The Chinese Stars

Following the breakup of experimental rock outfit Arab on Radar in late 2002, vocalist and guitarist Eric Paul launched the Chinese Stars as his next venture. He assembled the lineup by bringing in Craig Kureck, the drummer from his former band, former Six Finger Satellite bassist Rick Ivan Pelletier, and guitarist Paul Viera. Although the Chinese Stars leaned somewhat more accessible than Arab on Radar’s provocative chaos, the group’s noisy and off-kilter style still earned them a spot on Skin Graft, the label that had already supported Paul and Kureck’s prior project. The band delivered its debut EP, Turbo Mattress, shaped like a Chinese throwing star, in 2003.