Dark Star

There are at least five bands with the name Dark Star: 1. A 70s NWOBHM band. 2. A 90s Space-Rock band. 3. A 90s German Industrial project. 4. A 80s Rap Group from Los Angeles. 5. A 70s Prog band from the UK.

1. Formed in 1978, Dark Star are best known for their single 'Lady Of Mars' which was included on the legendary NWOBHM compilation 'Metal For Muthas Volume 2', and was a firm favourite in rock clubs at the time. They released their debut self titled album in 1981, which gave us classic NWOBHM tracks like 'Kaptain Amerika', 'Backstreet Killer' and 'Green Peace'. Over the years Dark Star toured with bands such as Budgie, Magnum and Ten Years After, also embarking on the 'Metallical Mystery Tour' with labelmates Limelight and Chevy. In 1985, Dark Star sadly called it a day, with a further studio album 'Real To Real' emerging mysteriously in 1987. These days the former members of Dark Star play in the blues band Poker Alice while Rik Staines, having worked in music management, now apparently teaches at a music college.

2. Dark Star were an English rock band from London whose music mixed dark psychedelia with a dub undertow and noisy effects-laden guitar. Christian 'Bic' Hayes, Laurence O'Keefe and David Francolini, all former members of Levitation, formed Dark Star in 1998 and signed to the now defunct Harvest Records, the progressive rock subsidiary of EMI. Dark Star released several EPs and a debut album Twenty Twenty Sound produced by Steve Lillywhite. Their explosive live performances, usually with a stage decorated with fairy lights, attracted a dedicated following. The band's common musical influence was Public Image Limited. In 2000, the band had two top 40 singles with re-releases of "Graceadelica" and "I Am The Sun", both from their debut album.

Following the touring and promotion of Twenty Twenty Sound, the band entered the studio to record the follow up. Strangers And Madmen was mooted as the lead off single and received its first play on The Evening Session, hosted by Steve Lamacq. Due to a change in personnel at EMI and a general lack of interest from the label in the new material, it was agreed the two parties would part. The band split in 2001 with no official announcement, to pursue different projects. They were unable to release the already recorded second album as the rights to the music belonged to EMI. A bootleg of pre-master mixes of this album is now in circulation, entitled Zurich - it is not known where the title actually came from or whether it was the albums intended title.

3. Dark Star is a German industrial/psychedelic project created by Wolfgang Reffert. Tracks by Dark Star appeared on many compilations of independent experimental music. In 1994 Dark Star collaborated with The Legendary Pink Dots, Technogod, Gøtz Adler and Mark Crumby on the album "Travelogue", which was re-released in 2000 with additional material, and is the most known Dark Star release to this day.

4. Dark Star is the name that Rappers Rapp Group changed to in 1982. That year Duffy Hooks III gave the Rappers Rapp Group a chance to release an EP under AVI records (Distributed by MCA). The crew subsequently reformed as Dark Star and released the EP and received a great deal of local airplay on KGFJ in Los Angeles. They were an old school west coast hip-hop crew comprised of Mr. Ice, D.J. Flash, King M.C., Lovin' C, M.C. Fosty, and Mackermoe. Dark Star was considered to be ahead of its time as it features King M.C. and others speed rapping as early as 82’, a year or two before Kool Moe Dee, and also showcases the transition taking place in music technology. Dark Star features a more advanced electro hop sound than Rappers Rapp Group. This marked a departure from the original Rappers Rapp Disco Co. that they originally released under. (It should be noted the Disko Carl changed his name to Lovin' C when the group changed its name.)

5. Dark Star did a few gigs in Nottingham between 1978 and 1980, most notably supporting Last Call (who became Pinski Zoo). Dark Star became The Warm and Wonderful Beverage Company in 1979 on discovering the existence of the 'other' Dark Star (1) above. Dark Star was heavily influenced by prog and jazz.