Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Members | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Figrin D'an | Kloo Horn |
| Nalan Cheel | Bandfill |
| Tedn Dahai | Fanfar |
| Doikk Na'ts | Doremian Beshniquel (or Fizz) |
| Ickabel G'ont | Fanfar |
| Tech Mo'r | Ommni Box |
| Lirin Car'n | Kloo Horn (Backup) |
Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes (also known as the Cantina Band) is a fictional band from George Lucas's science fiction saga Star Wars. The group first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) and were depicted as aliens with dome-shaped heads and round, black eyes called Biths. They are seen in the Mos Eisley Cantina sequence. The band is also featured in the short story "We Don't Do Weddings: The Band's Tale" by Kathy Tyers in the anthology Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina (1995).
The band is made up of seven members, all Bith from the planet Clak'dor VII. The leader of the band is Figrin D'an, an expert gambler who takes care of himself by paying off debts with performances and tries to keep the members of his band out of trouble also. He especially loves the game of sabacc and Glitterstim Spice.
The band was popular across the galaxy during the Clone Wars, touring the frontlines and entertaining Republic soldiers. By the time Luke Skywalker reached adulthood, however, they were reduced to playing in seedy cantinas for a living. Only six of the members were playing when Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi walked into the Cantina. Lirin Car'n sat out during the performance, because he was not needed.
The actors who played the band in the film were Rick Baker, Phil Tippett, Jon Berg, Laine Liska, Doug Bestwick, and Tom St Amand. A disco version of the tune that the band performed, mixed with John Williams' main title theme, was released as a single in 1977, under the title "Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band". It reached number one in the singles chart in August of that year, outselling the release of the official Star Wars theme by the London Symphony Orchestra. Ash released a cover version of the tune as the B-side of its single "Girl From Mars" in 1995.
In 2006, as part of its Commemorative Tin Collection, Hasbro created a set of action figures of the Band, which it sold through Wal-Mart. Each figure came with its own instrument.
[edit] References
- T. Mike Childs (2004). "Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes". The Rocklopedia Fakebandica. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 031232944X.
- David Mansour (2005). "Star Wars". From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel Publishing. 460. ISBN 0740751182.
- Larkin, Colin (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Guinness. 1652. ISBN 0851129390.
- Peter Buckley (2003). "Ash". The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. cxiii. ISBN 1843531054.
- D. "Julius Marx" Pickett (2006). Hasbro. Action Figure Insider.
