John Woloschuk
| Klaatu | |
|---|---|
Klaatu performing live in 2005 (l-r John Woloschuk, Dee Long, Terry Draper)
|
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1973–82, 1988, 2005 |
| Labels | Daffodil, Capitol |
| Website |
www |
| Past members | John Woloschuk Dee Long Terry Draper |
Klaatu was a Canadian progressive rock group formed in 1973 by the duo of John Woloschuk and Dee Long. They named themselves after the extraterrestrial character Klaatu in the film The Day the Earth Stood Still. After recording two non-charting singles, drummer Terry Draper was added to the line-up; this trio would comprise Klaatu throughout the rest of the band's recording career.
In Canada, the band is remembered for several hits, including "California Jam" (1974), "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" (1977) and "Knee Deep In Love" (1980). In the U.S. "Calling Occupants" b/w "Sub-Rosa Subway" was a minor double-sided hit and their only chart entry, peaking at No. 62 in 1977.
The band is also remembered internationally for rumors that they were the Beatles recording under a pseudonym. Klaatu themselves did not start these rumors and always flatly denied them, and indeed no Beatle was ever involved in the writing, recording or production of any Klaatu material.
Klaatu's combination of pop, progressive rock, art/symphonic rock, and other genres has often been compared to the Beatles, and sometimes to the guitar-rock of Queen, and the electronic music of Wendy Carlos. British music magazine Shindig! praised the band's ability to combine up-beat pop music with complex progressive rock, forming an "otherworldly brand of progressive pop".
Their first two albums, 3:47 EST and Hope, include a wide variety of genres. Subsequent albums were less well received.
...
Wikipedia