The Aliens
Encyclopedia
The Aliens are a Scottish
band consisting of former Beta Band
members Gordon Anderson (aka Lone Pigeon
, lead vocals
, guitar
), John Maclean (keyboards
, backing vocals) and Robin Jones (drums
, backing vocals). They formed in 2005 following the split of The Beta Band the previous year.
Influenced by artists such as The Beach Boys
, The Stone Roses
, The Who
, The Beatles
, David Bowie
, Pink Floyd
, Bob Dylan
and T. Rex, The Aliens have a more upbeat and psychedelic pop sound, compared to The Beta Band.
Their first release, the EP Alienoid Starmonica, recorded by John Williamson, was released to the UK iTunes Music Store on 20 March 2006, and on CD and 12" on 8 May 2006 on their own EMI
imprint, Pet Rock.
The Aliens released their first album, Astronomy for Dogs
, on 19 March 2007. Astronomy for Dogs was recorded in The Underground, the small recording space beneath the Forest Cafe
in Edinburgh before being put onto disc at Olympic Studios
in London. The band produced it themselves. The release was timed to coincide with a ten-date UK tour but this had to be canceled due to Gordon Anderson breaking his clavicle
climbing up a tree. The tour was rescheduled to May/June of that same year. In October 2007 they toured North America.
In spring of 2008, the band cancelled all shows except their festival appearances due to the increasing ill health of Gordon Anderson during the recording of the second album; however, on his recovery the band completed a string of UK festival dates in July. The new album, Luna
was released on 29 September 2008 and was preceded by the single "Magic Man", released on 22 September.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
band consisting of former Beta Band
The Beta Band
The Beta Band were a British musical group who received much critical acclaim and achieved cult status amongst avid followers of the underground and experimental music scene...
members Gordon Anderson (aka Lone Pigeon
Lone Pigeon
Lone Pigeon is the working name of Gordon Anderson, a Scottish musician and co-founder of The Beta Band...
, lead vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), John Maclean (keyboards
Musical keyboard
A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
, backing vocals) and Robin Jones (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, backing vocals). They formed in 2005 following the split of The Beta Band the previous year.
Influenced by artists such as The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and T. Rex, The Aliens have a more upbeat and psychedelic pop sound, compared to The Beta Band.
Their first release, the EP Alienoid Starmonica, recorded by John Williamson, was released to the UK iTunes Music Store on 20 March 2006, and on CD and 12" on 8 May 2006 on their own EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
imprint, Pet Rock.
The Aliens released their first album, Astronomy for Dogs
Astronomy for Dogs
Astronomy for Dogs is the debut album of Scottish band The Aliens, released March 19, 2007. It received generally positive reviews .- Track listing :# "Setting Sun" # "Robot Man" # "I Am the Unknown" # "Tomorrow"...
, on 19 March 2007. Astronomy for Dogs was recorded in The Underground, the small recording space beneath the Forest Cafe
Forest Cafe
The Forest, also referred to as Forest Café, was an independent social centre and arts centre located on Bristo Place, central Edinburgh, Scotland.It was notable for being run by volunteers as a charitable self-sustaining not-for-profit...
in Edinburgh before being put onto disc at Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios
Olympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio located at 117 Church Road, Barnes, South West London, England. The studio is best known for the huge number of famous rock and pop recordings made there from the late 1960s onward....
in London. The band produced it themselves. The release was timed to coincide with a ten-date UK tour but this had to be canceled due to Gordon Anderson breaking his clavicle
Clavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...
climbing up a tree. The tour was rescheduled to May/June of that same year. In October 2007 they toured North America.
In spring of 2008, the band cancelled all shows except their festival appearances due to the increasing ill health of Gordon Anderson during the recording of the second album; however, on his recovery the band completed a string of UK festival dates in July. The new album, Luna
Luna (The Aliens album)
Luna is the second album by the Scottish band The Aliens. It was released on Monday 29 September 2008, preceded by a new single, 'Magic Man', on Monday 22 September. Both releases came out on the band’s own record label, Pet Rock Records. "Boats" is reworked version of a song by the same name on...
was released on 29 September 2008 and was preceded by the single "Magic Man", released on 22 September.
Albums
- Astronomy for DogsAstronomy for DogsAstronomy for Dogs is the debut album of Scottish band The Aliens, released March 19, 2007. It received generally positive reviews .- Track listing :# "Setting Sun" # "Robot Man" # "I Am the Unknown" # "Tomorrow"...
(19 March 2007) - LunaLuna (The Aliens album)Luna is the second album by the Scottish band The Aliens. It was released on Monday 29 September 2008, preceded by a new single, 'Magic Man', on Monday 22 September. Both releases came out on the band’s own record label, Pet Rock Records. "Boats" is reworked version of a song by the same name on...
(29 September 2008)
Singles
- "The Happy Song" (18 September 2006)
- "Setting Sun" (5 March 2007)
- "Robot Man" (25 June 2007)
- "Magic Man" (22 September 2008)