Juno Reactor Biography
Best-known for injecting former porn star Traci Lords with some hi-NRG trance on her 1995 solo album, Ben Watkins and co. have pursued a fusion of Goa trance and techno on their own recordings as Juno Reactor. Watkins, who has produced Alison Moyet and worked with Youth (in both the Empty Quarter and Brilliant), formed his own band in the late '80s, the Flowerpot Men (not to be confused with the '60s band of the same name). Not long after, Watkins retreated to travel around the world with a portable DAT recorder, using the results to soundtrack a traveling art exhbition. After meeting up with Stefan Holweck, an old comrade from Brilliant, the duo formed Juno Reactor with Mike Maguire and occasional contributors Johan Bley and Jens Waldenback.
Juno Reactor hit big on the dancefloor with a 1993 single, "High Energy Protons," and signed to Mute Records. Later that year, the group released its debut album, Transmissions, and toured as the Orb's support slot for chillout-room duty; a deal with Orb's Inter Modo label resulted in 1994's Luciano. The hype increased a year later as Traci Lords recruited the group to produce her debut album, 1000 Fires. Signed to Wax Trax! a year later (but on Blue Room Released in Europe), Juno Reactor returned with their third album, Beyond the Infinite, in 1996. Bible of Dreams followed in 1997 and Shango in fall 2000. Watkins' side-projects include Psychoslaphead and Electrotete. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
Popular Biographies:
Westside connection Biography: The rap supergroup Westside Connection came together in late 1996, comprising Ice Cube, Mack 10, and WC (of WC & the Madd Circle). The trio released the single "Bow Down" in September, and it reached...
Turk Biography: New Orleans-based rapper Turk was first discovered in 1996 when the owners of Cash Money Records (brothers Ronald "Slim" Williams and Bryan "Baby" Williams) discovered him rapping and rhyming in the...
Titiyo Biography: The title of Sweden's Queen of Soul might not seem one of modern music's most coveted crowns but, in Sweden itself, there is little doubt that Titiyo not only merits all the acclaim lavished by her...
Soprano Biography: Saïd M'Roubaba, better known to French rap fans as Soprano, was born in Marseilles, France January 14th, 1979. As a youth Said was fascinated with American R&B and hip hop artists such Michael...
Sinergy Biography: The Scandinavian metal trio Sinergy comprised ex-Dimmu Borgir frontwoman Kim Goss, Children of Bodom guitarist Alexi Laiho and drummer Jesper Strömblad, also a member of In Flames. Their British...
Devo Biography: One of new wave's most innovative and (for a time) successful bands, Devo was also perhaps one of its most misunderstood. Formed in Akron, OH, in 1972 by Kent State art students Jerry Casale and Mark...
59 times the pain Biography: Named in honor of the Hüsker Dü classic, Swedish hardcore band 59 Times the Pain consisted of singer/guitarist Magnus, guitarist Kai, bassist Micke, and drummer Toni. Debuting with Blind...
Green day Biography: Out of all the post-Nirvana American alternative bands to break into the pop mainstream, Green Day was second only to Pearl Jam in terms of influence. At their core, Green Day was simply punk...