Man or Astro-man? was a surf rock group that formed in Auburn, Alabama in the early 1990s and came to prominence over the following decade.
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 byte song introductions, but their later albums like EEVIAC... and A Spectrum of Infinite Scale were known for their use of synthesizers, printers (like the Apple ImageWriter II) and their more abstract, experimental sound. Their recordings were often peppered with sound bytes from forgotten science fiction films and TV shows.
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 (Jason Russell), and Dexter X (Hayden Thais). 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. He has also played with St. Vincent, the Humans and The Polyphonic Spree. Before joining up with the Astromen, Dexter X had played in Supernova. He was also a member of Servotron under the name 00zX1. After leaving MOAM?, Dr. Deleto played with the Immortal Lee County Killers.
History
Man Or Astro-Man? was one of the most prolific bands of the 1990s, recording 10 albums between 1993 and 2001 (including the tour-only release A Spectrum of Finite Scale), as well as two CD EPs, and a plethora of singles and contributions to various artists compilation albums. Many of the singles were available on multiple colors of vinyl--some with as many as six variations (see Inside the Head of... Mr. Atom). 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.
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.
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. There were two reunion shows in 2006, but no further announcements about additional performances or recordings. A DVD collection of videos and live performances was alluded to in postings to the band's official website in 2005. Also in 2005, the band's drummer Birdstuff created a MySpace page for the band. On the page, the band again asked 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, Illinois, on September 9. They took the stage during the time slot in between Scratch Acid and Big Black, on what was the second day of the three-day festival. The complete original line-up played, and the tesla coil was brought up on stage at the end of the set. The 45-minute show ended with Birdstuff giving away most of his drumset to stunned audience members. In preparation for the TnG reunion show, the band played on September 6th at the Bottletree Café in Birmingham, Alabama. 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. These were the first shows since 1998 to feature the original line-up of the band.
The Astro-man Genome Project
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. Members of the Alpha clones were also in numerous other bands including Toenut, The Causey Way, Jonny and the Shamen, The Man Made Brain, Humans, Neutronic, Pilot Scott Tracy, The Plastic Plan, etc...
Gamma Clones
After the success of the Alpha Project, Man or Astro-man? "cloned" themselves a second time, this time using females who adopted the names Coco Active, Chromita Starita, Tweety-Tone, and Carol, and toured under the name "Man or Astro-man Clone Tour Gamma."
Man or Astro-man? and Mystery Science Theater 3000
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 also performed live. MST3K creator Joel Hodgson joined them on stage to sing the theme at a show in 1996, and Joel's character on MST3K later claimed to have toured with Man or Astro-Man? doing pyrotechnics for the band.
Man or Astro-man? recordings regularly feature audio samples taken from films riffed on MST3K (ex. The Leech Woman, It Conquered the World and Santa Claus) and the albums often make allusions to common themes and running jokes (ex. album credits for John Agar in Is It ... Man or Astroman? and Peter Graves and Richard Basehart in Destroy All Astromen!).
Man or Astro-man? guitarist Hayden Thais (Dexter X) and drummer Brian Teasley (Birdstuff) were also members of the "all-robot band" Servotron, which was named for MST3K robot character Tom Servo's namesake. A handbill for at least one concert have featured an image of the robot puppet.
Discography
Albums
Singles/EPs
Splits
Compilation/live
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)
- "Planet Collision (Trans Hip-APhonic Post Acid Flip Trance Mega Blast Alterno-Universe Mass Marketing Schtick Mix)" on The Money Shot CD (Chunklet Magazine insert - 1997)
- "24 Hrs." on Live at WREK. - 91.1fm 1997 Atlanta Radio Comp CD (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 Unknown 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)
References
- ^ MTV News
External links
