Spacemen 3
Spacemen 3 were an English neo-psychedelic space rock band formed in 1984 … Read Full Bio ↴Spacemen 3 were an English neo-psychedelic space rock band formed in 1984 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce (a.k.a. J. Spaceman) and Peter Kember (a.k.a. Sonic Boom). Their first album, Sound of Confusion (1986), was not successful commercially, but it attracted a loyal fan base. Its follow-up, 1987's Perfect Prescription, is a concept album mirroring the highs and lows of a drug trip. It expanded the group's core of fans and is generally considered their masterpiece.
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.
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.
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Spacemen 3 Lyrics
01. take me to the other side I have a passion sweet Lord And it just won't go…
2.35 Well it's 2.35 in the afternoon You said you'd be comin'…
Any Way That You Want Me If it's love that you want Baby you've got it From the…
Any Way You Want Me If it's love that you want Baby you've got it From the…
Big City Big city Bright lights Cool, cool people Big city Ever…
Big City (Everybody I Know Can Be Found Here) Big city Bright lights Cool, cool people Big city Everybody…
Billy Whiz/Blue 1 Met up with Mary Anne She introduced me to Billy Whizz Sai…
Call the Doctor Call the doctor pretty baby, you know I'm near to…
Come Down Easy by Kember/Pierce In 1987 all I wanna do is fly All I…
Come Down Easy (demo version) In 1987 all I wanna do is fly All I want…
Come Down Softly to My Soul by J. Pierce Heaven, come softly down to my side Oh girl,…
Feel So Good Don’t it feel so good Lord I feel so good today Don’t…
Feel So Sad Sweet Lord, I know I hate this lonely life so Lord, I…
Feelin' Just Fine I feel blown, I got my head on my shoulder Oh…
Fixin' to Die Smell my open ass as it breathes in your throat Is…
Hey Man Feelin' funny in my mind, Lord Feelin' funny in my mind,…
Honey Honey, won’t you take me home tonight? Honey, won’t you take…
how does it feel When I saw you, you looked so surprised And the oceans…
Hypnotized Her sweet kiss it elevates my soul Honey I ain’t blind It’…
I Believe Oh Lord Ah, you know I believe it To my soul Ah, to…
I Love You I stand accused You know that’s true I’ve been abused But…
It's Alright Let me tell you something, baby 'cause you don't know, you…
Just to See You Smile Just to see you smile Just to see you smile Again Honey…
Just to See You Smile (Honey, Part 2) Just to see you smile Just to see you smile Again Honey, oh…
Just To See You Smile (Orchest Just to see you smile Just to see you smile Again Honey…
Just to See You Smile (Orchestral mix) Just to see you smile Just to see you smile Again Honey, oh…
Just To See You Smile [Instrumental} Just to see you smile Just to see you smile Again Honey…
Let Me Down Gently Darlin' If you find your love Ever startin' to fade Let m…
Little Doll Little doll, I can't forget Smokin' on a cigarette In my l…
Lord Can You Hear Me Lord, help me out I'd take my life but I'm in…
Losing Touch With My Mind I'm losing, losing touch with my mind. I'm falling, falling …
Mary Anne Mary Anne, hold my hand Pretty babe, I understand You say …
May the Circle Be Unbroken I was standing at my window, on a cold and cloudy day, wh…
O.D. Catastrophe Do you see that kid Down on his luck Do you see…
Ode to Street Hassle Well I've been to some far out places I've read the…
Repeater (How Does It Feel When I saw you, you looked so surprised And the oceans…
Revolution (Look out...) Well I'm sick... I'm soooo... sick ! Of the …
Rollercoaster Well I met someone some time ago His eyes were clear…
Set Me Free Set me free Let me help you see Come on, just let…
Set Me Free/I've Got the Key Hey babe You got somethin’ Somethin’ special I only dream…
So Hot (Pierce) Lord it's so hot, and I ain't got a lot I…
So Hot (Wash Away All of My Tears) Lord it's so hot, and I ain't got a lot I…
Sometimes Sometimes I feel I’m pulling on a rope of sand Sometimes…
Take me to the olther side I have a passion sweet Lord And it just won't go…
Take Me to the Other Side I have a passion sweet Lord And it just won't go…
That If it's love that you want Baby you've got it From the…
Things'll Never Be the Same Let me tell ya about this life I got mine and…
Transparent Radiation Selfless man slip by my side Uttering words about the turni…
Transparent Radiation (Flashback) Selfless man slip by my side Uttering words about the turnin…
Walkin' With Jesus I walked with Jesus and he would say "Oh you poor…
Walkin' With Jesus (Sound Of Con... I walked with Jesus and he would say "Oh you poor…
Walking With Jesus I walked with Jesus and he would say"Oh you poor…
We Sell Soul We sell soul, can you see her We sell soul, if…
When Tomorrow Hits Laying out on some early acts Losing your way Getting way of…
Why Couldn't I See You took my heart and you tore it to pieces You…
Why Couldn't I See? You took my heart and you tore it to pieces You…