Radio Massacre International

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Radio Massacre International is a trio of British musicians, Steve Dinsdale (Keyboards and Drums), Duncan Goddard (Keyboards and Bass), and Gary Houghton (Guitar, Synth). They specialize in improvisational experimental electronic music, primarily using synthesizer and guitar. Their music has been described alternatively as ambient music, space rock, Krautrock, Berlin School, and various other terms, although the band itself prefers the label "organic music". Points of reference include bands ranging from Tangerine Dream to Hawkwind.

1 Name
2 History
3 Discography
- 3.1 RMI on Various Artists Compilations
4 Sources
5 External links

[edit] Name

The unusual name dates back to the early 80s, when Steve and Duncan experimented with sounds. They discovered that they were able to connect an electric guitar to their radio, and create a signal overload with it. The term "radio massacre" was born; the "international" was added later to sound more “sophisticated”. Therefore, there is no deeper meaning in the name.

[edit] History

The history of the band dates back to the 80s, when Steve and Duncan went to college together. They formed the band “DAS” with Gary, and recorded 12 albums between 1980 and 1987 which were never released.

Steve, who is originally a drummer, went on to play in a couple of ‘scene’ bands after moving to London in 1988, while Duncan started to amass synthesizers, and recorded the first solo projects. When he finally found a space for him and Steve - who got disillusioned with the music business at that time - to work in, they recorded a first session in 1993, which was later released as “Startide”. Gary joined in 1994 with his guitar, and the band as we know it today was born.

Their first official release was the double CD “Frozen North” in 1995. They also played at the Emma festival in Sheffield in the same year.

In 1996, they were invited to perform on MTVs "Party Zone", making them the first and only band ever to play a live piece in that show that did not contain a single discernible beat.

The same month they were the first electronic artists to play at the famous Jodrell Bank observatory, in the shadow of the radio dish.

1997 saw them play at the famous (but now defunct) KLEMdag festival in Nijmegen, Netherlands, in front of the bands largest ever live audience.

The year 2000 brought appearances at the Alfa Centauri festival in Holland, and another visit to Jodrell Bank. The bands music was also featured in the BBC-TV programme “Don’t Look Down” about the 300 ft radio telescope.

The first Hampshire Jam festival of electronic music in Liphook in 2001 saw them appear together with other artists of the genre like Air Sculpture, Paul Nagle and Free System Project.

In November 2002, the played their fist ever dates in the United States, at the Progwest Festival in LA and at St Mary’s Church in Philadelphia. Furthermore, they appeared twice live on radio, on KXLU in LA, and WXPN in Philadelphia.

They also played at the E-Live festival in Eindhoven, Holland, that same year.

Early 2004 saw them play a gig in Tapiola, Finland.

Since 2003, they have played on several occasions at the National Space Centre in Leicester.

In December 2006, they finally released the long awaited 6 CD compilation "Lost in Space", containing previously unreleased material from 1987 to 2003.

[edit] Discography

The band has been incredibly prolific, releasing over 25 albums in the past decade, dating back to their 2-CD debut Frozen North in 1995. (Studio and live albums from earlier periods have been released since then.)

Startide (1993)
God of Electricity (1994)
Diabolica (1994)
Frozen North (1995)
Organ Harvest (1997)
Knutsford in May (1997)
Burned & Frozen (1997)
A Bridge Too Far (1997)
Been There Done That (1997)
Gulf (1998)
Borrowed Atoms (1998)
Live at the October Gallery (1998) – ltd. edition for visitors of the concert only
Bothered Atoms (1999)
Maelstrom (1999)
Upstairs Downstairs (2000)
Zabriskie Point (2000)
Planets in the Wires (2001)
Greenhousing (2003)
Solid States (2003)
E-Live 2003 (2003)
People would really like Space Rock if they would only give it a try (2004)
Walking on the Sea (2004)
Hog Wild (2004)
Emissaries (2005)
Septentrional (2006)
Lost in Space (2006) 6 CD compilation