'Love and Rockets' were an
alternative rock band formed in 1985 by former
Bauhaus members
Daniel Ash (
guitars,
saxophone, and vocals),
David J (bass and vocals) and
Kevin Haskins (drums, synthesizers). Former Bauhaus vocalist,
Peter Murphy, had embarked on a solo career. Ash and Haskins had recorded and performed in another band
Tones on Tail during the interim.
Despite their previous band's status as
gothic rock icons, Love and Rockets moved away from that genre, as demonstrated by their first minor hit being a cover of the
Motown classic "
Ball of Confusion," though the genesis of that song is unsurprisingly quite disguised. Their first album release, ''
Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven'' (
1985), leaned more towards
psychedelic music and Beatle-esque pop. Their second release, ''
Express'' (
1986), continued in that vein. It included the dance hit "Yin and Yang (the Flowerpot Man)." The
1987 follow up ''
Earth, Sun, Moon'' had a folkier sound and spawned the minor hit "No New Tale to Tell."
In
1989 the band released a
self-titled album that presented a more
AOR sound. The second single from the album was the
T. Rex-inspired song "
So Alive." It became a surprise hit, reaching No. 3 on the American singles chart, a feat no
Bauhaus-related band or artist has achieved before or since.
After a grueling tour schedule in support of their big hit, Love and Rockets took a few years off before returning to the studio together. The result was a move to a much more
electronic sound that had more in common with
the Orb than their
rock or
goth roots. Their label,
RCA Records, dropped them, unable to comprehend the change, and not seeing a follow-up hit to "
So Alive." They signed with
Rick Rubin's
American Recordings to release ''Hot Trip To Heaven'' (
1994), followed in
1996 by ''Sweet F.A.''. ''Lift'' came out in
1998 on Red Ant Records, and the band disbanded in
1999, though the three have reunited with Murphy and reformed Bauhaus since.
The band's name was derived from the
comic by
Jaime and
Gilbert Hernandez, which Gilbert later mocked in his book 'Love and Rockets X', where there were several different bands named "Love and Rockets" for a period.
Discography
Albums
★ 1985 – ''
Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven'' (
Beggar's Banquet/
RCA)
★ 1986 – ''
Express'' (Beggar's Banquet/Big Time)
★ 1987 – ''
Earth, Sun, Moon'' (Beggar's Banquet/Big Time)
★ 1989 – ''
Love and Rockets'' (Beggar's Banquet/RCA)
★ 1994 – ''
Hot Trip to Heaven'' (American)
★ 1996 – ''
Sweet F.A.'' (American)
★ 1998 – ''
Lift'' (Red Ant)
★ 2003 – ''
So Alive (Live)'' (Psychobaby)
Singles
★ 1985 "
Ball of Confusion"
★ 1985 "If There's a Heaven Above"
★ 1986 "
Kundalini Express"
★ 1986 "Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man)
★ 1987 "The Light"
★ 1987 "No New Tale to Tell"
★ 1988 "Mirror People"
★ 1988 "The Bubblemen Are Coming" [credited to The Bubblemen]
★ 1988 "Lazy"
★ 1989 "Motorcycle"
★ 1989 "
So Alive" (#79 UK, #3 U.S.)
★ 1989 "Rock & Roll Babylon"
★ 1989 "No Big Deal" (#82 U.S.)
★ 1994 "This Heaven"
★ 1994 "Body and Soul"
★ 1996 "The Glittering Darkness"
★ 1996 "Fever"
★ 1996 "Sweet Lover Hangover"
★ 1998 "Resurrection Hex"
★ 1998 "Holy Fool"
★ 1998 "RIP 20 C."