Spacemen 3 – Sound Of Confusion

I grew up in Rugby, and Spacemen 3 were a Rugby band. I saw them in the Blitz Club – a scuzzy old pub with an old man with a dog. Not many people were there, but they had a really good light show. A French journalist once asked me, ‘Do you think you like drone music because of your Indian heritage?’ I thought, ‘Maybe it’s because I listen to a lot of Spacemen 3, and it takes me back to a really nice time in my life’.

Even though I was lost, I had music. I would put a red lightbulb on my ceiling and lie in my bed listening to Sound Of Confusion looking at the stars in the sky. I used to record Spacemen 3 tapes and post them to fanzines, trying to get them to listen to this great band from Rugby. That was the start of writing literally hundreds of letters every month, waiting for the postman before my mum could get to it.

Sometimes I would say I was staying with a friend and sneak off to one of their gigs. My parents thought I was at my friend Susan’s house, but I’d actually go and stay with The Sea Urchins. Spacemen 3 were such a massive influence, and I suddenly realised how many bands were influenced by them. I didn’t think they got the recognition they deserved.

So, three years later, A Tribute to Spacemen 3 was the first release on Rocket Girl. I felt that if anybody should do it, it would be this girl from Rugby. I ended up doing the press, artwork and radio all by myself. That young Vinita would be so proud.