Rockets (band)
Encyclopedia
Rockets were a French space rock
band that formed in Paris
in 1974. Some of the former members had played together since 1970 in a local band called Crystal. In their most successful era (1977–1982) the line-up comprised vocalist Christian Le Bartz, bassist and vocalist "Little" Gérard L'Her, guitarist and keyboardist Alain Maratrat, drummer and percussionist Alain Groetzinger, and keyboardist Fabrice Quagliotti. The band went through a number of name changes, being known as the Rocket Men and Rok-Etz, among others. In the year 2000 Fabrice Quagliotti decided to reform the band (initially with the name Rockets N.D.P.), but with a totally different line-up. This brought to an anomalous situation, as far as none of the former members agreed to hold a reunion. In fact, the last former member to leave the band was Alain Maratrat, in 1992.
Former members
Space rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
band that formed in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1974. Some of the former members had played together since 1970 in a local band called Crystal. In their most successful era (1977–1982) the line-up comprised vocalist Christian Le Bartz, bassist and vocalist "Little" Gérard L'Her, guitarist and keyboardist Alain Maratrat, drummer and percussionist Alain Groetzinger, and keyboardist Fabrice Quagliotti. The band went through a number of name changes, being known as the Rocket Men and Rok-Etz, among others. In the year 2000 Fabrice Quagliotti decided to reform the band (initially with the name Rockets N.D.P.), but with a totally different line-up. This brought to an anomalous situation, as far as none of the former members agreed to hold a reunion. In fact, the last former member to leave the band was Alain Maratrat, in 1992.
Band members
Current members- John Biancale – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(2006–present) - Gianluca Martino – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, (2004–present) - Rosaire Riccobono – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, (2004–present) - Fabrice Quagliotti – keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s, (1977–present) - Eugenio U. G. Mori – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(2005–present)
Former members
- Patrick Mallet – drums (1974)
- Guy Maratrat – guitar (1974–1975)
- André Thus – keyboards (1974–1975)
- Christian Le Bartz – vocals (1974–1983)
- Alain Groetzinger – drums, percussion (1974–1983)
- "Little" Gérard L'Her – bass, vocals (1974–1984)
- Alain Maratrat – guitar, keyboards (1974–1992)
- Michel Goubet – keyboards (1976–1977)
- Bernard Torelli – guitar (1976–1977)
- Bertin Hugo – keyboards (1977)
- Sal SoloSal SoloSal Solo Sal Solo Sal Solo (born Christopher Scott Stevens, 5 September 1961, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England is an English singer.-Career:Solo began his career with an obscure band called The News, who only released one 7" single on GTO Records...
– vocals (1984–1992) - Phil Gould – drums (1986)
- Andrew Paresi – drums (1986)
- Bruce Nockles – trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
(1986) - Alison Lee – vocals (1986)
- Paul McClements – vocals (1986)
- Carole Cook – vocals (1986)
- Nick BeggsNick BeggsNick Beggs is a British musician, noted for playing the bass guitar and the Chapman Stick; he is a member of Kajagoogoo and formerly Iona and Ellis, Beggs, & Howard.-Personal life:...
– bass (1992) - Herve Koster – drums (1992)
- Michael "Clip" PayneMichael "Clip" PayneMichael "Clip" Payne is an American musician. He has been a member of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective since 1977. First credited on Parliament's 1979 release "Gloryhallastoopid" with "Choir Chours", he has appeared on over 20 Parliament-Funkadelic collective recordings primarily as a vocalist...
– percussion, vocals (1992) - L.B.M. – vocals (2000–2006)
- Little B. – drums (2000–2005)
- Matt Rossato – guitar (2003–2004)
Discography
- Rockets (1976)
- On the Road AgainOn the Road Again (Rockets album)-Personnel:Rockets*Christian Le Bartz – vocals*"Little" Gerard L'Her – bass, vocals, keyboards on "Cosmic Race"*Alain Maratrat – guitar, keyboards, vocals on "Space Rock", synthesizers on "Astrolights" and "Electro-Voice"...
(1978) - Sound of the Future (1979)
- PlasteroïdPlasteroïd-Personnel:Rockets*Christian Le Bartz – vocals*"Little" Gerard L'Her – bass, vocals*Alain Maratrat – guitar, keyboards, vocals on "Atlantis Town"*Fabrice Quagliotti – keyboards*Alain Groetzinger – drums, percussion...
(1979) - GalaxyGalaxy (album)Galaxy is a 1980 album by the French band Rockets.-Track listing:*All Songs Written By Gerard L'Her & Alain Maratrat, except where noted...
(1980) - π 3,14 (1981)
- Atomic (1982)
- Imperception (1984)
- One Way (1986)
- Another Future (1992)
- Don't StopDon't Stop (Rockets album)Don't Stop is an album by the French band Rockets.- Track listing :# "Don't Stop"# "Rockets Land"# "One Day"# "On the Road Again"# "Communication"# "Electric Delight"# "Endless Blue"# "Galactica"# "Astral World"# "Moon Walk"...
(2003)
Cover and collaborations
- A cover version of their song "Ideomatic" was recorded by the industrial metalIndustrial metalIndustrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
band Digitalis PurpureaDigitalis Purpurea (band)-Biography:Digitalis Purpurea is an industrial metal project creating music since 2000 from Turin, Italy. Digitalis Purpurea is the botanic name of the Purple Foxglove, a plant symbol of temptation, pleasant but at the same time destructive. Traditionally the foxglove was used as medical plant but...
and was included in the free net compilation Italian Body Music vol.2. The same band re-released that song in their album "Aseptic WhiteAseptic WhiteAseptic White released with "Dreamcell_11/Aural Music" is the first full length album of the Italian industrial metal band Digitalis Purpurea. Recorded in winter 2007/2008, was released on October 2, 2008 with a worldwide distribution.-Artwork:...
" featuring Celine Cecilia Angel from the Austrian project Sanguis et Cinis.