Here's Five: Terror Of The Deep

This Sunday Wellington prog-rock outfit Terror Of The Deep will be performing their third album Space Epic within the apt surrounds of Space Place at Wellington's Carter Observatory. The planetarium dome will be graced by visuals from 50s and 60s sci-fi films as the trio (plus an extra guest or two) perform the nine-song album in its entirety for two shows - a family friendly airing in the afternoon which will be followed by a GA performance in the evening. In anticipation the performances group shared some of their favourite space-themed songs with us...

1. Jeff Wayne – 'The Red Weed (Part Two)'
Chosen by Oliver Dixon (guitar/vocals and occasionally drums)
I used to listen to this (Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds) on vinyl while looking at the sweet gatefold artwork when I was a child. The idea that aliens and their vegetation could take over our neighbourhood scared the hell out of me! When I hear it now I keep envisioning Dr. Rockso doing Phil Lynott's (Thin Lizzy) voice-over parts. It still scares me!

2. Golden Axe - 'Peaceful Planet'
Chosen by Taipua Adams (bass/backing vocals)
I picked this song from the Auckland duo Golden Axe off their album Liquid Bacon because I’d like to think that whilst being in space it would be peaceful. Plus, the video is awesome.

3. The Chills – 'Lost In Space'
Chosen by William Daymond (drums, and occasionally guitar/vocals)
This song had a huge influence on my song 'The Asteroid Belt' that appears on Space Epic – it starts off slowly, has a fast section that changes key in the middle and then resolves itself at the end. It is also predominantly an instrumental and only has lyrics near the very end, which were written as a first-person narrative.

4. The 3D’s – 'Outer Space'
Chosen by Tom Watson (keyboards)
I remember when I was in my old band Funk Mother in 1993 and I went to the local bottle store on Ponsonby Road in Auckland and there were The 3D’s buying two 12 packs of Mac’s Gold, something that I thought was outrageously extravagant. Later that night they supported U2 at Western Springs!

5. The Beach Boys – 'Solar System'
Chosen by William Daymond (drums, and occasionally guitar/vocals)
This song, off the Beach Boys 1977 album Beach Boys Love You, had to be included as it pretty much ticks all the boxes in terms of mentioning everything that needs to be mentioned in a song about the cosmos. Also, combined with the fantastic synth bass, who can resist a lyric like “If Mars had life on it, I might find my wife on it”?!

Terror Of The Deep are playing two special shows this Sunday 23rd October at Space Place in Wellington, head over here for more information and to buy tickets. And if you can't catch them there, they are playing in Auckland on Friday 4th November and Tauranga on Saturday 5th November.