The Aliens are actually former Beta Banders John MacLean and Robin Jones along with their old mate Gordon Anderson (aka Lone Pigeon). The band will bring take their intergalactic psychedelia to Switzerland in December for three special shows. Ticket details and more below:
John MacLean spoke with Kelly Smith of The List earlier this summer about their sunny Scotland sound.
So where are you guys now? London? Scotland?
I am in London, Gordon and Robin are too scared to come to London so live in the Pentland Hills in Robin’s case and Fife in Gordon’s.Tell us a little about the recently released EP, The Sunlamp Show.
We usually craft our own EPs with a bit of a theme, but for this one we wanted to give the tune to other people to do remixes. I gave a tune to Robin and he gave one back to me. We also got a Disco Bloodbath mix which is great.httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPGxm-vmmj0
How have you changed since Astronomy for Dogs?
Gordon has bought new trainers and Robin has ditched the much feted ‘headband’ look. I’ve given up trying to make socks and sandals fashionable. Musically we had more time to make Luna because we made it in a cottage in Pittenweem. Astronomy was made in a big fancy London studio, in the heady days of 2005 when record companies gave money to people like us.Edinburgh or Glasgow?
Feel I should say Edinburgh because I went to art college there and had a great time and me and Gordon met Robin there at college. But our best gigs were Glasgow Barrowlands with the Beta Band.Fave Scottish venue?
BarrowlandsDo you guys ever make it to any club nights in Scotland that celebrate psychedelia?
I used to run a club in Edinburgh Art College Wee red called Club Prague. It was a bit of an institution, but I DJ hip hop as well as psych, rock ‘n’ roll, funk, rock, ska etc.Full interview with The List here, published June 9, 2009, written by Kelly Smith
More information at the band’s myspace page or have fun playing around on their official website.
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