S.P.O.C.K.

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S.P.O.C.K.
Origin Sweden
Genre(s) Electro-Industrial
Synthpop
Years active 1988 – present
Label(s) Energy Rekords
SubSpace Communications
Bloodline
Members
Alexander Hofman (Android)
Christer Hermodsson (Crull-E)
Johan Malmgren (Yo-Haan)
Former members
Johan Billing
Finn Albertsson (Cybernoid)
Eddie Bengtsson (Eddie B. Kirk)

S.P.O.C.K. (aka Star Pilot on Channel K) is a Swedish synthpop band which formed around 1988.

Contents

[edit] Background

The band's original lineup was songwriter Eddie Bengtsson (formerly a founding member of Page), Finn Albertsson, and vocalist Alexander Hofman. Over time the members of the band have shifted – Johan Billing was a member of the band from 1994 to 1998, but with the release of "S.P.O.C.K: 1999" (in 1999) the band's lineup changed to the current one with Alexander Hofman (the band's only remaining founding member), Johan Malmgren (former member of Elegant Machinery and Aaron Sutcliffe) and Christer Hermodsson.[1]

In 1988, Eddie Bengtsson wrote a handful of songs to be performed at Finn Albertsson's birthday party, with Alexander Hofman performing vocals; the three men dubbed the band Mr. Spock (after the name for the character Spock of the Star Trek franchise). After the performance at the party, the band continued for several months to play at other house parties, but soon managed to secure some event bookings. In 1989 the band members contacted Paramount Pictures for permission to use the name "Mr. Spock". When Paramount demanded a heavy compensation for the privilege, the band renamed themselves using the initials S.P.O.C.K., which are an acronym for Star Pilot On Channel K.[2]

S.P.O.C.K's commercial success began in 1990 when the Swedish record label Accelerating Blue Fish published "Silicon Dream" as a limited-edition 7" single.[3] The lyrical subject matter of S.P.O.C.K.'s songs frequently centers on science fiction stories, (in particular, Star Trek). Other topics include alien-human relations and life in space. Representative songs include: "Alien Attack", "E.T. Phone Home", "Never Trust a Klingon", "In Space No One Can Hear You Scream", "Mr. Spock's Brain", "Dr. McCoy" and "Astrogirl".

On stage the band members adopted a cyberpunk/sci-fi-esque personae, with Eddie Bengtsson calling himself "Eddie B. Kirk", Alexander Hofman as "Android", and Finn Albertsson as "Cybernoid". Together with such bands as Page, Elegant Machinery, Sista Mannen På Jorden and Kiethevez, S.P.O.C.K helped to define the sound of the Swedish synthpop movement.

In 1997, members of S.P.O.C.K. started their own recording label SubSpace Communications. The band's current line up is vocalist Alexander Hofman (a.k.a Android - the only remaining founding member), keyboardist Christer Hermodsson (aka Crull-E), and keyboardist Johan Malmgren (aka Yo-Haan).[4]

Currently the group is taking a hiatus with its members spending more time with their families and other musical side projects such as Mr. Data and Biomekkanik.[5]

Johan Malmgren and Eskil Simonsson of the band Covenant formed the band Aaron Sutcliffe in 1999 to perform synthpop covers of Elvis Presley songs.[6]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

  • "Five Year Mission" – CD (1993) Energy Rekords
  • "A Piece of the Action" – 2xCD Ltd. Edition (1995) Energy Rekords
  • "Assignment: Earth" – CD (1997) SubSpace Communications/VISION Records/TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
  • "Earth Orbit: Live" – CD (1997) SubSpace Communications/VISION Records
  • "Official Fan Club" – CD (1997) no label
  • "Assignement: Earth" – CD (1998) SubSpace Communications
  • "S.P.O.C.K: 1999" – CD (1999) SubSpace Communications/VISION Records
  • "2001: A S.P.O.C.K. Odyssey" – CD (2001) Bloodline/SubSpace Communications

[edit] Singles

  • "Silicon Dream" – 7" (1990) Accelerating Blue Fish
  • "Never Trust a Klingon" – CD Single (1992) Energy Rekords
  • "Strange Dimensions" – CD Single (1993) Energy Rekords
  • "Astrogirl" – CD Single (1994) Energy Rekords
  • "Never Trust a Klingon (2294 AD)" – CD Single (1994) Energy Rekords
  • "All E.T:s Aren't Nice" – CD Single (1995) Energy Rekords
  • "Alien Attack" – CD Single (1997) SubSpace Communications/VISION Records
  • "E.T. Phone Home" – CD Single (1997) SubSpace Communications/VISION Records
  • "Dr. McCoy" – CD Single (1998) SubSpace Communications
  • "Speed of Light" – CD Single (1988) SubSpace Communications
  • "Klingon 2000" – CD Single (2000) Bloodline/SubSpace Communications
  • "Where Rockets Fly" – CD Single (2000) Bloodline/SubSpace Communications
  • "Queen of Space" – CD Single (2001) SubSpace Communications
  • "Satellites" – CD Single (2001) Bloodline/SubSpace Communications

[edit] Videos

  • "Live At Virtual X-Mas 93" – VHS (1994) Energy Rekords

[edit] Compilation appearances

  • "I Sometimes Wish I Was Famous - A Swedish Tribute To Depeche Mode" – CD track #10 "Ice Machine" - Depeche Mode cover (1991) Energy Rekords
  • "Virtual X-mas 92" – CD track #5 "White Christmas" (1992) Energy Rekords
  • "Technopolis Vol. VII" – CD track #8 "Never Trust a Klingon (Gravity Version)" (1992) Back In Black - Unofficial Release
  • "To Be Stun" – CD track #8 "E-lectric" (1993) Rayher Disc
  • "Moonraker" – 2xCD disc #2 track #7 "Never Trust a Klingon" (1994) Sub Terranean
  • "Virtual Energy - Volume Two" – CD track #6 "Beam Me Up (Transporter Mix)" (1994) Energy Rekords
  • "Virtual X-mas 94" – CD track #1f "Never Trust a Klingon", #1g "E-lectric" and #1h "Strange Dimensions" (1994) Energy Rekords
  • "To Cut A Long Story Short - A Tribute to the Pioneers of Electronic Pop" – CD track #2 "Planet Earth" (1995) Energy Rekords
  • "Energy Rekords & Beat That! Records 1996" – CD track #9 "Astrogirl (Original)" and #10 "Trouble With Tribbles" (1996) Energy Rekords
  • "Popnation - Best of Blekingska Nationen 1994-1996" – CD track #19 "Astrogirl" (1996) Beat That!
  • "Electric Ballroom" – 2xCD disc #2 track #5 "Stranged (Limited Version)" (1997) Sub Terranean
  • "Neurostyle Vol. VII" – CD track #6 "Not Human" (1997) Sub Terranean
  • "Sauna - Hösten 1997" – CD track #6 "Not Human" (1997) Suana Magazine
  • "Sound-Line Vol. 6" – CD track #12 "E.T. Phone Home" (1997) Side-Line
  • "A RefleXion of Synthpop Volume 1" – CD track #2 "Human Decision Required (Re-Edit) " (1998) Maschinenwelt Records
  • "Best of Electronic Music" – 2xCD Ltd. Edition disc #1 track #7 "Dr. McCoy" (1998) TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
  • "Binary Application Extension 05" – CD track #15 "Force of Life" (1998) Genocide Project
  • "Deejay Tribe" – 2xCD disc #2 track #9 "Speed of Light" (1998) Credo
  • "We Came to Watch Part 1" – VHS "E.T. Phone Home" (1998) Credo/Nova Tekk
  • "EBM Club Classics" – 2xCD disc #2 track #6 "Never Trust a Klingon (A Version)" (1998) Synthetic Symphony
  • "Pleasure & Pain Volume One" – CD track #3 "Alien Attack" and track #10 "All the Children Shall Lead" (1998) TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
  • "Public Communication 1" – CD track #3 "Spacewalk" (1998) SubSpace Communications
  • "Strange Love 2" – CD track #13 "Speed of Light" (1998) Orkus
  • "Best of Electronic Music Vol. 2" – 2xCD disc #1 track #12 "Never Trust a Klingon (Mox Epoques Federation Mix)" (1999) TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
  • "Dion Fortune Sampler Vol. VI" – CD track #17 "E.T. Phone Home" Dion Fortune
  • "Elegy - Numéro 4" – CD track #5 "E.T. Phone Home (Live)" (1999) Dion Fortune
  • "Wellenreiter In Schwarz Vol. 3" – 2xCD disc #1 track #13 "Dr. McCoy (Synchronisiert)" (1999) Credo/Nova Tekk
  • "World of Synthpop" – 2xCD disc #2 track #1 "Spacewalk" (1999) Sterntaler/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
  • "Xtra Compilation II" – 2xCD disc #1 track #6 "Spacewalk" (1999) Angelwings
  • "Zillo Club Hits" – CD track #13 "Dr. McCoy (Classic Version)" (1999) Zillo
  • "Zillo Festival Sampler 1999" – 2xCD disc #2 track #8 "Out There" (1999) Zillo
  • "ZilloScope: New Signs & Sounds 04/99" – CD track #7 "Star Pilot On Channel K" (1999) Zillo
  • "Cover Classics Volume Two" – CD track #4 "I Don't Know What It Is" - Pete Shelly cover (2000) VISION Records
  • "Cyberl@b V2.0" – 2xCD disc #1 track #7 "Dr. McCoy (Classic)" (2000) Matrix Cube
  • "Electro Club Attack - Shot Three" – 2xCD disc #2 track #6 "Klingon 2000 (Danny B's Phaser House Cut)" (2000) XXC/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
  • "ElectroManiac Vol. 1" – CD track #4 "Out There" (2000) Bloodline
  • "Gothic Compilation Part XII" – CD track #8 "Where Rockets Fly (Original Version)" (2000) Batbeliever Releases
  • "The Best of Loves - A Tribute to Depeche Mode" – CD track #10 "Ice Machine" - Depeche Mode cover (2000) Energy Rekords
  • "World of Synthpop 2" – 2xCD disc #1 track #4 "Out There" (2000) Sterntaler
  • "Best of Electronic Music Vol. 3" – 2xCD disc #1 track #7 "Satellites (Sputnik Mix)" (2001) Bloodline
  • "Clubline Volume 2" – CD track #3 "Queen of Space (Stop Dave, I'm Going Crazy ...)" (2001) Bloodline
  • "Clubline Volume 3" – CD track #1 "Reactivated" (2001) Bloodline
  • "D-Side 2" – CD track #12 "Where Rockets Fly (Electromix)" (2001) D-Side
  • "Electro Club Attack - Shot Four" – 2xCD disc #2 track #7 "Where Rockets Fly" (2001) XXC/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
  • "Euro Rock Fest VL 2001" – 2xCD disc #1 track #9 "Where Rockets Fly (Electromix)" (2001) Angelwings/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
  • "M'era Luna Festival 2001" – 2xCD disc #2 track #9 "Queen of Space (Stop Dave, I'm Going Crazy 2001)" (2001) Oblivion
  • "New Forms of Synthetic Pop V.2.0" – CD track #8 "Satellites" (2001) Bloodline
  • "PRGDA Vs SSC" – CD track #1 "Astrogirl's Secret" (2001) SubSpace Communications
  • "Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. XII" – CD + VCD, video #9 "Take Me to the Stars" and video #10 "Interview" (2001) Sonic Seducer
  • "Strange Love 5" – CD track #12 "Satellites (Sputnik Mix)" (2001) Orkus
  • "Volume 6" – CD track #5 "Satellites (Single Version)" (2001) Prospective Music Magazine
  • "World of Synthpop 3" – 2xCD disc #1 track #5 "Reactivated" (2001) Sterntaler/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
  • "Zillo Club Hits 6" – CD track #11 "Queen of Space" (2001) Zillo
  • "Clubline Volume 1" – CD track #7 "Klingon 2000" (2002) Bloodline
  • "World of Synthpop 4" – 2xCD disc #1 track #4 "Babylon" (2002) Sterntaler/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
  • "Ghosts from the Darkside Vol. 3" – 2xCD "Klingon 2000 (Radio Mix)" Purple Flower
  • "Pleasure and Pain Volume Two" – CD track#1 "I Don't Know What It Is" and track #9 "Star Pilot On Channel K" Bloodline

[edit] References

  1. ^ S.P.O.C.K. Biography 1988
  2. ^ S.P.O.C.K. Biography 1989
  3. ^ S.P.O.C.K. Biography 1990
  4. ^ SubSpace Communications S.P.O.C.K. Artist File
  5. ^ S.P.O.C.K. MySpace page
  6. ^ Aaron Sutcliffe profile at SubSpace Communications

[edit] External links