Rockets
Galaxy

Who remembers them?
The ideal generation is the one born between '55 and '68. To have seen, heard, and loved them. The silver "space baldies" were a group of 5 members with everything in place. From 1977 to 1982, in the most prosperous and recognizable period, they frequented the Italian charts with good consistency and created curiosity about their "earthly" identity in the collective imagination. Such was their identification with the role of "Rockets." Live, they provided great emotions and avant-garde shows. Among the first in Europe to use lasers. Respectable space-themed scenographies. They played for 5 years one night out of three with a sold-out audience. In 1980, Rai broadcasts from Taranto a date from the "Galaxy" tour. Named foreign group of the year, because they come from France.

Their genre is often placed between dance, pop, etc. Instead, it is Space Rock of the time. Perhaps the only exponents, if only for the distinct connotation and originality still unbeaten. They bordered on punk with their aggressive look, but upon closer examination, they were only space-themed, masterfully playing the part with rigid movements and blank expressions. Particularly their front-man Christian Le Bartz.
"Galaxy" is surely their best work, the 4th, in full maturity of style and execution.
The single "Galactica" was one of the summer 1980 hits and battled in the charts with "Another Brick In The Wall" and "Video Killed The Radio Star"!!
It is a concept album with faded tracks. The lyrics are by the skilled bassist Gerard l'Her and the themes deal with man and space. Sometimes far from trite.

We indeed find "Galactica", followed by an alarm siren, the amusing "Mecanic Bionic", then the powerful "Synthetic Man", and the beautiful "One More Mission" with a slightly bluesy flavor.
"Universal Band" opens side B, a self-celebratory song that describes the group and their choices, and here we have the instrumental "Prophecy". Their executive masterpiece where spectacular refinements nest and the wise use of a colossal instrumentation of the time. Still very fascinating in headphones. Then comes "In The Black Hole" and "In The Galaxy" which sounds like a warning to humanity. We find a laughing newborn in the middle before the final solo and "Medley". A rather clever advertising collage that lets you hear their previous productions faded one into the other in three minutes. I don't remember anything similar on any record.

Alain Maratrat is the guitarist-keyboardist and the primary composer of the music, Gerard l'Her is the voice and bass, also the lyrics, Fabrice Quagliotti - keyboards, Alain Groetzinger - drums, Christian Le Bartz - live frontman and image man - vocalist.
All this expenditure of words for this group may seem excessive, but it is not a meteor but a planet that orbited the Earth for a long time. You will find very exhaustive related sites about their history and legions of passionate fans far from dormant. An official 360° cover band and the regenerated Rockets who are still working on projects.
They were a phenomenon loved in Italy and far from forgotten. You won't find the album on CD as it deserves but in markets and exchanges. There are two well-made dedicated double collections.

Beware... the Rockets might land again!

Joe Cavalli