Sigue Sigue Sputnik

Sigue Sigue Sputnik, along with their debut single "Love Missile F1-11", first appeared in 1986. The band comprised Martin Degvile (vocals), Tony James (bass), Neal X (guitar) and the two drummers Chris Kavanagh and Ray Mayhew, who played the same rhythm at the same time to create the effect of "a robot kicking down a door"! Sigue Sigue Sputnik's aim was to create success based more on their image than their music.

The band took their influences from films such as "A Clockwork Orange", "Bladerunner" and "Terminator" and their stated interests were "ultra violence, video nasties, affluence, rockets and home computers". Re-using essentially the same tune on their second single "21st Century Boy", and on other tracks, they were probably the visually brightest band in history. The immediate media interest never turned into a long term fan base though, and after the second LP "Dress for Excess" the band died out somewhat, although they have reformed at times and released newer material.

Their founder and driving force, Tony James, had started out in Generation X with Billy Idol, and after Sigue Sigue Sputnik (SSS) he resurfaced as a member of the third incarnation of the Sisters of Mercy. He was last heard of performing in the band Carbon Silicon with former Clash and Big Audio Dynamite member Mick Jones.

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Michael Johnson

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Do You Remember Sigue Sigue Sputnik?

stephanie on 2008-12-29 19:14:08

I bought 21st Century Boy. I had a crush on one of the guitarists but have no idea what his name was!

Newander on 2008-05-15 12:31:19

I can remeber buying one of their singles on 12 inch and loving it, also had a crush on the lead singer(had a thing about men with makeup as a teenager)

Anonymous on 2006-02-03 12:30:41

i remember them,I went to see them at birmingham, backing group was "Black Elvis", I got searched, my belts and buckles were taken off by security and only plastic glasses were allowed. Missed the last train and had to sleep on the station in New street. The good old days!! They were good, though I think they stretched the word "live" to its limit!!

Anonymous on 2006-01-27 17:19:22

i can sum this band up in one word "mad". 20th century boy and 20 seconds to comply were there only hits. i think they had a thing with the number 20

Anonymous on 2005-03-22 11:45:29

Don't remember anything about this band except that they were just there to exploit money from the youth of the day. Just like Pop Idol today !