Members	Instrument
Figrin D'an	Kloo Horn
Nalan Cheel	Bandfill
Tedn Dahai	Fanfar
Doikk Na'ts	Doremian Beshniquel (or Fizz)
Ickabel G'ont	Fanfar
Tech Mo'r	Ommni Box
Lirin Car'n	Kloo Horn (Backup)

Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes (also known as the Cantina Band) is a fictional band from George Lucas

George Lucas

George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...

's science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 saga Star Wars

Star Wars

Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...

. The group first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...

(1977) and were depicted as bald aliens with dome-shaped heads and round, black eyes, a race called Biths. They are seen in the Mos Eisley Cantina

Mos Eisley Cantina

The Chalmun's Cantina is a fictional bar of the Star Wars universe located in the "pirate city" of Mos Eisley on the planet Tatooine...

 sequence. The band is also featured in the short story "We Don't Do Weddings: The Band's Tale" by Kathy Tyers

Kathy Tyers

Kathy Tyers is an American author and musician currently living in Bozeman, Montana.-Biography:Kathy Tyers was born and raised in Long Beach, California. She obtained a degree in microbiology from Montana State University, where she met her future husband Mark Tyers...

 in the anthology Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina

Tales From the Mos Eisley Cantina

Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina is an anthology of short stories set in the fictional Star Wars universe. The book is edited by Kevin J. Anderson.- Contents :- External links :**...

(1995). They were parodied in the film Team America: World Police

Team America: World Police

Team America: World Police, often referred to as simply Team America, is a 2004 action comedy film written by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Pam Brady and directed by Parker, all of whom are also known for the popular animated television series South Park...

.

Storyline

The band is made up of seven members, all Bith from the planet Clak'dor VII. The leader of the band is Figrin D'an, as the name clearly implies.

The band was popular across the galaxy during the Clone Wars

Clone Wars (Star Wars)

The Clone Wars are a series of fictional intragalactic battles in George Lucas's science fiction saga Star Wars. The conflict is first mentioned in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , but no details are given , and the wars themselves are not featured until the series' fifth and sixth...

, touring the frontlines and entertaining Republic soldiers. By the time Luke Skywalker reached adulthood, however, they were reduced to playing in seedy cantinas for a living. Only six of the members were playing when Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...

 and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is one of several primary characters in the Star Wars series. Along with Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO, he is one of the few major characters to appear in all six Star Wars films...

 walked into the Cantina. Lirin Car'n sat out during the performance, because he was not needed.

Behind the scenes

The band was portrayed by Rick Baker, Phil Tippett, Jon Berg, Laine Liska, Doug Bestwick, and Tom St Amand. In 2006, as part of its Commemorative Tin Collection, Hasbro

Hasbro

Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...

 created a set of action figure

Action figure

An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...

s of the band, which it sold through Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...

. Each figure came with its own instrument.

In 1977, musician Meco

Meco

Meco is an American record producer and musician, as well as the name of a band or production team based around him...

 released a disco single of the original cantina tune mixed with John Williams

John Williams

John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...

' main title theme (along with several R2-D2

R2-D2

R2-D2 , is a character in the Star Wars universe. An astromech droid, R2-D2 is a major character throughout all six Star Wars films. Along with his droid companion C-3PO, he joins or supports Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Obi-Wan Kenobi in various points in the saga...

 sound effects), under the title "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band." The track reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

 in August, and was certified platinum; it even outsold the release of the official Star Wars theme by the London Symphony Orchestra

London Symphony Orchestra

The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...

. The single appeared on an EP titled Star Wars and other Galactic Funk

Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk

Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk is a disco album by Meco released in 1977. The album remakes various themes and songs from the Star Wars soundtrack into disco tunes. A single from the album entitled "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" was released, and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on...

, which was also released the same year.

Alternative band Ash

Ash (band)

Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...

 released a cover version of the tune as the B-side of its single "Girl From Mars

Girl From Mars

"Girl from Mars" is a single by Northern Ireland band Ash, the second to be released from the album 1977. It was released on 31 July 1995 on CD, a 7" vinyl, and as a cassette...

" in 1995.

External links

• Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes at the Star Wars Databank
  Star Wars Databank
  The Star Wars Databank is the official Star Wars site's reference on characters, locations and technology. Entries are checked when they are posted but may not be kept up to date...