But now life overseas isn't all that different for Incubus. During their European trek with Sugar Ray in January 1998, Incubus also headlined at smaller clubs throughout the U.K., selling out venue after venue. Although Incubus had toured Europe twice before--first with Korn in January/ February 1997 (before their debut album S.C.I.E.N.C.E. was released), and then in August 1997 as a last-minute addition to the Warped Tour--their recent European dates were their first solo spots, so such an unexpectedly warm welcome from across the Atlantic was a happy surprise.

Back at home, another surprise was waiting for Incubus. "There were messages from a bunch of my friends: 'They played you on KROQ!'" recalls Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger, who's still suffering from jet-lag. "They played 'Anti-Gravity Love Song' on KROQ--which is cool because that song is my favorite on the record!"

It was the first time the Calabasas, California-based quintet--which also features vocalist/ percussionist Brandon Boyd, bassist Alex Katunich, drummer Jose Pasillas and disc-spinner DJ Lyfe--had been blasted on the giant, trend-setting L.A. radio station. And this momentous occasion somehow seemed even more incredible because it occurred while the band was selling out shows thousands of miles away. Even more ironic, "Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)" wasn't even one of their record company's selected "singles."

"It's not the single because it could be deceptive as to the rest of our music," Einziger justifies. (While the groovy, horn-embellished "Anti-Gravity Love Song" is far from being a Sugar Ray-type hit like "Fly," it is more radio-friendly than most of the heavy funk-rock tunes on S.C.I.E.N.C.E..) "The funny thing is, more than any other song, people ask us to play it--even like some huge guy with tattoos all over his forehead will say play 'Anti-Gravity Love Song.'

"We were a little apprehensive about it, because we kind of set a tone on the record, which is a little heavier, so there was concern about it fitting on the album," adds the guitarist. "But in the end, we all knew that it didn't matter what style of music it was and where it fits in and in what context, it's just another one of our songs, it's our music."

Boyd, Incubus's lyricist, also had reservations regarding the tune's the mushy love-song lyrics, which are very different from those of the band's other songs. "'Anti-Gravity Love Song' is about being in love," the singer explains. "I'm home by myself, thinking about the woman that I love and trying to find a way for us to escape, fly away. So I finally give her the secrets that I've been studying for so long, the secrets of anti-gravity."

Unlike most heavy bands who spew angry obscenities, Incubus's lyrics are positive, even spiritual. Whether it's the sensual "Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song)," or the more aggressive "A Certain Shade Of Green" (in which Boyd asks people to make a difference before the prophesied end of the world) and wake-up call-to-arms "Vitamin," Incubus's songs are full of insight about improving the quality of life on this planet.

"For many the lyrics for this album, I was thinking a lot about what human beings as a species could achieve if we really redefine everything that we consider to be real and right," Boyd professes. "By writing lyrics, I'm hoping to audibly influence and inspire people to change their ways in a more positive direction. We could do so much more, and it could be easier too. Human society is so complicated and for such ridiculous reasons. We tend to overlook the easiest things and go for the most complicated, technologically-advanced solutions. It's almost like we need to step back in order to step forward. Even to go back and appreciate the more primitive sides of cultures." Boyd pauses, laughing. "I feel like I'm preaching."

While this somewhat hippie-ish outlook sets Incubus apart from many of the other heavy-organic-genre bands (if there is such a genre), it did hinder their initial success, according to Boyd. "Because we're not 'a band with attitude,'"--Boyd says with mock 'tude--"we didn't get signed earlier."

			"Redifine"
			"Vitamin"
			"New Skin"

However, the powers-that-be at Immortal Records understood that Incubus are a touring band, and--like another Immortal artist, Korn--they could become successful by building an underground following. "We knew that we were not going to be a one-hit-wonder and that every single radio station and MTV was gonna play us," admits Einziger. "We knew that we would have to tour and tour, and that's the way we would sell albums and have a career because that's what we've always done. We love recording and we love being in the studio, but ultimately we are a live band, and I think the way we are going to sell ourselves is for people to see it themselves."

Once Immortal signed Incubus, the label immediately remixed six songs from the band's initial demo and released them on the Enjoy Incubus EP. Incubus then hit the highways to test their songs and build that underground following; by the time the 12-song S.C.I.E.N.C.E. came out in September 1997, Incubus had covered the States from coast to coast and had toured Europe twice. Now all this perseverance is beginning to pay off--with S.C.I.E.N.C.E. enjoying steady sales of nearly 800 units a week--so don't expect Incubus's road trips to stop any time soon. "The more shows we play, the better we are gonna do--mathematically speaking," Einziger concludes. "And the fans that we've made are people that will still like us in five years and not forget about us in a month. There's no scene--it's not underground, it's not mainstream, it's just music, it's just fun."