TISM

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TISM

Background information
Origin Australian flag Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genre(s) Alternative rock
Years active 1982–2004 (On indefinite hiatus since 2004)
Label(s) Elvis, Musicland, Phonogram, Shock, FMR, genre b.goode
Associated acts ROOT!
Members
Ron Hitler-Barassi
Humphrey B. Flaubert
Jock Cheese
Eugene de la Hot-Croix Bun
Jon St. Peenis
Les Miserables
Former members
Tokin' Blackman
Genre B. Goode
Leak Van Vlalen

TISM (an acronym of This Is Serious Mum) is a seven piece anonymous alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The group was formed in 1982 and enjoyed a large underground/independent following. Their third album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons reached the Australian national top 10 in 1995. TISM is known for its hybrid of dance music and rock'n'roll, high-energy live shows and humorous lyrics. TISM's songs (and song titles) frequently satirise modern culture, celebrities and the entertainment industry, classic literature and art, current affairs, politics and sport.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early years

In early 1982, at a Melbourne University, the members of TISM formed a band out of "a pure sense of shared mediocrity",[1] and wrote more than 100 songs throughout the year which were "immediately discarded due to lack of interest" and later became known as "The Bedroom Recordings".[2] Ten tracks were recorded to tape and sold as the This Is Serious Mum Demo Tape (1985), a select few were heard on their début album Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance (1988) and a collection of twenty-five were released with tism.bestoff. (2002). TISM's first concert was on December 6, 1983 – almost 12 months after dismissing their bedroom recordings. The concert, at the Duncan McKinnon Athletics Reserve in the small suburb of Murrumbeena was considered a complete failure which caused the band to officially split up. They reformed the following year and have considered every subsequent performance a "re-union gig".[2]

By 1985 the band was playing regularly around Melbourne and soon released their début single, Defecate On My Face (1986), a 7" vinyl packaged in a 12" sleeve with all four sides glued shut. Their next single, 40 Years - Then Death (1987), was released on transparent vinyl in a clear plastic sleeve with no cover art or labels. TISM's first radio-friendly single, despite the obscure packaging, is received well.[2]

The début album, Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance (1988), is a double vinyl release in an embossed gatefold sleeve. The first record contained twelve of TISM's most popular tracks; the second was a pastiche of interviews, bedroom recordings and live diatribes. Despite this odd combination, Truckin' Songs entered the lower reaches of Australia's mainstream Top 40, as did the single Saturday Night Palsy.[2]

Phonogram Records signed the band in 1989 and paired with producer Lawrence Maddy, began work on their follow-up album. The band soon lost interest and channelled its remaining funds into The TISM Guide To Little Aesthetics, a book compiling lyrics, interviews and press releases. When Phonogram released Hot Dogma (1990) it failed to reach the commercial charts, and TISM were fired despite owing the label tens of thousands of dollars.[2]

Over two nights in May, 1991, the band were filmed live and released the video Incontinent in Ten Continents (1991). These performances were the last for guitarist Leek Van Vlalen.[3]

[edit] Rise to fame

TISM in fat suits at the Gold Coast Big Day Out, January 21, 1994.
TISM in fat suits at the Gold Coast Big Day Out, January 21, 1994.

In mid-1991, independent record label Shock Records signed TISM and re-issued Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance, as well as the EP Gentlemen, Start Your Egos (1991), a compilation of tracks previously unavailable on CD.[4] TISM, with producer Tony Cohen, then released the EP Beasts of Suburban (1992). A new guitarist 'Tony Coitus', later 'Tokin' Blackman', joined the group onstage for the first time on January 23, 1992.[3]

The next EP, Australia The Lucky Cunt (1993) was TISM's most controversial release to date. Courts issued an injunction order of the CD when the Ken Done Society threatened legal action over the artwork,[2] which parodied Done's signature style and depicted a koala sucking a syringe. The matter was settled for an undisclosed amount of money "fairly close to the amount that Radiohead spends on buying friends"[5] and was re-released with new artwork as Censored Due To Legal Advice.[5]

TISM's biggest success was the 1995 album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons. The release was a shift from alternative-rock to synth-driven techno and dance which retained vocal melodies and loud guitars. The album was certified Gold and won an ARIA Award for Best Independent Release.[2] Three of its singles reached Triple J's Hottest 100, two of them in the top 10.[6]

TISM dance with cricket bats while performing Dumb 'n' Base during the Caveat Emptour.
TISM dance with cricket bats while performing Dumb 'n' Base during the Caveat Emptour.

Success exposed TISM to mainstream Australian radio and television, most of which was perplexed by the band's guerrilla approach to interviews and disinterest in the music industry. A box set of early albums was released and steady record sales allowed extensive tours of Australia and New Zealand. In 1996 TISM toured on the Big Day Out, during which Ron Hitler-Barassi was either absent or wheelchair-bound due to a detached retina caused by a stage dive prior to the tour.[7] Later the same year, TISM toured England – the group's sole Northern Hemisphere excursion.[3]

Taking a year off from touring, TISM spent 1997 working on its next album with producer Lachlan Magoo. The album, www.tism.wanker.com (1998) was announced via a series of live Internet chats and webcasts. The first official music video for the album, I Might Be A Cunt, But I'm Not A Fucking Cunt, parodied the Tommy Lee/Pamela Anderson sex tape and was rarely broadcast.[2] Australian RSL head Bruce Ruxton wrote a letter of complaint to Shock Records describing it as "...Dropping [Australia's standards] through the floor into the proverbial sewer."[8] The letter was published on TISM's website at the time.[9]

www.tism.wanker.com sold reasonably well, thanks in part to an extensive Australian tour with Regurgitator, then at the height of their popularity, and The Fauves; however, sales were low compared to Machiavelli and the Four Seasons's success and TISM's contract with Shock had ended.

[edit] After Shock Records

Following the 1998 tour, TISM signed with Festival Mushroom Records which re-released their entire back catalogue on CD. Their first and only official album with FMR, De RigueurMortis (2001) débuted at #24 on the ARIA chart[10] and #3 on the Alternative ARIA Chart.[11] Flaubert predicted on Triple J radio that the album would "plummet out of the top 40 like a stone";[11] - the following week, it was not on the list. Touring became less thorough than in previous years, though no less active - at the closing of the Punters Club, the band ended up naked and tore the ceiling down during the gig.[12] FMR then released tism.bestoff. (2002), a best of compilation which included their greatest hits, two new tracks and a disc of remastered Bedroom Recordings. The compilation was their second, and last, release with Festival Mushroom Records, as TISM's contract had ended.

Finding itself with no record label again, TISM returned to touring. In late 2003, a special one-off concert was filmed and released on DVD as The White Albun (2004) by Madman Entertainment. A documentary and full length album were also included, making it a 3-disc set which received good reviews[13], however, the release was not eligible for ARIA chart tracking. The concert DVD is presented as a telethon at which TISM breaks up. Ironically, TISM performed after that concert in order to promote the set.

Snapshot of the Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me music video.
Snapshot of the Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me music video.

TISM's most recent release is the German CD-single Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me (2005). It is TISM's first non-Australian release: Sony/BMG Germany expressed interest when the song's animated clip was an Internet hit thanks to bloggers and sites such as YouTube. The single reached the German commercial charts.[14]

[edit] Current status

In October of 2006, after a near two-year silence from the band, rumours circulated online that TISM would be playing at the Big Day Out 2007.[15]

On October 4, 2006 Flaubert spoke to Jay and the Doctor on Triple J radio. Although the downloads section for the Jay and the Doctor radio show said "TISM are NOT playing the 2007 BDO",[16] in the interview itself, Flaubert did not clearly state whether the rumour was true or false, choosing instead to skirt the issue almost entirely except to say, "Who gives a shit about that?" and a lengthy rant about terrorist threats and Osama bin Laden being a Thin Lizzy fan.[17] In mid December, 2006, the final list of acts for the 2007 Big Day Out were announced. TISM was not among them.[18]

Flaubert also remarked in the Triple J interview, when asked about the current status of TISM, "we are slowly moving towards our deaths".[16]

In early December, 2006 Flaubert contributed to the ABC's "My Favourite Album" program, where he stated his favourite album as "Any album – as long as it's by Nickelback!"[19] Later the same month, TISM were inducted into the EG Hall of Fame, at which they made an appearance and "a hilariously irreverent speech".[20]

No original TISM material has been released since 2004's The White Albun. In early 2007, a Melbourne country and western band called ROOT! appeared on MySpace, with Humphrey B. Flaubert (now called DC Root) on vocals.[21][22]

On 29 April 2008, it was confirmed that guitarist James Paull, otherwise known as Tokin' Blackman, had died after a battle with cancer.[23]

[edit] Members

TISM members are pseudonymous and anonymous. They wear balaclavas during all public appearances.

Current
Humphrey B. Flaubert (left) and Ron Hitler-Barassi (right) guest program Rage (May 20, 1995)
Humphrey B. Flaubert (left) and Ron Hitler-Barassi (right) guest program Rage (May 20, 1995)
  • Ron Hitler-Barassi: Vocals
  • Humphrey B. Flaubert: Vocals / Drums
  • Jock Cheese: Bass
  • Eugene de la Hot-Croix Bun: Keyboards
  • Jon St. Peenis: Dancing / Vocals
  • Les Miserables: Dancing / Vocals
Former
  • Tokin' Blackman (first billed as Tony Coitus): Guitar (1992–2008)[24]
  • Leak Van Vlalen: Guitar (1982–1991)
  • Genre B. Goode: Vocals (1982–1983)
  • Steak And Charles Kidney: Lead Guitar

St. Peenis played saxophone on earlier recordings.[25] Cheese plays guitar on various recordings and live shows.[26] Blackman arranged orchestral sections on The White Albun (2004).[27] Flaubert programs rhythms and samples, and has occasionally played acoustic drumkits live.[28]

[edit] Identities

TISM have always used a variety of methods to conceal their identities. They have never officially revealed their names, instead choosing to use pseudonyms on their records and in interviews, all the while concealing their faces. Usually this involves the wearing of a balaclava, but ridiculous costumes have been created for the purpose, including Ku Klux Klan uniforms made of newspaper,[29] silver suits with puffy arms and legs,[29] giant foam paintings worn on the head,[29] large foam signs bearing the name of a Beatle,[30] fat 'businessman' suits,[29] and eight-foot-high inflatable headpieces,[7] among others.

Who TISM are beneath the masks has been the cause of much speculation by fans, with one theory contending that TISM is composed of members of other bands who don't want their fans to find out: popular targets of this theory include Painters and Dockers, Machine Gun Fellatio and even The Wiggles.[31][32][33] A theory based on the band's tour schedule's roughly coinciding with school holidays proposes that TISM are school teachers.[34][35] Another common theory, based on the high instance of football references in their lyrics, is that they are AFL players,[35] however Humphrey B. Flaubert has stated that "We're actually not AFL, we're more violent and crappy... so you're looking at the VFL there."[36]

When asked why they wear masks, Flaubert replied:

The answer that makes me sound good is that we desired to circumvent the cult of personality that is inherent in rock music by choosing to remain anonymous. Unlike every other band in rock we chose to be anonymous. The answer that makes me sound good would probably also incorporate some lengthy discussion about Brechtian alienation techniques, about our post modernist grasp of ever cooling universe, and a dehumanizing society encapsulated in the somewhat paramilitary aspect of our clothing. All of those things would make me sound good, but actually we’re really boring guys."[1]

During the 1990s TISM played live in ABC studios in Melbourne where equipment was damaged during their performance. On a later occasion, again at the ABC studios, prior to their performance, the ABC crew advised the band that they surreptitiously recorded the band without their disguises during their rehearsal/sound check and that if any equipment was damaged during their performance the recording would be released to the public. The video has never been made public however it is still in the possession of an ABC employee.[citation needed]

[edit] Style

TISM are distinguished from other 'joke' or 'gimmick bands', by, among other things, their musical style. The band has rarely in any seriousness stated actual influences on the type of music they play, except that The Residents were a band which TISM 'did' notice and 'possibly' took some influence from.[1] Though a clear link can be drawn from The Residents' The Third Reich 'n' Roll video, in which the band wore Ku Klux Klan uniforms made of newspaper:[37]TISM did exactly this at their first gig. Another link may be drawn to early TISM tracks "The Ballad Of The Semitic Nazi" or "I'm Gonna Treat Ya To A Neitschze Double Feature" which use a similar naming convention as The Residents. Other bands which may have influenced TISM are difficult to pinpoint.

The band has been criticised as unoriginal for continually opting for standard pop song structures. One reason for this is clarified in their book, The TISM Guide To Little Aesthetics, in the following paragraphs, when asked why their ideas are post-modern but their music is not:

"Give me a pop-song, mate. Give me a fucking pop-song. Not only is it more fun, it's pretty fuckin' hard to write as well. You can bung in as many out-of-tune oboes as you want, but putting chords together so they sound pleasant isn't as simple as it might appear. It mightn't be the Sistine Chapel, but what is? Ollie fucking Olsen with his stupid feedback and cough mixture? The Jesus and Mary Chain, with their stupid feedback, and their stupid stage show with 800 powerful stupid lights and enough stupid dry ice to enhance their stupid stupidity up its own bullshit crappy teenage pretentious one dimensional dick witted puissant artistic enigma? So ... what have you listened to for a good time that isn't, after all, a 'traditional' song? Still playing the Mike Oldfield records, huh? Still whipping Yessongs on for a good time? Wanna count on one hand how many people have fun at a Sonic Youth gig? I'm not supporting The Choirboys, old man, I'm just saying that the day some jumped up over-paid self-important post-modernist cocksucker puts his foot upon his Fairlight computer in the middle of his 47 minute opus The Silent Forgiveness Of The Pig-God and belts out the chords to Johnny B. Goode is the day I'll join you at the footlights of post-modernism. Besides which, pop songs sell more."[38]

As with most bands, recurring themes are present throughout TISM's extensive output, the most common being death, violence,[39] fame and prominent figures,[40][41] drugs, including alcohol,[42] and the AFL.[41] Many of TISM's lyrics are tinged in fatalism, mocking both the superficial and the sublime side of the human condition[41] and the desire for people to be loved and respected[41] (even just in the titles of such songs as "If You're Not Famous At Fourteen, You're Finished", "If You're Ugly, Forget It" and "Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me").

[edit] Discography

Albums
EPs
Compilations and live albums
Video

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Return of the Pop Vigilantes (essay) (2002-02-21). Archived on 2005-06-16 by the Internet Archive. Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h TISM - The History of This Is Serious Mum (2000). Archived on 2000-12-06 by the Internet Archive. Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
  3. ^ a b c This Is Serious Mum live dates: 1991 (list) (2004). Archived on 2004-09-23 by the Internet Archive. Retrieved on 2007-12-09.
  4. ^ Shock Records - T.I.S.M - Official page at the Shock Records website. Archived by the Internet Archive on 2006-02-05. Accessed on 2007-12-10.
  5. ^ a b Humphrey B. Flaubert (2002-12-05). Album cover censorship on John Safran's Music Jamboree (.mov). SBS TV, Melbourne, Australia. Hosted by brittletina. Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
  6. ^ Triple J (1995). "Hottest 100 | History | 1995" (list) (1995). Retrieved (2007-12-11).
  7. ^ a b Flaubert, Humphrey B. (2005). The Big Day Out Part Two The Rest Of Australia Australian Traveller Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  8. ^ Ruxton, Bruce (1998-05-05). Bruce Ruxton denounces TISM in a letter to Shock Records. letter. Bruce Ruxton. Hosted by tismselfstorage. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  9. ^ TISM (1998) I Might Be A Cunt, But I'm Not A Fucking Cunt from the website www.tism.wanker.com. Archived on 1998-11-11 by the Internet Archive. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
  10. ^ TISM - De Rigueurmortis chart information from australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2007-10-18
  11. ^ a b Official TISM Website - New Album News (2002-02-05). Archived on 2005-07-09 by the Internet Archive. Retrieved on 2007-10-17.
  12. ^ Ms.45 (2002). "TISM Self Storage goes to the Punters". Ms.45. tismselfstorage. review. (external link contains explicit material) Retrieved 2007-11-19.
  13. ^ Anton (2004-06-30). "TISM - The White Albun" (review) (2004). Retrieved (2007-12-11).
  14. ^ TISM - Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me. Chart information from charts-surfer.de. (A search for TISM brings up the Max. Pos. 63.) Retrieved (2007-12-11).
  15. ^ MrJenkins, (2006-11-04) TISM at Big Day Out 2007? from the TISM Forum. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  16. ^ a b Jay and The Doctor audio page and interview with Humphrey B. Flaubert. Recorded by Triple J, 2006-10-03. Retrieved 2007-10-18
  17. ^ MrJenkins, (2006-08-06) TISM at Big Day Out - Confirmed (?) from the TISM Forum. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  18. ^ Big Day Out (December 2006). Final Acts Announced for 2007 BDO. press release. Big Day Out. Archived on 2007-01-12 by the Internet Archive. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  19. ^ Humphrey B. Flaubert's online entry as part of ABC TV's My Favourite Album (2006-12-13). Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  20. ^ Donovan, Patrick (2007-12-22). "Sticky Carpet". Patrick Donovan. The Age. article. p. 1. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
  21. ^ ROOT! at MySpace. Retrieved (2007-12-11).
  22. ^ Donovan, Patrick and Virgiotis, Tessie (2007-09-07) "A love letter to Berlin". Patrick Donovan and Tessie Virgiotis. The Age. article. p. 2. Retrieved on 2007-10-16.
  23. ^ Perez, Jesse. "TISM guitarist dies of cancer", Macquarie National News, 29 April 2008
  24. ^ Masked and understated virtuoso of the guitar, from classical to indie rock legends TISM, The Age, May 7, 2008.
  25. ^ TISM (1991). Lady Chatterly's Louvre. press release. TISM. Hosted by tismselfstorage. Retrieved 2007-10-18
  26. ^ Jock Cheese - Pipl Profile. pipl.com. Retrieved 2007-10-18
  27. ^ Album notes for The White Albun (2004) [inset]. Madman Entertainment, Melbourne, Australia (MMA2204). The White Albun at MusicBrainz.
  28. ^ The White Albun (2004) [DVD]. Madman Entertainment, Melbourne, Australia (MMA2204). Disc Three : A Docunentary. Dumb 'n' Bass recorded live by Channel [V].
  29. ^ a b c d The White Albun (2004) [DVD]. Madman Entertainment, Melbourne, Australia (MMA2204). Disc 1: A film by Antonionioni and Disc 3: Home Videos
  30. ^ coxy (2004) Coxy's Live Concert Photo Collection :: TISM - Troccadero - 06 August 2004 (photo gallery) (2004) Retrieved (2007-12-11).
  31. ^ Jenkins, Jeff (1998-07-08). "Balaclava Road Warriors". Jeff Jenkins. In Press. interview. Hosted by tismselfstorage. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  32. ^ Who is TISM? (2006) discussion at Whirlpool.net.au. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  33. ^ Pendragon, Bane. "TISM or Wiggles?" Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  34. ^ Hogan, Chris (2003). "Big Fucking Whoopie: A Floyd Fan's Intro to TISM". Chris Hogan. Spare Bricks :: Pink Floyd Webzine. essay. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  35. ^ a b Murphy, Kerrie (2004-07-08). "Satire and music in accord". Kerrie Murphy. The Australian. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  36. ^ Martin, Tony and Molloy, Mick (1998). Interview with TISM. Tony Martin and Mick Molloy. Archived on 2002-11-18 by the Internet Archive. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  37. ^ Sokal, Roman (2001) The Residents: More Than What The Ear Hears Coming From The Eye Roman Sokal (essay) Retrieved 2007-12-10.
  38. ^ sephira (2003-09-14) "The TISM Guide to Little Aesthetics" at Everything2. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  39. ^ Dwyer, Michael. (2004-07-02) The phantom menace and related video (produced by Libby Chow, 2004). (article). (video). The Age. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  40. ^ Kroenert, Tim. (2007-11-12). [The Chaser's 'just war' on celebrity worship] Tim Kroenert (essay) Retrieved (2007-11-12)
  41. ^ a b c d Dave TISM Top Ten:Thoughts On The Candidates I (2005-08-10), TISM Top Ten: Thoughts On The Candidates II (2005-08-12) and Ode For The Imperfect (2005-08-05) from Sympathetic Stupid. Retrieved (2007-12-11).
  42. ^ Geniac Satan Loves YOU! (lyric archive - "self rated MA: contains drug references"). Retrieved (2007-12-11).

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