Space (UK Group)

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.

Although initially inspired by 1960s guitar groups such as The Kinks and The Who, which got them labelled as part of the emerging Britpop movement, Space set out to pursue a more eclectic sound from their contemporaries, incorporating electronic elements such as synthesizers and sampling and drawing from genres as diverse as hip hop, techno, post-punk, ska, lounge music, easy listening and vintage film soundtracks, the result of the differing tastes between bandmembers. The group also became known for their deliberately tongue-in-cheek, dark humoured lyrics, inspired by Scott's love of camp and cinema, and frequently dealing with topics such as serial killers, failed relationships, social outcasts, and mental illness.

Love You More than Football, which was to be the band's third album was shelved before it was due for release in 2001. It seemed the band had split and were doing their own thing.

After a three-year break from public attention, Space returned in 2004 to release Suburban Rock 'n' Roll, their first proper release of new material since Tin Planet. It failed to earn critical and commercial recognition. The lukewarm reception of the releases and the problems with getting a recording contract made it financially impossible to carry on. In 2005, Space announced their decision to go their separate ways.

Since the band's original breakup, most of the former members have continued to play in bands in the music industry: Scott, along with Phil Hartley, a former live technician for the group, formed a punk band called the Drellas, which in its final incarnation included Allan Jones on drums and Ryan Clarke on vintage keys. Hartley, who plays bass, also produces for the band, along with other Antipop Records acts such as Metro Manila Aide, The Dead Class, The Temps and Fraktures.

Franny Griffiths was with Murphy and Vinnie Camilleri (who played guitar for The Beatles Pre- Ringo drummer Pete Best) with their band Dust, and also making R&B under the name Subway Showdown, while Yorkie is producing for Shack. Franny also co-writes & produces with Vinnie Camilleri for Spaceman V Man.

Andy Parle the band's former drummer died on 1 August 2009, aged 42, in Liverpool. Police said they were treating Parle's death as "unexplained" after he was seen to fall while crossing the road. Eyewitnesses described Parle tripping and falling after trying to run across a road in Liverpool at around 11.30 pm on Saturday. They said he had been inside the Park Road Fish Bar in Dingle. Some locals ran to his aid and tried to revive him. A taxi full of passengers also stopped to help and paramedics were called. However, he died later at the Royal Liverpool Hospital. Dave Palmer, his former bandmate, said: "It's the saddest, most tragic end you could have." He added that Parle had been "a brilliant drummer".

In November 2011 Space announced they would reunite for a gig at Christmas to be held at the O2 Academy in their home town of Liverpool. The line-up reunites original members Scott, Murphy and Griffiths as well as some new faces, who have previously played in Scott's current band The Red Scare (formerly known as the Drellas). They also announced the release of a new album, entitled Attack of the Mutant 50ft Kebab, and a world tour in 2012. After two years in the making (which were disrupted by Murphy's second departure (he also left after the third album 'Love You More Than Football' was shelved)), the album was eventually released in March 2014, preceded by the lead single "Fortune Teller". In July, keyboardist Ryan Clarke left the group to focus on other projects. As part of their 20th Anniversary, Space announced a tour throughout March 2014 alongside Republica

In November 2015, Space released the single "Strange World" as a stopgap between albums. In 2016, the band announced that they were working on a new album entitled Give Me Your Future, recorded with Steve Levine, famed for his work with Culture Club. Early copies of the album were sold at Space's homecoming gig at The Arts Club on 22 December 2017, with widespread distribution due in the new year.

In 2019, a boxset entitled 'The Anthology' was released in November, which contains all six studio albums and a remix/b-sides album.

In 2019, twenty years after it was recorded, Love You More than Football was officially released as part of that career-spanning Anthology boxset.