Space

During the long flight from England to Los Angeles, Scott's throat problems began to re-materialize, thanks to that wonderful airplane air. Once in L.A., it was apparent that something needed to be done. The band didn't want to cancel the opening night of the tour, so medical attention was sought. While the crowd lined up outside The Roxy, Scott was being told that medicine may allow him to sing. But one hour prior to showtime, he was unable to talk, let alone sing, and the show had to be canceled.

Communicating through drummer Andy Parle, Scott said he felt horrible that the band had to let down so many people, but it couldn't be helped. "I waited as long as I could to see if my voice would return, but it didn't and we had to cancel," Scott said. "Space and I were so terribly looking forward to this L.A. show, especially since we have so many fans here. The date will be rescheduled as soon as I get a clean bill of health."

Despite Scott's good intentions, more than just the L.A. date had to be rescheduled. The band postponed all of its U.S. dates and rescheduled an appearance on the Conan O'Brien Show. Promoters were left with empty stages and fans were told to hold onto tickets.

Space attempted to make a March 21st gig at Irving Plaza in New York, but Scott's throat problems turned out to be more severe than originally diagnosed. The band returned to England, where Scott sought specialized help for what turned out to be a paralyzed vocal chord.

Scott's bandmates were disappointed. It had been three years since the first official Space gig at the Picket in Liverpool and the band had come such a long way since then. In September 1996, the band released Spiders in the U.K. on the indie label Gut Reaction Records. When Spiders entered the British charts at No. 5, Universal Records decided to accelerate the U.S. release date and the Space invasion was on.

The British press has already embraced the Space age and expressed its admiration for this eclectic eccentric quartet. Many seem to appreciate a band that comes from the same town as the Beatles but sounds nothing like the Fab Four. However, there are some similarities. Space has two singers, one who plays guitar and the other who plays bass. Scott slightly resembles a young George Harrison and, well, that's about it. Sonically, Space is as far from the Beatles as Hale-Bopp is from Earth. Okay, not that far, but still quite different.

Scott grew up hearing his parents play music by the great vocalists of the '50s and '60s. The Burt Bacharach and Frank Sinatra influences are apparent with one listen to Spiders. That shouldn't scare fans of new music away, however. The album has been called aggressively contemporary and genuinely unique. More than one journalist has pointed out that Space realizes that there was good pop music before – and after – The Beatles.

Opening for Dion meant scrapping an Australian tour Moore was really looking forward tLyrically, Scott has been called the David Lynch of pop music. Lynch, Tim Burton, Pee Wee Herman, Ricky Ricardo – it's all there in the bizarre and sometimes sinister, yet cartoonish, lyrics. Throw in classic pop music influences like the Kinks and Herman's Hermits and then mix in a funky groove, ska-inspired hooks, Cypress Hill-influenced rap and hard core techno, and there you have it – the sound of Space.

Scott feels very lucky about the Space's recent success. He said, "I have gone from playing to a handful of people to playing to 30,000 in a Scottish open air festival, which up till now, was the largest crowd of people I have played to. We have toured the U.K. for two years since we first put out our indie single 'Money' and now we are about to do it all again in America. But it is always worth the work because you play to so many new fans and that makes it all worthwhile."

Scott, who is known for fibbing to the press, said he feels it is important to tour the U.S…. "as long as you only play Taco Bell restaurants." He may mean that, considering the sponsorship opportunity. But seriously, Scott does have an idea about improving the touring situation for British bands. "It would be better to do more places and less traveling, i.e. Birmingham to Atlanta is good. Washington to Salt Lake is bad. Do you appreciate the logic in that? ….because I can't get anybody to agree with me. Why do they route our tour like a criss cross bun with a grenade in it, I ask you?"

Space's business team includes manager Mark Cowley of Hug Management in England, Steve Ferguson at The Agency Group Ltd., in New York and Geoff Meall at The Agency Group Ltd., in London.