Halyx
| Halyx | |
|---|---|
 Halyx poster in 1981 | |
| Disneyland | |
| Area | Tomorrowland |
| Opening date | June 20, 1981 |
| Closing date | September 11, 1981 |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Rock concert |
| Music | Disneyland Records |
Halyx (pronounced HAY-licks) was a short-lived science fiction themed rock band developed by Disneyland Records that performed at Tomorrowland in Disneyland in 1981 at the Space Stage.[1][2] They played only for one summer before the event was closed on September 11, 1981.[3]
History
[edit]In the early 1980s, a team at Disneyland Records, which included executive Gary Krisel, Jymn Magon and Mike Post, wanted to experiment with creating a rock band.[4] After the success of Star Wars (1977) and its second installment The Empire Strikes Back (1980), the team devised a concept of an intergalactic rock band that was a cross between Van Halen or Kiss and Star Wars.[5] They decided that Tomorrowland would be an appropriate venue for their debut as the venue would also be a testing ground for potential music releases.[6]
The names Strike and Starfire were suggested, with Starfire making it into concept art for the band, but it was decided to go with Halyx instead, a play on the word helix, to the dismay of some of the members and the producers.[7][8] The team eventually settled on the name Halyx, and got band members who would make the band a mixture of human and costumed non-human performers. In auditions, singer Lora Mumford was chosen to be the lead singer while her husband, Thom Miller, would be a robotic keyboardist. Bassist Roger Freeland was put inside a Wookiee-like costume which he called the Baharnoth while Tony Coppola was made a percussionist in an amphibian costume.[9] Drummer Brian Lucas, guitarist Bruce Gowdy, and backing singers Jeanette Clinger and Karen Tobin were hired as well.[10]
The band only performed for one season in 1981, with Disneyland management stopping the project and no music being officially released as a deal between Disneyland Records and Warner Music Group had collapsed.[11][12]
Members
[edit]- Lora Mumford - Lead vocals
- Bruce Gowdy - Guitars
- Thom Miller - Keyboards
- Roger Freeland - Bass
- Brian Lucas - Drums
- Tony Coppola - Percussion and acrobatics
- Jeanette Clinger - Backing vocals
- Karen Tobin - Backing vocals
Legacy
[edit]In 2008, audio recordings of Halyx songs from the live concerts found their way onto YouTube.
On August 20, 2020, YouTube web series Defunctland released the film Live from the Space Stage: A Halyx Story, which was a documentary about the band.[13] The film was produced and edited by Kevin Perjurer and directed by Matthew Serrano.[14] On November 14, 2020, YouTube channel Themed Alternative, ran by Perjurer, uploaded a tribute music video named "HAIL HALYX," with the channel also premiering a video titled "HALYX: Reunited" where members and crew of the attraction met over a video call.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "303: Live from the Space Stage – A HALYX Story!". Skywalking Through Neverland. October 2020.
- ^ Edwards, James Jay (August 28, 2020). "Live from the Space Stage: A Halyx Story Is a Disney Story Even Hardcore Disneyphiles Might Not Know". The Big Smoke.
- ^ Sotto, Eddie (October 20, 2020). "Halyx: a cautionary tale about developing dreams".
- ^ "Halyx: For Those About to Rock…at Disneyland!". ImagiNERDing. February 22, 2011.
- ^ MacDonald, Brady (August 20, 2020). "Disneyland's '80s-era Star Wars rock band had a Wookiee bass player covered in yak fur". Orange County Register.
- ^ "THE SPACE-AGE TALE NEVER TOLD - HALYX". Perspex. October 1, 2020.
- ^ LePire, Bobby (September 27, 2020). "LIVE FROM THE SPACE STAGE: A HALYX STORY". Film Threat.
- ^ Parsons, Hope (October 6, 2020). "Disney's Lost Rockband: Halyx". The Daily Fandom.
- ^ Burlingame, Russ. "Live From The Space Stage: A Halyx Story, Which Tracks A Short-Lived, Star Wars-Inspired Rock Band, Makes For an Incredible Documentary". Comicbook.comdate=August 21, 2020.
- ^ Sage, Vic (August 23, 2020). "Are You Aware of Halyx – the Sci-Fi Band That Rocked Disneyland In '81?". Pop Culture Retrorama.
- ^ Parker, Lyndsey (September 6, 2020). "Remembering Halyx, Disneyland's forgotten sci-fi glam group: 'The Star Wars Cantina Band meets KISS'". Yahoo!.
- ^ Bear, Caitie (22 August 2020). "Live From the Space Stage: A Halyx Story is a Beautiful Journey into Forgotten Disney History". Daps Magic.
- ^ Libbey, Dirk (August 18, 2020). "Live From The Space Stage: A HALYX Story Is A Stunning Look At A Forgotten Piece Of Disneyland History". CinemaBlend.
- ^ Taylor, Drew (August 21, 2020). "This Summer's Wildest Disney Documentary Is a YouTube Movie About a Failed Sci-Fi Rock Band". Collider. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
- ^ "HAIL HALYX Tribute Music Video Hits the Internet". Daps Magic. November 14, 2020.