Sigue Sigue Sputnik were a British new wave band formed in London in 1982 by former Generation X bassist Tony James. The band have had three UK top-40 hit singles, including "Love Missile F1-11" and "21st Century Boy".

The band's music, image and inspiration drew from a range of electronic and glam bands such as Suicide and the New York Dolls. and Neal X (Whitmore), who recruited singer Martin Degville. Degville was a clothes designer and supplied the band's wardrobe, and YaYa, the store where he worked, became the band's base.The band's sound was, according to James, arrived at by accident, when he inadvertently mixed elements of film soundtracks with their demo track "Love Missile F1-11" while putting together a video compilation from his favourite films. James wanted the band to be produced by David Bowie or Prince, with the latter rejecting the offer because the band's material was "too violent." Also shortlisted were John Carpenter and Giorgio Moroder because of their soundtrack work. James stated prior to its release that they would sell 20–to-30-second advertising slots for between $2,500 and $7,000. He explained this by saying "commercialism is rampant in society. Maybe we're a little more honest than some groups I could mention," and "our records sounded like adverts anyway". but James claimed the tour was also affected by an alleged vendetta by the UK tabloid Daily Mirror, which created a negative public perception of the band as a live act.

Reunions

thumb|left|Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic in 2016 at the 25th [[Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig/Germany.]]

In 1995, James and X formed a new version of the band with Christopher Novak (vocals) and John Green (keyboards). Their song "Cyberspace Party" was a hit in Japan; an album, Sputnik: The Next Generation, was also released there, selling 50,000 copies.

In 2004, Degville left the band to pursue a solo career and has performed as Sputnik 2/ Sputnik 2 – The Future and Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic, self-releasing tracks under those and his own name over the years through www.sputnik2.com and other digital sites. In 2016, a 12" vinyl version of a track called "Timex Kid" was released under the Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic name.

Neal X is a member of the Marc Almond band, and went on to form his own group, the Montecristos,

Image

thumb|right|300px|Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic in 2023

James claimed he had chosen his bandmates for their looks, and the band's slogan was "Fleece the World". James billed the band as "Hi-tech sex, designer violence, and the fifth generation of rock 'n' roll". Visually, their image included fishnet masks and brightly coloured hair.

Members

thumb|right|300px|Sigue Sigue Sputnik Electronic in 2017

  • Tony James – space guitar, electric guitar, synth guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals <small>(1982–1989, 1995, 1998–2004)</small>
  • Neal X – guitar, backing vocals (1982–1989, 1995, 1998–2004)
  • Martin Degville – lead vocals (1982–1989, 1998–2004)
  • Chris Kavanagh – drums, electronic drums (1982–1989)
  • Ray Mayhew (died 28 August 2025) – drums, electronic drums (1982–1989)
  • Yana YaYa (Jane Farrimond) – keyboards, dub effects, samples (1982–1989)
  • John Green – keyboards (1995)
  • Christopher Novak – lead vocals (1995)
  • Claudia Cujo – drums (1998)
  • Jenny Z – effects (2001–2004)

Discography

  • Flaunt It (1986)
  • Dress for Excess (1988)
  • Sputnik: The Next Generation (1996)
  • Piratespace (2001)
  • Blak Elvis vs. The Kings of Electronic Rock and Roll (2002)
  • Ultra Real (2003)

References

  • Official site, includes history by Tony James