Love and Rockets (band)

History

The band's name was taken from the comic book series Love and Rockets by the Hernandez brothers. Gilbert Hernandez later referred to the confusion caused by this in his book Love and Rockets X, as there were several different bands named "Love and Rockets" for a period.

Despite their previous band's status as a gothic rock act, Love and Rockets moved towards a slightly brighter and more pop-influenced sound, as demonstrated by their first minor hit, a cover of the Motown classic "Ball of Confusion" (reached #18 on the Canadian charts in January 1986). Their first studio album was 1985's Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven (1985). Their second album, 1986's Express, continued in the same vein, adding even more of a pop feel to the mix. It included the dance hit "Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man)". The 1987 follow-up, Earth, Sun, Moon, had a more acoustic sound and spawned the minor hit "No New Tale to Tell". The following year, they released the single "The Bubblemen Are Coming" under the alias The Bubblemen. A music video was also produced. It was issued by Beggars Banquet Records in several format variations, including additional tracks "Bubblemen Rap", "Bubblemen Rap (Dub Version)" and "Bees". A brief excerpt of "The Bubblemen are Coming!" appeared in the Love and Rockets videos "No New Tale to Tell" and "Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man)".

In 1989, the band released their self-titled album, which presented a more AOR sound. The second single from the album was the T. Rex-inspired song "So Alive", which became a hit and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, a feat no Bauhaus-related band or artist has achieved before or since.

Love and Rockets announced in October 2007 on their MySpace page that they would reform to play one song at "Cast a Long Shadow", a tribute to Joe Strummer and benefit for Strummerville, the Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music, on 22 December 2007 at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California. They covered the Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go", playing the song twice, the second time inviting members of the audience to join them onstage to sing along. They performed on 27 April 2008 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and at Lollapalooza on 3 August 2008 in Chicago.

In an interview in June 2009, Ash emphatically stated he had no further plans to play with Love and Rockets. "We've worked together since 1980. I really want to work with new people, I'm sure everybody feels the same."

A tribute album titled New Tales to Tell: A Tribute to Love and Rockets was released on 18 August 2009, featuring contributions from the Flaming Lips, Frank Black, Puscifer, A Place to Bury Strangers, Film School, Better Than Ezra, Johnny Dowd, the Dandy Warhols, Blaqk Audio, the Stone Foxes and Monster Magnet.

On 23 January 2023, Love and Rockets announced a reunion for an appearance at the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, California on 20 May 2023, the band's first concert in 15 years. They later announced a 2023 U.S. tour in support of their appearance at Cruel World. A Bauhaus reunion was aborted in 2022 after Peter Murphy forced the band to cancel the tour as he entered rehab. Ash said the 2023 tour would be the band's last.

In May 2024, it was announced Love and Rockets would be touring with Jane's Addiction, but the tour was cancelled part way through after Perry Farrell had an altercation with Dave Navarro on stage during a show in Boston.

Discography

Main article: Love and Rockets discography

Studio albums

• Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven (1985)
• Express (1986)
• Earth, Sun, Moon (1987)
• Love and Rockets (1989)
• Hot Trip to Heaven (1994)
• Sweet F.A. (1996)
• Lift (1998)

References

References

1. Whitburn, Joel. (2004). "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits". Billboard Books.
2. (1993). "Love and Rockets X". Fantagraphics Books.
3. [https://www.proquest.com/docview/438752960 "I'm in love again with Love and Rockets; Hits, misses alike in old record rack"]. ''Toronto Star'' – Toronto, Ont. Rayner, Ben 28 Nov 2004 Page: D.02
4. [http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3994&Itemid=52 "CANADIAN WEEKLY SINGLE CHARTS (TED KENNEDY) FROM 1986"]. ''hitofalldecades.com''
5. Dave Thompson. "Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven". [[Allmusic]].
6. (2014-03-30). "The Bubblemen Are Coming!". [[YouTube]].
7. Darling, Cary. (30 August 1989). "Love and Rockets lifts off with newest album". [[The Pittsburgh Press]].
8. "Love and Rockets Set to "Lift" Off".
9. {{usurped
10. {{usurped
11. "LOVE & ROCKETS LIVE – JOE STRUMMER TRIBUTE ~ 22 DECEMBER 2007". pixievisionproductions.com.
12. (22 June 2009). "Daniel Ash: Rock On". [[SuicideGirls]].
13. (3 June 2009). "Flaming Lips, Black Francis for Love And Rockets tribute". [[NME.
14. (January 23, 2023). "Love and Rockets are back announce first show in 15 years". Brooklynvegan.com.
15. (April 11, 2023). "Love and Rockets Expand North American Tour to 16 Dates". Post-Punk.com.
16. Qureshi, Arusa. (2023-03-16). "Bauhaus spin-off band Love And Rockets announce first tour in 14 years".
17. Callwood, Brett. (2023-05-18). "Dark World: The Sisters of Mercy sandwich Cruel World as a dark wave envelopes LA - LA Weekly".
18. (2024-05-28). "Jane's Addiction announce 2024 North American tour with Love & Rockets".
19. (18 September 2024). "Jane's Addiction Guitarist Dave Navarro Posts Apology to Opening Acts After Tour Cancellation".