Apollo 440

A '90s dance act unafraid to throw a growing variety of styles (and samples) into the mix, Apollo 440 hit the British Top Ten in 1997 by sampling Van Halen for the single "Ain't Talkin' Bout Dub," and big-band drummer Gene Krupa for "Krupa." The group was formed in 1991 by Howard Gray (a former studio engineer), his brother Trevor, classically trained on the piano, and their Liverpool schoolmate Noko, formerly the guitarist in Howard Devoto's Luxuria. The group was initially influenced by Britain's acid-house explosion, and worked as remixers (sometimes under the name Stealthsonic Orchestra) for U2, EMF and Shabba Ranks before making the leap to actual recording. The single "Astral America" appeared on the group's own Stealth Sonic Records in 1993, followed by club hits like "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" and "Krupa," both of which used an often formulaic hook borrowed from obvious musical classics of the past. Apollo 440's debut album, Millennium Fever, appeared in 1995, followed two years later by Electro Glide in Blue. The group resurfaced in early 2000 with Getting High on Your Own Supply. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide