Satellite Party

by Corey Apar Satellite Party emerged out of former Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros frontman Perry Farrell's personal belief that individuals can change the world one step at a time. In keeping with the global and spiritual awareness found on his 2001 solo album, Song Yet to Be Sung, this recording endeavor was his way of lending a hand through music. With such lofty ambitions, Farrell would need help, and thus recruited guitar virtuoso Nuno Bettencourt (most notably from Extreme), drummer Kevin Figueiredo, bassist Carl Restivo, and his wife and backing vocalist, Etty Lau Farrell. Together, they brought to life an indulgent mix of rock, electronic, urban, and symphonic elements that at times resembled a sort of Peter Gabriel-meets-worldbeat sound; it told the story of The Solutionists, "a collaborative brain trust of artists, musicians, and environmentalists" who sought to find solutions for the world's problems. Satellite Party's conceptual debut further enlisted the assistance of various guests -- including Peter DiStefano (Porno for Pyros), Flea and John Frusciante from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order), Hybrid, Thievery Corporation, Black Eyed Peas' Fergie, and film composer Harry Gregson-Williams -- not to mention contained a song ("Woman in the Window") that used a previously unreleased Jim Morrison vocal track. After three years of work, the band made its live debut in early 2007 at the winter X-Games, a performance that preceded the May release of Ultra Payloaded through Columbia Records.