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Rocket Science (band)

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Rocket Science
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresAlternative rock
Years active1998 (1998)–2008 (2008), 2014 (2014)–present
LabelsModular/EMI, Hot Spot
Members
  • Dave Gray
  • Paul Maybury
  • Roman Tucker
  • Kit Warhurst
Past members
  • Mickey Heartbreak

Rocket Science were an Australian alternative rock band which formed in June 1998. They have released four albums, Welcome Aboard the 3C10 (1 May 2000), Contact High (11 February 2002), Eternal Holiday (15 September 2004), and Different Like You (26 July 2008, High Spot). Both Contact High and Eternal Holiday peaked in the top 100 of the ARIA Albums Chart.

History

Rocket Science were formed in Melbourne.[1] In June 1998 they met in a rehearsal studio: Dave Gray (of The Hogs) on semi-acoustic bass guitar, Paul Maybury (Freeloaders) on guitar, Roman Tucker (The Martians) on lead vocals and keyboards, and Kit Warhurst (Velvet Tongue) on drums.[2] National youth radio network Triple J played their material from 2000. Their debut album, Welcome Aboard the 3C10, was issued on 1 May 2000 via Modular Recordings.[3][4] Several tracks from their first rehearsal were used for the album.[5]

Rocket Science's second album, Contact High, appeared on 11 February 2002, which reached No. 60 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[6] It was produced by The Pound System and provided two singles, "One Robot" and "Being Followed".[7] The Age's Michael Dwyer described it as "a refinement of a unique sonic formula that read something like this: schlock-horror/weird sci-fi films plus obscure garage-punk music plus massive vintage keyboard contraption complete with theremin equals Rocket Science."[5] Carmine Pascuzzi of MediaSearch opined that "[it] shows good improvement – showcasing powerful rock and electronic grooves. They give a genuine tilt at the rock 'n' roll styling" where the group "demonstrates a purpose and ambition in delivering some infectious tracks. They are an interesting band with interesting ideas."[8]

Jim Diamond, of Ghetto Recorders, produced the band's third album, Eternal Holiday (15 September 2004). In April, after it had been recorded but before its release, Tucker suffered a serious injury from a fall and was put into an induced coma for ten days. This forced the band to cancel performances until June.[1] The album reached No. 67 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[9] The Australian Record Industry Association reported that after his accident Tucker had "remembered precious little of the experience, but, when the other members played him the finished product, he thought that whoever it was, it was pretty good."[9] Dwyer reviewed the album, which showed "a noticeable shift in the creative base. Warhurst's increased input as a writer and harmony singer has resulted in a more melodic and accessible finish to an ever-tighter band chemistry."[5] The title track was released as the album's lead single, which a FasterLouder reviewer described as, "Despite the morbid undertones that inspired the song, it carries a surprisingly upbeat feeling overall with only a slight sense of gloom seeping in through the lyrics."[10]

The group were dropped by their label but they recorded a fourth album, Different Like You (26 July 2008), which according to Warhurst was self-funded.[11] It was engineered and produced by Maybury at his own recording studio.[12] BMA Magazine's Luke McGrath felt it was "not so much a progression as a refinement – Different Like You is as loud, as brash and as concentrated a dose of Rocket Science as any fan could want."[11] Music Feeds' Shane Arnold described its "raw high energy songs infused with theremin and rock & roll" and the group as "easily one of the best (and craziest) live acts going around currently and any albums like this are only going to enhance their reputation."[13]

Ahead of the album, in March 2008, they had issued a four-track extended play, Psychic Man. Trevor Block of Mess+Noise website found the title track is "three-and-a-half minutes of growling Seeds/Stones hybrid, bursting with energy and plenty of the Science’s trademark Farfisa organ honking all over a simple borrowed riff."[14] By August 2008 Mickey Heartbreak (The Dead South) had joined on guitar.[15]

The group disbanded in late 2008.[16] In October 2014 Rocket Science reconvened for a benefit concert for Mick Blood of Lime Spiders at The Tote Hotel, Collingwood.[17] They are scheduled to perform at the Leaps and Bounds Festival in July 2015.[16][18]

Kit Warhurst is an older brother of radio presenter and Spicks and Specks panellist, Myf Warhurst.

Line up

  • Dave Gray (bass guitar)
  • Paul Maybury (guitar)
  • Roman Tucker (vocals, keyboards, theremin)
  • Kit Warhurst (drums)
  • Mickey Heartbreak (live guitar)

Discography

Albums

  • Welcome Aboard the 3C10 (1 May 2000, Modular Recordings)
  • Contact High (11 February 2002, Modular/EMI) AUS: No. 60
  • Eternal Holiday (15 September 2004, Modular) AUS: No. 67
  • Different Like You (26 July 2008, High Spot)

Singles

  • "Burn in Hell" (April 2001)
  • "One Robot" (November 2001)
  • "Heavy Traffic" (2002)
  • "Being Followed" (2003)
  • "Sex Call" (April 2004)
  • "Psychic Man" (March 2008)

References

  1. ^ a b Blackman, Guy (5 December 2004). "Verses for Curses". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Rocket Science". Voodoo Rhythm. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  3. ^ Rocket Science (2000), Welcome Aboard the 3C10, Modular Recordings. National Library of Australia, retrieved 9 June 2015
  4. ^ "Welcome Aboard the 3C10 – Rocket Science". AllMusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Dwyer, Michael (10 September 2004). "Weird science". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  6. ^ "The ARIA Report" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 22 April 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  7. ^ "The ARIA Report" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 18 February 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  8. ^ Pascuzzi, Carmine. "Contact High Rocket Science". MediaSearch. Archived from the original on 7 May 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  9. ^ a b "The ARIA Report" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 18 February 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Rocket Science – 'Eternal Holiday'". FasterLouder. Sound Alliance. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  11. ^ a b McGrath, Luke (21 August 2008). "Features: Rocket Science – Different Strokes". BMA Magazine. Radar Media. Archived from the original on 27 October 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  12. ^ Dib, Lisa (2 July 2008). "Rocket Science – Psychic Men". theDwarf.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Arnold, Shane (2008). "Rocket Science Different Like You". Music Feeds. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  14. ^ Block, Trevor (2008). "Rocket Science Psychic Man". Mess+Noise. Sound Alliance. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  15. ^ Donovan, Patrick; Murfett, Andrew (22 August 2008). "Hot headliners". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Rocket Science". Leaps and Bounds Festival. 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  17. ^ "News in Brief: Infinity Broke, Ross McLennan, Mick Blood". Mess+Noise. Sound Alliance. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  18. ^ "Leaps and Bounds 2015 Programming Announced". Yarra City Arts. Yarra City Council. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
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