TV On The Radio #4: Buck Rogers

Buck Rogers was created in 1929 as a comic strip hero who eventually translated into radio and movie serials. However, he is best remembered as the star of the late 70s TV show Buck Rogers In The 25th Century starring Gil Gerard and Erin Grey. In this show, Buck is a NASA pilot who's thrown 500 years into the future, arriving in a world where everyone wears sexy jump-suits and the robots are really annoying. And I mean, really annoying...

In the "You Learn Something New Everyday" Department: Twiki, the really annoying robot above, was actually voiced by Mel 'Bugs Bunny' Blanc.

Music in the 25th Century will also be particularly annoying...

Kipp Lennon - Suspension (Theme from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century)

The Splash Band - Buck Rogers

...so Buck will probably listen to quite a few oldies on whatever kind of listening device 1979 creatives imagined we'd be using in 500 years time... I doubt they predicted Spotify.

Let's start with a band named after characters from a science fiction board game, with a song about making a sandwich...

Been out all night, I needed a bite

I thought I'd put a record on

I reached for the one with the ultra-modern label

And wondered where the light had gone

It had a futuristic cover, lifted straight from Buck Rogers

The record was so black it had to be a con

The auto changer switched as I filled my sandwich

And futuristic sounds warbled off and on

The Human League - The Black Hit Of Space

Next up, someone who's no stranger to name-dropping popular TV shows in his lyrics, the mighty Gil Scott Heron, with a song about Reagan's re-election campaign...

Ah yes, they're off and running again. The campaign trail

And doesn't he look like himself?

Back in the saddle again

Roy Rogers and Buck Rogers

Rutherford B. Hayes and Gabby Hayes

Marlon Perkins and Carl Perkins

Gil Scott Heron - Re-Ron

And then we have the Bloodhound Gang...

It ain't your mind you're givin' me a piece of 

As it don't take Einstein to know that's just obscene but 

It's been Buck Rogers' time since I hit other than rock bottom 

The Bloodhound Gang - I'm The Least You Could Do

After that, I'm ready for a Complete Meltdown... and lots of 80s references in this one!

Robotic vision, I'm Terminator 

I'm from the future, I've come to get yer 

I'm Knight Industries Two Thousand 

In my A-team van, aroused and 

I'm building boxes in the back of the shop 

I am Buck Rogers and 

I'm not gonna stop 

I'm weighing spuds, I'm 

Thinking nuclear fission 

I save the world with my robotic vision

Complete Meltdown - Robotic Vision

Next up, George's favourite rappers...

You dress like Buck Rogers, you got a bell-end for a face

Lovely.

Goldie Lookin' Chain - Worms

Then how about some Brazilian post-punk from the 80s?

Ness - Adeus Buck Rogers

Or a Dre who never became a Dr?

Mac Dre - Black Buck Rogers

Or some "Soulless Californian Indie Rock" (their words, not mine)?

Pencil Pusher - Buck Rogers (At the Movies)

Or some Finnish surf-rock? (I imagine it's pretty cold, surfing in Finland.)

The Verticals - Buck Rogers

Or... erm... this?

The Hemingway Solution - Buck Rogers

I'm not sure The Hemingway Solution is a particularly memorable band name. And I like Hemingway! This, on the other hand...

Techno Squid Eats Parliament - Buck Rogers

And that's before we even get to the Namesakes...

Buck Rogers - Crazy Baby

Buck Rogers ‎- Die Schallen

This week's raison d'etre obviously comes from Feeder though, a Welsh indie band with just enough welly to keep them out of the landfill, and still be filling medium-sized venues almost 20 years after they formed. This is their biggest hit, and definitely their best song...