The Aliens are a Scottish band consisting of Gordon Anderson (aka Lone Pigeon, lead vocals, guitar) and former Beta Band members John Maclean (keyboards, backing vocals) and Robin Jones (drums, backing vocals). They formed in 2005 following the split of The Beta Band the previous year, and frontman Gordon Anderson falling ill to "acute psychosis". Anderson is now out of hospital and has been off medication for some time.

Influenced by artists such as The Doors, The Stone Roses, The Who, The Beatles, David Bowie, Bob Dylan and T. Rex, The Aliens have a more upbeat and psychedelic pop sound in contrast to the trip-hop-based Beta Band.

Their first release, the EP Alienoid Starmonica, was released to the UK iTunes Music Store on 20 March 2006, and on CD and 12" on 8 May 2006 on their own EMI imprint, Pet Rock.

The Aliens released their first album, Astronomy for Dogs, on 19 March 2007. Astronomy for Dogs was recorded in a room underneath a cafe in Edinburgh before being put onto disc at Olympic Studios in London. The band produced it themselves. The release was timed to coincide with a ten-date UK tour but this had to be cancelled due to Gordon Anderson breaking his clavicle climbing up a tree. The tour was rescheduled to May/June, and has now finished. They are due to tour North America in the Autumn.

Discography

Albums/EPs

• Alienoid Starmonica (EP) (8 May 2006)
• Astronomy for Dogs (19 March 2007)

Singles

• "The Happy Song" (18 September 2006) UK #81
• "Setting Sun" (5 March 2007)
• "Robot Man" (25 June 2007) UK #151

External links

• The Aliens official website
• The Aliens at MySpace
• The Aliens at MusicBrainz
• "The Happy Song" at YouTube
• The Aliens ticket competition