The Bubblemen

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 group established in 1985 by ex-members of Bauhaus: Daniel Ash (vocals, guitar, saxophone), David J (bass guitar, vocals), and Kevin Haskins (drums, synthesizers), following Bauhaus's breakup in 1983. Prior to forming Love and Rockets, Ash and Haskins were also part of Tones on Tail between 1982 and 1984.

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

History

The band's name was inspired by the comic book series Love and Rockets created by the Hernandez brothers. Although Bauhaus was known for gothic rock, Love and Rockets embraced a lighter, more accessible pop-rock style. Their initial minor success came from a Motown cover, "Ball of Confusion," which peaked at #18 on Canadian charts in January 1986. They debuted with the album Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven (1985), followed by Express (1986), which included the dance track "Yin and Yang (The Flowerpot Man)." The 1987 release Earth, Sun, Moon showcased a more acoustic feel and featured the modest hit "No New Tale to Tell." In 1988, under the pseudonym The Bubblemen, they released the track "The Bubblemen Are Coming."

In 1989, their self-titled album reflected a move toward an Album-oriented rock (AOR) style. The T. Rex-inspired single "So Alive" achieved significant success, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100—a notable accomplishment among former Bauhaus members.

After an extensive tour supporting "So Alive," the group paused before returning with a more electronic sound on Hot Trip to Heaven (1994) after parting ways with RCA Records. They then signed with Rick Rubin’s American Recordings for this album and its successor Sweet F.A. (1996). During the recording of Sweet F.A., a fire at American Recordings’ premises destroyed their equipment and months of work, causing legal disputes and financial difficulties. The album’s cover art featured an image of a burnt guitar symbolizing this incident.

Their last studio record before initially breaking up was Lift (1998), released via Red Ant Records. Following a performance in Toronto in April 1999, Love and Rockets officially disbanded.

In October 2007, the band briefly reunited to play at "Cast a Long Shadow," a tribute concert honoring Joe Strummer that supported Strummerville. They also performed at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (2008) and Lollapalooza (2008). By June 2009, Daniel Ash confirmed no plans for further collaborations.

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

On 23 January 2023, Love and Rockets announced their reunion for the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, California—marking their first live show in fifteen years—followed by a U.S. tour aligned with that event. A proposed Bauhaus reunion was canceled in 2022 due to Peter Murphy entering rehabilitation. Ash stated that the 2023 tour would be their final one.

In May 2024, Love and Rockets were slated to support Jane's Addiction on their North American tour; however, the tour was cut short after an onstage dispute between Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro during a Boston concert led to its cancellation.

Discography

Main article: Love and Rockets 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)