After relocating to the Camden area of London, Apollo 440 recorded their debut album, Millennium Fever, and released it in 1994 on their own Stealth Sonic Recordings label (distributed by Epic Records). They have successfully invaded both the pop charts and the dance floor with their combination of rock, techno, and ambient. They also changed the writing of their name from Apollo 440 to Apollo Four Forty in 1996, though they switched back for their latest album.
The band had been most known for its remixes until the release of Liquid Cool in the UK. However, it was not until the success of the singles Krupa and Ain't Talkin' 'bout Dub that their own musical efforts were brought to international attention -- particularly the latter single contributed greatly to pushing Apollo 440 into the spotlight.
Currently, the band resides in Islington, London, having once again moved its headquarters (affectionately labelled Apollo Control).
In 2007, the band played a tribute gig to the late singer Billy MacKenzie and decided to go on after that. They planned several more gigs and an album for 2008.
Apollo 440's fifth album, "The Future's What It Used To Be", was to be released in 2008, but as of October 2009, the album is not yet complete. The 2008 live line-up features founding members Noko (Guitar), Howard Gray (FOH Vibe Controller) and Trevor Gray (Keyboards), plus frontman, long-time collaborator Ewan MacFarlane, who sings on the new album. Original @440 drummer Cliff Hewitt is once again the main man behind the kit with Michael Cusick on bass guitar. Ashley Krajewski features on Keyboards/MPC Samples, having been the studio engineer at Apollo Control since 2003.
Since forming in 1990, Apollo have written, recorded and produced four albums, collaborated with and produced other artists, remixed as Apollo 440 and as ambient cinematic alter-ego Stealth Sonic Orchestra, and created music for film, tv, ads and multimedia including movie themes "Lost In Space" and "Charlie's Angels". During their eleven years at Sony, 1993-2004, they notched up 11 Top 40 UK Singles with three Top 10s, and had a chart presence worldwide.
To date Apollo's remixes number around 60 - from U2 in the early '90s to Puff Daddy/Jimmy Page and Ennio Morricone a decade later. Apollo's version of Puretone's "Addicted To Bass" was made a lead track and became a huge hit in 2002. Among their Stealth Sonic Orchestra remixes are a series of Manic Street Preachers singles.
Collaborators over the years have included Jeff Beck, Jean Michel Jarre, Billy Mackenzie, Ian McCulloch and Hotei (of Kill Bill soundtrack fame).
Over 50 different Apollo tracks have featured in movies, trailers, tv, games and ads worldwide, the latter including globally branded cars, beers, soft drinks, phones, audio and software. They have also written two entire soundtracks for Sony PlayStation and provided the themes for ITV World Cup '98 and Formula 1 2000 coverage as well as Liverpool F.C's Official 2006 FA Cup song.
Apollo 440 have always played live with a number of different line-ups - in the early days featuring guest vocals by legendary MC Stevie Hyper-D. In 1994 the basic trio of founding members Noko, Howard and Trevor were for the first time joined by Cliff on electronic and acoustic drums. Between 1997 and 2000 they toured extensively round the world as an eight piece live band, joined by Mary Byker (Vocals), Harry K (DJ & Vocals), Paul Kodish (Drums) and Rej (Bass).
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