The Perfect Repeat Prescription
Back in 1992, Spiritualized released their groundbreaking debut, Lazer Guided Melodies, and cemented their place as one of the coolest modern psychedelic acts of the time. As the band begin work on their long-awaited ninth album, Prog catches up with singer and guitarist Jason Pierce to find out more about the Spaceman reissue campaign, which sees their first four albums released on vinyl.
Words: Dom Lawson Portrait: Dirk Lindner
Jason Pierce circa LadiesAndGentlemen…
“I’m not and have never been interested in making money. It’s never been about that for me.”
After nonchalantly transcending categorisation for three decades, Spiritualized re-emerge into this curious new era as long-established legends of multifarious, exploratory psych. Formed by singer and guitarist Jason Pierce upon the disintegration of his previous band, UK psych icons Spacemen 3, they defied every prevailing trend by becoming one of the most admired and acclaimed bands of the 90s, releasing a dazzling flurry of studio albums along the way. When it all began, however, Pierce was far from buzzing with expectation.
“I’d been in Spacemen since I was 17 but for whatever reason it just would have been more painful to carry on. I’m not and have never been interested in making money. It’s never been about that for me. So to carry on for that reason was not the right thing to do. But I didn’t have any confidence. I still don’t have self-confidence, so it was very difficult to find myself on my own. But I didn’t have to run any ideas past anybody, I didn’t have to say, ‘So what do you think of this? What can you contribute to this?’ So there was a massive freedom. Fear and freedom in equal measures!”
As showcased on glorious debut Lazer Guided Melodies, Spiritualized were a much less claustrophobic and more uplifting sonic experience than anything Pierce had created with his former band. To the outside ear, Spacemen 3 made music for tripping one’s balls off in front of a giant, flickering TV. Spiritualized, on the other hand, made music for tripping one’s balls off outside in the sunshine.