Tirez Tirez
Encyclopedia
Tirez Tirez was an American
rock
band led by composer/performer Mikel Rouse
, the band's only constant member. The group was active from 1978 through 1988, and had a new wave/art rock sensibility that was strongly influenced by minimalism
.
at a 1978 concert in Kansas City, Missouri
. The group subsequently moved to New York City in 1979.
The line up for their first album (1980's Etudes) was Rouse (vocals/guitar), Rob Shepperson (drums) and Jeff Burk (bass). Though recorded in New York City, the album did not initially see a US release, and was at first only picked up for distribution by the tiny British independent label Object Music. The LP went on to sell a very respectable 2,000 copies in the UK, and US indie Aura Records later issued in the album in the US in late 1981. Aura also issued "Razorblades", a single taken from the album.
Bassist Burk left Tirez Tirez in 1982, and was replaced by James Bergman. Philip Johnston (keyboards/woodwinds) was also added to the group at about the same time. This line-up (Rouse/Shepperson/Bergman/Johnston) recorded 1983's Story Of The Year, which was released only in Europe via Belgian label Les Disques Du Crépuscule
.
In 1984, Rouse would begin recording more minimalist work with his "chamber orchestra" Broken Consort. From this point forward, there was often crossover between members of Tirez Tirez and Broken Consort, although the two groups were not identical. However, for the first album credited to "Mikel Rouse Broken Consort" (1984's Jade Tiger) the band line up of Rouse/Shepperson/Bergman/Johnston was exactly the same as that of Tirez Tirez's Story Of The Year.
In 1984, Tirez Tirez released the Europe-only non-LP 12" single "Under The Door" / "Sleep". The only credited musicians on this release were Rouse (guitars/keyboards/synthesizers/percussion/vocals) and, on the A-side only, Blaine L. Reininger (violin/bass programming). By 1986, bassist Bergman re-joined the fold, and Tirez Tirez (now a duo of Rouse and Bergman) issued the non-LP 12" "Set The Timer" / "Uptight" on Sire Records
. This was their first US release in five years, and their first release to receive major label distribution.
Shortly after the release of "Set The Timer", the group found a permanent US home with the IRS label. For their third album (1987's Social Responsibility), the band was still a duo of Rouse and Bergman, with Rouse performing all instruments except bass.
The band expanded to a quintet for a subsequent tour, and for their final studio release, 1988's Against All Flags, Tirez Tirez's line-up consisted of Rouse (vocals/guitar), Bergman (bass), and new members Bill Tesar (drums), Rave Tesar (keyboards) and Mark Lampariello (guitar).
According to Mikel Rouse's web site, one further Tirez Tirez album was recorded after 1988, but it was never released, and the band apparently dissolved shortly thereafter.
Rouse continues to live in New York City, and performs and records as a solo artist.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band led by composer/performer Mikel Rouse
Mikel Rouse
Mikel Rouse is an American composer. He has been associated with a Downtown New York movement known as totalism, and is best known for his operas, including Dennis Cleveland, about a television talk show host, which Rouse wrote and starred in.Rouse writes music that is idiomatically and...
, the band's only constant member. The group was active from 1978 through 1988, and had a new wave/art rock sensibility that was strongly influenced by minimalism
Minimalist music
Minimal music is a style of music associated with the work of American composers La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. It originated in the New York Downtown scene of the 1960s and was initially viewed as a form of experimental music called the New York Hypnotic School....
.
History
Tirez Tirez was founded by Missouri native Mikel Rouse, and gave its first performance as the opening act for the rock band Talking HeadsTalking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
at a 1978 concert in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. The group subsequently moved to New York City in 1979.
The line up for their first album (1980's Etudes) was Rouse (vocals/guitar), Rob Shepperson (drums) and Jeff Burk (bass). Though recorded in New York City, the album did not initially see a US release, and was at first only picked up for distribution by the tiny British independent label Object Music. The LP went on to sell a very respectable 2,000 copies in the UK, and US indie Aura Records later issued in the album in the US in late 1981. Aura also issued "Razorblades", a single taken from the album.
Bassist Burk left Tirez Tirez in 1982, and was replaced by James Bergman. Philip Johnston (keyboards/woodwinds) was also added to the group at about the same time. This line-up (Rouse/Shepperson/Bergman/Johnston) recorded 1983's Story Of The Year, which was released only in Europe via Belgian label Les Disques Du Crépuscule
Les Disques du Crepuscule
Les Disques Du Crépuscule was a Belgian independent record label.The label was started in 1980 by Michel Duval and Annik Honoré, residents of Brussels who had previously organised and promoted concerts in the city. Initial releases were by Factory Records artists, and were labelled as being...
.
In 1984, Rouse would begin recording more minimalist work with his "chamber orchestra" Broken Consort. From this point forward, there was often crossover between members of Tirez Tirez and Broken Consort, although the two groups were not identical. However, for the first album credited to "Mikel Rouse Broken Consort" (1984's Jade Tiger) the band line up of Rouse/Shepperson/Bergman/Johnston was exactly the same as that of Tirez Tirez's Story Of The Year.
In 1984, Tirez Tirez released the Europe-only non-LP 12" single "Under The Door" / "Sleep". The only credited musicians on this release were Rouse (guitars/keyboards/synthesizers/percussion/vocals) and, on the A-side only, Blaine L. Reininger (violin/bass programming). By 1986, bassist Bergman re-joined the fold, and Tirez Tirez (now a duo of Rouse and Bergman) issued the non-LP 12" "Set The Timer" / "Uptight" on Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
. This was their first US release in five years, and their first release to receive major label distribution.
Shortly after the release of "Set The Timer", the group found a permanent US home with the IRS label. For their third album (1987's Social Responsibility), the band was still a duo of Rouse and Bergman, with Rouse performing all instruments except bass.
The band expanded to a quintet for a subsequent tour, and for their final studio release, 1988's Against All Flags, Tirez Tirez's line-up consisted of Rouse (vocals/guitar), Bergman (bass), and new members Bill Tesar (drums), Rave Tesar (keyboards) and Mark Lampariello (guitar).
According to Mikel Rouse's web site, one further Tirez Tirez album was recorded after 1988, but it was never released, and the band apparently dissolved shortly thereafter.
Rouse continues to live in New York City, and performs and records as a solo artist.
Albums
- Etudes (1980)
- Story Of The Year (1983)
- Social Responsibility (1987)
- Against All Flags (1988)
Singles
- "Scattered" / "Scenery" (1979)
- "Razorblades" / "Hair" (1981)
- "Under The Door" / "Sleep" (1984)
- "Set The Timer" / "Uptight" (1986)
External links
- Tirez Tirez information from Trouser Press site