[6] The band, which is often just called "Sputnik",[7] was formed by Tony James, ex-bassist of the defunct Generation X,[7][8] and Neal X (Whitmore), who recruited singer Martin Degville.

The samples used in the single had not received copyright clearance, and were replaced in the US version,[7] a move that James says "killed the record" in America.

[10] Their second single, "21st Century Boy" reached number 20 in the UK, a relative disappointment James blamed on audiences tiring of the band due to overexposure in the media.

[10] Despite largely negative reviews, their debut studio album, Flaunt It, also produced by Moroder, made the top ten in the UK, and reached 96 in the US.

The Stock Aitken Waterman produced "Success" peaked at number 31 in late 1988, with James blaming the track's underperformance on its generic pop production and a poor quality video.

[7] In 1998, with Degville back on vocals and with Claudia Cujo on drums,[7] the band started to perform again, resulting in the 2000 release of Piratespace.

Neal X is a member of the Marc Almond band, and went on to form his own group, the Montecristos,[6] which released its debut album "Born to Rock n' Roll" in 2015 following a successful crowd funding project.

[8] The themes and imagery in the band's songs were often influenced by futuristic, dystopian or post-apocalyptic films such as A Clockwork Orange, The Terminator, Blade Runner and the Mad Max trilogy.