Love and Rockets (band)

Love and Rockets

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1985
Founder	Daniel Ash, David J, Kevin Haskins
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Music albums, singles

Love and Rockets is a British rock ensemble established in 1985 by ex-members of Bauhaus: Daniel Ash (vocals, guitar, saxophone), David J (bass, vocals), and Kevin Haskins (drums, synthesizers), following Bauhaus's dissolution in 1983. Prior to this, Ash and Haskins had been part of Tones on Tail between 1982 and 1984.

Their musical style merges underground rock with elements of pop. The 1989 single "So Alive" climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Over their career, they released seven studio albums before disbanding in 1999, reunited briefly for live performances from 2007 to 2009, and came together again in 2023 with a tour announcement.

History

The group derived its name from the comic book series Love and Rockets created by the Hernandez brothers, which sometimes led to confusion due to other bands adopting the same title.

Departing from their gothic rock origins, Love and Rockets embraced a more vibrant, pop-influenced sound. Their initial moderate success came with a rendition of Motown's "Ball of Confusion," which reached #18 on Canadian charts in 1986. Their debut album, Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven (1985), was succeeded by Express (1986), featuring the dance track "Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man)." The 1987 release Earth, Sun, Moon showcased a more acoustic approach and included the minor hit "No New Tale to Tell." In 1988, under the pseudonym The Bubblemen, they issued "The Bubblemen Are Coming."

In 1989, their self-titled album signified a transition toward an album-oriented rock style. The T. Rex-inspired single "So Alive" became their most commercially successful track, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100—a peak unmatched by any act related to Bauhaus.

Following extensive tours, the band moved towards electronic music with the 1994 album Hot Trip to Heaven released via American Recordings after parting ways with RCA. This was followed by Sweet F.A. (1996). During its production, a fire at a label-owned property destroyed their instruments and months of recording efforts, resulting in legal disputes that imposed significant costs on the band despite their exoneration. Their last album before the initial split was Lift (1998) on Red Ant Records. After a performance in Toronto in April 1999, Love and Rockets disbanded.

In October 2007, they briefly reunited for a Joe Strummer tribute event and later appeared at Coachella (2008) and Lollapalooza (2008). By June 2009, Daniel Ash indicated no intentions of continuing with the band.

A tribute compilation entitled New Tales to Tell: A Tribute to Love and Rockets was released in August 2009 featuring contributions from artists such as The Flaming Lips and Frank Black.

On 23 January 2023, Love and Rockets announced their reunion for the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, California—their first live appearance in fifteen years—and subsequently revealed plans for a U.S. tour supporting this event. A planned Bauhaus reunion was canceled in 2022 due to Peter Murphy entering rehabilitation. Ash confirmed that the 2023 tour would be their final one.

In May 2024, Love and Rockets were announced as opening act for Jane's Addiction's North American tour; however, the tour ended prematurely after an onstage dispute between Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro during a show in Boston.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven (1985)
• Express (1986)
• Earth, Sun, Moon (1987)
• Love and Rockets (1989)
• Hot Trip to Heaven (1994)
• Sweet F.A. (1996)
• Lift (1998)