The Aliens (Scottish band)

The Aliens are a Scottish band consisting of former Beta Band members Gordon Anderson (lead vocals, guitar), John Maclean (keyboards, backing vocals) and Robin Jones (drums, backing vocals). They have released three albums, four EPs, one live album and numerous singles. Their debut album, Astronomy for Dogs (2007) reached #46 on the UK Albums Chart. The band formed in Edinburgh in 2005 after Maclean and Jones had left the Beta Band the previous year, asking Anderson to join their new project. Anderson had formed the Beta Band with Steve Mason in 1996 (leaving soon after formation due to illness) and had been friends with Maclean since their school days in St Andrews. Their first release, the EP Alienoid Starmonica, recorded by John Williamson, was released to the UK iTunes Store on 20 March 2006, and on CD and 12" vinyl on 8 May 2006 on their own EMI imprint, Pet Rock. The majority of the material was originally written by Anderson. The band made their touring debut in November of that year. The Aliens released their first album, Astronomy for Dogs, on 19 March 2007. The album was self-produced and recorded in the Cave, a small recording space beneath the Forest Cafe in Edinburgh, before being printed at Olympic Studios in London. The release was timed to coincide with a ten-date UK tour, but this had to be canceled due to Gordon Anderson breaking his clavicle climbing up a tree. The tour was rescheduled to May/June of that same year. In October 2007 they toured North America. In spring of 2008, the band cancelled all shows except their festival appearances due to the increasing ill health of Gordon Anderson during the recording of the second album; however, on his recovery the band completed a string of UK festival dates in July. The new album, Luna was released on 29 September 2008 and was preceded by the single "Magic Man", released on 22 September. On 4 July 2019, the Aliens' Facebook page was reactivated. The live album Live on the Moon was released on CD on 29 November 2019; a limited run vinyl edition followed in February 2020. On 20 February 2020, the band released their first new material since their initial split in 2008, publishing "Bb, wdylm" on Youtube. Astronomy for Dogs (2007) Luna (2008) Doorway Amnesia (2021) Live on the Moon (2019) Alienoid Starmonica (2006) The Sunlamp Show EP (2009) Electronville (2020) Back to Beyond (2021) "The Happy Song" (2006) "Setting Sun" (2007) "Robot Man" (2007) "Magic Man" (2008) "The Aliens". AllMusic. "The Aliens (2)". Discogs. Retrieved 18 September 2015. "ALIENS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 18 September 2015. Campion, Chris (17 September 2006). "Flash forward". The Guardian. London, England. Retrieved 18 May 2026. Soobramanien, Natasha (19 May 2011). "Metaphysical Headphones & Dead Sounds: Lone Pigeon Interviewed". thequietus.com. The Quietus. Retrieved 18 September 2015. Simpson, Dave (3 March 2025). "'We spent £100,000 doing a gig in a scout hut!' The Beta Band on debt, disastrous decisions – and their defiant comeback". The Guardian. London, England. Retrieved 11 May 2026. Didcock, Barry (10 April 2011). "On a wing and a prayer". The Herald. Glasgow, Scotland: Newsquest. Retrieved 18 May 2026. "The Aliens". clashmusic.com. Clash Magazine. 1 May 2007. Retrieved 18 September 2015. "The Aliens Official Facebook page". facebook.com. Facebook. 4 July 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2020. "The Aliens Official Facebook page". facebook.com. Facebook. 29 November 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2020. "dronerockrecords.com". dronerecords.com. Drone Rock Records. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020. "The Aliens - Bb,wdylm (Official Video)". YouTube. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020. "Youtube.com". youtube.com. youtube. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020. The Aliens official website Beta Band fansite featuring latest news on The Aliens The Aliens video session on Vic Galloway Show on Radio Scotland - 6 October 2008 The Aliens discography at MusicBrainz "The Happy Song" on YouTube "Magic Man" on YouTube "Billy Jack Live at The Caves in Edinburgh Directed by John WIlliamson May 2007" on YouTube