Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes

Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes in Chalmun's Cantina in A New Hope

Members	Instrument
Figrin D'an	Kloo Horn
Nalan Cheel	Bandfill
Tedn Dahai	Fanfar
Doikk Na'ts	Doremian Beshniquel (or Fizz)
Ickabel G'ont	Fanfar
Tech Mo'r	Ommni Box
Lirin Car'n	Kloo Horn (Backup)

Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes (also known as the Cantina Band) is a fictional band from George Lucas's science fiction saga Star Wars. The group first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) and were depicted as bald aliens with dome-shaped heads and round, black eyes, a race called Biths. They are seen in the Mos Eisley Cantina sequence. The band is also featured in the short story "We Don't Do Weddings: The Band's Tale" by Kathy Tyers in the anthology Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina (1995). They were parodied in the film Team America: World Police.

Storyline

The band is made up of seven members, all Bith from the planet Clak'dor VII. The leader of the band is Figrin D'an, as the name clearly implies.

The band was popular across the galaxy during the Clone Wars, touring the frontlines and entertaining Republic soldiers. By the time Luke Skywalker reached adulthood, however, they were reduced to playing in seedy cantinas for a living. Only six of the members were playing when Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi walked into the Cantina. Lirin Car'n sat out during the performance, because he was not needed.

Behind the scenes

The band was portrayed by Rick Baker, Phil Tippett, Jon Berg, Laine Liska, Doug Bestwick, and Tom St Amand. In 2006, as part of its Commemorative Tin Collection, Hasbro created a set of action figures of the band, which it sold through Wal-Mart. Each figure came with its own instrument.

In 1977, musician Meco released a disco single of the original cantina tune mixed with John Williams' main title theme (along with several R2-D2 sound effects), under the title "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band." The track reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in August, and was certified platinum; it even outsold the release of the official Star Wars theme by the London Symphony Orchestra. The single appeared on an EP titled Star Wars and other Galactic Funk, which was also released the same year.^[1]

Alternative band Ash released a cover version of the tune as the B-side of its single "Girl From Mars" in 1995.

References

1. ^ Meco at Allmusic

External links

• T. Mike Childs (2004). "Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes". The Rocklopedia Fakebandica. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 031232944X. http://fakebands.com./fakeband_f.html. 
• David Mansour (2005). "Star Wars". From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel Publishing. pp. 460. ISBN 0740751182. 
• Larkin, Colin (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Guinness. pp. 1652. ISBN 0851129390. 
• Peter Buckley (2003). "Ash". The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. pp. cxiii. ISBN 1843531054. 
• D. "Julius Marx" Pickett (2006). "Hasbro". Action Figure Insider. http://actionfigureinsider.com./sdcc2006/hasbro.shtml. 
• Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes at the Star Wars Databank
• Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes on Wookieepedia: a Star Wars Wiki
• "LEGO figurines of Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes". http://mocpages.com./moc.php/46164.