Andy Parle

Space
The first lineup of Space, circa 1996
Background information
Origin	Liverpool, England
Genres	Alternative rock, Britpop, alternative dance, electronica, alternative hip hop, neo-psychedelia
Years active	1993–2005; 2011–present
Labels	Gut Records Universal Records RandM HUG
Members	Tommy Scott Franny Griffiths Phil Hartley Allan Jones
Past members	Jamie Murphy Yorkie Leon Caffrey Andy Parle Ryan Clarke

Space are a British band from Liverpool, who formed in 1993 initially as a trio of Tommy Scott (vocals, bass, guitar), Jamie Murphy (vocals, guitar) and Andy Parle (drums). Keyboard player Franny Griffiths joined the line-up a year later, and the band came to prominence throughout the mid-1990s with hit singles such as "Female of the Species", "Me and You Versus the World", "Neighbourhood", "Avenging Angels" and "The Ballad of Tom Jones", the latter a duet with Cerys Matthews of Catatonia. They recorded three studio albums (including one that remains unreleased), plus a number of charting singles, before eventually disbanding in 2005. In 2011, two years after the death of Parle, the band announced they would reunite with Scott and Griffiths returning alongside two new members, crowd-funding their first album in a decade, Attack of the Mutant 50ft Kebab. A follow-up album is due early 2017.

The melodic core of Space's sound was inspired by 1960s guitar groups such as The Kinks and The Who, which got them tagged as part of the Britpop scene. However, their imaginative, pioneering usage of electronic instruments and sampling drew influences as diverse as post-punk, ska, techno, hip hop and vintage film soundtracks. Each member of the group had wildly different tastes in music, which they often brought to the fore of their work. The band were also known for their deliberately over-the-top, dark humoured lyrics, which frequently dealt with topics such as serial killers, failed relationships, social outcasts, and mental illness.