Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox musical artist
Rocket Science is an Australian alternative rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, formed in June 1998. They released four studio albums during their initial run: Welcome Aboard the 3C10 (2000), Contact High (2002), Eternal Holiday (2004) and Different Like You (2008), the latter of which was released months before their split. The band reunited in 2014 and has since released a further two studio albums: Snake (2019) and Push Play (2023).
Contact High and Eternal Holiday charted at 60 and 67, respectively, in the top 100 of the ARIA Albums Chart, while Contact HighTemplate:'s single "Being Followed" charted at number 91 in the triple j Hottest 100 of 2002.
HistoryEdit
1998–2003: Welcome Aboard the 3C10 and Contact HighEdit
Rocket Science was formed in Melbourne<ref name="Blackman">Template:Cite news</ref> in June 1998 by Dave Gray (of The Hogs) on semi-acoustic bass guitar, Paul Maybury (Freeloaders) on guitar, Roman Tucker (The Martians) on lead vocals and keyboards, and Kit Warhurst (Velvet Tongue) on drums.<ref name="Voodoo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The group released its debut single, "Burn in Hell," in 1999.
Their debut album, Welcome Aboard the 3C10, was issued on 1 May 2000 via Modular Recordings.<ref name="NLA 1">Template:Citation</ref><ref name="AMG Welcome">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Several tracks from their first rehearsal were used on the album.<ref name="Dwyer">Template:Cite news</ref>
Rocket Science's second album, Contact High, was released on 11 February 2002, reaching No. 60 on the ARIA Albums Chart.<ref name="ARIA Report 634">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref><ref name="ARIA Report 625">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> Michael Dwyer from The Age described it as "a refinement of a unique sonic formula that read something like this: schlock-horror/weird sci-fi films plus obscure garage-punk music plus massive vintage keyboard contraption complete with theremin equals Rocket Science."<ref name="Dwyer"/> Carmine Pascuzzi of MediaSearch opined that "[it] shows good improvement – showcasing powerful rock and electronic grooves. They give a genuine tilt at the rock 'n' roll styling," where the group "demonstrates a purpose and ambition in delivering some infectious tracks. They are an interesting band with interesting ideas."<ref name="Pascuzzi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>
2004–2007: Eternal Holiday and Tucker's comaEdit
By April 2004, the band's third album had been recorded, but Tucker suffered a serious injury from a fall and was put into an induced coma for ten days. This forced the band to cancel all scheduled performances until June.<ref name="Blackman"/> For an appearance at the Fuji Rock Festival in 2004, Maybury was replaced on guitar by Andre Warhurst (brother of Kit) when Maybury was unable to travel due to a broken leg. Andre Warhurst features in the video for the single Eternal Holiday, which was filmed in Japan during the visit. The album, Eternal Holiday, was released on 15 September 2004 and was produced by Jim Diamond. The album reached No. 67 on the ARIA Albums Chart.<ref name="ARIA Report 760">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>
The Australian Record Industry Association reported that after his accident, Tucker had "remembered precious little of the experience, but when the other members played him the finished product, he thought that whoever it was, it was pretty good."<ref name="ARIA Report 760"/> Dwyer reviewed the album, which showed "a noticeable shift in the creative base. Warhurst's increased input as a writer and harmony singer has resulted in a more melodic and accessible finish to an ever-tighter band chemistry."<ref name="Dwyer"/> The title track was released as the album's lead single, which a FasterLouder reviewer described as, "Despite the morbid undertones that inspired the song, it carries a surprisingly upbeat feeling overall with only a slight sense of gloom seeping in through the lyrics."<ref name="Faster 1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Their label dropped the group, but they recorded a fourth album, Different Like You, which was released on 26 July 2008.<ref name="McGrath">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> It was engineered and produced by Maybury at his recording studio.<ref name="Dib 1">Template:Cite news</ref> Luke McGrath from BMA Magazine felt it was "not so much a progression as a refinement – Different Like You is as loud, as brash, and as concentrated a dose of Rocket Science as any fan could want."<ref name="McGrath"/> Shane Arnold from Music Feeds described its "raw high energy songs infused with theremin and rock & roll" and the group as "easily one of the best (and craziest) live acts going around currently, and any albums like this are only going to enhance their reputation."<ref name="Arnold">Template:Cite news</ref>
The album was preceded by the single "Psychic Man" Trevor Block of Mess+Noise website found it as "three-and-a-half minutes of growling Seeds/Stones hybrid, bursting with energy and plenty of the Science's trademark Farfisa organ honking all over a simple borrowed riff."<ref name="Block">Template:Cite news</ref> By August 2008, Mickey Heartbreak (The Dead South) had joined on guitar.<ref name="Donovan">Template:Cite news</ref> The group disbanded in late 2008.<ref name="Leaps Fest">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2014–present: Reformation and new musicEdit
In 2014, the group reformed.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In October 2014, Rocket Science reconvened for a benefit concert for Mick Blood of Lime Spiders at The Tote Hotel, Collingwood.<ref name="Reconvene">Template:Cite news</ref> They performed at the Leaps and Bounds Festival in July 2015.<ref name="Leaps Fest"/><ref name="Yarra Arts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In April 2018, Rocket Science released their first single, "Lipstick Red", from their then-unnamed fifth studio album. The album, Snake, was released in August 2019. Two further singles were released from the album: "I Hate Hate" and "Cheers Pinger." In July 2020, the band released their first live album entitled Live 2020.<ref name="live2020"></ref> In September 2023, the band released their sixth studio album, Push Play.
Line upEdit
Current members
- Dave Gray – bass guitar
- Paul Maybury – guitar, backing vocals
- Roman Tucker – lead vocals, keyboards, theremin
- Kit Warhurst – drums, backing vocals
Past members
- Mickey Heartbreak – guitar (2008)
DiscographyEdit
AlbumsEdit
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS <ref name="AUS Charts 51-100">Template:Cite Ryan</ref> | ||
| Welcome Aboard the 3C10 | — | |
| Contact High |
|
60 |
| Eternal Holiday |
|
67 |
| Different Like You |
|
— |
| Snake |
|
— |
| Push Play |
|
— |
Live albumsEdit
| Title | Album details | |
|---|---|---|
| Live 2020 |
|
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|
SinglesEdit
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Burn in Hell" | 1999 | Welcome Aboard the 3C10 |
| "Copycat" | 2000 | |
| "One Robot" | 2001 | Contact High |
| "Being Followed" | ||
| "Heavy Traffic"/"Going Away" | 2002 | |
| "Run Like a Gun" | 2003 | |
| "Sex Call" | 2004 | Eternal Holiday |
| "Eternal Holiday" | ||
| "Psychic Man" | 2008 | Different Like You |
| "Lipstick Red" | 2018 | Snake |
| "I Hate Hate" | 2019 | |
| "Cheers Pinger" | ||
| "Agitation" | 2023 | Push Play |
| "Fashion Emergency" |