26 I: Sci-Fi References in Music List
Description
This article is from the SF references in music List FAQ, by Rich Kulawiec rsk@gsp.org with numerous contributions by others.
26 I: Sci-Fi References in Music List
Icehouse:
"Icehouse" contains "Icehouse" which seems to be a gothic tale of some
sort and "Sister" which is about an android. The band was originally
"Flowers". The "Icehouse" referenced was the band members' flat
in Australia (probably Sydney).
Icicle Works:
English group best known for "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)"
(titled the other way around in Europe). The group's name comes from
the short story "The Day the Icicle Works Closed", which I believe
was by Alfred Bester.
Ideal:
A band from the "Neue Deutsche Welle" (New German Wave) in the early
80ies. The song "Der Herrscher" ("The Emperor") from the Album "Der
Ernst des Lebens" ("The Earnestness of Life") describes a person who
escapes from hir dull life into a SF world.
Idol, Billy:
His 1993 album, "Cyberpunk", features a number of SF themes,
notably the works of William Gibson (one of the tracks is "Neuromancer").
IGTB:
Stands for Inter-Galactic Touring Band; Mish-mash album put out in 1977
with all sorts of people on it, purporting to be a group on galactic tour.
Immortal:
"The Story of Immortal", a single released in 1978. It tells the story
of a very powerful being that commits a crime (leading to the destruction
of a whole inhabited planet) and is punished with immortality. Now he
tries to redeem himself by doing good deeds, "but sometimes in my lonely
nights the screams of million of dying people hurt me from the next
world - and then I understand why I've been given immortality..."
Intergalactic Orchestra:
Their album "Super Nova" (early 80's), contains several SF themes.
"Star Probe Navigator" is about an interstellar ship that gets lost
underway. Other track are for example: "Star Flying", Demon God",
"Heroes Return", "Time Slip", etc.
INXS:
The video for "Listen Like Thieves" looks like a slice of a "Mad Max" film.
IQ:
Several possibilities here; "Last Human Gateway" from "Tales From a Lush
Attic"; "Outer Limits" from "The Wake"; "Human Nature" (about evolution)
and "Screaming is About Dying" from "Nomazmo"; "Falling Apart at the
Seams" from "Are You Sitting Comfortably?".
Incredible String Band:
"I Was a Young Man (back in the 1960's)", a future retrospective. See
also "Swift as the Wind", wherein a child's fantasy-hero turns out to be
more substantial. The double-LP "U (A Surreal Parable in Song and
Dance)" includes "Robot Blues".
Information Society:
Their albums are peppered with audio excerpts from Star Trek;
SF (or at lest computer) themes are common. "Mirrorshades" from "Hack"
is pure cyber-bandwagonism (at least they beat most of the "mainstream"
to it by a couple of years). See also "Where Would I Be Without IBM".
Their latest album, "Peace & Love, Inc." has samples from Star Trek and The
Outer Limits.
Inner City Unit:
Punk band led by Nik Turner of Hawkwind. Their first album, "Pass Out",
includes the tracks "Fall Out" (nuclear war), "Polly Ethelene",
"Cybernetic Love". Their second album, "Maximum Effect", starts with
a track suggesting that Elvis has been given Everlasting Life Via
Induced Suspendedanimation.
Iron Maiden:
The track "To Tame a Land" from "Piece of Mind" is about Dune. (Frank
Herbert wouldn't let them call it "Dune", supposedly, 'cause he doesn't
like heavy metal.) "Flight of Icarus" and "Quest for Fire" also appear
on "Piece of Mind". "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" is a concept album
about a mystical clairvoyant. The title track from "Powerslave" is about
the death of an Egyptian god; "Flash of the Blade" from the same LP is
about a young boy who is trained as a warrior and who avenges the death
of his master/teacher. "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", from the same LP,
is based on the Coleridge poem. They've also done two songs based on the
TV show, "The Prisoner": "The Prisoner" from "The Number of the Beast"
and "Back in the Village" from "Powerslave". The title track from
"Number of the Beast" deals with the discovery of a Satanic ritual -- it
might be based on "The Omen". Also from that album, "Children of the
Damned" (more horror than SF). The album "Somewhere in Time" contains
"Caught Somewhere in Time", which is about time travel, the devil, and
other assorted fun stuff. "Stranger in a Strange Land" from the same LP
is SF, but is apparently not related to the Heinlein book of the same
name. It's based on a newspaper story about a body found in the ice
near the North Pole. (The cover of that album really deserves note -- it's
a sci-fi scene, lots of details. Ditto for the 2 singles from that album,
"Wasted Years" and "Stranger in a Strange Land", which have sci-fi covers.)
Itch:
Piano-based punk. First CD "Dyin' To Be Jesus" includes "Energy Vampire"
and "Open Letter To Dr. Strange"; 94's "Pull The Wool" includes
"Frankenmouse" (and a rant about genetic manipulation in the liner notes).
Jackson, Dee Dee:
(real name: Deirdre Cozier) Album "Cosmic Curves" (released 1978/79).
Features songs like "Automatic Lover", "Meteor Man", "Galaxy Police", etc.
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