Rocket Science

The History of Rocket Science

The foundations for Rocket Science were laid over a decade and a half before the band members even met. A ten year old Roman Tucker discovered his passion for punk music in a trio named Royal Flush. They happened to feature another ten year old prodigy in Tim Hemmensley who would later reach legendary status by forming God and The Powdermonkeys. The euphemistically named Australian tabloid, The Truth quickly exploited the scandal that is a preteen punk band by featuring them on the front page. The backlash caused by the controversy put strain on the young band, causing its premature demise in the summer of 1983.

Forward to mid-1998 when four young adults - Roman Tucker (vocals, organ, Theremin), Dave Gray (bass guitar, fuzz bass) Kit Warhurst (drums, vocals) and Paul Maybury (guitar) joined forces whilst on a simultaneous quest to form a new group. In Melbourne’s energetic music scene it seemed that every band consisted of band members who were borrowed from other bands - if you get what I mean. At the insistence of a Freeloaders’ fan, Roman (ex- Martians) sent ex-Freeloaders bassist, Dave a demo of his new post-Martians material. Dave loved what he heard and proceeded to invite Paul (who played with Dave in psychedelic-fuzz-rock band Megalong Valley). Roman in turn invited Kit of Manic Suede and Black Rose (who also played with Roman in puppet-rock band, Velvet Tongue) and in true Melbourne supergroup tradition Rocket Science was constructed. From The chemistry between the foursome was instant. If you need proof, check out the title track from their debut album - recorded on two cheap mics on Roman’s cassette 4-track at their first rehearsal session.

After saving three months’ worth of gig money, the band booked two days of studio time to document their live set plus a few spontaneous creations just for the hell of it. These sessions saw the reunion of Tucker and his old friend from the Royal Flush days, legendary underground producer Simon Grounds. They shopped the demos around to selected labels until Modular Recordings signed the band on the condition that the demos would be The Album. Released on Modular in 2000 (Eat Sleep Records UK 2003), Welcome Aboard The 3C10 features such enduring live favourites as Burn In Hell, Six Foot 4, Jetlag: Down The Pills and the Theremin powered, Copycat. With cover art depicting the band in suave pilot uniforms, this trashy-psychedelic-garage-punk album quickly became an Australian classic (in 2001, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it in their top 50 coolest albums of all time, later declaring them “the greatest live band in the world”!).

With 3C10 on the streets, Rocket Science played to increasingly enthusiastic audiences, scoring appearances at The Big Day Out, and support slots for the likes of Mudhoney, The 5678s, Guitar Wolf, Boss Hog, The Scientists, The Supersuckers, You Am I and Spiderbait.

2001 saw Rocket Science build a constantly evolving and diverse repertoire that morphed into the sounds featured on their second Modular album, Contact High, released in early 2002 (Eat Sleep Records UK 2003). Produced by Woody & The Rev of the electronic duo Pound System, this album featured Being Followed which was to become Rocket Science’s biggest ‘hit’ to date, getting high rotation airplay and international exposure.

In mid 2002 whilst playing in Perth, Gaz from Supergrass was so amazed by a typically incendiary RS live show that he invited them on the spot to tour the UK on their Life On Other Planets tour. Rocket Science arrived in drizzly ol’ Blighty in late 2002, jumped in a black cab and set up camp in the UK for a large portion of 2003. They trekked back and forth across the UK, with stints in the US and Europe, sharing stages with the likes of Supergrass, The Vines, The Libertines, The Music, The Kings of Leon, The Fleshtones, The Darkness and The Dirtbombs plus slots on the prestigious Reading & Leeds festivals.

It was during this period that the writing for album number three, Eternal Holiday began to take shape. EH was recorded in Melbourne in late 2003 by legendary Detroit producer and friend Jim Diamond. Diamond's analogue production style suited the Rocket Science aesthetic, giving them a classic, raw and tough sound that complemented the band’s blend of punk, new wave and psychedelic rock ’n’ roll. Sold out tours around Australia and the release date of their new album fast approaching, the band was on a high. But then…

On Saturday, April 10 2004, before their second sold out show with The City Lights launching the Sex Call single at Melbourne’s Ding Dong Lounge, Roman Tucker fainted and hit his head on the hardwood floor at the top of a stairway, narrowly avoiding an even worse fate by less than a metre. Roman was rushed to hospital and placed in a medically assisted coma. After several excruciating hours, loved ones were informed that Roman would indeed survive and in time would even make a full recovery. Roughly four days after his accident, Roman awoke from his coma and was transferred out of the hospital's intensive care unit to the acute care ward where his condition continued to show rapid improvement. He left the hospital to stay at a rehabilitation centre for several weeks until he recovered from post traumatic amnesia.

A near-death experience wasn’t going to stop a July 2004 trip to play Japan’s prestigious and enormous Fuji Rock Festival – ironically without Paul on board who was unable to travel by air due to a broken leg he sustained on his honeymoon. Whilst in Tokyo, they shot a video clip for the track Eternal Holiday – notice Paul’s replacement, Kit’s brother Andre, with his head wrapped in bandages to disguise his identity. Eternal Holiday was finally released in September 2004 on Modular in Australia and the US, and Toys Factory in Japan.

Late 2004-early 2005 saw the band return to live form, touring to promote Eternal Holiday, and playing the Homebake Festival, the Falls Festival and a prime slot at the Meredith Festival. The band even toured again with old friends Supergrass, and Australian legends Radio Birdman. Anzac Day 2005 saw Rocket Science pull off one of their most powerful, intense and wild performances ever – teaming up with Mach Pelican and possessed by the spirit of Guitar Wolf, the band played a Guitar Wolf tribute/benefit show following the tragic passing of Billy Bass Wolf. Following this monumentous event, RS and Mach Pelican agreed to team in the studio to record four tracks from Guitar Wolf’s Loverock album– Rocket Science set up on one side of the room (coming out of the left speaker) and Mach Pelican on the other side (out of the right speaker). The project remains unreleased to this day.

Despite disappearing off the public radar for most of 2005-2006 the boys spent their time underground involved in many and varied artistic and personal projects (new bands, marriage, travel, children). The band were even invited to record two covers – Richard Hell & The Voidoid’s Blank Generation for the film The Extra and The Hoodoo Gurus’, In The Echo Chamber for the Stoneage Cameos tribute album.

They spent a large portion of 2006 and 2007 writing and demoing tracks for their fourth album. Self funded, album number four - DIFFERENT LIKE YOU- was recorded and mixed by Paul Maybury at their own studio – indeed the same studio that Welcome Aboard was recorded, but customised using upgraded, mature technology. After completing a national Psychic Man tour in May, Different Like You was released in July on brand new label High Spot Records and the band are currently on the road in support.



Read reviews here:

"The return of Rocket Science is long overdue. My faith in music has been restored." Rip It Up



"Mightily potent. A timely and impressive return" - [Album of the week] Fasterlouder



"An impeccable combination of midnight passion & vintage artisanship" - The Age



"Unpretentious, technically flawless.giddy, delicious & consumable" - J Mag



"'Different Like You' shoots for that difficult place between righteous garage jams and commercial radio palatability and squarely hits the mark." 4 stars. - www.i94bar.com



"4 stards.raw authentic and ALIVE. Rockin!" - MAG