'Apollo 440' was formed in 1990 in Liverpool by brothers Trevor Gray, a classically trained pianist, and Howard Gray, a former studio engineer, together with fellow Liverpudlians, schoolmate Noko, a guitarist who had formed 'Luxuria' with Howard Devoto, and James Gardner, although Gardner left after the recording of the first album. Although Howard was born in Sydney, Australia after his parents emigrated, the family returned to their native Liverpool when he was just 6 months old.
Since their formation 'Apollo' have written, recorded and
produced 5 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, TV ads
and multimedia including movie themes 'Lost In Space' and 'Charlie's
Angels'. All
members sing and add a profusion of samples, electronics, and
computer-based sounds and they have gained a reputation as a dance group that was decidedly eclectic, criss-crossing the various subgenres of dance music.
The 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.
 |
| Liquid Cool |
The band had been
mostly known for its remixes until the release of 'Liquid Cool' in the UK.
After
they had relocated to the Camden area of London, they recorded their
debut album, 'Millennium Fever', and released it in 1994 on their own
Stealth Sonic Recordings label (distributed by Epic Records who they signed with in 1993). 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, which contributed greatly to
pushing the band into the spotlight. They have
successfully invaded both the pop charts and the dance floor with their
combination of rock, techno, and ambient. They also changed the writing
of their name from 'Apollo 440' to 'Apollo Four Forty' in 1996, though
they it switched back for their latest album.
During their eleven years at Sony, between 1993 and 2004, they notched up eleven Top 40 UK Singles with three Top 10 hits, and had a chart presence
worldwide with a succession of innovative tracks such as the previously mentioned 'Krupa' and 'Ain't
Talkin' 'Bout Dub' as well as 'Lost In Space' and 'Stop The Rock'.
To date
Apollo's Remixes number around 60 from 'U2' in the early 1990s to Puff
Daddy/Jimmy Page and Ennio Morricone a decade later. Apollo's version of
Puretone's 'Addicted To Bass' was made the lead track and became a huge
hit in 2002. Amongst their 'Stealth Sonic Orchestra Remixes' are a series
of 'Manic Street Preachers' singles. 'U2's recent 'Achtung Baby' Anniversary
Edition featured no fewer than nine different 'Apollo 440 remixes'.
Collaborators over the years have included Jeff Beck, Jean Michel Jarre,
Billy Mackenzie, Hotei (of Kill Bill soundtrack
fame) and Ian McCulloch.
They currently reside in Islington, London, having once again moved its headquarters (affectionately labelled Apollo Control).
In 2007, the band played a tribute gig to the late singer Billy MacKenzie and decided to go on after that with a lineup that includes Mary Mary (a/k/a Mary Byker of 'Gaye
Bykers On Acid' and 'Pigface' fame) on vocals, Noko on guitar, Trevor on
keyboards, Rej Ap-Gwynedd on bass, drummers Paul Kodish and Cliff
Hewitt, Harry K on decks and vocals, with Howard mixing live as Vibe
Controller. It's a band that Howard proudly (if not somewhat immodestly)
describes as, "the best rock and roll band on the planet."
see also:- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2020/01/pool-of-sound-cast.html
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