Space knows full well the pain of breaking into the American market. Back in the mid-90s, the last time “alternative” radio could be said to be open-minded, “Female Of The Species” made a minor splash with its quirky neo-lounge concoction of delight. Today we write them off as a one-hit wonder because no one’s heard a peep from them since, but what actually happened was much more interesting.

Attempting to take advantage of the interest in Spiders‘ oddball appeal (how can you resist a song about a mad serial killer stalker called “Mister Psycho”?) Space scheduled their first American tour in the summer of 1997. Ready to take the States by force, bad things started to happen on the eve of the tour. Guitarist Jamie Murphy fell ill and had to be replaced; all seemed back on track until vocalist Tommy Scott was diagnosed with a throat infection and forced off the tour. When the band tried to remount the tour after Scott returned, other calamities befell the band: the keyboardist came down with bronchitis, and the mother of one of the band’s techs died, forcing a second string of cancellations. The band never made it to an appearance on Letterman, essentially sealing the band’s fate.

Space gamely returned with Tin Planet in 1998, featuring a duet with Cerys Matthews of Catatonia. However, thanks to the troubles they encountered in the States—troubles that nearly broke up the band, it seemed—Space remained in Britain, and Tin Planet never saw Stateside release. Neither did their subsequent two albums. Could you really blame them, though?