British pop band
Venus Ray formed in the late '90s and consisted of
Robert Coyne (bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals), Diggory Kenrick (guitar, percussion, vocals), Barney Oliver (bass, keyboards, vocals),
Steve Smith (drums, vocals), and Tony Thewlis (bass, guitar, harmonica, vocals). After releasing Voyage to the Moon and The Day the Earth Stood Still EPs in 2000, they followed with a full-length the following year, entitled
Chuck Berry Vs. IBM. The EPs and LP were each issued through U.K. indie Negative. Since they allowed their numerous influences to rise to the surface from song to song, the band was categorized as power pop, alt country, and just about any other style associated with guitar-based rock & roll. ~ Andy Kellman