Rockets
Also known asCrystal, Rocket Men, The Rocketters, Les Rockets, Tom n' Jerry's Rockets, Silver Rockets, Roketz/Rok-Etz
OriginParis, France
GenresSpace rock
Years active1976–1992, 2000-present

Rockets is a French space rock band that formed in Paris in 1974 and relocated to Italy in 1978. Some of the former members had played together since 1970 in a local band called Crystal. In their most successful era (1977–1982) the line-up comprised vocalist Christian Le Bartz, bassist and vocalist "Little" Gérard L'Her, guitarist and keyboardist Alain Maratrat, drummer and percussionist Alain Groetzinger, and keyboardist Fabrice Quagliotti. The band went through a number of name changes, being known as the Rocket Men and Rok-Etz, among others. In the year 2000, Fabrice Quagliotti decided to reform the band (initially with the name Rockets N.D.P.), but with a totally different line-up. This brought to an anomalous situation, as far as none of the former members agreed to hold a reunion. In fact, the last former member to leave the band was Alain Maratrat, in 1992.

Band members

Rockets
  • John Biancale vocals (2006present)
  • Gianluca Martino guitar (2004present)
  • Rosaire Riccobono bass (2004present)
  • Fabrice Quagliotti keyboards (1977present)
  • Eugenio U. G. Mori drums, percussion (2005present)
Former members
  • Patrick Mallet drums (1974)
  • Guy Maratrat guitar (19741975)
  • André Thus keyboards (19741975)
  • Christian Le Bartz vocals (19741983)
  • Alain Groetzinger drums, percussion (19741983)
  • "Little" Gérard L'Her bass, vocals (19741984)
  • Alain Maratrat guitar, keyboards (19741992)
  • Michel Goubet keyboards (19761977)
  • Bernard Torelli guitar (19751976)
  • Bertin Hugo keyboards (1977)
  • Sal Solo vocals (19841992)
  • Little B. drums (20002005)
Guest musicians
  • Phil Gould drums (1986)
  • Andrew Paresi drums (1986)
  • Bruce Nockles trumpet (1986)
  • Alison Lee vocals (1986)
  • Paul McClements vocals (1986)
  • Carole Cook vocals (1986)
  • Nick Beggs bass (1992)
  • Herve Koster drums (1992)
  • Michael Payne percussion, vocals (1992)
  • Matt Rossato guitar (20012004)

Discography

  • Rockets (1976)
  • On the Road Again (1978)
  • Sound of the Future (1979)
  • Plasteroïd (1979)
  • Galaxy (1980)
  • π 3,14 (1981)
  • Atomic (1982)
  • Imperception (1984)
  • One Way (1986)
  • Another Future (1992)
  • Don't Stop (2003)
  • Kaos (2014)
  • Wonderland (2019)
  • Alienation (2021)
  • Time Machine (2023)

Covers

  • A cover version of their song "Ideomatic" was recorded by the industrial metal band Digitalis Purpurea and was included in the free net compilation Italian Body Music Vol. 2. Digitalis Purpurea re-released the song on their album Aseptic White featuring Celine Cecilia Angel from the Austrian project Sanguis et Cinis.
  • International prog metal space opera Docker's Guild recorded a version of "Prophecy" (from Galaxy, 1980) on their debut album The Mystic Technocracy - Season 1: The Age of Ignorance (Lion Music, 2012). Featured on the track are Gregg Bissonette (drums), Tony Franklin (bass), Guthrie Govan (guitars) and project mastermind Douglas R. Docker (keyboards). Their third album The Mystic Technocracy - Season 2: The Age of Entropy (Elevate Records, 2022) features "Le Chemin" (from the debut self-titled album Rockets, 1976) and "Atlantis Town" (from Plasteroid, 1979).

Notes

    References

    • "Rockets Official". Rockets. Retrieved July 19, 2009. (unavailable as of June 27, 2022)
    • "Rockets Official". Rockets. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
    • "Rockets Official Youtube Channel". Rockets. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
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