Luna (band)
Encyclopedia
Luna was a dream pop
/indie pop
band formed in 1991 by Dean Wareham
after the breakup of Galaxie 500
, with Stanley Demeski and Justin Harwood
(Demeski formerly of The Feelies
and Harwood formerly of New Zealand band The Chills
). Described by Rolling Stone magazine as “the best band you’ve never heard of,” Luna combined intricate guitar work, traditional rock rhythms and poetic lyrics to elegantly capture the romance of the late night. After announcing plans to break up in 2004, they played their final concert at the Bowery Ballroom
in New York City on February 28, 2005.
The original line-up was expanded with the addition of guitarist Sean Eden for their second album, 1994's Bewitched. Lee Wall replaced Demeski on drums in time for 1997's Pup Tent, and Britta Phillips
of The Belltower
(also known as the singing voice of animated character Jem
) joined when bassist Justin Harwood departed in 2000. Phillips and Wareham became romantically involved and eventually married in 2007.
's US tour supporting the Cocteau Twins
, Dean Wareham told his bandmates Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang that he was quitting the band. Wareham then signed a demo deal
with Elektra Records
and recorded a number of tracks with Mercury Rev
drummer Jimmy Chambers. Some of these recordings were later released on the "Anesthesia" single on No.6 Records
in the US and Mint Tea in the UK under the name "Dean Wareham."
Elektra's VP of A&R, Terry Tolkin
, was impressed and Wareham signed a deal with Elektra, and started pulling together a band. He first contacted Justin Harwood, whom he had met while Harwood was playing with The Chills
, and they recruited drummer Byron Guthrie. The trio recorded demos (produced by Dave Fridmann
) and played a series of live dates with Mercury Rev
guitarist Grasshopper
. Guthrie was replaced by former Feelies
drummer Stanley Demeski, and this line-up recorded the first album, Lunapark
, produced by Fred Maher
and released by Elektra under the name Luna² to avoid confusion with a new-age musician known as "Luna." (Later an accord was reached which allowed the band to use the name Luna.)
Shortly after the release of Lunapark, the band placed an advertisement in the Village Voice for a guitarist, and Canadian former drama student Sean Eden was recruited. The new four-piece recorded a number of cover versions that would become the Slide EP, and then toured the US. In mid-1993 the band supported the reformed Velvet Underground on their European tour, after which they recorded their second album. Bewitched
was recorded in New York City and co-produced by the band with Victor Van Vugt
. Velvet Underground guitarist Sterling Morrison
played guitar on two tracks. The album was released in 1994.
In 1995 the band went into Sorcerer Sound studio in New York City with producer Pat McCarthy
and engineer Mario Salvati to record their third album Penthouse
. The album featured Television
guitarist Tom Verlaine
on the tracks "Moon Palace" and "23 Minutes in Brussels." The album was released in August 1995 to critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone declaring it one of the essential albums of the 90s. The album featured a cover of Serge Gainsbourg
's Bonnie and Clyde as a hidden track, the song featured Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab
duetting with Dean Wareham. Bonnie and Clyde was released as a single in the UK and was named Melody Maker
single of the week.
Luna recorded a cover version of Paula Abdul's
"Straight Up" for Engine Room Recordings
' compilation album Guilt by Association, which was released in September 2007.
Dream pop
Dream pop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid-1980s, when bands like The Passions, Dif Juz, Lowlife and A.R. Kane began fusing post-punk and ethereal experiments with bittersweet pop melodies into dreamy, sensual soundscapes. The term was almost...
/indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band formed in 1991 by Dean Wareham
Dean Wareham
Dean Wareham is an American musician, who formed the band Galaxie 500 in 1987. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Wareham moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia, before settling in New York City in 1977. Wareham attended high school at Dalton School in New York, and then attended Harvard...
after the breakup of Galaxie 500
Galaxie 500
Galaxie 500 was an American alternative rock band that formed in 1987 and split up in 1991 after releasing three albums.-History:Guitarist Dean Wareham, drummer Damon Krukowski and bassist Naomi Yang had met at the Dalton School in New York City in 1981, but began playing together during their time...
, with Stanley Demeski and Justin Harwood
Justin Harwood
Justin Harwood is a New Zealand-born bass guitarist, notable for his work with several indie rock bands of the 1980s and 1990s, The Chills, Luna, and Tuatara...
(Demeski formerly of The Feelies
The Feelies
The Feelies are a rock band from Haledon, New Jersey. They formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1992 having released four albums. The band reunited in 2008 and most recently released an album in 2011....
and Harwood formerly of New Zealand band The Chills
The Chills
The Chills are a guitar and keyboard-based rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, they were one of the proponents of the Dunedin Sound.- History :...
). Described by Rolling Stone magazine as “the best band you’ve never heard of,” Luna combined intricate guitar work, traditional rock rhythms and poetic lyrics to elegantly capture the romance of the late night. After announcing plans to break up in 2004, they played their final concert at the Bowery Ballroom
Bowery Ballroom
The Bowery Ballroom is a music venue in the Bowery section of New York City. The structure, at 6 Delancey Street, was built just before the Stock Market Crash of 1929. It stood vacant until the end of WWII, when it became a high-end retail store. The neighborhood subsequently went into decline...
in New York City on February 28, 2005.
The original line-up was expanded with the addition of guitarist Sean Eden for their second album, 1994's Bewitched. Lee Wall replaced Demeski on drums in time for 1997's Pup Tent, and Britta Phillips
Britta Phillips
Britta Phillips is an American musician, songwriter, actress and voice actor. She is best known as the singing voice of the title character of Jem and as one half of the duo Dean and Britta, with her husband Dean Wareham...
of The Belltower
The Belltower
The Belltower was an American alternative rock band from New York City often associated with the shoegazing scene, with members who later joined Luna and Fountains of Wayne.-History:...
(also known as the singing voice of animated character Jem
Jem (TV series)
Jem, also known as Jem and the Holograms, is an American animated television series that ran from 1985 to 1988 in U.S. first-run syndication...
) joined when bassist Justin Harwood departed in 2000. Phillips and Wareham became romantically involved and eventually married in 2007.
History
In 1991, after the end of Galaxie 500Galaxie 500
Galaxie 500 was an American alternative rock band that formed in 1987 and split up in 1991 after releasing three albums.-History:Guitarist Dean Wareham, drummer Damon Krukowski and bassist Naomi Yang had met at the Dalton School in New York City in 1981, but began playing together during their time...
's US tour supporting the Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
, Dean Wareham told his bandmates Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang that he was quitting the band. Wareham then signed a demo deal
Artist development deal
An artist development deal is often the first of a recording artist's contracts with a major record label. In lieu of high royalties or other desirable rights, the label will promise to develop the skills and public profile of the artist...
with Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
and recorded a number of tracks with Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev is an American alternative rock group, that formed in the late 1980s in Buffalo, New York. Original personnel were David Baker , Jonathan Donahue , Sean Mackowiak, a.k.a...
drummer Jimmy Chambers. Some of these recordings were later released on the "Anesthesia" single on No.6 Records
No.6 Records
No.6 Records was an independent record label, started in 1989 as a subsidiary of Rough Trade Records by A&R representative and booking agent Terry Tolkin...
in the US and Mint Tea in the UK under the name "Dean Wareham."
Elektra's VP of A&R, Terry Tolkin
Terry Tolkin
Terry Tolkin was the Vice President of A&R at Elektra Records from 1992 to 1996. He signed a number of critically acclaimed alternative rock bands, including Luna, Stereolab, Afghan Whigs, Scrawl, Jennyanykind and Nada Surf...
, was impressed and Wareham signed a deal with Elektra, and started pulling together a band. He first contacted Justin Harwood, whom he had met while Harwood was playing with The Chills
The Chills
The Chills are a guitar and keyboard-based rock band from Dunedin, New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, they were one of the proponents of the Dunedin Sound.- History :...
, and they recruited drummer Byron Guthrie. The trio recorded demos (produced by Dave Fridmann
Dave Fridmann
Dave Fridmann is an American record producer and musician. From 1990 onwards he co-produced all releases by Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips...
) and played a series of live dates with Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev
Mercury Rev is an American alternative rock group, that formed in the late 1980s in Buffalo, New York. Original personnel were David Baker , Jonathan Donahue , Sean Mackowiak, a.k.a...
guitarist Grasshopper
Grasshopper (musician)
Grasshopper is an American musician with the band Mercury Rev. He has also appeared with Rev side-project Harmony Rockets, his own band Grasshopper and the Golden Crickets, and as a guest musician on numerous other recordings.-Early years:Mackowiak's early years have been colored by a 1991...
. Guthrie was replaced by former Feelies
The Feelies
The Feelies are a rock band from Haledon, New Jersey. They formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1992 having released four albums. The band reunited in 2008 and most recently released an album in 2011....
drummer Stanley Demeski, and this line-up recorded the first album, Lunapark
Lunapark
Lunapark was the debut album by New York rock band Luna. As the first musical outing of Dean Wareham since the disbanding of Galaxie 500, Lunapark set forth the new musical directions of Wareham and embraced a musical sound that would continue to evolve throughout Luna's tenure...
, produced by Fred Maher
Fred Maher
Fred Maher is an American drummer, programmer and record producer.He was a member of Massacre , Material, Scritti Politti, Lou Reed, and is best known as the producer of I'm Talking's album Bear Witness , Lou Reed's album New York , Matthew Sweet's album Girlfriend , and Information Society's self...
and released by Elektra under the name Luna² to avoid confusion with a new-age musician known as "Luna." (Later an accord was reached which allowed the band to use the name Luna.)
Shortly after the release of Lunapark, the band placed an advertisement in the Village Voice for a guitarist, and Canadian former drama student Sean Eden was recruited. The new four-piece recorded a number of cover versions that would become the Slide EP, and then toured the US. In mid-1993 the band supported the reformed Velvet Underground on their European tour, after which they recorded their second album. Bewitched
Bewitched (album)
-Track listing:All tracks are by Luna with lyrics by Dean Wareham# "California " – 4:15# "Tiger Lily" – 4:46# "Friendly Advice" – 6:33# "Bewitched" – 4:45# "This Time Around" – 3:29# "Great Jones Street" – 3:36# "Going Home" – 5:26...
was recorded in New York City and co-produced by the band with Victor Van Vugt
Victor Van Vugt
Victor Van Vugt is an award-winning music producer, mixer and engineer. An Australian based in New York, he has had a long association with the careers of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Beth Orton. He has also worked with the likes of P.J...
. Velvet Underground guitarist Sterling Morrison
Sterling Morrison
Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...
played guitar on two tracks. The album was released in 1994.
In 1995 the band went into Sorcerer Sound studio in New York City with producer Pat McCarthy
Patrick McCarthy (record producer)
Patrick McCarthy is a record producer from Dublin, Ireland who has worked for several rock and alternative rock artists, including The Waterboys, Counting Crows, R.E.M., and U2. In 1998, he replaced Scott Litt as R.E.M.'s in-house producer, co-producing three of their albums Up, Reveal and Around...
and engineer Mario Salvati to record their third album Penthouse
Penthouse (album)
-Track listing:All songs music by Luna and lyrics by Dean Wareham except where noted# "Chinatown" – 4:39# "Sideshow by the Seashore" – 3:12# "Moon Palace" – 3:46# "Double Feature" – 4:27# "23 Minutes in Brussels" – 6:40# "Lost in Space" – 3:44...
. The album featured Television
Television (band)
Television was an American rock band, formed in New York City in 1973. They are best known for the album Marquee Moon and widely regarded as one of the founders of "punk" and New Wave music. Television was part of the early 1970s New York underground rock scene, along with bands like the Patti...
guitarist Tom Verlaine
Tom Verlaine
Tom Verlaine is a singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the frontman for the New York rock band Television.-Biography:...
on the tracks "Moon Palace" and "23 Minutes in Brussels." The album was released in August 1995 to critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone declaring it one of the essential albums of the 90s. The album featured a cover of Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
's Bonnie and Clyde as a hidden track, the song featured Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab
Stereolab
Stereolab are an alternative music band formed in 1990 in London, England. The band originally comprised songwriting team Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier , both of whom remained at the helm across many lineup changes...
duetting with Dean Wareham. Bonnie and Clyde was released as a single in the UK and was named Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
single of the week.
Luna recorded a cover version of Paula Abdul's
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
"Straight Up" for Engine Room Recordings
Engine Room Recordings
Engine Room Recordings is an independent record label with a roster of Indie rock and Alternative rock musicians. Beyond marketing and distribution for its artists, the label does booking and artist management....
' compilation album Guilt by Association, which was released in September 2007.
Albums
- LunaparkLunaparkLunapark was the debut album by New York rock band Luna. As the first musical outing of Dean Wareham since the disbanding of Galaxie 500, Lunapark set forth the new musical directions of Wareham and embraced a musical sound that would continue to evolve throughout Luna's tenure...
(1992) - BewitchedBewitched (album)-Track listing:All tracks are by Luna with lyrics by Dean Wareham# "California " – 4:15# "Tiger Lily" – 4:46# "Friendly Advice" – 6:33# "Bewitched" – 4:45# "This Time Around" – 3:29# "Great Jones Street" – 3:36# "Going Home" – 5:26...
(1994) - PenthousePenthouse (album)-Track listing:All songs music by Luna and lyrics by Dean Wareham except where noted# "Chinatown" – 4:39# "Sideshow by the Seashore" – 3:12# "Moon Palace" – 3:46# "Double Feature" – 4:27# "23 Minutes in Brussels" – 6:40# "Lost in Space" – 3:44...
(1995) - Pup TentPup TentPup Tent is an album by Luna.-Background:"Bobby Peru" is named after an eccentric, overtly creepy character played by Willem Dafoe in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart. Wareham read the phrase "Fuzzy Wuzzy" in a Don DeLillo book...
(1997) - The Days of Our NightsThe Days of Our NightsThe Days of Our Nights is an album by Luna, currently out of print in the United States. It is notable for a Luna-fied cover of the Guns N' Roses hit "Sweet Child o' Mine".-Release:...
(1999) - Luna LiveLuna LiveLuna Live is a live album by Luna released by the Arena Rock Recording Co. It was recorded at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. and at The Knitting Factory in New York.-Track listing:...
[live] (2001) - Romantica (2002)
- Rendezvous (2004)
- Best of Luna (2006)
- Lunafied (Available as download and Best of Luna bonus disc)
EPs
- SlideSlide (EP)Slide is an EP by the band Luna.Released shortly after Lunapark, Slide follows in familiar footsteps of its predecessor. Consisting of two album tracks from the debut and an original track , the rest of this EP is peppered with cover songs and introduces Sean Eden on two of the six tracks...
(1993) - EP (1996)
- EP (1997) (Australian release consisting of mostly live songs from Pup Tent)
- Close Cover Before StrikingClose Cover Before StrikingClose Cover Before Striking is an EP by Luna. It contains two videos , as well as Rolling Stones and Kraftwerk covers.-Track listing:All songs written by Dean Wareham, except where noted# "Astronaut" – 4:00...
(2002).
Singles
- This Time Around
- Chinatown (Radio Edit)/Chinatown (Album Version) (1995)
- Hedgehog/23 Minutes in Brussels/No RegretsNo Regrets (Tom Rush song)"No Regrets" is a song by folk and blues singer/songwriter Tom Rush. It is the final song on his 1968 album The Circle Game.His 1968 composition has become an acknowledged standard, with numerous cover versions having been recorded...
/Happy New Year (1995) - Bonnie & Clyde (Bonnie Parker Version)/Chinatown/Thank You For Sending me an Angel/Bonnie & Clyde (Clyde Barrow Version) (1995)
- Bonnie & Clyde/Chinatown (1995)
- Season of the Witch (Edit) (1996)
- Season of the Witch/Indian Summer/Lost in Space/23 Minutes in Brussels (1996)
- Bobby Peru (Radio Edit)/Audio Biography (1997)
- IHOP/Fuzzy Wuzzy/Words without Wrinkles (1997)
- Bobby Peru/In the Flesh/Beggar's Bliss (Demo)/Bob le Flambeur (1997)
- Hedgehog/23 Minutes in Brussels (1997)
- Beautiful View/Bobby Peru(U.S. Radio Edit)/California (Live) (1998)
- Superfreaky Memories/Neon Lights/the Bad Vibe Merchant (1999)
- Lovedust/Black Postcards/Only Women Bleed (2002)
- Speedbumps/Astronaut/Eyes in my smoke (2004)
Other releases
- Dean Wareham Anesthesia containing songs Anesthesia/I Can't Wait/Tomato Poodle
- Dream Baby Dream from the guest album Invitation to a Suicide (1997)
- Britta Phillips & Dean Wareham L'Avventura (2003)
- Britta Phillips & Dean Wareham Back Numbers (2007)
Soundtracks
- Irma VepIrma VepIrma Vep is a 1996 film directed by the French director Olivier Assayas, starring Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung in a story about the disasters that ensue as a middle-aged French film director attempts to remake Louis Feuillade's classic silent film serial Les vampires...
(1996) - I Shot Andy Warhol (1996)
- Mr. JealousyMr. JealousyMr. Jealousy is a 1997 romantic comedy film written and directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Eric Stoltz and Annabella Sciorra.-Plot:Aspiring writer Lester Grimm starts going out with Ramona Ray after being introduced by Lester's friend Vince and Vince's fiancee Lucretia...
(1997) - ThursdayThursday (1998 film)Thursday is a 1998 American crime/thriller/black comedy movie written and directed by Skip Woods.-Plot:Casey Wells has cleaned up his life. He is now a married architect and is looking to adopt a child with his wife when Nick , an old partner from his days as a drug dealer in Los Angeles, shows up...
(1998) - Kill Me LaterKill Me LaterKill Me Later is a 2001 film directed by Dana Lustig and starring Selma Blair and Max Beesley; it also features Brendan Fehr and Keegan Connor Tracy.-Synopsis :Blair plays Shawn, a suicidal loan officer at a bank....
(2001) - SidewaysSidewaysSideways is a 2004 comedy-drama film written by Jim Taylor and Alexander Payne and directed by Payne. Adapted from Rex Pickett's 2004 novel of the same name, Sideways follows two forty-something year old men, portrayed by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, who take a week-long road trip to...
(2004)
External links
- Official Luna web site
- Comprehensive fan site
- [ Luna on Allmusic]
- Arena Rock Recording Co.