The Rocket Scientists are a US Prog  band  that  began  in 1987 and  through several  incarnations,  played the Los Angeles club scene in the late 1980s. They emphasize strong  vocal-oriented compositions and  feature the keyboard wizardry of symphonic rock producer Erik Norlander.

In 1990, Norlander's high school friend Mark McCrite  joined the band and took on the daunting  responsibilities of lead singer, songwriter & guitarist. The  duo recorded their debut album `Earthbound,' in 1991 with  several session musicians.

Acquiring  Chapman Stick player Don Schiff and Tommy Amato (drums), 1996- brought forth their second studio album- `Brutal Architecture.' The band supported the album by).

After the release of Erik Norlander's solo CD `Threshold,' the band's  first European   tour in the fall of 1997, made possible a  live album and 71 minute video entitled-  `Earth Below and Sky Above,' recorded at the German Progressive Rock Festival in Bruchsal on September 21st and released on Think Tank Media. Symphonic hard rock vocalist Lana Lane appears on three tracks. 

During the  next two years, the band kept busy  recording and touring with Lana Lane.

In 1999, their most  focused album-  `Oblivion Days,' was born." Dutch guitarist Arjen Lucassen  (`Aryeon/Vengeance)' helped out on the recording, giving the album a stronger, heavier feel.   Lana Lane (vocals), drummer/percussionist Greg Ellis, bassist Tony Franklin and  guitarist Neil Citron helped out as well.

The band has been recently touring with Spock's Beard.

Discography

 

Earthbound (1993)

1 Earthbound

2 Down Trodden

3 Picture Show

4 No More Lies

5 Killing Joke

6 Avalon

7 Welcome To The Machine

8 Minstrel Savior

9 When Sorrow Falls

10 Calm Before The Storm

11 Pythagoras

12 Temple Of Pain

13 Carry Me Home

Brutal Architecture (1995)

1 Dark Water-part one

2 Wake Me Up

3 Copernicus

4 Brutal Architecture

5 Nether

6 Dark Water-part two

7 The Fall Of Icarus

8 Resolution

9 Rainy Days And Pastel Grays

10 Millennium

11 Mariner

12 Stardust (bonus track for Japan only)

Earth Below And Sky Above (Live in Europe & America)

1 Dark Water Part One / Earthbound

2 Wake Me Up

3 Prog Medley: (Brutal Architecture - Pythagoras -Copernicus - Brutal Architecture Reprise)

4 Mariner

5 Threshold Medley  (Neurosaur - Critical Mass)

6 The Fall Of Icarus

7 Avalon (with Lana Lane)

8 Stardust (with Lana Lane)

9 Picture show

10 Millennium 3

11 Calm before the Storm

Oblivion Days (1999)

1 Dark Water Part Three: Neptune's Sun

2 Aqua Vitae

3 Oblivion Days

4 Archimedes

5 Banquo's Ghost

6 Space:1999

7 Escape

8 Compass Variation (Japan bonus track)

9 Brake the Silence

10 Dark Walter Part Four: Heavy Water

11 Wake Me Up- Live in Tokyo (bonus track)