Babylon Zoo

Babylon Zoo raised expectations to astronomical heights when their first record, "Spaceman," debuted at number one in England in 1996. It became the fastest-selling single in U.K. history, moving 250,000 copies in one week. However, it was a short-lived romance. Babylon Zoo was the brainchild of Jas Mann (vocals, producer). Born in Dudley, West Midlands, England, on April 24, 1971, Mann was a science fiction fan, and his original group, the Sandkings, was named after a sci-fi short story by George R.R. Martin. The Sandkings opened for the Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses in the early '90s, but Mann left the band because of creative differences. In 1993, a three-track demo from Mann's next project Babylon Zoo earned him a contract from Phonogram Records. Two years later, Levi's used "Spaceman" for a TV ad after hearing the tune on a Manchester, England, radio station. However, the huge success of "Spaceman" turned Babylon Zoo into of the biggest one-hit wonders. When Babylon Zoo released an album, 1996's The Boy With the X-Ray Eyes, there was disappointingly mild interest; it was a flop, and Babylon Zoo became largely forgotten. ~ Michael Sutton