Planet X

Set a course for Planet X, full speed ahead. No, Planet X is not the newest sci-fi film; it is actually a progressive rock/fusion band headed by keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Kiss, Alice Cooper, Dream Theater, Platypus). Depending on how you look at it, Planet X had its origins in Sherinian's 1999 solo album by that title. Certainly, the seed of the name was there, but the musical style seemed to be also. The lineup of the group was not, however, set at that point. Drummer Virgil Donati was in place, though. According to Sherinian his goal with forming the group was to have a band that "played their instruments so fiercely, it would strike fear in the hearts of other musicians when they played." So, with that seeming declaration of musical war, he recruited Tony MacAlpine to complete the lineup. Under the Planet X moniker, the trio (accompanied by Tom Kennedy on bass) released their first album, Universe, in 2000. The band played a good number of gigs throughout the year 2001, resulting in a live release, Live from Oz, that surfaced early in 2002. That album had Dave LaRue (Steve Morse, Dixie Dregs) guesting in the role of bassist. The group has a new album due in 2002, entitled MoonBabies. The disc features both Tom Kennedy and Billy Sheehan handling bass duties on various tracks.