“Calling occupants of interplanetary craft,
Calling occupants of interplanetary, most extraordinary craft..."

Klaatu - "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft"

When the Beatles broke up in 1970, the world was stunned.  Though usually happy with picking up each member’s latest solo works, the idea of a Beatles reunion remained a dream for many a fan.  Every now and again, rumors would circulate that their dreams of a reunited Beatles were coming true.  The biggest of these, perhaps, came in the 70s, and went by the name Klaatu.  With their pop-orchestral sound, reminiscent of the Fab Four, most believed Klaatu was a secret project that John, Paul, George and Ringo had been working on all along.  This led to major controversy, one that can’t hide the fact that the pop sounds of Klaatu were great all on their own.

Klaatu was a Canadian ‘progressive rock’ band that came together through the friendship of John Woloschuck and Dee Long.  They were simple studio musicians looking to record on their own while remaining anonymous.  So, after picking up a drummer, they took a sci-fi cue from the film The Day the Earth Stood Still and named themselves after the heroic alien, Klaatu, originally portrayed by Michael Rennie.  1973 saw the release of their first singles, and by 1976, their sound had perfected itself into that Beatle-esque sound that would confuse so many.  They snagged a record deal with Daffodil Records in Canada and Capitol Records in the United States, released their first album, 3:47 EST, which is often referred to as simply, Klaatu.  The album proved to be a decadent dose of ear candy for pop fans.  From the psychedelic “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” and the Beach Boys send-up, “California Jam,” it proved itself able to satisfy many an appetite. 

“Sub-Rosa Subway” was the song that gave that infamous Beatles impression.  Since the record was released with no biographical information, the second-guessing took off like wildfire, even confusing newer generations who come to the Internet, seeking answers.  Fuel was added to the fire after journalists began writing articles, proposing that Klaatu was actually the Beatles working under an assumed name; after all, if you can’t trust the media, who can you trust?  The one benefit to the rumor mill was that it caught the attention of DJs and pop culture alike, with radio play and album sales getting a big boost.  All the while, Klaatu remained… quiet.

At the height of the madness, Klaatu released a follow-up, Hope.  It was as catchy as the first album, with songs like “We’re Off You Know” and it took the orchestra sound to a whole new level on tracks like “Long Live Politzania” and “The Loneliest of Creatures.”  Pushing the envelope further was the second side of the album, bringing together all the songs on the front into a single suite, backed by the London Symphony Orchestra.  Once the Carpenters covered “Calling Occupants” the song became a worldwide hit, and Klaatu was on the tip of every musical tongue.

1978 was a year of change for Klaatu and their third release Sir Army Suit.  With that, they switched out lush, orchestral sounds for short pop tunes with punch.  They remained anonymous, but only for two more years.  With the release of 1980’s Endangered Species, which featured guitar-heavy pop songs like “Hot Box City” and “Paranoia”, the band put their names on the albums and started the interview circuit in order to promote it.  Following the excitement of the truth, the band put out just one more album before disbanding in 1982, Magentalane.  The album was only released in Canada, and didn’t make it into the US for over a decade. 

Since disbanding, the trio has only come together a couple of times, once in 1988 to record a song that no one was pleased with, and again in 2005 for a performance in Toronto.  All the while, the members of Klaatu have been keeping busy non-musically in their lives.  Dee Long became an animation software designer, John Woloschuk became an accountant and Terry Draper, well, he’s has his own roofing business.  Go figure.  Though they may no longer be pursuing music full-time, they continue to look back on their musical accomplishments with great pride.  Fans around the world have found it hard to forget Klaatu, keeping the spirit of the band a live with the quality of sound they gave us all.