Apollo 440

Apollo 440
Apollo 440 performing in 2010
Background information
Origin	Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
Genres	Big beat electronica alternative rock, electronic rock drum and bass trip hop
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Stealth Sonic Epic 550 Radikal
Website	http://www.apollo440.com/
Members	Trevor Gray Howard Gray Noko Ewan MacFarlane Cliff Hewitt Michael Cusick Ashley Krajewski
Past members	James Gardner Ian Hoxley Paul Kodish

Apollo 440 (also known as Apollo Four Forty or @440) are an English electronic music group formed in Liverpool in 1990.^[1] The group has written, recorded, and produced five studio albums, collaborated with and produced other artists, remixed as Apollo 440 and as ambient cinematic alter-ego Stealth Sonic Orchestra, and created music for film, television, advertisements and multimedia. Over eleven years, they notched up eleven top-forty UK singles with three top-tens, and had a chart presence worldwide.

Its name comes from the Greek god Apollo and the frequency of concert pitch — the A note at 440 Hz, often denoted as "A440", and the Sequential Circuits sampler/sequencer, the Studio 440. They changed the writing of their name from Apollo 440 to Apollo Four Forty in 1996, though they switched back for their latest album. To date, Apollo's remixes number around sixty - from U2 in the early 1990s to Puff Daddy/Jimmy Page and Ennio Morricone a decade later. Among their Stealth Sonic Orchestra remixes are a series of Manic Street Preachers singles.

Contents

• 
  1 History
  


• 
  2 Live performances and members
  
  
  
  • 
    2.1 1994-1995
    
  
  
  • 
    2.2 1997-2000
    
  
  
  • 
    2.3 2007-present
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  3 Discography
  
  
  
  • 
    3.1 Albums
    
  
  
  • 
    3.2 Singles
    
  
  
  • 
    3.3 Media appearances
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  4 Videogames
  


• 
  5 Movies
  


• 
  6 Vocalists
  


• 
  7 Tributes
  
  
  
  • 
    7.1 Jean Baudrillard
    
  
  
  • 
    7.2 Marcel Duchamp
    
  
  
  • 
    7.3 Alcor
    
  
  
  • 
    7.4 Omega Point
    
  
  
  • 
    7.5 Krupa
    
  
  
  • 
    7.6 Charles Bukowski
    
  
  
  • 
    7.7 Slavoj Žižek
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  8 References
  


• 
  9 External links
  

History

Apollo 440 were formed by the brothers Trevor and Howard Gray with fellow Liverpudlians Noko and James Gardner, although Gardner left after the recording of the first album. All members sing and add a profusion of samples, electronics, and computer-based sounds.

After relocating to the Camden area of London, Apollo 440 recorded in 1994 with their debut album, Millennium Fever, and released it on 30 January 1995 on their own Stealth Sonic Recordings label (distributed by Epic Records). They have successfully invaded both the record charts and the dance floor with their combination of rock, breakbeat, and ambient.

The band had been most known for its remixes until the release of Liquid Cool in the UK. However, it was not until the success of the singles "Krupa" and "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Dub" that their own musical efforts were brought to international attention — particularly the latter single contributed greatly to pushing Apollo 440 into the spotlight.

In 2007, the band played a tribute gig to the late Billy Mackenzie.

Apollo 440's fifth album, The Future's What It Used To Be, became available for download on the iTunes Store from 23 March 2012.^[2]

Collaborators over the years have included Jeff Beck, Jean Michel Jarre, Billy Mackenzie, Ian McCulloch and Hotei.

Currently, the band resides in Islington, London, having once again moved its headquarters (affectionately labelled 'Apollo Control').^{[citation needed]}

Live performances and members

Apollo 440 have always played live with a number of different line-ups

1994-1995

• Howard Gray - keyboards, samples, programming


• Trevor Gray - keyboards


• Noko - vocals, guitars


• James Gardner - bass


• MC Stevie Hyper D - raps


• Cliff Hewitt - drums

1997-2000

• Howard Gray - vibe controller


• Trevor Gray - keyboards


• Noko - guitars


• Mary Byker (Ian Hoxley) - vocals


• Harry K - DJ, Samples, Vocals


• Cliff Hewitt - D-Drums


• Paul Kodish - Drums


• Rej - bass

2007-present

• Howard Gray - FOH Mixer


• Trevor Gray - keyboards


• Noko - guitars, backing vocals


• Ewan MacFarlane - vocals


• Mary Byker (Ian Hoxley) - vocals


• Ashley Krajewski - keyboards, samples, backing vocals


• Harry K - DJ, Samples, Vocals


• Cliff Hewitt - drums


• Paul Kodish - Drums


• Michael Cusick - bass, backing vocals

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		UK [3]	AUT [4]	FIN [5]	GER [6]	NOR [7]	NL [8]	SWE [9]	SWI [10]
Millennium Fever	Released: 17 November 1994 Label: Stealth Sonic, Epic Format: CD, LP, cassette, digital download	117	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Electro Glide in Blue	Released: 3 March 1997 Label: Stealth Sonic, Epic Format: CD, LP, cassette, digital download	62	26	7	32	37	55	54	33
Gettin' High on Your Own Supply	Released: 6 September 1999 Label: Stealth Sonic, Epic Format: CD, MiniDisc, digital download	20	41	—	50	—	—	—	44
Dude Descending a Staircase	Released: 22 July 2003 Label: Stealth Sonic, Epic Format: CD, LP, cassette, digital download	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
The Future's What It Used to Be	Released: 30 January 2012 Label: Stealth Sonic, Reverb Format: CD, digital download	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

• "Lolita" (1991)


• "Destiny" (1991)


• "Blackout" (1992)


• 
  Rumble EP (1993)


• "Astral America" (1994) No. 36 UK
  


• "Liquid Cool" (1994) No. 35 UK


• "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (1995) No. 35 UK


• "Krupa" (1996) No. 23 UK, Dance Club Songs No. 7 US


• "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Dub" (1997) No. 7 UK, Dance Club Songs No. 15 US


• "Raw Power" (1997) No. 32 UK


• "Carrera Rapida" (1997)


• "Rendez-Vous 98" (with Jean Michel Jarre; 1998) No. 12 UK


• "Lost in Space" (1998) No. 4 UK


• "Stop the Rock" (1999) No. 10 UK, Dance Club Songs No. 11 US, Alternative Songs No. 21 US


• "Heart Go Boom" (1999) No. 57 UK


• "Cold Rock the Mic / Crazee Horse" (2000) (promo only)


• "Charlie's Angels 2000" (2000) No. 29 UK


• "Say What?" (with 28 Days; 2001) No. 23 Australia


• "Dude Descending a Staircase" (feat. The Beatnuts; 2003) No. 58 UK


• "A Deeper Dub EP" (2011)

Media appearances

Over 50 different Apollo tracks have featured in movies, trailers, TV, games and ads worldwide, the latter including globally branded cars, beers, soft drinks, phones, audio and software. They have also written two entire soundtracks for the Sony PlayStation and provided the themes for ITV World Cup '98 and Formula 1 2000 to 2002 coverage as well as Liverpool F.C.'s Official 2006 FA Cup song.

Videogames

• 1996 Adidas Power Soccer (PlayStation version) - Rumble/Spirit of America


• 1997 Rapid Racer (Turbo Prop Racing), format: PlayStation CD (Audio CD plus game data track). The soundtrack was also available as an extra CD, as part of the limited edition double CD single release of "Carrera Rapida"


• 1999 FIFA 2000 - Stop the Rock


• 1999 Gran Turismo 2 (NTSC version) - Cold Rock the Mic


• 2000 Spider-Man (2000), featured a remix of "Spider-Man theme song"


• 2001 Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (NTSC version) - Stop the Rock (Mint Royale Mix)


• 2001 ATV Offroad Fury - Yo! Future


• 2002 F1 2002 (PS2 and PC versions) - Blackbeat


• 2003 SX Superstar - Cold Rock the Mic


• 2004 Gran Turismo 4 - Start the Car


• 2004 Gran Turismo 4 - Hold the Brakes


• 2004 EyeToy: AntiGrav - ???


• 2004 EyeToy: Groove - Hustler Groove (instrumental)


• 2007 Forza Motorsport 2 - SolidRockRazorSteel


• 2007 Forza Motorsport 2 - Rollin' Down the Highway


• 2007 Cars Mater-National Championship - Stop The Rock

Movies

• 
  Spawn (1997) the soundtrack : "This Is Not a Dream" (UK Mix), with Mark Sandman of Morphine on vocals
  
  • 
    Spawn (film)#Soundtrack Bonus Track (#15-16)
  
  


• 
  Club Hits 97/98 (1997), (soundtrack to music used during Sky Sport's coverage of Premiership football), featured "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Dub"


• 
  Lost in Space (film) (1998), featured "Lost in Space"


• 
  Charlie's Angels (2000), featured a remix of the Charlies Angels theme song.


• 
  Boys and Girls (2000), featured "Stop the Rock" in a club scene


• 
  Cut (2000), featured "Stop the Rock"


• 
  Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), featured "Stop the Rock"


• 
  Driven (2001), features "Stadium Parking Lot" in a montage of several songs during a chase scene


• 
  Spider-Man (2002), featured "Altamont Super-Highway Revisited" in one of the trailers.


• 
  Resident Evil (2002), featured "Wall of Death"


• 
  S.W.A.T. (2003), featured "Time is Running Out"


• 
  Eurotrip (2004), featured "Make My Dreams Come True"


• 
  Chasing Liberty (2004) featured "Stop The Rock"


• 
  Disaster Movie (2008), featured "Stop the Rock" in the teaser trailer.


• 
  The Sopranos, in "Whoever Did This" (2002) "The Man with the Harmonica" played over the end credits


• 
  Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2007, featured "Stop the Rock" in the segment "Sureally Sexy"

Vocalists

Apollo 440 has a history of working with various vocalists. Whilst their debut album, Millennium Fever, was sung almost exclusively by Noko, he has since withdrawn from his vocalist status in the band to make way for various guest appearances, including, but not limited to:

• 
  Billy Mackenzie on "Pain In Any Language" on Electro Glide in Blue, the last song he recorded.


• 
  Ewan MacFarlane on "Electro Glide in Blue" on Electro Glide In Blue and numerous tracks on the Dude Descending a Staircase album - currently performing live.


• 
  Xan on "Something's Got to Give" on Dude Descending a Staircase
  


• 
  Jalal Nuriddin on "Children of the Future" on Dude Descending a Staircase
  


• 
  The Beatnuts on the title track of Dude Descending a Staircase
  


• Elizabeth Gray on "Christiane" on Dude Descending a Staircase and "Stealth Mass" on Electro Glide in Blue
  


• 
  Mary Byker (Ian Hoxley) on "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Dub", "Raw Power" on Electro Glide in Blue and "Stop The Rock" on Gettin' High On Your Own Supply - performed as live vocalist until 2004.

Tributes

Jean Baudrillard

The album, Millennium Fever, is a tribute to the French postmodernist Jean Baudrillard. Since the release of that album, other references to Jean Baudrillard's works have popped up.

• The track, "Astral America", references Baudrillard's America essay, where the term originates.


• The track, "The Perfect Crime", references Baudrillard's book of the same name.


• The lyrics of "Stealth Requiem" reference the Baudrillardian concept of hyperreality. At one point a female voice says, "Ravishing hyperrealism ... Mind blowing", and later quotes directly from America (1988): "The exhilaration of obscenity; the obscenity of obviousness; the obviousness of power; the power of simulation."

Marcel Duchamp

The title and cover art of the album Dude Descending a Staircase are parodies of Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 by Marcel Duchamp.

Alcor

The song "Liquid Cool" (released as a B-side in 1993, as a single in 1994, and featured on the Millennium Fever album) is a tribute to Alcor, a company focused to pursue research into and the organization of cryonization. The topic is also referenced in the title-song "Millennium Fever", which includes the line, '"I've been dreaming of freezing my mind in California'" where Alcor was based until 1994.
Contact details for Alcor subsequently appeared on the sleeve of the single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", a cover of the Blue Öyster Cult song.

Omega Point

The song "Omega Point" references the religious concept of the same name, and features a quote from Barrow and Tipler's "The Anthropic Cosmological Principle".

Krupa

Their 1996 song is a homage to the Polish-American drummer Gene Krupa and his improvised style of drumming.

Charles Bukowski

On the album Electro Glide in Blue, track 6 called "Tears of the Gods" (6:18) features audio quotes from the 1970s video performance "Bukowski at Bellevue". The quotes are all taken from a piece entitled "Soup, Cosmos, and Tears." (A transcription of the video can be found at the Blithering Savant blog.)

Slavoj Žižek

The song "Love is Evil", on the album The Future's What It Used to Be, contains samples from the Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek.

References

1. 
   ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 28. ISBN 1-84195-017-3..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   


2. 
   ^ Album Preview Video Archived 24 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
   


3. 
   ^ Peak chart positions for albums in the United Kingdom:
   
   
   
   • All except Millennium Fever: "Apollo Four Forty" (select "Albums" tab). The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
     
   
   
   • 
     Millennium Fever: Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: A – Azzido Da Bass". Zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
     
   
   
   
   


4. 
   ^ "Discographie Apollo Four Forty". austriancharts.at (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
   


5. 
   ^ "Discography Apollo Four Forty". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
   


6. 
   ^ "Chartverfolgung / Apollo Four Forty". musicline.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
   


7. 
   ^ "Discography Apollo Four Forty". norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
   


8. 
   ^ "Discografie Apollo Four Forty". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
   


9. 
   ^ "Discography Apollo Four Forty". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
   


10. 
    ^ "Discographie Apollo Four Forty". hitparade.ch (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
    

External links

• Official site


• The Stealthography

v t e Apollo 440
Trevor Gray Howard Gray Noko Ewan MacFarlane Cliff Hewitt Michael Cusick Ashley Krajewski James Gardner Ian Hoxley Paul Kodish
Albums	Millennium Fever Electro Glide in Blue Gettin' High on Your Own Supply Dude Descending a Staircase The Future's What It Used to Be
Singles	"Lolita" "Destiny" "Blackout" "Rumble EP" "Astral America" "Liquid Cool" "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" "Krupa" "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Dub" "Raw Power" "Carrera Rapida" "Rendez-Vous 98" "Lost in Space" "Stop the Rock" "Heart Go Boom" "Cold Rock the Mic / Crazee Horse" "Charlie's Angels 2000" "Say What?" "Dude Descending a Staircase" "A Deeper Dub EP"

Authority control	BIBSYS: 7078958 BNF: cb13974586g (data) GND: 10333907-3 ISNI: 0000 0001 2154 0039 LCCN: no97073309 MusicBrainz: 1ff10dff-7ac7-4e53-bc02-d5c3cbd8448b VIAF: 127461969 WorldCat Identities (via VIAF): 127461969

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