Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction

Some rockers know from a very young age that their calling in life is to ride in limos and play to arenas full of Bic-wielding fans. For <a href="spotify:artist:7ibCiy5E2kJNpf1zfJsFC9">Zodiac Mindwarp</a>, it was a calling that occurred later in life. Working as a graphic artist and editor at the British publication Flexipop, <a href="spotify:artist:7ibCiy5E2kJNpf1zfJsFC9">Mark Manning</a> assumed the alter ego <a href="spotify:artist:7ibCiy5E2kJNpf1zfJsFC9">Zodiac Mindwarp</a>, and set out to experience the fabled "rock & roll lifestyle" firsthand. Forming Zodiac Mindwarp & the Love Reaction in the mid-'80s, the singer has subsequently enlisted the aid of musicians with extremely colorful names over the years -- Cobalt Stargazer, Slam Thunderhide, Evil Bastard, Flash Bastard, and Trash D Garbage are but a few who have served in the Love Reaction ranks.

Releasing several singles/EPs during 1986 and 1987 ("Wild Child," "High Priest of Love," "Prime Mover," and "Back Seat Education"), the group issued its self-titled full-length debut in early 1988. Reaching the U.K. Top 20 album chart, the album also managed to cause a mild buzz in the U.S., as <a href="spotify:artist:7ibCiy5E2kJNpf1zfJsFC9">Zodiac Mindwarp</a> supported the release with dates opening for <a href="spotify:artist:3qm84nBOXUEQ2vnTfUTTFC">Guns N' Roses</a> (who were just about to break big with Appetite for Destruction). The album did leave a substantial impression on shock rock trailblazer <a href="spotify:artist:3EhbVgyfGd7HkpsagwL9GS">Alice Cooper</a>, who was quite vocal about his appreciation of the band in interviews, and even enlisted <a href="spotify:artist:7ibCiy5E2kJNpf1zfJsFC9">Mindwarp</a> himself to co-pen a track ("Feed My Frankenstein") on <a href="spotify:artist:3EhbVgyfGd7HkpsagwL9GS">Cooper</a>'s 1991 star-studded release, Hey Stoopid.

It appeared that a promising future lay ahead for <a href="spotify:artist:7ibCiy5E2kJNpf1zfJsFC9">Zodiac Mindwarp</a>, but the group appeared to completely fade away into obscurity, although it did manage to release a few more low-key releases in the '90s -- 1991's Hoodlum Thunder, 1993's Live at Reading, and 1994's One More Knife. Additionally, <a href="spotify:artist:7ibCiy5E2kJNpf1zfJsFC9">Mindwarp</a> co-penned a track for the group <a href="spotify:artist:5wfTNhhtnBtRwfoqZnHonC">Voice of the Beehive</a> ("There's a Barbarian in the Back of My Car" on 1988's Let It Bee) and sang on the track "Fire Engine Red" on <a href="spotify:artist:1fN3lF5RILxJeG9H8EhEDo">the Grid</a>'s 1992 album, 4,5,6. <a href="spotify:artist:7ibCiy5E2kJNpf1zfJsFC9">Mindwarp</a> has also penned books -- both in collaboration with Bill Drummond and on his own. Despite such a long layoff between albums, <a href="spotify:artist:7ibCiy5E2kJNpf1zfJsFC9">Zodiac Mindwarp</a> returned in the early 21st century with a pair of studio efforts, 2002's I Am Rock and 2005's Rock Savage, as well as the 2004 concert release Weapons of Mass Destruction. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi