Scorpio Rising (band)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Birkenhead, England |
| Defunct | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Birkenhead , England |
| Products | Rock music, albums, singles, EPs |
Scorpio Rising was a rock group originating from Birkenhead, England, active between 1989 and 1994.
History
Established in Birkenhead in 1989, Scorpio Rising initially performed in Liverpool venues with David "Stig" Renton on bass. The band's signature lineup and musical identity solidified in 1992 when Steve Soar joined as bassist, bringing influences from Parliament and Funkadelic.
They secured contracts with Chapter 22 Records in the UK and Sire Records in the US. Their sound merged breakbeat rhythms with catchy pop hooks, funk-inspired bass grooves, and psychedelic guitar effects. Early tracks prominently featured wah-wah pedals and drum patterns typical of the early '90s baggy scene.
In 1991, Scorpio Rising attracted attention from the UK music press with their debut major-label single "Watermelon" released through Chapter 22. Lead vocalist Mickey Banks earned acclaim as a "new lad superstar" by NME. Their six-track mini-album If... presented a distinctive rock fusion of funk basslines, psychedelic guitar work, and Stooges-like raw rock combined with baggy beats. This release garnered favorable critiques and fueled sold-out tours across the UK characterized by dynamic live performances.
The band supported acts such as Smashing Pumpkins, Pop Will Eat Itself (PWEI), Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Eat, and Senseless Things on tour, culminating in performances at Finsbury Park and the Reading Festival during 1992. Subsequently, they recorded their sole full-length album, Pig Symphony.
In 1992, sessions for the single Breathing Underwater/Zero took place at Ed's Garage in Camden Town using unconventional recording gear. Co-produced by Teo Miller, this project drew interest from Sire Records after founder Seymour Stein witnessed their London performance and signed them. The Pig Symphony album was laid down at Rockfield Studios over the Christmas period of 1992 with Miller producing.
Prior to joining PWEI on their 1993 tour promoting Pig Symphony, bassist Steve Soar left the group; his playing appears on two previously recorded tracks. Mark Browning stepped in for touring duties while bass parts on the album were handled by Mickey Banks and guitarist Sploote Lead. The record explored ambient acoustic textures alongside darker psychedelic themes, featuring extended compositions like "Oceanside" and "Sleeping Sickness." Despite limited marketing caused by internal difficulties at Sire, it received airplay on US college radio and sold approximately 30,000 copies.
After bringing Mandi Morgan onboard as bassist, Scorpio Rising proceeded to record their intended follow-up album Brutal Deluxe in 1993 with producer Steve Osborne of Perfecto Records at London's Orinoco and Battery Studios. This direction incorporated thrash and trance elements exemplified by the track "Bugcatcher," which Osborne later remixed for Paul Oakenfold’s Goa trance Radio 1 sets. Nonetheless, Sire ultimately never released this album.
After Scorpio Rising
Following the band's dissolution, Banks and drummer Colin Owens briefly formed "Lounge," collaborating with Nik Nicholl (formerly managing Black Grape) and Don Letts. Owens later established the breakbeat outfit Surreal Madrid, touring Europe before returning to rock music with Southampton-based Black Kat Boppers alongside Roy Phillips and Dylan Clarke of La Cucina.
Banks exited the music scene in 1996 except for a guest vocal contribution to Perfecto trance artist Man With No Name. He re-emerged live in London in 2008 with Lead on guitar and his son Jimmy on drums as part of Jimmy and The Destroyers, an instrumental trio specializing in "Surfcore." Known for energetic performances at The Camden Underworld, they played around 35 shows predominantly in London supporting cult punk bands such as The Vibrators and Agent Orange, including an appearance at Liverpool Sound City in 2009 alongside The Damned. They independently released one studio EP titled "The Surfcore EP," which was made available free online to fans. Their final concert took place at the now-defunct Gaff venue on Holloway Road.
After Jimmy and The Destroyers disbanded in 2010, Banks relocated to Amsterdam to pursue a more minimalist sound. Returning to Manchester in 2012, he performed solo as The Sonic Gypsy using a four-string guitar across venues in Manchester and Liverpool. In June 2012, Banks reunited with Lead under The Sonic Gypsy moniker, incorporating material from Pig Symphony’s "Oceanside" plus the unreleased track "Apocalypse Ranch" originally intended for Scorpio Rising’s lost Brutal Deluxe album. Meanwhile, Martin Atherton resumed his musical career with the acoustic trio Qatsi in 2012, frequently appearing live throughout Liverpool.
The Sonic Gypsy
In 2015, Banks produced his first solo album, Born A Rolling Stone, at Demon Studios in Manchester. The album, which was released in March 2015 to widespread critical praise, led to the creation of The Sonic Gypsy Band, comprising Lead on lead guitar, Purcy Flaherty on harmonica, Piers Pennell handling bass duties, and Mon Duncalf on drums. During this period, Banks also collaborated with Shooter Jennings in Manchester. A music video for the track "I Was Born A Rolling Stone" followed in 2017. The album includes reimagined versions of Scorpio Rising songs such as "Honeykill" and "Apocalypse Ranch." The band performed at several festivals including Desertfest (May 2017), Solfest, Sonic Rock Solstice Festival, and Black Deer Festival.
Currently, Banks resides off-grid aboard his narrowboat, The Heart Of Gold, navigating London's waterways. He also hosts the provocative "Sonic Gypsy Radio Show." By 2021, Banks and Lead were engaged in recording a double studio album consisting of 22 tracks at Viva Recorders Studio in London.
The Sonic Gypsy Born A Rolling Stone track listing:
- The Unprecedented Return Of Mr Majestyk
- I Was Born A Rolling Stone
- Lucifer's Lament
- Shotgun Tel
- Meet Me By The River
- Backyard Stomp No2
- Apocalypse Ranch Revisited
- Honeykill
- Mouthful Of Cactus (You Cant Kill A Good Thing)
- Backyard Stomp No1 (Let The Good Times Roll)
- Disclaimer Boogie
Members
- Mickey Banks – vocals (1989–1994)
- Sploote Lead – lead guitar (1989–1994)
- Martin Atherton – rhythm guitar (1989–1994)
- David Renton – bass (1989–1992)
- Steve Soar – bass (1992–1993; deceased 2022)
- Mandi Morgan – bass (1993–1994)
- Colin Owens – drums (1989–1994)
Albums
- IF.. (1992), Chapter 22
- Zodiac Killers (1992), Sire – US compilation
- Pig Symphony, Sire
- Brutal Deluxe (unreleased)
Singles, EPs
- Stranges Times EP (1991), Chapter 22 – featuring "The Strangest Things Turn You On," "Burn Out," and "Bliss"
- The Watermelon EP (1991), Chapter 22 – including "Watermelon," "Beautiful People," and "Malicious"
- "Saturnalia" / "Disturbance" / "Peace Frog" (1992), Chapter 22
- "Silver Surfing" / "Fountain of You" / "Zero" (1993), Chapter 22
- "Evelyn" / "Its Obvious" / "Find Your Own Way" / "Brutal Deluxe" (1993), Sire
- 12" white label single: radio-only release: Bugcatcher/Dubcatcher