Mark Astronaut

Mark Wilkins (27 August 1954 to 6 July 2022) known professionally as Mark Astronaut, was an English singer, songwriter, frontman and founder of the British band The Astronauts. 
== Career ==
Mark Wilkins was born in North London on 27 August 1954. His father was a vicar who took up a post in Manchester soon after, and the family lived there for 10 years. His father then retrained as a teacher, and the family moved to Welwyn Garden City, where Mark remained for the rest of his life. 
In 1976 Mark booked the Sex Pistols to play at the local college, an event which was attended by Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto who went on to form the Buzzcocks as well as organise the legendary Lesser Free Trade Hall gigs in Manchester. In 1977, inspired by a local prog rock band called Masque, he formed The Astronauts with two friends. Initially just for their own amusement, The Astronauts were later asked to play at an all day music and poetry event held at The Corn Exchange in Hertford. They went on to support The Soft Boys in London, and Dire Straits in St Abans -- the latter leading to them being talent-spotted by the Potters Bar label Bugle Records -- before eventually joining the Here & Now and Alternative TV free tour of 1978. On this tour they met the bands Zounds and The Mob, and subsequently went on another free tour with those the following year. 
In 1979, after attending a Stevenage Rock Against Racism gig in Hitchin, Mark Wilkins met Gordon Walker, a young student who had built his own synthesiser and the pair formed Restricted Hours to run alongside The Astronauts. Again, this was just for their own amusement until Stevenage RAR asked them to record two tracks for a fundraiser EP. 
Inspired by The Sex Pistols after watching them perform at a local college, Wilkins formed The Astronauts with a few friends in 1977. The Astronauts was not a band in the conventional sense. Wilkins was the only permanent member of the band, and the rest were transient members, comprising of musicians in and around Welwyn Garden City. 
The band started playing at local festivals in Welwyn Garden City and began to gain popularity. By 1979, it was regularly performing at free festivals and rock concerts in London, organised by a UK Record label called "Fuck Off Records". This led to a beneficial colaboration with London punk bands Zounds and the The Mob (British punk band). It released its first Extended play ‘The Astronauts’ later that year.
Despite its popularity among punk rock fans, the band was largely ignored by the UK music media but Wilkins was never fazed by this. He soldered on and in 1981, the band released its debut album 'Peter Pan Hits The Suburbs'. This was followed by 'It’s All Done By Mirrors' in 1983. The band continued to release songs over the years. Its latest album 'When we were Otters' was released in February 2022. 
Wilkins formed two other bands, namely 'Restricted hours in 1997' and 'The Otters' in 2004.The members of Restricted Hours were Wilkins, Cowley and Walker. It released one EP called 'Restricted Hours' and disbanded later.
== Death ==
Wilkins died on 6 July 2022 at the age of 67.
== Discography ==
The Astronauts 
Albums
* Peter Pan Hits The Suburbs (1981)
* Only Fools & Optimists (1982)
* It's All Done By Mirrors (1983)
* Soon (1986)
* The Seedy Side Of (1987)
* In Defence Of Compassion (1989)
* Upfront And Sideways (1992 - re-released 2016) 
* You're All Weird (1999)
* One Wave (2012)
* It's Got A Garden (2019)
* When We Were Otters (2022)
Singles & EPs
* The Astronauts (1979)
* Pranksters In Revolt (1980)
* Baby Sings Folk Songs (1994)
* The Donkey Riding (2010)
* Typically English Day (2013)
* Last Of The Summer Meths / Stumbling Into Coherence (2013)
* When You're Not So High (2021)
Compilations
* Peter Pan Hits The Suburbs / All Done By Mirrors (1989)
* Survivors (2011)
* Urban Planning 1979-2013 (2013)
Restricted Hours
Singes & EPs
* Restricted Hours (1989)
The Otters
Singles & EPs
* Situation Normal (2004)
* Kidnapped By Spacemen (2006)
* To Mock A Killingbird (2006)
* Songs Beginning With The Letter 'H' (2008)
* Melissa's Party (2009)
* Songs That Begin With The Letter H Part 2 (2009)
Compilations
* Kidnapped By Spacemen (2007)
== Explanatory notes ==
There is confusion over Mark Wilkins' date of death. Most sources including The Welwyn Hatfield Times and louderthanwar.com state that he died on 7 July 2022. However, thehippiesnowwearblack.org.uk reported that he died on 6 July 2022.
Mark's body was found on 7 July, it's likely he died the night before
Category:1954 births
Category:2022 deaths
Category:People from Welwyn Garden City
Category:English singer-songwriters