 The band took their name from the novel "Nova Express" by William Burroughs; it had previously been used by an unrecorded group featuring the young Julian Cope and Pete Wylie.The band released their first EP "Admiral of the Sea" and album "The Last Days of Pompeii" in 1991.The lineup later changed with Marc Retish and then Steve Sutherland on drums, and Chris Hesler on lead guitar.