Noko

London based Multi-instrumentalist Norman Fisher-Jones, aka Noko, had already gigged as a session musician with The Cure, and The Buzzcock's Pete Shelley before releasing the 'Make Hell (For The Beautiful People) E.P.' with the Synth-Pop act The Umbrella. Alongside Magazine's Howard Devoto, Noko would become one half of the group Luxuria, where they would release 2 LP's through Beggars Banquet. In the latter part of the 80's he would also be a part of the Dream Pop group The Heart Throbs (of which he stayed a part of until 1993), as well as the Indie band Corn Dollies. However it was in 1990 with original Umbrella member James Gardner, their school friend Howard Gray, and Howard's brother Trevor Gray, that Noko would form the dance act Apollo 440.

Apollo 440 would be one of a number of acts created around that time by Noko, the vast majority of which would be one off pieces released by Reverb Records (2). These included rave styled acts like Fast & Johnny Potatohead as well as the more ambient techno led Stealth Sonic Soul, however it was the original group that stood the test of time.
Working under the name Stealth Sonic Orchestra, Noko and the Gray brothers would also create orchestral focused remixes for the likes of Manic Street Preachers, U2 & Skunk Anansie.

In 1997 Noko would create the one off project E-Z Drum & Bass Orchestra with Simon Plaskett and release the single 'Beat Girl'. The two would also release remixes under the name Escape From New York.
Maximum Roach was formed in 2002, featuring Noko and 440 members Harry K., Paul Kodish & Ian Hoxley (AKA Mary Mary). Hoxley and Noko would go on to form the project Am I Dead Yet? in 2019.