Spacemonkeyz
Encyclopedia
Spacemonkeyz were a musical group consisting of Darren Galea, Richie Stevens and Gavin Dodds. They came together when Galea created a dub
remix of the Gorillaz
' "Tomorrow Comes Today" ("Tomorrow Dub", which was released as a B-side on the "Tomorrow Comes Today" single), which Gorillaz founder Damon Albarn
liked so much that he asked Galea to remix the whole album Gorillaz
. The resulting album, Laika Come Home
, was released in July 2002. The album's first and only single "Lil' Dub Chefin'
" reached #73 on the UK Singles Chart
.
They also wrote an original song with Taiwanese singer Stanley Huang
, "Spacemonkeyz Theme", which appeared as a B-side on "Lil' Dub Chefin'", and did a remix of the Herbert Grönemeyer
single "Mensch".
Like the Gorillaz, they are a virtual band
(though not to the degree that Gorillaz are). According to the fictional Gorillaz biography Rise of the Ogre
the group is an actual team of monkeys used in space tests who had stolen the tracks from an unattended Kong Studios and remixed them without Gorillaz' permission.
Since the release of Laika Come Home
the band has not recorded or released any new material. However, in 2005 and 2006 Darren Galea performed turntables as part of the Gorillaz live band on all of the Demon Days Live dates.
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
remix of the Gorillaz
Gorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
' "Tomorrow Comes Today" ("Tomorrow Dub", which was released as a B-side on the "Tomorrow Comes Today" single), which Gorillaz founder Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
liked so much that he asked Galea to remix the whole album Gorillaz
Gorillaz (album)
Gorillaz is the debut album by the British virtual band Gorillaz, released in March 2001. It includes the singles "Clint Eastwood", "19-2000", "Rock the House" and "Tomorrow Comes Today"...
. The resulting album, Laika Come Home
Laika Come Home
Laika Come Home is a Gorillaz remix album released in July 2002 . Unlike a typical remix album, it is done by just one group, Spacemonkeyz. It contains most of the songs from the Gorillaz' first album, Gorillaz, but remixed in dub and reggae style. The album features Terry Hall, U Brown, Earl 16...
, was released in July 2002. The album's first and only single "Lil' Dub Chefin'
Lil' Dub Chefin'
"Lil' Dub Chefin" is a single by the Spacemonkeyz vs Gorillaz, from the 2002 Gorillaz remix album Laika Come Home. It is a remix of the Gorillaz' song "M1A1". The song's title is a joke on the UK restaurant chain Little Chef. The music video features the Spacemonkeyz. On Celebrity Takedown, the...
" reached #73 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
They also wrote an original song with Taiwanese singer Stanley Huang
Stanley Huang
Stanley Huang is a Taiwanese American singer. Huang grew up in California and first started out in the boyband L.A. Boyz with older brother, Jeff Huang and cousin Steven Lin.-Musical Career :...
, "Spacemonkeyz Theme", which appeared as a B-side on "Lil' Dub Chefin'", and did a remix of the Herbert Grönemeyer
Herbert Grönemeyer
Herbert Grönemeyer is a German musician and actor, popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He starred as war correspondent Lieutenant Werner in Wolfgang Petersen's movie Das Boot, but later concentrated on his musical career...
single "Mensch".
Like the Gorillaz, they are a virtual band
Virtual band
In music, a virtual band is any group whose members are not corporeal musicians, but animated characters...
(though not to the degree that Gorillaz are). According to the fictional Gorillaz biography Rise of the Ogre
Rise of the Ogre
Rise of the Ogre is an autobiography about the virtual band Gorillaz. Ostensibly written by the four band-members in collaboration with Gorillaz musician and official scribe Cass Browne, the book is 304 pages long and is extensively illustrated. It was released in the UK on 26 October 2006 by...
the group is an actual team of monkeys used in space tests who had stolen the tracks from an unattended Kong Studios and remixed them without Gorillaz' permission.
Since the release of Laika Come Home
Laika Come Home
Laika Come Home is a Gorillaz remix album released in July 2002 . Unlike a typical remix album, it is done by just one group, Spacemonkeyz. It contains most of the songs from the Gorillaz' first album, Gorillaz, but remixed in dub and reggae style. The album features Terry Hall, U Brown, Earl 16...
the band has not recorded or released any new material. However, in 2005 and 2006 Darren Galea performed turntables as part of the Gorillaz live band on all of the Demon Days Live dates.
Singles
- 2002: Spacemonkeyz vs Gorillaz – "Lil' Dub Chefin'Lil' Dub Chefin'"Lil' Dub Chefin" is a single by the Spacemonkeyz vs Gorillaz, from the 2002 Gorillaz remix album Laika Come Home. It is a remix of the Gorillaz' song "M1A1". The song's title is a joke on the UK restaurant chain Little Chef. The music video features the Spacemonkeyz. On Celebrity Takedown, the...
" - 2002: Herbert GrönemeyerHerbert GrönemeyerHerbert Grönemeyer is a German musician and actor, popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He starred as war correspondent Lieutenant Werner in Wolfgang Petersen's movie Das Boot, but later concentrated on his musical career...
– "Mensch" (Spacemonkeyz Remix)