Spacehog are an English-American rock band formed in New York City in 1994 by musicians from Leeds, England. The original lineup consisted of vocalist and bassist Royston Langdon, guitarist Antony Langdon, guitarist Richard Steel, and drummer Jonny Cragg. Although the band was British by origin, its identity developed within the New York club scene, where its flamboyant presentation and densely arranged songs attracted attention from record companies.
Spacehog's music combined glam rock, power pop, alternative rock, and science-fiction imagery. The influence of artists such as David Bowie, T. Rex, and Queen could be heard in the band's theatrical vocals, melodic bass lines, and taste for exaggerated guitar textures. At the same time, Spacehog were closely associated with the alternative-rock environment of the mid-1990s, giving their retro-minded approach a contemporary setting.
The group signed with Sire Records in 1995 and released its debut album, Resident Alien, that October. Produced by Bryce Goggin, the record presented Spacehog as a band capable of moving between heavy guitar rock, eccentric pop, and more atmospheric material. Its best-known track, "In the Meantime," became an international hit in 1996. Built around a prominent bass riff, layered harmonies, and a polished glam-rock sound, the song reached a wide audience and remains the band's defining recording. Its surreal music video, directed by Jake Scott, reinforced Spacehog's futuristic image and became a memorable piece of 1990s rock programming.
Resident Alien also included "Space Is the Place," "Cruel to Be Kind," and "Hog," songs that demonstrated the band's interest in combining conventional rock structures with unusual lyrical ideas and theatrical arrangements. The album achieved gold status in the United States and established Spacehog as one of the more distinctive guitar bands to emerge during the decade's alternative-rock boom.
The band's second album, The Chinese Album, appeared in 1998. More conceptual and stylistically varied than its predecessor, it moved further from straightforward radio rock while retaining the group's melodic and glam-oriented character. The album strengthened Spacehog's following outside the United States and was followed by touring with acts including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Aerosmith, and the Sex Pistols. Spacehog also shared bills with major alternative and rock performers such as R.E.M., Oasis, Pearl Jam, and Supergrass.
In 2001, the band released The Hogyssey, its third studio album. Recorded in Memphis and issued through Artemis Records, it revisited some of the forceful guitar sound associated with Resident Alien while reflecting the group's continuing interest in elaborate production and theatrical presentation. Spacehog subsequently became inactive, and several members pursued other projects, including the band Arckid.
Spacehog reunited in 2006, initially for a birthday performance for Cragg. The reunion eventually led to new recording sessions and the release of As It Is on Earth in 2013. Produced again by Goggin, the album confirmed that the band's characteristic blend of glam-rock drama, melodic songwriting, and cosmic imagery had survived its long hiatus. Though Spacehog are chiefly remembered for "In the Meantime," their catalog presents them as more than a one-song act: they were a visually conscious, musically ambitious band that brought a distinctly British glam sensibility into the American alternative-rock landscape.