This Is Serious Mum

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Biography

TISM (an acronym of This Is Serious Mum ) was a seven piece Anonymity|anonymous alternative rock band from Melbourne , Australia. The group was formed in 1982 and enjoyed a large Underground music|underground / Indie (music)|independent following. Their third album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons reached the Australian national top 10 in 1995. TISM were known for its hybrid of dance music and Rock and roll|rock'n'roll , high-energy live shows and humorous lyrics . TISM's songs frequently satire|satirise d modern culture , celebrity|celebrities and the entertainment industry, classic literature and art , current affairs, Politics of Australia|politics and Sport in Australia|sport . The titles of their songs were often word play|wordplays created by juxtaposing pop culture references and/or more intellectually highbrow identities.

History

Early years

In early 1982, at a Melbourne university, the members of TISM formed a band out of "a pure sense of shared mediocrity", (essay) (21 February 2002). Archived on 16 June 2005 by the Internet Archive . Retrieved on 16 October 2007. 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". (2000). Archived on 6 December 2000 by the Internet Archive . Retrieved on 16 October 2007. 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 6 December 1983, almost 12 months after dismissing their bedroom recordings. The Get Fucked Concert at the Duncan McKinnon Athletics Reserve in the small suburb of Murrumbeena, Victoria|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 (musical performance)|gig ".

By 1985 the band was playing regularly around Melbourne and soon released their début single, " Defecate On My Face " (1986), a 7" Gramophone record|vinyl packaged in a 12" sleeve with all four sides glued shut. This song is also found (but is unlisted) on the EP Form and Meaning Reach Ultimate Communion as a country version. 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, was received well.

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, and 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 50, as did the single " Saturday Night Palsy ".

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 , interview s and News release|press releases . When Phonogram released Hot Dogma (1990) it failed to reach the commercial charts, and TISM were fired six months later due to management issues, despite owing the label tens of thousands of dollars.

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. (list) (2004). Archived on 23 September 2004 by the Internet Archive . Retrieved on 9 December 2007.

Rise to fame

In mid-1991, independent record label Shock Records signed TISM and re-issued ''Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance , as well as the Extended play|EP Gentlemen, Start Your Egos (1991), a compilation of tracks previously unavailable on CD. - Official page at the Shock Records website. Archived by the Internet Archive on 5 February 2006. Accessed on 10 December 2007. 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 23 January 1992.

The next EP, Australia The Lucky Cunt (1993) was TISM's most controversy|controversial release to date. Courts issued an Injunction|injunction order of the CD when the Ken Done Society threatened legal action over the artwork, which parodied Done's signature style and depicted a koala sucking a syringe . The matter was Settlement (litigation)|settled for an undisclosed amount of money "fairly close to the amount that Radiohead spends on buying friends"Humphrey B. Flaubert (5 December 2002). (.mov). SBS TV , Melbourne , Australia. Hosted by . Retrieved on 16 October 2007. and was re-released with new artwork as Censored Due To Legal Advice .

TISM's biggest success was the 1995 album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons . The release was a shift from Alternative rock|alternative-rock to Synthesizer|synth -driven techno and dance music|dance which retained vocal melody|melodies and loud guitar s. The album was certified Gold record|Gold and won an ARIA Music Awards|ARIA Award for Best Independent Release. Three of its singles reached Triple J Hottest 100|Triple J's Hottest 100 , two of them in the top 10. Triple J (1995). "" (list) (1995). Retrieved (11 December 2007).

Taking a year off from touring, TISM spent 1997 working on its next album with producer Magoo (Australian 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 Mimi Macpherson sex tape and was rarely broadcast. Returned and Services League of Australia|Australian RSL head Bruce Ruxton wrote a letter of complaint to Shock Records describing it as "...Dropping through the floor into the proverbial sewer." Bruce Ruxton|Ruxton, Bruce (5 May 1998). . letter . Bruce Ruxton. Hosted by . Retrieved on 18 October 2007. The letter was published on TISM's website at the time.TISM (1998) from the website www.tism.wanker.com. Archived on 11 November 1998 by the Internet Archive . Retrieved 9 December 2007.

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 ended by mutual agreement.

After Shock Records

Following the 1998 tour, TISM signed with Festival Records (Australia)|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 chart information from . Retrieved 18 October 2007 and #3 on the Alternative ARIA Chart. (5 February 2002). Archived on 9 July 2005 by the Internet Archive . Retrieved on 17 October 2007. Flaubert predicted on Triple J radio that the album would "plummet out of the top 40 like a stone"; - 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.Ms.45 (2002). "". Ms.45. . review . (external link contains explicit material) Retrieved 19 November 2007. 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;Anton (30 June 2004). "" (review) (2004). Retrieved (11 December 2007). however, the release was not eligible for Australian Recording Industry Association|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.

Current status

Flaubert remarked in a 2006 Triple J interview, when asked about the current status of TISM, "we are slowly moving towards our deaths".Jay and The Doctor and . Recorded by Triple J , 3 October 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2007

In early December 2006 Flaubert, contributed to the ABC Television (Australia)|ABC 's "My Favourite Album" program, where he stated his favourite album as "Any album – as long as it's by Nickelback !" as part of ABC Television|ABC TV 's (13 December 2006). Retrieved 18 October 2007. Later the same month, TISM were inducted into the EG Hall of Fame, at which they made an appearance and "a hilariously irreverent speech".Donovan, Patrick (22 December 2007). "". Patrick Donovan. The Age . article . p. 1. Retrieved 16 October 2007.

No original TISM material has been released since 2004's The White Albun and TISM's last concert was at the Earthcore|Earthcore Festival on 27 October 2004. In early 2007, a Melbourne country and western band called ROOT! appeared on MySpace , with Humphrey B. Flaubert (now called DC Root) on vocals.. Retrieved (11 December 2007).Donovan, Patrick and Virgiotis, Tessie (7 September 2007) "". Patrick Donovan and Tessie Virgiotis. The Age . article . p. 2. Retrieved on 16 October 2007.

On 29 April 2008, guitarist James Paull (Tokin' Blackman) died of cancer.Hitler-Barassi, Ron (27 March 2009) "", Ron Hitler-Barassi. Smartartists . obituary . Retrieved on 27 October 2009.

In October 2009, the majority of their back catalogue was re-released on iTunes with bonus material.

In 2010, their website (www.tism.com.au) was altered to show an older TISM logo with TISM related mannerisms that alter when the page is refreshed. In 2011, the two TISM 2011 videos were put on the page. Later, it was turned into a tribute to Tokin' Blackman then the real website was launched.

In March 2010, DC Root briefly re-formed TISM to record the 21st century mix of their single Shut Up - The Footy's on the Radio .

After a handful of gigs in mid-2010, the side project Root& #33; announced they would be playing their "Last Ever Show" on 20 August 2010. Although the press release concluded with "... is there a new project on the way? All will be revealed soon. Stay tuned."
Following this, a Facebook page was sent out to friends of DC Root which promoted a new band named 'The DC3'; itself a reference to 'DC Root' and his real name of Damien Cowell. The band's first single was released on 26 November 2010 and is entitled 'I Was The Guy In TISM."

In 2011, of bands the uploaders claim to be TISM were uploaded. Although, due to the nature of a TISM performance, no positive ID on the members can be made, and as such, it is unknown as to whether or not the band performing is indeed TISM in some form, or a cover band.

Members

TISM members are pseudonym ous and Anonymity|anonymous . They wear Balaclava (clothing)|balaclava s during all public appearances. However, some of their names have been revealed (see below).
;Current

Ron Hitler-Barassi (Peter Minack): Vocals

Humphrey B. Flaubert (Damian Cowell): Vocals / Drums

Jock Cheese (Jack Holt): Bass / Vocals

Eugene de la Hot-Croix Bun (Eugene Cester): Keyboards

Jon St. Peenis: Saxophone / Vocals

Les Miserables: Dancing / Vocals

;Former

Tokin' Blackman (first billed as Tony Coitus) (James Paull): Guitar (1992–2008), The Age , 7 May 2008. (deceased)

Leak Van Vlalen (Sean Kelly): Guitar (1982–1991)

Genre B. Goode: Vocals (1982–1985)

St. Peenis played saxophone on earlier recordings.TISM (1991). . press release . TISM. Hosted by . Retrieved 18 October 2007 Cheese plays guitar on various recordings and live shows.. . Retrieved 18 October 2007 Blackman arranged orchestral sections on The White Albun (2004).Album notes for The White Albun (2004) . Madman Entertainment , Melbourne , Australia (MMA2204). at MusicBrainz . Flaubert programs rhythms and samples, and has occasionally played acoustic drumkits live. The White Albun (2004) . Madman Entertainment , Melbourne , Australia (MMA2204). Disc Three : A Docunentary. Dumb 'n' Bass recorded live by Channel V|Channel .

Identities

TISM have always used a variety of methods to conceal their identities. They have never officially revealed their names, instead choosing to use pseudonym s on their records and in interviews, all the while concealing their faces. Usually this involves the wearing of a balaclava (clothing)|balaclava , but ridiculous costume s have been created for the purpose, including Ku Klux Klan uniforms made of newspaper , The White Albun (2004) . Madman Entertainment , Melbourne , Australia (MMA2204). Disc 1: A film by Antonionioni and Disc 3: Home Videos silver suits with puffy arms and legs to mimic an inflated box wine|cask wine bladder , giant foam paintings worn on the head, large foam signs bearing the name of a The Beatles|Beatle ,coxy (2004) (photo gallery) (2004) Retrieved (11 December 2007). fat 'businessman' suits, and eight-foot-high inflatable headpieces 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 do not want their fans to find out: popular targets of this theory include Painters and Dockers , Machine Gun Fellatio and even The Wiggles .Jenkins, Jeff (8 July 1998). "". Jeff Jenkins. In Press. interview . Hosted by . Retrieved 18 October 2007. (2006) discussion at . Retrieved 18 October 2007.Pendragon, Bane. "" Retrieved 18 October 2007. A theory based on the band's tour schedule's roughly coinciding with school holidays, and the fact that the Ringwood Secondary College Choir and Orchestra feature in the filmclip to Thunderbirds Are Coming Out , proposes that TISM are school teachers.Hogan, Chris (2003). "". Chris Hogan. . essay . Retrieved 18 October 2007.Murphy, Kerrie (8 July 2004). "". Kerrie Murphy. The Australian . Retrieved 18 October 2007. Another common theory, based on the high incidence of football references in their lyrics, is that they are Australian Football League|AFL players, 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." Martin/Molloy|Martin, Tony and Molloy, Mick (1998). . Tony Martin and Mick Molloy. Archived on 18 November 2002 by the Internet Archive . Retrieved 18 October 2007.

When asked why they wear masks, Flaubert replied:

However, when TISM performed on '' John Safran's Music Jamboree '' in 2002 playing " (He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River " on instruments from Greece , the song writers' names were revealed during the credit roll which read "''"(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River" by Damian Cowell / Peter Minack / Jack Holt / James Paull / Eugene Cester Performed by TISM''.TISM - (2002). SBS TV , Melbourne , Australia. Hosted by YouTube . Retrieved 16 October 2007.

The song writers' names were also published later, alongside information on " Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me " when it hit success in Sweden and Germany in 2004.TISM - . Sweden|Swedish chart information from . Retrieved 18 October 2007. (22 June 2005). article . Retrieved 18 October 2007.

However, vigilant fans would have noticed the names years earlier. Hitler-Barassi was photographed in 1993 at the opening night of Madame Butterfly , which was published on 4 April 1993;N, Te Koha (5 April 1993). "Minack's snap unmasks fury". Te Koha N. Herald Sun , p. 32. the book revealed the member to be Peter Minack, who later released a book of his own ( Campaigning With Grant ) in 2000, which was about the American Civil War .Minack, Peter - (ISBN 0-09-184186-0) book details from . Retrieved 18 October 2007 The book contains thin references to TISM. author details from . Retrieved 18 October 2007. In interviews about his book, Minack revealed he was a teacher, his father fought in World War II|WWII for the Germany|Germans and that he is fanatical about the Richmond Football Club|Richmond AFL football club , explaining his stage moniker.Waldren, Murray (29 July 2000) "". Murray Waldren. The Australian|The Weekend Australian . Retrieved 18 October 2007.

TISM bassist Jock Cheese's real name, John (Jack) Holt, can be found on a list of copyright owners on Mushroom Records circa the release of his solo album Platter (album)|Platter (2002).Mushroom Records Pty Ltd. . Retrieved 18 October 2007.

Guitarist Tokin Blackman's real name is James "Jock" Paull. He died in mid 2008 of cancer. His predecessor (Leek Van Vlalen)'s real name was Sean Kelly.

Eugene Cester was revealed in an The Age|Age column as being the uncle of Nic Cester , lead singer of Melbourne's Jet (band)|Jet ,;"," The Age (29 September 2006). article . p. 3. Retrieved 18 October 2007. however, it did not state which member he is; it is believed that he is Eugene De La Hot Croix Bun.

On 28 March 2007, a MySpace page opened for a Melbourne band called ROOT! which the lead singer claimed to be "the friend of the uncle of the guys in Jet".ROOT& #33; Compendium, The (28 March 2007) ". . Retrieved 18 October 2007. The page also lists James Paull as a "friend".. Retrieved (11 December 2007). Humphrey B. Flaubert's real name is Damian Cowell, who performs in the band as D.C. Root.Penberthy, David (9 September 2009) "". David Penberthy. The Punch (magazine)|The Punch . article . Retrieved 27 October 2009.

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. 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:Sokal, Roman (2001) Roman Sokal ( essay'') Retrieved 10 December 2007. 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" (sic) which use a similar naming convention to 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 Olsen|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 (band)|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 CMI|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."sephira (14 September 2003) "" at Everything2 . Retrieved 18 October 2007.

As with most bands, recurring themes are present throughout TISM's extensive output, the most common being death , violence ,Dwyer, Michael. (2 July 2004) and related video (produced by Libby Chow, 2004). ( article ). ( video ). The Age . Retrieved 11 December 2007. Celebrity|fame and prominent figures,Kroenert, Tim. (12 November 2007). Tim Kroenert ( essay ) Retrieved (2007-11-12)Dave (10 August 2005), (2005-08-12) and (5 August 2005) from . Retrieved (11 December 2007). drugs , including alcohol ,Geniac ( lyric archive - "self rated MA: contains drug references"). Retrieved (11 December 2007). and the Australian Football League|AFL . Many of TISM's lyrics are tinged in fatalism , mocking both the superficial and the sublime side of the human condition and the desire for people to be love d and respect ed (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 ").

Discography

;Albums

This Is Serious Mum Demo Tape|This Is Serious Mum (1985)

'' Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance (1988) (#48 Aus)

Hot Dogma (1990)

Machiavelli and the Four Seasons (1995) (#8, Aus)

www.tism.wanker.com (1998) (#26, Aus)

De RigueurMortis (2001) (#24, Aus)

The White Albun (2004)

;EPs

Form and Meaning reach Ultimate Communion (1986)

Beasts of Suburban (1992)

Australia The Lucky Cunt (1993) – Re-issue title: Censored Due to Legal Advice

Jung Talent Time (1995)

;Compilations and live albums

Gentlemen, Start Your Egos (1991)

Collected Recordings 1986-1993 (1995) – 4CD boxset

Machines Against the Rage (1996) – Live album

tism.bestoff. (2002) (#44, Aus) – Best-of compilation

;Video

Shoddy & Poor (1989)

TISM Television Primer (1989)

Incontinent In Ten Continents (1991)

Boys In The Hoods (1992)

Gold& #33; Gold!& #33; Gold!!! (1998)

The White Albun (2004)

Copyright Citations

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