Planes Mistaken for Stars, who were hardly “broken up” (they played a “reunion” show at last year’s The Fest 8), have announced that they will be reuniting for two separate shows. The band’s lineup for the get-togethers will consist of the final lineup of Gared O’Donnell, Chuck French, Mike Rocketts, and Neil Keener, with the addition of their previous guitarist, Matt Bellinger.
In an official statement, O’Donnell explains why the band is getting back together: “Planes is getting together for some shows for a variety of reasons. The main catalyst being that Var (owner of No Idea Records) said, ‘Please play the No Idea 25th Year Anniversary at the Fest 9 in Gainesville,’ but I suppose people need a story…” O’Donnell goes on to explain that “life got in the way” — the band wanted to do music “balls deep,” and they felt they couldn’t with Planes Mistaken for Stars, but they realized they could and that everybody just missed each other.
But do you want to hear the real story? Of course you do.
What happened was this: Guitarist Mike Rocketts is actually a sentient rocket built for long-distance space travel, and upon the band breaking up “because life got in the way,” he set out for the stars to explore the furthest reaches of the universe. After a couple days of travel, Rocketts decided to take a pit-stop on Jupiter for a drink and a nap. However, Rocketts was quickly captured by local Jupiterian police agencies for illegal entry and spent two weeks in jail. Once Rocketts convinced the authorities that he wasn’t a threat, he was released from prison. BUT! Rockett’s dog went on the space-trip, and the Jupiterian authorities refused to release the adorable puppy. Rocketts spent months in Juperiterian courts, but the the best he could do was this ruling: “The aforementioned Earth-dog (Spongy) shall only be released from imprisonment once the plaintiff (Earth-man Mike Rocketts) wins the 233rd annual Jupiter Battle of the Bands.” Consequently, Rocketts rushed back to Earth, got his band together, and, after scheduling a couple shows for practice, made plans to head back to Jupiter and free his mutt.
Planes Mistaken for Stars reunion shows:
10.28.10 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean
10.30.10 - Gainesville, FL - The Fest 9
• Planes Mistaken for Stars: http://www.myspace.com/pmfs
• The Fest 9: http://www.thefestfl.com
