and drone themes of the earlier albums; its second single, "Revolution" reached #1 on the UK indie charts. But soon after, a combination of personnel changes, drug problems and intra-band tension (especially between Kember and Pierce) began to break the band apart. Recurring, released in 1991, was their last proper album, though its recording reflected the split between Pierce and Kember as each recorded their own side of the album in different studios, with a cover of Mudhoney's 'When Tomorrow Hits' to separate them (Mudhoney would later return the favour with a cover of Spacemen 3's 'Revolution'). It was their most popular record, but by its release Kember and Pierce had already formed new bands, Spectrum,were self described "noise experimentation" and Spiritualized, respectively. The final conflict that contributed to the split was Pierce's decision to release a cover of The Troggs' 'Any Way That You Want Me', as the first Spiritualized single, which Kember had been wanting to cover for years.
From the outset Spacemen 3 had a very defined set of aesthetic principles. They based almost their entire sound on their own concept of minimalism—droning guitars, feedback, as few chords as possible, pounding drums—with their motto “Taking drugs to make music to take drugs to”. Their minimalism bled into their stage show as well. Sitting down to play their guitars and covered in the spinning colours of a cheap psychedelic light show, their stage “act” was very anti-performance. Another striking aspect of Spacemen 3 was their willingness to cover and share their influences. Song titles, lyrics and interviews were peppered with references to bands and artists they believed shared their “minimal is maximal” aesthetic. The Velvet Underground, the Rolling Stones, The Stooges, MC5, early Captain Beefheart, out-there jazz legend Sun Ra, Silver Apples, garage punk of the 1960s such as the 13th Floor Elevators, Red Krayola, and the Electric Prunes; the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and other surf bands; ’80s rockabilly groups The Cramps, the Gun Club, Tav Falco; blues and gospel acts like Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, the Staple Singers and John Lee Hooker; and the production techniques of Joe Meek, Brian Wilson and Delia Derbyshire were just some of the names mentioned by the band.
Since the break-up there have been a stream of semi-legitimate albums, early demos and live recordings, many of which have been issued by the Kember-affiliated Space Age Recordings. Highlights include Dreamweapon: An Evening of Contemporary Sitar Music, a 45 minute drone piece performed in front of a live audience, Forged Prescriptions, a collection of Perfect Prescription demos and alternate versions (Kember claims in the liner notes that the alternate versions reproduce the layers of guitars they recorded but later removed because they felt they'd never be able to reproduce them live), and the band's singles compilation, which is perhaps the best introduction to the breadth of their work.
In 1998, a tribute album was released on Rocket Girl, which included tracks by Mogwai and Low. Kember’s Spectrum has toured under the banner “Songs the Spacemen Taught Us”, while Pierce routinely includes their songs in his Spiritualized set. In 2004, US journalist Erik Morse published his account of the band’s life and work, Dreamweapon: Spacemen 3 and the Birth of Spiritualized.
Members of the band went on to form Spiritualized, the Darkside and Spectrum (AKA Sonic Boom). Spiritualized carry on, to critical acclaim, though they have largely discarded the dark psychedelic edge. Sonic has also been on the road, playing gigs in London and occasional tours in the US as E.A.R. (Experimental Audio Research), which features synthesizers heavily. The Darkside split, while Rosco (AKA Sterling Roswell) went on to form the Sterling Roswell Blues Band and now is currently in The Gimps.
Hey Man
Spacemen 3 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feelin' funny in my mind, Lord
Feelin' funny in my mind, Lord
I need it, Lord
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
There's a black smoke risin', Lord
There's a black smoke risin', Lord
Right above my head
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
Well I don't mind dyin', Lord
I don't mind dyin', Lord
I don't mind dyin'
But I hate to leave my mother cryin'
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
The song "Hey Man" by Spacemen 3 is a powerful portrayal of the singer's mindset. The lyrics explore the singer's struggle with their own mental state, which they describe as feeling "funny in my mind." Their plea to the Lord indicates that they are seeking some sort of divine intervention or guidance to help cope with their struggles. The repetition of "Amen" at the end of each line emphasizes their desperation for resolution.
The second stanza brings in a new layer of imagery, with the mention of black smoke rising above the singer's head. This could possibly be a metaphor for the weight of their thoughts or emotions becoming overwhelming. The continuous repetition of "Amen" throughout this stanza gives the impression that the singer is attempting to ward off some sort of impending doom or danger.
The final stanza reveals the singer's acceptance of their own mortality, as they state that they don't mind dying. However, they express concern for their mother's reaction, suggesting that their desire to live stems from a concern for those they would leave behind.
Overall, the lyrics of "Hey Man" are an expression of the complex emotions that come with struggling with one's own mental health. The references to religion create a sense of hope and comfort, but ultimately it is the singer's love for their family that keep them grounded.
Line by Line Meaning
Feelin' funny in my mind, Lord
Experiencing strange or unusual sensations and thoughts in my mind which I cannot explain or understand, Lord.
I need it, Lord
I require something that I am unable to obtain or describe, Lord.
There's a black smoke risin', Lord
An ominous and unsettling cloud of smoke is appearing and growing in the sky, Lord.
Right above my head
Directly overhead where I can see and feel its presence.
Well I don't mind dyin', Lord
I am not afraid of the prospect of death, Lord.
But I hate to leave my mother cryin'
However, the thought of causing my mother pain and sadness is a source of great discomfort and concern for me.
Contributed by Tyler G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jay1970
Sitting on port Washington,wi marina by myself, drunk Playing this on repeat. Cold, gloomy, windy day perfect song for the day.
@jds5064
WI Spacemen3 fan feels...
@colonelspaceboots497
❤
@TobyW360
Dont drin too much bud
@jimihendrix6969
Hey man, a year on, how are you doing?
I hope you're still getting a good vibe from whatever you are listening to.
@chrisdodson8118
Switch the grog for sacred herbs and you will truly be onto a winner. 😉
@kelechi_77
That feeling of being so depressed but just hanging on to whatever willpower you have left: "I don't mind dying, but I'd hate to leave my mother crying." 'Nuff said.
@jordanmurray410
taking drugs to make music to take drugs to
@juliannekolb7945
I have no idea how I got here. Have just been riding a great YouTube music wave all morning instead of doing work. Time well spent.
@stephenbigrigg6658
Welcome to my world. X