S.P.O.C.K
Encyclopedia
S.P.O.C.K is a Swedish
synthpop
-band which formed around 1988.
Eddie Bengtsson (formerly a founding member of Page
), Finn Albertsson, and vocalist Alexander Hofman. Over time the members of the band have shifted – Johan Billing was a member of the band from 1994 to 1998, but with the release of "S.P.O.C.K: 1999" (in 1999) the band's lineup changed to the current one with Alexander Hofman (the band's only remaining founding member), Johan Malmgren (former member of Elegant Machinery
and Aaron Sutcliffe) and Christer Hermodsson.
In 1988, Eddie Bengtsson wrote a handful of songs to be performed at Finn Albertsson's birthday party, with Alexander Hofman performing vocals; the three young men dubbed the band Mr. Spock (after the name for the character Spock
of Star Trek). After the performance at the party, the band continued for several months to play at other house parties, but soon managed to secure some event bookings. In 1989, the band members contacted Paramount Pictures
for permission to use the name "Mr. Spock". When Paramount demanded a heavy compensation for the privilege, the band renamed themselves using the initials S.P.O.C.K, which are an acronym for Star Pilot On Channel K.
S.P.O.C.K's commercial success began in 1990 when the Swedish record label Accelerating Blue Fish published "Silicon Dream" as a limited-edition 7" single. The lyrical subject matter of S.P.O.C.K's songs frequently centers on science fiction
stories, (in particular, Star Trek
). Other topics include alien-human relations and life in space. Representative songs include: "Alien Attack", "E.T. Phone Home
", "Never Trust a Klingon
", "Not Human", "In Space No One Can Hear You Scream
", "Mr. Spock's Brain", "Dr. McCoy
" and "Astrogirl".
On stage the band members adopted a cyberpunk
/sci-fi
-esque personae, with Eddie Bengtsson calling himself "Eddie B. Kirk", Alexander Hofman as "Android", and Finn Albertsson as "Cybernoid". Together with such bands as Page, Elegant Machinery, Sista Mannen På Jorden and Kiethevez, S.P.O.C.K helped to define the sound of the Swedish synthpop
movement.
In 1997, members of S.P.O.C.K started their own recording label SubSpace Communications. The band's current line up is vocalist Alexander Hofman (a.k.a Android - the only remaining founding member), keyboardist Christer Hermodsson (aka Crull-E), and keyboardist Johan Malmgren (aka Yo-Haan).
Currently the group is taking a hiatus with its members spending more time with their families and other musical side projects such as Mr. Data and Biomekkanik.
Johan Malmgren and Eskil Simonsson of the band Covenant
formed the band Aaron Sutcliffe in 1999 to perform synthpop covers of Elvis Presley
songs.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
-band which formed around 1988.
Background
The band's original lineup was songwriterSongwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Eddie Bengtsson (formerly a founding member of Page
Page (band)
Page is a Swedish synthpop band. Page is often credited with being the first band to bring synthpop music to Sweden. Their music and band members influenced many subsequent Swedish synthpop acts, including Elegant Machinery, S.P.O.C.K, Sista Mannen På Jorden and KieTheVez.Formed in 1980 by Eddie...
), Finn Albertsson, and vocalist Alexander Hofman. Over time the members of the band have shifted – Johan Billing was a member of the band from 1994 to 1998, but with the release of "S.P.O.C.K: 1999" (in 1999) the band's lineup changed to the current one with Alexander Hofman (the band's only remaining founding member), Johan Malmgren (former member of Elegant Machinery
Elegant Machinery
Elegant Machinery is a Swedish synthpop band. Borrowing heavily from the likes of Depeche Mode, they are one of few recent bands dedicated to making traditional synthpop music...
and Aaron Sutcliffe) and Christer Hermodsson.
In 1988, Eddie Bengtsson wrote a handful of songs to be performed at Finn Albertsson's birthday party, with Alexander Hofman performing vocals; the three young men dubbed the band Mr. Spock (after the name for the character Spock
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
of Star Trek). After the performance at the party, the band continued for several months to play at other house parties, but soon managed to secure some event bookings. In 1989, the band members contacted Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
for permission to use the name "Mr. Spock". When Paramount demanded a heavy compensation for the privilege, the band renamed themselves using the initials S.P.O.C.K, which are an acronym for Star Pilot On Channel K.
S.P.O.C.K's commercial success began in 1990 when the Swedish record label Accelerating Blue Fish published "Silicon Dream" as a limited-edition 7" single. The lyrical subject matter of S.P.O.C.K's songs frequently centers on science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
stories, (in particular, Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
). Other topics include alien-human relations and life in space. Representative songs include: "Alien Attack", "E.T. Phone Home
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction film co-produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison and starring Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, and Peter Coyote...
", "Never Trust a Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
", "Not Human", "In Space No One Can Hear You Scream
Alien (film)
Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto. The film's title refers to its primary antagonist: a highly aggressive extraterrestrial creature which...
", "Mr. Spock's Brain", "Dr. McCoy
Leonard McCoy
Leonard "Bones" McCoy is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by DeForest Kelley in the original Star Trek series, McCoy also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and in numerous books,...
" and "Astrogirl".
On stage the band members adopted a cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
/sci-fi
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
-esque personae, with Eddie Bengtsson calling himself "Eddie B. Kirk", Alexander Hofman as "Android", and Finn Albertsson as "Cybernoid". Together with such bands as Page, Elegant Machinery, Sista Mannen På Jorden and Kiethevez, S.P.O.C.K helped to define the sound of the Swedish synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
movement.
In 1997, members of S.P.O.C.K started their own recording label SubSpace Communications. The band's current line up is vocalist Alexander Hofman (a.k.a Android - the only remaining founding member), keyboardist Christer Hermodsson (aka Crull-E), and keyboardist Johan Malmgren (aka Yo-Haan).
Currently the group is taking a hiatus with its members spending more time with their families and other musical side projects such as Mr. Data and Biomekkanik.
Johan Malmgren and Eskil Simonsson of the band Covenant
Covenant (band)
Covenant is a band from Sweden whose music comprises a mixture between electropop and electronic dance music. The band is composed of Eskil Simonsson, Daniel Myer and Joakim Montelius...
formed the band Aaron Sutcliffe in 1999 to perform synthpop covers of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
songs.
Albums
- Five Year Mission – CD (1993) Energy Rekords
- Alien Worlds – CD (1995) Energy Rekords
- A Piece of the Action – 2xCD Ltd. Edition (1995) Energy Rekords
- Assignment: Earth – CD (1997) SubSpace Communications/VISION Records/TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH • CD (1998) SubSpace Communications
- Earth Orbit: Live – CD (1997) SubSpace Communications/VISION Records
- Official Fan Club – CD (1997) no label
- S.P.O.C.K: 1999 – CD (1999) SubSpace Communications/VISION Records
- 2001: A S.P.O.C.K Odyssey – CD (2001) Bloodline/SubSpace Communications
Singles
- Silicon Dream – 7" (1990) Accelerating Blue Fish
- Never Trust a Klingon – CD Single (1992) Energy Rekords
- Strange Dimensions – CD Single (1993) Energy Rekords
- Never Trust a Klingon (2294 AD) – CD Single (1994) Energy Rekords
- Astrogirl – CD Single (1994) Energy Rekords
- All E.T:s Aren't Nice – CD Single (1995) Energy Rekords
- Alien Attack – CD Single (1997) SubSpace Communications/VISION Records
- E.T. Phone Home – CD Single (1997) SubSpace Communications/VISION Records
- Speed of Light – CD Single (1998) SubSpace Communications
- Dr. McCoy – CD Single (1998) SubSpace Communications
- Klingon 2000 – CD Single (2000) Bloodline/SubSpace Communications
- Where Rockets Fly – CD Single (2000) Bloodline/SubSpace Communications
- Queen of Space – CD Single (2001) SubSpace Communications
- Satellites – CD Single (2001) Bloodline/SubSpace Communications
Compilation appearances
- I Sometimes Wish I Was Famous – A Swedish Tribute To Depeche Mode – CD track #10 "Ice Machine" – Depeche ModeDepeche ModeDepeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
cover (1991) Energy Rekords - Virtual X-mas 92 – CD track #5 "White Christmas" (1992) Energy Rekords
- Technopolis Vol. VII – CD track #8 "Never Trust a Klingon (Gravity Version)" (1992) Back In Black – Unofficial Release
- To Be Stun – CD track #8 "E-lectric" (1993) Rayher Disc
- Moonraker – 2xCD disc #2 track #7 "Never Trust a Klingon" (1994) Sub Terranean
- Virtual Energy – Volume Two – CD track #6 "Beam Me Up (Transporter Mix)" (1994) Energy Rekords
- Virtual X-mas 94 – CD track #1f "Never Trust a Klingon", #1g "E-lectric" and #1h "Strange Dimensions" (1994) Energy Rekords
- To Cut A Long Story Short – A Tribute to the Pioneers of Electronic Pop – CD track #2 "Planet Earth" (1995) Energy Rekords
- Energy Rekords & Beat That! Records 1996 – CD track #9 "Astrogirl (Original)" and #10 "Trouble With Tribbles" (1996) Energy Rekords
- Popnation – Best of Blekingska Nationen 1994-1996 – CD track #19 "Astrogirl" (1996) Beat That!
- Electric Ballroom – 2xCD disc #2 track #5 "Stranged (Limited Version)" (1997) Sub Terranean
- Neurostyle Vol. VII – CD track #6 "Not Human" (1997) Sub Terranean
- Sauna – Hösten 1997 – CD track #6 "Not Human" (1997) Suana Magazine
- Sound-Line Vol. 6 – CD track #12 "E.T. Phone Home" (1997) Side-Line
- A RefleXion of Synthpop Volume 1 – CD track #2 "Human Decision Required (Re-Edit) " (1998) Maschinenwelt Records
- Best of Electronic Music – 2xCD Ltd. Edition disc #1 track #7 "Dr. McCoy" (1998) TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
- Binary Application Extension 05 – CD track #15 "Force of Life" (1998) Genocide Project
- Deejay Tribe – 2xCD disc #2 track #9 "Speed of Light" (1998) Credo
- We Came to Watch Part 1 – VHS "E.T. Phone Home" (1998) Credo/Nova Tekk
- EBM Club Classics – 2xCD disc #2 track #6 "Never Trust a Klingon (A Version)" (1998) Synthetic Symphony
- Pleasure & Pain Volume One – CD track #3 "Alien Attack" and track #10 "All the Children Shall Lead" (1998) TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
- Public Communication 1 – CD track #3 "Spacewalk" (1998) SubSpace Communications
- Strange Love 2 – CD track #13 "Speed of Light" (1998) Orkus
- Best of Electronic Music Vol. 2 – 2xCD disc #1 track #12 "Never Trust a Klingon (Mox Epoques Federation Mix)" (1999) TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
- Dion Fortune Sampler Vol. VI – CD track #17 "E.T. Phone Home" Dion Fortune
- Elegy – Numéro 4 – CD track #5 "E.T. Phone Home (Live)" (1999) Dion Fortune
- Wellenreiter In Schwarz Vol. 3 – 2xCD disc #1 track #13 "Dr. McCoy (Synchronisiert)" (1999) Credo/Nova Tekk
- World of Synthpop – 2xCD disc #2 track #1 "Spacewalk" (1999) Sterntaler/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
- Xtra Compilation II – 2xCD disc #1 track #6 "Spacewalk" (1999) Angelwings
- Zillo Club Hits – CD track #13 "Dr. McCoy (Classic Version)" (1999) Zillo
- Zillo Festival Sampler 1999 – 2xCD disc #2 track #8 "Out There" (1999) Zillo
- ZilloScope: New Signs & Sounds 04/99 – CD track #7 "Star Pilot On Channel K" (1999) Zillo
- Cover Classics Volume Two – CD track #4 "I Don't Know What It Is" – Pete Shelly cover (2000) VISION Records
- Cyberl@b V2.0 – 2xCD disc #1 track #7 "Dr. McCoy (Classic)" (2000) Matrix Cube
- Electro Club Attack – Shot Three – 2xCD disc #2 track #6 "Klingon 2000 (Danny B's Phaser House Cut)" (2000) XXC/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
- ElectroManiac Vol. 1 – CD track #4 "Out There" (2000) Bloodline
- Gothic Compilation Part XII – CD track #8 "Where Rockets Fly (Original Version)" (2000) Batbeliever Releases
- The Best of Loves – A Tribute to Depeche Mode – CD track #10 "Ice Machine" – Depeche Mode cover (2000) Energy Rekords
- World of Synthpop 2 – 2xCD disc #1 track #4 "Out There" (2000) Sterntaler
- Best of Electronic Music Vol. 3 – 2xCD disc #1 track #7 "Satellites (Sputnik Mix)" (2001) Bloodline
- Clubline Volume 2 – CD track #3 "Queen of Space (Stop Dave, I'm Going Crazy ...)" (2001) Bloodline
- Clubline Volume 3 – CD track #1 "Reactivated" (2001) Bloodline
- D-Side 2 – CD track #12 "Where Rockets Fly (Electromix)" (2001) D-Side
- Electro Club Attack – Shot Four – 2xCD disc #2 track #7 "Where Rockets Fly" (2001) XXC/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
- Euro Rock Fest VL 2001 – 2xCD disc #1 track #9 "Where Rockets Fly (Electromix)" (2001) Angelwings/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
- Ghosts from the Darkside Vol. 3 – 2xCD "Klingon 2000 (Radio Mix)" (2001) Purple Flower
- M'era Luna Festival 2001 – 2xCD disc #2 track #9 "Queen of Space (Stop Dave, I'm Going Crazy 2001)" (2001) Oblivion
- New Forms of Synthetic Pop V.2.0 – CD track #8 "Satellites" (2001) Bloodline
- Pleasure and Pain Volume Two – CD track#1 "I Don't Know What it Is" and track #9 "Star Pilot On Channel K" (2001) Bloodline
- PRGDA vs. SSC – CD track #1 "Astrogirl's Secret" (2001) SubSpace Communications
- Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. XII – CD + VCD, video #9 "Take Me to the Stars" and video #10 "Interview" (2001) Sonic Seducer
- Strange Love 5 – CD track #12 "Satellites (Sputnik Mix)" (2001) Orkus
- Volume 6 – CD track #5 "Satellites (Single Version)" (2001) Prospective Music Magazine
- World of Synthpop 3 – 2xCD disc #1 track #5 "Reactivated" (2001) Sterntaler/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
- Zillo Club Hits 6 – CD track #11 "Queen of Space" (2001) Zillo
- Clubline Volume 1 – CD track #7 "Klingon 2000" (2002) Bloodline
- World of Synthpop 4 – 2xCD disc #1 track #4 "Babylon 5" (2002) Sterntaler/Zoomshot Media Entertainment