Man or Astro-man?
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| Man or Astro-man? | |
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| Origin | Auburn, Alabama |
| Years active | 1993 – present |
| Genres | surf rock |
| Labels | Touch and Go Records Estrus Records One Louder Records |
| Members | Birdstuff Coco the Electronic Monkey Wizard Trace Reading Blazar the Probe Handler |
| Past members | Star Crunch Dexter X Dr. Deleto Cap'n Zeno |
Man or Astro-man? is a surf rock group that formed in Auburn, Alabama in the late 1980s and came to prominence in the 1990s.
Primarily instrumental, Man or Astro-Man? blended the surf rock style of the early 1960s with the new wave and punk rock sounds of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Man or Astro-Man? was known for their anachronistic dedication to science fiction themes, audio samples, obscure electronic devices (such as theremins and tesla coils), and high-energy live performances. Their earlier albums like Is It ... Man or Astroman? and Destroy All Astromen! were known for their traditional surf rock instrumentation and sci-fi sound bite song introductions, but their later albums like EEVIAC... and A Spectrum of Infinite Scale were known for their use of synthesizers and their more abstract, experimental sound. Their recordings were often peppered with sound bites from forgotten science fiction films and TV shows.
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[edit] Members
The main members of the band were Star Crunch (aka Brian Causey) on guitar and sometimes vocals, Birdstuff (Brian Teasley) on drums, and Coco the Electronic Monkey Wizard (Robert DelBueno) on bass and electronics. They had various bassists/other guitarists over the years, including Dr. Deleto (Jeff Goodwin), Cap'n Zeno, and Dexter X. In 1998, Star Crunch left the band to run a record label (Athens, Georgia -based WARM Electronic Recordings), and was replaced by Trace Reading (Erich Hubner) and Blazar the Probe Handler (Richie Edelson). It should be noted that, although the real names of the band members are known, the band members themselves have never publicly acknowledged their true identities, and steadfastly claim to be extraterrestrials sent to Earth to play surf music. Birdstuff also played drums in Servotron under the name Z4-OBX and in The Causey Way as Boy Causey.
[edit] History
Man Or Astro-Man? was one of the most prolific bands of the 1990's, recording 10 albums between 1993 and 2000 (including the tour-only release A Spectrum of Finite Scale), as well as two CD EP's, and a plethora of singles and contributions to various artists compilation albums. Their last release, 2001's Beyond the Black Hole, was a remixed version of one of their earlier albums, What Remains Inside a Black Hole.
When the band was not in the recording studio, they were usually on the road, gigging almost constantly. Their live shows were notable for their sci-fi theatrics: all members of the band dressed in space age jumpsuits, and often included elaborate sci-fi set pieces. Eventually, the constant workload of recording and touring caught up with them, and, after the tour for A Spectrum of Infinite Scale ended in 2001, the band began a long hiatus. Although the band has never made an official announcement, they have not worked together since that time, leading many fans to believe that the band has broken up for good.
Although they often receive credit for the theme song to Space Ghost Coast to Coast, it was actually recorded by Sonny Sharrock. The confusion arises because they recorded the show's closing credits music and an alternate theme used occasionally, but not the more familiar theme song. Also, after his departure from the band in 1998, guitarist/vocalist Star Crunch (aka Brian Causey) would go on to compose and perform the theme song for the popular Nickelodeon TV series, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron.
In 2005, there were two signs of life from Man or Astro-Man?. Their official website was updated for the first time since 2002, when they announced their hiatus. This new message beseeched fans to submit video of the band playing live for a planned DVD release. Also in 2005, the band's drummer Birdstuff created a MySpace page for the band. On the page, the band again asks for fans' help in collecting audio and video footage of the band for the planned DVD.
On June 12, 2006, the band's label Touch and Go Records announced that Man or Astro-Man? would be performing for the first time since 2001 at the Touch and Go 25th Anniversary Celebration in Chicago, IL, on September 9. However, the band also played three days earlier on September 6th at the Bottletree in Birmingham, AL. This show featured Birdstuff, Coco the Electric Monkey Wizard, Star Crunch and Dr. Deleto. Additionally, Captain Zeno performed on one song, resulting in a 5 piece Man or Astroman? performance. Furthermore, these shows are the first since 1998 to feature the original line-up of the band.
[edit] The Astro-man Genome Project
[edit] Alpha Clones
In 1998 Man or Astro-man? sent a group of "clones" out on the road to tour in their stead.[1] The clones had names similar to their original counterparts: Birdstuff became Dorkstuff, Coco became Cocoid, Star Crunch became Chromo Crunch and Dexter X became Dexter Y. This new line-up toured under the name "Man or Astro-man Clone Tour Alpha" and maintained their clone identities while on stage.
[edit] Gamma Clones
After the success of the Alpha Project, Man or Astro-man? cloned themselves a second time. Using their advanced technology they made this batch a group of female clones. This group toured under the name "Man or Astro-man Clone Tour Gamma."
[edit] Man or Astro-man? and MST3K
They are perhaps best known for their cover of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 love theme. It was released on one of their earlier albums and was performed live to much crowd appreciation. MST3K creator Joel Hodgson joined them on stage to sing the theme in the mid 1990s, and the character of Joel Robinson mentioned touring with Man or Astro-Man? on the TV show, claiming to do pyrotechnics for the band after escaping the Satellite of Love.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Is It ... Man or Astroman? LP/CD (Estrus Records - 1993)
- Intravenous Television Continuum LP/CD (One Louder Records - 1996) CD (US reissue: Au-Go-Go Records - 1997)
- Project Infinity LP/CD (Estrus Records - 1995)
- Experiment Zero LP/CD (Touch & Go Records - 1996)
- Made from Technetium LP/CD (Touch & Go Records, One Louder, and Au-Go-Go Records, 1997)
- EEVIAC Operational Index and Reference Guide, Including Other Modern Computational Devices LP/CD (Epitaph Europe and Touch & Go Records - 1999)
- A Spectrum of Infinite Scale 2x10"/CD (Epitaph Europe and Touch & Go Records - 2000)
- A Spectrum of Finite Scale Tour-Only CD (Zerotec - 2001)
[edit] Singles/EPs
- Possession by Remote Control 7" (Homo Habilis records - 1992)
- Amazing Thrills! in 3-Dimension 7" (Estrus Records - 1993)
- Supersonic Toothbrush Helmet 7" (Lance Rock Records - 1993)
- Captain Holojoy's Space Diner 7" (Lucky Records - 1993)
- Man Or Astroman? vs. Europa 7" (Homo Habilis Records - 1993)
- Mission into Chaos! 7" (One Louder Records - 1993)
- Astro Launch 7" (Estrus Records - 1994)
- The Brains of the Cosmos 7" (Demolition Derby Records - 1994)
- Your Weight On The Moon 10"/CD EP (One Louder Records - 1994)
- Inside the Head of... Mr. Atom 7" (Estrus Records - 1994)
- Creature Feature flexi 7" with Monster Magazine #4/Highball Magazine #2 (Kronophonic Records - 1994)
- World Out of Mind! 7" (Estrus Records - 1995)
- Return to Chaos 7" (Homo Habilis and One Louder - 1995)
- Man or Astro-man? in Orbit 7" (Shake It Records - 1995)
- Postphonic Star Exploration 5" (Sympathy for the Record Industry - 1995)
- "Espanto del Futuro" 7" (Fear and Loathin Records - 1995)
- Welcome to the Sonic Space Age 7" (Clawfist Records - 1995)
- Needles in the Cosmic Haystack 7" (East Side Records - 1995)
- Deluxe Men in Space 7"/CDS (Touch & Go Records and One Louder - 1996)
- The Sounds of Tomorrow 7" (Estrus Records - 1996)
- UFO's and the Men Who Fly Them! 7" (Drug Racer Records - 1996)
- 1000x 10"/CD EP (Touch & Go Records and One Louder - 1997)
- Inside the Head of John Peel Bootleg 2x7" (Astro-Fonic Records - 1997)
- Ex Machina 7" (Touch & Go Records - 1998)
[edit] Splits
- 7" with Huevos Rancheros The Various Boss Sounds from Beyond the Far Reaches... and Then Some! (Get Hip Records - 1994)
- 7" with Teenage Cavemen Kill Geeksville (Worry Bird Records - 1994)
- 7" with Girls Against Boys Cheap Sweaty Fun & TJ's Xmas (Unknown record label - 1994)
- 7" with Anachronauts Disjointed Parallels (Eerie Materials - 1995)
- 7" with Jonny and the Shamen Two Blood-Soaked Space-Horror Hits!! (Loch Ness Records - 1995)
- 7" with Chrome (Gearhead - 1996)
- 7" with Pavement Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks (Atlantic Records/Lava Records - 1996)
[edit] Compilation/live
- Destroy All Astromen! LP/CD (Estrus Records - 1994)
- Live Transmissions From Uranus LP-picture disc/CD (One Louder Records year ?), LP/CD (Homo Habilis Records, year ?), CD (US reissue: Touch & Go Records - 1997)
- What Remains Inside a Black Hole LP/CD (Au-Go-Go Records - 1996)
- Beyond the Black Hole CD (Estrus Records - 2001)
[edit] Compilation tracks
- "Reverb 1000" on Call of the Wild Flexi 7" (Call of the Wild - 1993)
- "Transmission from Venus" on Stock Footage: Music from the Films of Roger Corman CD (Worry Bird Records - 1994)
- "Deuces Wild" on Think Link! 10" (Drink 'n' Drive Records - 1994)
- "Everybody's Favourite Martian" on Hodge Podge & Barrage From Japan Vol.2 CD (1+2 Records - 1994)
- "Nitrous Burnout 2112" on Beyond The Beach CD (Upstart Records - 1994)
- "Frosty The Snowman" on Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus Vol.2 10" (Sympathy For The Record Industry - 1994)
- "Frosty The Snowman" on Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus Vols.1&2 CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry - 1994)
- "Mr. Goodchoices Meat Packing Accident" on Good Tyme Jamboree LP (Planet Pimp Records - 1994)
- "Eric Estrotica (live at Leadmill)" on Saturday Night Special 7" (Leadmill Records - 1995)
- "The Carbonated Comet" on The Estrus Cocktail Companion 3x7"/box CD (Estrus Records - 1995)
- "Goldfinger" on Secret Agent S.O.U.N.D.S. LP/CD (Mai Tai - 1995)
- "Earth Station Radio" on Jabberjaw No. 6 Pure Sweet Hell 4x7"/box CD (Mammoth Records - 1996)
- "Maximum Radiation Level" on For Discrimating Tastes (The Alternative Distribution Alliance - 1996)
- "Escape Velocity" on Five Ring Circus CD (Flip Records - 1996)
- "Eisenhower & The Hippies" (UJ3RK5 cover) on Oh Canaduh! LP/CD (Lance Rock - 1996)
- "Interplanet Janet" on Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks LP/CD/CS (WEA/Atlantic Records - 1996)
- "Touch Of Evil" on Shots In The Dark 2xLP/CD (Del-Fi - 1996)
- "Reverb 1000 (live)" on Cowabunga! The Surf Box 4xCD (Rhino Records - 1996)
- "Intoxica" on Instrumental Fire, A Collection Of Instros From Around The Planet And Beyond LP (MuSick - 1996)
- "----- (Classified) (live)" on Treble Revolution Vol.2 CD (Kindercore Records- 1996)
- "Joker's Wild (live)" on Attaining The Supreme CD (Whirled Records - 1996)
- "Drumulator Is Boss" on Flaming Burnout! An Estrus Benefit Comp CD (Man's Ruin Records - 1997)
- "The Sound Waves Reversing" on Good Health, Good Fortune, Good Music CD (Au Go Go Records - 1997)
- "Lo-Bat" on Touch & Go and Quarterstick Records 1997 sampler CD (Touch & Go/Quarterstick Records - 1997)
- "Updated Theme To Supercar" on All Punk Rods! LP/CD (Gearhead/Lookout! Records - 1998)
- "Tazerguns Mean Big Fun" on Chairman of the Board Soundtrack CD (Virgin Records - 1998)
- "Synthesis of Previously Unkown Substances" on Hang 10 CD (Caroline Records - 1998)
- "Floatation Devices For Frequencies Yet To Be Determined" on Surf Monsters CD (Del-Fi Records - 1999)
- "Escape Velocity" on 26 Spicey Sizzlers CD (Estrus Records - 1999)
- "Manta Ray" (Pixies cover) on Southern Edge Vol. 1 CD (Beloved - 1999)
- "Yo Yo's Pad" on Delphonic Sounds Today CD (Del-Fi Records - 1999)
- "Theme From EEVIAC" on Cinema Beer Belly CD (Hopeless Records - 1999)
- "Lo-Bat" on Athfest '98 CD (Ghostmeat - 1999)
- "400,000.37 Miles (Breaking The Sanity Barrier)" on Runnin' On Fumes CD (Gearhead - 2000)
- "Wayward Meteor" and "Electrostatic Brain Field" on The Estrus Double Dynomite Sampler Volume 3 CD (Estrus Records - 2002)
- "War Of The Satellites" on Their Sympathetic Majesties Request: Volume 2 2xCD (Sympathy For The Record Industry - 2003)
