Max Q (astronaut band)

Last updated
Max Q on stage: guitar player Dan Burbank and drummer Jim Wetherbee (2004) Max-Q - Burbank, Wetherbee.jpg
Max Q on stage: guitar player Dan Burbank and drummer Jim Wetherbee (2004)

Max Q [1] is a Houston-based rock band whose members are all astronauts. It was formed in early 1987 by Brewster Shaw and Robert L. Gibson, recruiting George Nelson. Gibson has stated that he came up with the name "Max Q" (though recognizes that Shaw has also claimed having come up with the name himself), the engineering term for the maximum dynamic pressure from the atmosphere experienced by an ascending spacecraft. He joked that like the Space Shuttle, the band "makes lots of noise but no music." [2]

The band's rotating line-up often changes due to flight crew assignments, training, and the occasional retirement. [1] In 2009, members included: [1]

Former members include: [1] [2]

...with the original members having been:

The genesis of this band is connected to the Challenger disaster, as it was in the wake of that severely somber event that Dan Brandenstein, as Chief of the Astronaut Office, suggested that they hold a party to lighten things up. Brewster Shaw then approached Hoot Gibson, who he had performed a few songs with at astronaut parties, with the idea of forming a four-piece group to play at this party. The band was well-liked. They decided to add a keyboard player, and their success continued, playing many weddings, and at hotels for events like Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. They also performed live on Good Morning America. In Gibson's last year with the group, Max Q was the warm-up band for Cheap Trick on their tour which came through Houston. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Lesh and Friends</span> American rock band

Phil Lesh and Friends is an American rock band formed and led by Phil Lesh, former bassist of the Grateful Dead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brewster H. Shaw</span> Retired NASA astronaut and US Air Force colonel

Brewster Hopkinson Shaw Jr. is a retired NASA astronaut, U.S. Air Force colonel, and former executive at Boeing. Shaw was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 6, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert L. Gibson</span>

Robert Lee "Hoot" Gibson, , is a former American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, and aeronautical engineer. A retired NASA astronaut, he also served as Chief of the Astronaut Office from 1992 to 1994. Today Gibson is active as a professional pilot, racing regularly at the annual Reno Air Races. He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2003 and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2013, and has received several military decorations throughout his career.

Ollie Olsen is an Australian multi-instrumentalist, composer and sound designer. He has performed, recorded and produced rock, electronic and experimental music since the mid-1970s. His post punk groups included Whirlywirld (1978–80), Orchestra of Skin and Bone (1984–86) and No (1987–89). Olsen joined with Michael Hutchence to form a short-term band, Max Q, which issued an album in 1989. He co-founded the alternative electronic music record label Psy-Harmonics with Andrew Till in 1993. In 2014 he formed Taipan Tiger Girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audio Adrenaline</span> Christian rock band

Audio Adrenaline was an American Christian rock band that formed in 1986 at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. The band gained recognition during the 1990s and received two Grammy Awards and multiple Dove Awards. Audio Adrenaline were regular performers at the annual Creation Festival, Spirit West Coast festival, Agape Music Festival, and Alive Festival. In 2007, the group disbanded due to lead singer Mark Stuart's spasmodic dysphonia. During this time, they released eight studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Astronaut</span> Band

Bad Astronaut is an American indie/alternative rock band founded in 2000 by Joey Cape, singer from Lagwagon. In Bad Astronaut, Joey Cape explores a style of alternative rock, with lyrics often about deep and intricate personal matters.

Max Q were an Australian band formed in 1989. Playing electronic music, the band was a collaboration between Michael Hutchence of INXS and Ollie Olsen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Grass Roots</span> American pop rock band

The Grass Roots are an American rock band that charted frequently between 1965 and 1975. The band was originally the creation of Lou Adler and songwriting duo P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri. In their career, they achieved two gold albums, two gold singles and charted singles on the Billboard Hot 100 a total of 21 times. Among their charting singles, they achieved Top 10 three times, Top 20 six times and Top 40 fourteen times. They have sold over 20 million records worldwide.

<i>Back Against the Wall</i> 2005 studio album (tribute album) by Billy Sherwood

Back Against the Wall is an album released in 2005 by Billy Sherwood in collaboration with a number of (mostly) progressive rock artists as a tribute to Pink Floyd's album The Wall. A year later, Sherwood followed it with the release of Return to the Dark Side of the Moon, a tribute to Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaipa</span> Swedish progressive metal group

Kaipa is a Swedish progressive metal band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Black Math Experiment</span>

The Black Math Experiment is a band described as a unique blend of 1980s synthpop and new wave music with similarities to "The B-52's crossed with Berlin, The Dead Milkmen, and Talking Heads." Based in Houston, Texas in 2004, the band is known for their offbeat pop songs with irreverent or strange lyrics. They are known for elaborate live shows that integrate multimedia such as televisions endlessly running odd videos, evangelical-like pamphlets and baptisms, Christmas presents, and a toilet paper cannon, all led by the inexhaustible energy of lead singer Jef With One F. They received notoriety with their song, "You Cannot Kill David Arquette".

<i>The Stamping Ground</i> 2001 studio album by Runrig

The Stamping Ground is the eleventh studio album by Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig, released on 6 May 2001 on Ridge Records. The album marks the final appearance of keyboardist Peter Wishart, who departed from the band to follow a career in politics.

<i>When It All Goes South</i> 2001 album by the American band, Alabama

When It All Goes South is the nineteenth studio album by American country music band Alabama, released in 2001. It produced the singles "When It All Goes South", "Will You Marry Me" and "The Woman He Loves". This became Alabama's final studio album of original materials until 2015's Southern Drawl. It ranked at No. 37 in Billboard Album Charts and No. 4 on Country Album Chart.

The Kings Royal (TKR) is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in early 2007. The band is made up of Benny Marchant on vocals and guitar, Sean Hennesy on lead guitar, Walker Gibson on keyboards, Adam Kury on bass and Dave Krusen on drums.

<i>Greatest Hits 1978–1997</i> 2003 Journey music-video DVD

Greatest Hits DVD 1978–1997 – Music Videos and Live Performances is the second DVD by the American rock band Journey, released in 2003. It contains music videos and live performances of songs from the band's history with longtime lead vocalist Steve Perry, who left the band in 1998. It is Journey's best selling concert video going 4× Multi-Platinum since its 2003 release.

<i>House on Old Lonesome Road</i> 1989 studio album by Conway Twitty

House on Old Lonesome Road is a full-length album by country singer Conway Twitty. It was released in 1989 on MCA Records, and features the hit "She's Got a Single Thing in Mind", which Allmusic's Jason Ankeny called "the energizing hit which reaffirmed Twitty's standing among the era's country's giants."

<i>Half-Alive</i> 1998 live album by Helix

half-ALIVE was the first official live album by Canadian heavy metal band Helix, following the promotional-only Live At The Marquee. It was also their 11th album altogether and featured five new studio songs. It was their only release on DeROCK Records and was recorded at various gigs throughout the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Sherman</span> American musician (born 1952)

Jeffrey Edward Sherman is an American musician. He is a founding member of the band Glass and several other bands, as well as a solo artist who has released both under his own name and under the pseudonym Jeff Joad.

Christopher Mark Bailey was an Australian bass guitarist and vocalist. He was a member of various rock groups including Headband (1971–1974), The Angels, Gang Gajang (1984–2013), and The Stetsons. Bailey died of throat cancer, aged 62.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Max Q Live: In space no one can hear you sing, Michael Cassutt, Air & Space Magazine, 1 March 2009, accessed 5 April 2010
  2. 1 2 3 Robert L. "Hoot" Gibson Oral History, interviewed by Jennifer Ross-Nazzal, Houston, TX – 10 April 2018, JSC Oral History Project (edited)