Babylon Zoo
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This article relies largely or entirely upon a single source. (June 2011) |
| Babylon Zoo | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Wolverhampton, England |
| Genres | Alternative rock, space rock, industrial rock, glam rock |
| Years active | 1992–2000 |
| Labels | Phonogram Records, WEA, EMI |
| Past members | Jas Mann Carrie Melbourne Dave Goodes Darrin Mooney |
Babylon Zoo were a British rock band of the mid-1990s from Wolverhampton, England, fronted by Jas Mann. They were best known for the song "Spaceman", which on its release on 21 January 1996, went straight to #1 on the UK Singles Chart,[1] selling 418,000 copies in the first week of release.
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Career [edit]
Mann had formerly been in an indie music band, called The Sandkings, which he left in 1992, because of musical differences.
Babylon Zoo was signed to Phonogram Records, after A&R man Clive Black heard their first three-track demo tape, in May 1993. When Black moved to Warner Bros. Records in 1993, he took Mann's recording contract with him. An album had been prepared and sleeves for a single, "Fire Guided Light", were printed, but Babylon Zoo's debut was put on hold again when Black moved once more to EMI in 1995, where the band were signed on to a seven album contract.
However, promotional copies of the song "Spaceman" had already been distributed, and chosen to tie in with the release of a new Levi's jeans TV advert. The single went straight to #1 on the UK Singles Chart, and it also reached the top spot in the single charts in twenty three countries.[citation needed]
An album entitled The Boy with the X-Ray Eyes was produced at Mann's New Atlantis Productions music/artwork/video centre. It was released in 1996, and included new-age tracks such as "Is Your Soul for Sale?" and "I'm Cracking Up I Need a Pill". It debuted at #6 on the UK Albums Chart,[1] and reached the Top 20 in 17 countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada.[citation needed]
In 1997, Mann was lampooned on the Channel 4 TV series, Brass Eye.
In 1999, a follow-up album was released, King Kong Groover, but Mann decided not to promote the album as he was not getting support from his record label after the departure of Clive Black. Mann subsequently decided to move to India and work for an aid agency.[2]
Discography [edit]
Albums [edit]
| Title | Released | UK Albums Chart[1] |
|---|---|---|
| The Boy with the X-Ray Eyes | February 1996 | #6 |
| King Kong Groover | February 1999 | – |
Singles [edit]
| Year | Song | UK Singles Chart[1] | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Spaceman" | #1 | The Boy with the X-Ray Eyes |
| 1996 | "Animal Army" | #17 | |
| "The Boy with the X-Ray Eyes" | #32 | ||
| 1999 | "All the Money's Gone" | #46 | King Kong Groover |
| "Honaloochie Boogie" | Promo released (France only) | ||
| 2000 | "Love Lies Bleeding" | Internet-only release |
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 38. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Where Are They Now?
External links [edit]
- Babylon Zoo discography at MusicBrainz
- Babylon Zoo discography at Discogs
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