Artist description “One of the toughest experiences we’ve ever been through, as individuals, as well as members of a band, but I think it’s made us stronger as a result of it.” – Andrew Spence During the year of 2001, Starseed spent the year on full time performances and promotions for the band, seeing them voted into the ICE Freedom Festival as one of South Africa’s top 3 unsigned bands, which led to selected single “Inhuman” to be featured on 5fm/Sony Showcase Compilation. Starseed were then hauled onto other awesome SA bills such as Oppikoppi and Woodstock, drawing attendances of over 20000 people. The bands future then led to the decision of broader and more challenging horizons, “It’s not that we turned our backs on South Africa,” says Drummer, Andrew Spence, “but I think musically we weren’t going anywhere and the decision was made that we needed a change.” In October 2001, the band performed their final gig in South Africa, drawing a crowd of +- 1000 people, packed their bags and headed for the United Kingdom. “South Africa has and will always be our home, and we hope that you never forget that.” The Decision was made and in 5 months, Starseed were in the UK. The band has for the last 10 months, been taking a break, deciding to concentrate on their personal lives and relationships before taking the big leap into the British/European scene. “Making a move like this is big, actually f**king big, and it’s taken a lot more time than we thought to get our LIVES in order as well as the band,” states Spence, “However, we feel this move has really helped improve our song writing skills, in fact I think we’ve probably written some our best material to date because of it.” “The move has been amazingly inspiring for all of us and has brought us closer together as band members.” In September of 2002 the band entered the Studio in order to record brand new 3-track Demo "Three Point One", featuring tracks "Mr. Gravity", "Time" and "All You Become". Starseed also now have a new 3-track, untitled as of yet which will be release soon, featuring brand new singles - "Going Nowhere", "Tomorrow" and "Walk With Me".

Music Style South African Rock Band

Similar Artists Live, Queens of the Stone Age, Our Lady Peace, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters

Artist History Arguably South Africa’s most vibrant export, STARSEED have for the past two years distilled their brand of rock to live South African audiences across the country. Their potent mix of hard driving and melodic songs have now been brought to the UK and Europe. Having recorded a 6 track EP “...too short to reminisce” the bands heavy touring schedule has seen them build a wide fan base in SA. With over a thousand copies of the EP in their hands, the fans have been quick to follow the band through the club circuit and openair festivals. Achievements :- - Starseed appear at Oppikoppi 2000 Festival, chosen on the strength of the CD. (Attendance: 13000) - Won listener poll as one of the top 3 unsigned bands to perform at the Siemens ICE Freedom Festival (Attendance: 10000) - Performed at Southern Cross Folk & Rock Festival in Mooi River, KZN (Att: 5000) - Starseed Performed on the Blunt Stage at Woodstock 3 Festival, South Africa, 2001 (Att: 10000) - Between Aug 2000 & Oct 2001 Starseed performed at over 30 different venues playing over 150 live gigs on the SA gig circuit. They played a mixture of clubs, pubs & open air festivals including a number of unplugged performances with a repertoire of over 30 original songs. - Starseed’s “Inhuman” is chosen to feature on 5fm/Sony Showcase compilation, Showcase 3: Unearthed. - “Inhuman” Reaches No.1 on the Powerzone Modern Rock Charts - “Why?” reaches No.1 on VOW Wits Student Radio Charts in Feb 2001 - Starseed are featured on the Fanta World Chart Show on 5fm National Radio.

Group Members Russell Spence - Vocals Shaun Evans - Guitars Justin Hart - Bass Andrew Spence - Drums

Press Reviews "I just received the demo from South African rockers ‘Starseed’, now based here in the U.K. The boys describe their musik as ‘straight down the line Rock’. A refreshing sound compared to all the overdose of Nu-metal/Rap crap that we’re subjected to on a daily basis. The demo features Starseed’s new single ‘All You Become’ and available on full length MP3 format on the downloads on my site. This is the first track from a 3 single disc, which will also includes ‘Mr. Gravity’ and ‘Time’ For a simple demo the production ain’t half bad and the boys have set out their stall with a collection of track that clearly indicate that they can ‘do rough & rockin'’ through to ‘melodic and moody’,versatility so lacking in nu musik today. Well presented promo pack with all the right 'bells and whistles' that instantly makes you want to pop the cd on...(Jeezis in my day I 've received crappy used cassettes with zip contact info featuring merely a band name, guess where demos like that go?) I’ve had the privilege of partying with these dudes and believe me they are something else. I rate Russell Spence (vox and guitar) as one of the most talented muso’s I’ve ever met and his brother ‘Drew’ as one of the hottest ‘skin thrashers’ around. They’re complemented by some awesome talent - Justin Hart on Bass and Shaun Evans on Guitar and vox. I tipped this band to make it big when they first started in the ‘Speakfish’ days which the progressed to ‘Starseed’, saw them play their fist gig at a dive called ‘The Big Sleazy’ back in South Africa. I’ll shave my balls if these lads aren’t snapped in a year or so by a major! Reviewer: MarqVas Rating: 4/5" Review on Marq Vas.com on the Latest Starseed 3-track Demo "Three Point One" --------------------------------------------- Starseed - Live at West One Four (01/25/2003) "The party started early. Russel Spence and company were just wrapping up their opening number, ‘Mr Gravity’, as the already raucous crowd expressed their admiration with a loud “Starseeeeeeeed”. Not many bands can work vocal harmonies like the Spence brothers and tonite they were on top form. Although the backdrop was non-existent and lighting average to crap, all attention was focused on a set list representing a cornucopia of well-written numbers. Cruising through a set featuring potential No.1 hits ‘All You’ve Become’, ‘Tomorrow’, ‘Breathe’ mixed with plentiful drizzling of the audience with Tequila culminating in stage diving through ‘Inhuman’, Starseed let London know that they had arrived… Starseed has this innate ability to finitely balance the mix of ‘bordering on heavier’ but managing to ‘keep it tidy’. Not for a single moment did the crowd, ‘rented’ by previous acts (As mentioned to me by one of the members of a previous act, how badly it had back-fired for them) sit down or refrain from showing their admiration and endorsement for a bunch of ‘newbies’ from ‘Darkest Afrika’. The boys’ winning streak was reconfirmed by the glut of young nubile lasses clambering to the front in an attempt to touch their newfound idols. Encore’s, according to the promoter, are not seen here but tonite Starseed made alleged history by doing the first encore in the venues history. There was no option as the audience had by now surrounded the entire stage exit area and would not allow the band to leave. Earlier, ‘Emergency Exit’, an idie rock outfit kicked off the evening with some pleasant tunes, which at least warmed up the ears of all the seated onlookers. ‘Skallatchi’, ‘rent a crowd’ and all were next and I’m still trying to figure out what this combination of vacuuming music cum cacophony of noise was all about? Further to this the vocalist wearing what can be best described as his baby brothers shirt looking like ‘Porky the Pig’ in a shirt 5 sizes to small led his confused array of instrument fondlers through a total decimation of The Chillies ‘Under The Bridge’. Awful. A comment passed by an Englishman in his early forties sums up the evening, “I was at the first U2 gig in London all those years ago and now I’m at the first Starseed gig, another one I'll be talking about for years to come”. Reviewer: MarqVas Rating: 4.5/5"

Location Kingston, London - United Kingdom

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