The 42-year old Pierce - himself, a veteran of more than 25 years in the industry - met Peter "Sonic Boom" Kember in college to form Spacemen 3 in 1982. The two shared the same hometown, the small, market town of Rugby in England's Warwickshire county. They also shared a love of experimentalism.
The result was a sound reminiscent of Pink Floyd, a multilayered, sprawling achievement, steeped in mind-altered alternative rock. With four traditional LPs and a handful of shorter efforts, Spacemen 3 folded its hand in 1991, allowing for Pierce and the others to pursue individual endeavors.
Nearly two decades later, Pierce - who answers to "J. Spaceman" or simply, "Spaceman" - has perfected his old tricks and continues to create notable music.
From the ashes of Spacemen 3 came Spiritualized, initially formed as a foursome, comprised of departed band members. The band shared a similar infatuation for sonic minimalism and all-things psychedelic. With a propensity for personnel changes, Pierce remains the band's only remaining member since its formation. The singer-songwriter has handled writing, composing and singing duties for 18 years, juggling solo and collaborative efforts as well.
While Pierce's autonomy from Spacemen 3 has led him down the path of relative success - three of the band's eight full-length albums were released on Arista, with 1997's "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" earning "Album of the Year" honors from NME Magazine - his early work continues to shadow his every move.
As well, it's nearly impossible to distinguish Pierce's work from his affinity for drugs, which has been well-chronicled over the years. To this day, the phrase, "taking drugs to make music to take drugs to," the name of a 1990 demo album from Spacemen 3, and the band's unofficial motto, surfaces in nearly every review or discussion of his work.
Though truer in the case of Spacemen 3 (it was Kember's struggles with heroin which became the obvious subject, and motivation, of the band's music) Spiritualized is hardly free of drug-anecdotes, evidenced by medicative themes appearing throughout the band's album art and lyrics.
In 2005, while in the midst of writing and recording the latest Spiritualized record, Pierce was struck with a devastating case of pneumonia and advanced periorbital cellulitis (an infection that attacks the eyelids). The illnesses proved to be tremendously serious, with Pierce requiring resuscitation from the medical staff during two near-death experiences.
Needless to say, the resulting album - 2008's "Songs in A & E" (itself a pun on British emergency rooms, called Accident & Emergency departments) -was put on a two-year hiatus.
When Pierce returned from the hospital at a frail 112 pounds after the three-week stay, he set to pick up where he left off and complete the album. Problem was, the original recordings sounded foreign to his ears, in his near-posthumous frame of mind.
Though in the minds of many, rediscovering the profundity of "Floating" was nearly impossible, "A & E" is mostly in line with the band's established sound. Ever-experimental and psychedelic, the album is largely stripped of its alternative influence, favoring a more symphonic approach, with choir choruses and varied instrumentation.
Joining Spaceman on the record are Tom Edwards (drums), Thighpaulsandra (keyboards), Martin Shelland (bass), Doggen (guitar) and Kev Bales (additional percussion).
Fans of the classic, droning, shoegazer feel certainly won't be disappointed. However, Pierce replace much of his earliery sound with his acoustic guitar. It's worth finding out just where he's able to take it.
Spiritualized takes the stage at Neumos on Sunday, Sept.14 ,during the second leg of its American tour. Tickets are $20 (advance purchase), $22 (day of show) and the show is for ages 21 and over.
Neumos is located at 925 E. Pike St. For tickets visit www.neumos.com. For more information on Spiritualized visit myspace.com/spiritualized.
Freelance writer Josh Sabrowsky can be reached at editor@capitolhilltimes.com.[[In-content Ad]]