TOMMY Scott, the jovial leader of Liverpool astral rockers Space, tells a wonderful story about how their wacky tune, Female of the Species, landed slap bang in the middle of spy spoof movie, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

“Demi Moore, the actress, was driving down Sunset Boulevard listening to Radio XCZ 2 or something and the DJ played Female (of the Species),” recalls Tommy whose band headline Darwen Live on Monday.

“This is absolutely true,” he giggles, hardly able to contain his laughter.

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“She pulls over and ‘phones Mike Myers (Austin Powers) and tells him you’ve got to get this song in the movie, they’re from Liverpool - your city - and it is a smasher of a tune.

“The next thing you know we are on a plane to Los Angeles and eighteen hours later we are at Mike Myers’ house, having a beer in his garden, talking about Liverpool FC and how he wants Space to play in his film.

“Mike’s a big Red, a good lad, and he’s going, ‘See that house up there, that’s where Frank Sinatra used to live and Madonna owns that one.

“It was nuts. Utter madness.

“I’d never been abroad before – never mind Beverley Hills.

“The furthest I’d been was my Grandad’s caravan in Rhyl, but suddenly this little urchin from Liverpool was living it up in Hollywood.”

The melodic core of Space’s sound was inspired by The Kinks and The Who, yet their imaginative use of electronic instruments and sampling drew from hip hop and classic film tracks.

Also known for their dark-humoured lyrics, shining the light on failed relationships, social outcasts and mental illness, life was always going to be a rollercoaster of emotions for four lads from Merseyside who always lived on the fringes of the rock and roll world.

“I don’t think I can write a normal song, and yeah they are heavy subjects I suppose, but that’s life,” added Tommy.

“I was always fascinated by horror, science-fiction, the human mind and outer space.

“I’d get lost in that world, and that has always shaped our music like Tin Planet and 20 Million Miles from Earth.”

Space split in 2005, but now they are back together again and their first album in a decade – Attack of the Mutant 50ft Kebab – and a world tour, means they are firmly back on the map.

“I went away and formed a punk band, but eventually I missed them.

“I started getting nostalgic - but we’ve not come back as a cabaret band.

“We’ve written new songs, but I pretty much know that we are not going to have any hits again.

“We are having a lot of fun, there’s no pressure now.”

Space, Darwen Live headliners. Monday, May 25