S.P.O.C.K (aka Star Pilot On Channel K) is a
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
synthpop band which formed around 1988.
Background
The band's original lineup was
songwriter
A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music ...
Eddie Bengtsson (formerly a founding member of
Page
Page most commonly refers to:
* Page (paper), one side of a leaf of paper, as in a book
Page, PAGE, pages, or paging may also refer to:
Roles
* Page (assistance occupation), a professional occupation
* Page (servant), traditionally a young m ...
), Finn Albertsson, and
vocalist
Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...
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 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
In a written or published work, an initial capital, also referred to as a drop capital or simply an initial cap, initial, initcapital, initcap or init or a drop cap or drop, is a letter at the beginning of a word, a chapter, or a paragraph that ...
S.P.O.C.K, which are an
acronym
An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase. Acronyms are usually formed from the initial letters of words, as in ''NATO'' (''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''), but sometimes use syllables, as ...
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-inch single. The lyrical subject matter of S.P.O.C.K's songs frequently centers on
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...
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
Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction in a dystopian futuristic setting that tends to focus on a "combination of lowlife and high tech", featuring futuristic technological and scientific achievements, such as artificial intelligence and c ...
/
sci-fi
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universe ...
-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
A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of Sound recording and reproduction, music recordings and Music video, music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a Music publisher (popular music), pub ...
SubSpace Communications. The band's 1999 album, ''1999'', ranked #25 on the German Alternative Chart's (DAC) 1999 Top 50 Albums chart.
In 2010 Christer Hermodsson left the band in order to focus on other musical endeavors. He was then replaced by Valdi Solemo. The band's current line up is vocalist Alexander Hofman (a.k.a. Android - the only remaining founding member), keyboardist Valdi Solemo (aka Val Solo), and keyboardist Johan Malmgren (aka Yo-Haan).
During the last years S.P.O.C.K has focused more on live gigs. Mostly in Germany, but also in Sweden, Canada & Estonia.
Johan Malmgren and Eskil Simonsson of the band
Covenant
Covenant may refer to:
Religion
* Covenant (religion), a formal alliance or agreement made by God with a religious community or with humanity in general
** Covenant (biblical), in the Hebrew Bible
** Covenant in Mormonism, a sacred agreement b ...
formed the band Aaron Sutcliffe in 1999 to perform synthpop covers of
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
songs.
Aaron Sutcliffe profile at SubSpace Communications
/ref>
Wave-Gotik-Treffen
The Wave-Gotik-Treffen (WGT; ) is an annual world festival for "dark" music and "dark culture" in Leipzig, Germany. 150+ bands and artists from various backgrounds ( gothic rock, gothic metal, EBM, industrial, noise, darkwave, neo-folk, ne ...
" widths="180" heights="180">
S.P.O.C.K Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2017 08.jpg, Alexander Hofman
S.P.O.C.K Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2017 05.jpg, Valdi Solemo
S.P.O.C.K Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2017 06.jpg, Johan Malmgren
* ''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 – #16
* ''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 – #29 CMJ RPM Charts (U.S.);
* ''2001: A S.P.O.C.K Odyssey'' – CD (2001) Bloodline/SubSpace Communications
* ''Another Piece of the Action'' – CD and Vinyl (limited to 500 copies) (2012) SubSpace Communications
* ''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 – #93 DAC Top Singles 2000
* ''Where Rockets Fly'' – CD Single (2000) Bloodline/SubSpace Communications
* ''Queen of Space'' – CD Single (2001) SubSpace Communications
* ''Satellites'' – CD Single (2001) Bloodline/SubSpace Communications
* ''I Sometimes Wish I Was Famous – A Swedish Tribute To Depeche Mode'' – CD track No. 10 "Ice Machine" –
cover (1991) Energy Rekords
* ''Virtual X-mas 92'' – CD track No. 5 "White Christmas" (1992) Energy Rekords
* ''Technopolis Vol. VII'' – CD track No. 8 "Never Trust a Klingon (Gravity Version)" (1992) Back In Black – Unofficial Release
* ''To Be Stun'' – CD track No. 8 "E-lectric" (1993) Rayher Disc
* ''Moonraker'' – 2xCD disc No. 2 track No. 7 "Never Trust a Klingon" (1994) Sub Terranean
* ''Virtual Energy – Volume Two'' – CD track No. 6 "Beam Me Up (Transporter Mix)" (1994) Energy Rekords
* ''Virtual X-mas 94'' – CD track No. 1f "Never Trust a Klingon", No. 1g "E-lectric" and No. 1h "Strange Dimensions" (1994) Energy Rekords
* ''To Cut A Long Story Short – A Tribute to the Pioneers of Electronic Pop'' – CD track No. 2 "Planet Earth" (1995) Energy Rekords
* ''Energy Rekords & Beat That! Records 1996'' – CD track No. 9 "Astrogirl (Original)" and No. 10 "Trouble With Tribbles" (1996) Energy Rekords
* ''Popnation – Best of Blekingska Nationen 1994-1996'' – CD track No. 19 "Astrogirl" (1996) Beat That!
* ''Electric Ballroom'' – 2xCD disc No. 2 track No. 5 "Stranged (Limited Version)" (1997) Sub Terranean
* ''Neurostyle Vol. VII'' – CD track No. 6 "Not Human" (1997) Sub Terranean
* ''Sauna – Hösten 1997'' – CD track No. 6 "Not Human" (1997) Suana Magazine
* ''Sound-Line Vol. 6'' – CD track No. 12 "E.T. Phone Home" (1997) Side-Line
* ''A RefleXion of Synthpop Volume 1'' – CD track No. 2 "Human Decision Required (Re-Edit) " (1998) Maschinenwelt Records
* ''Best of Electronic Music'' – 2xCD Ltd. Edition disc No. 1 track No. 7 "Dr. McCoy" (1998) TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
* ''Binary Application Extension 05'' – CD track No. 15 "Force of Life" (1998) Genocide Project
* ''Deejay Tribe'' – 2xCD disc No. 2 track No. 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 No. 2 track No. 6 "Never Trust a Klingon (A Version)" (1998) Synthetic Symphony
* ''Pleasure & Pain Volume One'' – CD track No. 3 "Alien Attack" and track No. 10 "All the Children Shall Lead" (1998) TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
* ''Public Communication 1'' – CD track No. 3 "Spacewalk" (1998) SubSpace Communications
* ''Strange Love 2'' – CD track No. 13 "Speed of Light" (1998) Orkus
* ''Best of Electronic Music Vol. 2'' – 2xCD disc No. 1 track No. 12 "Never Trust a Klingon (Mox Epoques Federation Mix)" (1999) TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
* ''Dion Fortune Sampler Vol. VI'' – CD track No. 17 "E.T. Phone Home" Dion Fortune
* ''Elegy – Numéro 4'' – CD track No. 5 "E.T. Phone Home (Live)" (1999) Dion Fortune
* ''Wellenreiter In Schwarz Vol. 3'' – 2xCD disc No. 1 track No. 13 "Dr. McCoy (Synchronisiert)" (1999) Credo/Nova Tekk
* ''World of Synthpop'' – 2xCD disc No. 2 track No. 1 "Spacewalk" (1999) Sterntaler/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
* ''Xtra Compilation II'' – 2xCD disc No. 1 track No. 6 "Spacewalk" (1999) Angelwings
* ''Zillo Club Hits'' – CD track No. 13 "Dr. McCoy (Classic Version)" (1999)
* ''Zillo Festival Sampler 1999'' – 2xCD disc No. 2 track No. 8 "Out There" (1999) Zillo
* ''ZilloScope: New Signs & Sounds 04/99'' – CD track No. 7 "Star Pilot On Channel K" (1999) Zillo
* ''Cover Classics Volume Two'' – CD track No. 4 "I Don't Know What It Is" – Pete Shelly cover (2000) VISION Records
* ''Cyberl@b V2.0'' – 2xCD disc No. 1 track No. 7 "Dr. McCoy (Classic)" (2000) Matrix Cube
* ''Electro Club Attack – Shot Three'' – 2xCD disc No. 2 track No. 6 "Klingon 2000 (Danny B's Phaser House Cut)" (2000) XXC/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
* ''ElectroManiac Vol. 1'' – CD track No. 4 "Out There" (2000) Bloodline
* ''Gothic Compilation Part XII'' – CD track No. 8 "Where Rockets Fly (Original Version)" (2000) Batbeliever Releases
* ''The Best of Loves – A Tribute to Depeche Mode'' – CD track No. 10 "Ice Machine" – Depeche Mode cover (2000) Energy Rekords
* ''World of Synthpop 2'' – 2xCD disc No. 1 track No. 4 "Out There" (2000) Sterntaler
* ''Best of Electronic Music Vol. 3'' – 2xCD disc No. 1 track No. 7 "Satellites (Sputnik Mix)" (2001) Bloodline
* ''Clubline Volume 2'' – CD track No. 3 "Queen of Space (Stop Dave, I'm Going Crazy ...)" (2001) Bloodline
* ''Clubline Volume 3'' – CD track No. 1 "Reactivated" (2001) Bloodline
* ''D-Side 2'' – CD track No. 12 "Where Rockets Fly (Electromix)" (2001) D-Side
* ''Electro Club Attack – Shot Four'' – 2xCD disc No. 2 track No. 7 "Where Rockets Fly" (2001) XXC/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
* ''Euro Rock Fest VL 2001'' – 2xCD disc No. 1 track No. 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 No. 2 track No. 9 "Queen of Space (Stop Dave, I'm Going Crazy 2001)" (2001) Oblivion
* ''New Forms of Synthetic Pop V.2.0'' – CD track No. 8 "Satellites" (2001) Bloodline
* ''Pleasure and Pain Volume Two'' – CD track#1 "I Don't Know What it Is" and track No. 9 "Star Pilot On Channel K" (2001) Bloodline
* ''PRGDA vs. SSC'' – CD track No. 1 "Astrogirl's Secret" (2001) SubSpace Communications
* ''Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. XII'' – CD + VCD, video No. 9 "Take Me to the Stars" and video No. 10 "Interview" (2001) Sonic Seducer
* ''Strange Love 5'' – CD track No. 12 "Satellites (Sputnik Mix)" (2001) Orkus
* ''Volume 6'' – CD track No. 5 "Satellites (Single Version)" (2001) Prospective Music Magazine
* ''World of Synthpop 3'' – 2xCD disc No. 1 track No. 5 "Reactivated" (2001) Sterntaler/Zoomshot Media Entertainment
* ''Zillo Club Hits 6'' – CD track No. 11 "Queen of Space" (2001) Zillo
* ''Clubline Volume 1'' – CD track No. 7 "Klingon 2000" (2002) Bloodline
* ''World of Synthpop 4'' – 2xCD disc No. 1 track No. 4 "Babylon 5" (2002) Sterntaler/Zoomshot Media Entertainment