Laika & the Cosmonauts
Encyclopedia
Laika & the Cosmonauts were a Finnish rock band. They had the same lineup from the time they formed in 1987 until they stopped recording in 2008. Their sound is usually described as Surf Rock, but a Boston Globe review noted that the band's sound is "far beyond the limitations of any specific genre." They have toured the United States and Europe several times. They rely heavily on the Finnish rautalanka
tradition. Although relatively unknown in the United States, their music is admired by many musicians, including Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench
(of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
), Mike Palm of Agent Orange
, and Surf Rock legend Dick Dale
. Al Jourgensen
of Ministry
has called them "the best fucking band in the world."
In addition to their touring, the band has also appeared several times on European television.
The band was named after the Russian cosmonaut/dog Laika
.
As announced in an email to the band's mailing list on April 23, 2008, Laika and the Cosmonauts drew their twenty year career to a close with an American tour, ending with shows at the Continental Club in Austin, Texas that fall. A compilation album, Cosmopolis, was released contemporaneously with the tour.
Rautalanka
In common usage the Finnish word rautalanka means instrumental rock in general. Some enthusiasts use the term more narrowly to refer to the somewhat distinct style of playing it that has developed in Finland over the years...
tradition. Although relatively unknown in the United States, their music is admired by many musicians, including Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench
Benmont Tench
Benjamin Montmorency Tench, III is an American keyboardist best known as a founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.-Early years:...
(of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers are an American rock band from Gainesville, Florida. They were formed in 1976 by Tom Petty , Mike Campbell , Benmont Tench , , Ron Blair and Stan Lynch...
), Mike Palm of Agent Orange
Agent Orange
Agent Orange is the code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. Vietnam estimates 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and 500,000 children born with birth...
, and Surf Rock legend Dick Dale
Dick Dale
Dick Dale is an American surf rock guitarist, known as The King of the Surf Guitar. He experimented with reverberation and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers, including the first-ever 100-watt guitar amplifier.-Early life:Dale was born in South Boston, Massachusetts and lived in nearby...
. Al Jourgensen
Al Jourgensen
Alain David Jourgensen , is a Cuban-American musician best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry. He is sometimes credited as Alain Jourgensen, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa , Dog, Alien Dog Star and Buck Satan...
of Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
has called them "the best fucking band in the world."
In addition to their touring, the band has also appeared several times on European television.
The band was named after the Russian cosmonaut/dog Laika
Laika
Laika was a Soviet space dog that became the first animal to orbit the Earth – as well as the first animal to die in orbit.As little was known about the impact of spaceflight on living creatures at the time of Laika's mission, and the technology to de-orbit had not yet been developed, there...
.
As announced in an email to the band's mailing list on April 23, 2008, Laika and the Cosmonauts drew their twenty year career to a close with an American tour, ending with shows at the Continental Club in Austin, Texas that fall. A compilation album, Cosmopolis, was released contemporaneously with the tour.
Discography
- C'mon Do the Laika 1988
- Surfs You Right 1990
- Instruments of Terror 1992
- The Amazing Colossal Band 1995
- Zero Gravity (US compilation) 1996
- Absurdistan 1997
- Laika Sex Machine (live) 2000
- Local Warming 2004
- Cosmopolis 2008 (Compilation)