Tyler Spencer Explained

Background:solo_singer
Tyler Spencer
Birth Name:Tyler Spencer
Birth Date:January 22, 1972
Birth Place:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Origin:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Alias:Dick Valentine
Taylor Spencer
Jackson Pounder
Genre:Alternative rock, dance-rock, dance-punk, folk, freak folk
Occupation:Singer, songwriter, musician, author
Instrument:Vocals, guitar, drums, keyboards
Associated Acts:Electric Six, Evil Cowards, Bang Camaro, The Dirty Shame

Tyler Spencer (born January 22, 1972), also known as Dick Valentine, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and author. He is best known as the lead vocalist, main lyricist, and co-founder of the rock band Electric Six.[1] [2]

Career

Spencer founded Electric Six in 1996, at which time the band was named the Wildbunch, but this was changed because another band had the same name.[3] He is also one of the two members of the dance group Evil Cowards,[4] is one of the vocalists for hard rock band Bang Camaro, and was temporarily a member of the short-lived band The Dirty Shame. He released his first solo album, Destroy the Children, under the Dick Valentine pseudonym on May 14, 2012.[5]

Discography

Electric Six

See main article: Electric Six discography.

The Dirty Shame

Evil Cowards

Solo

Bite Me

Excluding appearances on other artists' songs, Dick Valentine's first solo venture was the soundtrack for Machinima original series Bite Me. Valentine's Evil Cowards bandmate, William Bates, scored the series, while Valentine wrote and performed a variety of original songs. Despite repeated claims that the songs would be made commercially available, Machinima are still yet to release any of them.[7]

On September 11, 2011, Machinima released a music video for Valentine's song "Zombie, Zombie Skeleton" to promote the release of Dead Rising 2.[8]

On June 14, 2012, Dick Valentine collaborated with Mighty Tiny to create The Dick Valentine Band. They performed a live show of the Bite Me soundtrack.

Albums

Year Title Notes
2012Destroy the ChildrenStudio album
2013Halloween FingersStudio album
2015Here Come the Bags!Studio album
2016Quiet TimeStudio album consisting of acoustic renditions of songs originally by Electric Six and Evil Cowards
The Dick Valentine Raw CollectionCompilation album composed of demo material produced for Dick Valentine solo albums and Electric Six projects. Was released exclusively as a pledge gift for Electric Six's Kickstarter campaign relating to Roulette Stars of Metro Detroit.
2017RobocallsStudio album
2019Illuminati BeesStudio album
2019Bite Me: Songs from a Zombie ShowStudio album
2020Parrot PeopleStudio album
2021Coma WatchingStudio album
2023This Is Hell!Studio album
2024Do You Notice?Studio album

Singles and Appearances

Year Title Project Vocals Writer
2000"Private Affair"[9] Bantam Rooster song, released as a B-side on their single, "Big Mess"
2006"Unstoppable"[10] TV Rock song featured on their album Sunshine City - credited as Tyler Spencer
2009"Nuclear Cowboy"J-Lobster song featured on their album Mindless Pleasures[11]
"I'm a Vampire"Shitting Glitter single - credited as Rich N. Famous[12]
2012"The Shrinking Planet"Single by Massive Horse, later included on their album About Last Night recorded under the new name of Nightmares from the Discothèque
2013"He's a Freak"[13] Andy D song featured on album Warcries
"Last Christmas"[14] Cover version single by Fall On Your Sword
2017"I Love You, I Steal Your Gas!"Single by Dick Valentine and Mark Mallman[15]
2020"Summer Wine"Single by Victoria Liedtke & Dick Valentine - Cover of Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood song[16]

Bibliography

Release Date Title Project
3 January 2014"Residential Intruders in the 21st Century: Real Demons, Aliens and Monsters That Visit My Apartment"5-page pamphlet on the "demons, monsters and aliens that constantly visit [Dick] in [his] home".[17]
13 May 2014Chinatown ReacharoundPornographic thriller novella. The first book in the Bart Ducane trilogy.[18]
17 July 2014"Dick Valentine's 2014 Party Planner"41-page party planner.[19]
27 January 2015"Dick Valentine's 2015 Party Planner Guide"57-page party planner - an updated version of the 2014 Party Planner[20]
22 January 2016Fairfax FacialPornographic thriller novella. Sequel to Chinatown Reacharound and the second book in the Bart Ducane trilogy.[21]
30 January 2017Glendale Glory HolePornographic thriller novella. Sequel to Fairfax Facial and the final book in the Bart Ducane trilogy.[22]

Filmography

Year Title Project Writer Executive Producer Actor Role
2002"Danger! High Voltage"Electric Six music video to promote Fire (songwriter)Man
2003"Gay Bar" (songwriter)Abraham Lincoln
"Dance Commander" (songwriter)Dick Valentine
2004"Radio Ga Ga"Electric Six music video to promote Señor SmokeFreddie Mercury
2006"Mr. Woman"Electric Six music video to promote Switzerland (songwriter)Dick Valentine
"I Buy the Drugs" (songwriter)Dick Valentine
"Chocolate Pope" (songwriter)Dick Valentine (voice)
"Rubber Rocket" (songwriter)Singing Voice
2007"Infected Girls" (songwriter)Dick Valentine
"It's Showtime!"Electric Six music video to promote I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master (songwriter)Singer's Voice
"Down at McDonnelzzz" (songwriter)Centaur
"Randy's Hot Tonight" (songwriter)Dick Valentine
2008"One Gallon Axe"White Gold music video (songwriter)Voice of White Gold
"Tame the White Tiger" (songwriter)Voice of White Gold
"Is It Me Or Do You Love My Hair?" (songwriter)Voice of White Gold
"There's Something Very Wrong With Us, So Let's Go Out Tonight"Electric Six music video to promote Switzerland (songwriter)Grim Reaper
"Formula 409"Electric Six music video to promote Flashy (songwriter)Dick Valentine
"Making Progress" (songwriter)Singer
"Pulling the Plug on the Party"Electric Six music video to promote Switzerland (songwriter)Singing Voice
2009"Body Shot"Electric Six music video to promote KILL (songwriter)Man
"Battle for Milkquarious"Promotional short film (songwriter) (uncredited)Singing voice of White Gold
"Love Pigs"Evil Cowards music video to promote Covered in Gas (songwriter)Evil Coward
2010Starlight & SuperfishFeature filmBill Laserman
2011"Zombie, Zombie Skeleton"Dick Valentine music video (songwriter)Singing voice
"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"Electric Six live performance video produced for The A.V. ClubDick Valentine[23]
2012"Psychic Visions"Electric Six music video to promote Heartbeats and BrainwavesDick Valentine
"That Voodoo You Do, or 'The Legba Luncheon'"Short filmFlatbrush Frank
"Bedford Avenue Wine Distributors"Evil Cowards music video to promote Moving Through Security (songwriter)Evil Coward
"The Shrinking Planet"Massive Horse music videoThe Colonel
2013"Last Christmas"Fall On Your Sword music videoSinging Voice
2014Absolute TreasureElectric Six concert film (uncredited)Himself - Dick Valentine
2016Roulette Stars of Metro DetroitElectric Six mockumentary feature filmDick Valentine and Voice of Darren Nucleus?
2017"I Love You, I Steal Your Gas"Dick Valentine and Mark Mallman music video (songwriter)Dick Valentine
"I'll Be In Touch"Electric Six music video to promote Fresh Blood for Tired Vampyres (songwriter)Dick Valentine
"I Got the Box" (songwriter)Flatbrush Frank[24]
2018Chill Out!Electric Six concert broadcastHimself - Dick Valentine[25]

Notes and References

  1. News: Electric Six to perform at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit Saturday. November 26, 2008. Booth Newspapers. August 5, 2010.
  2. News: MUSIC: SPINS; Burning Down the Garage. The New York Times. October 15, 2011.
  3. News: Sax as a Weapon: You Didn't Know That Rock 'n' Roll Burned. April 1, 2003. Village Voice. April 17, 2012.
  4. News: Electric Six Frontman Is An Evil Coward. May 11, 2009. College Music Journal. August 5, 2010.
  5. Web site: The Politics Of Dancing: An Election Year Blog By Dick Valentine @ Antiquiet Blogs . Antiquiet.com . 2012-03-05 . 2013-04-02.
  6. Web site: Smog Cutter Love Story. Discogs.
  7. Web site: Other Bands. Electricsix.co.uk.
  8. YouTube. Zombie, Zombie Skeleton. https://web.archive.org/web/20110921172816/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSgUySiMybo&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1 . 2011-09-21 . dead.
  9. https://www.discogs.com/Bantam-Rooster-Big-Mess/release/2968056 Discogs.com
  10. https://www.allmusic.com/song/unstoppable-ft-tyler-spencer-mt0019126395 AllMusic
  11. https://www.discogs.com/J-Lobster-Mindless-Pleasures/release/5612657 Discogs
  12. https://www.reverbnation.com/shittingglitter/song/1254335-im-vampire-feat-rich-n-famous Reverbnation.com
  13. https://www.beatport.com/track/hes-a-freak-feat-dick-valentine-original-mix/4027162 Beatport.com
  14. https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/christmas-2013-single/id777119209 iTunes
  15. https://www.discogs.com/Dick-Valentine-Mark-Mallman-I-Love-You-I-Steal-Your-Gas/release/10541824 Discogs
  16. https://www.discogs.com/release/16159507-Victoria-Dick-Summer-Wine Discogs
  17. https://www.amazon.com/Residential-Intruders-21st-Century-Apartment-ebook/dp/B00HOFIC4K/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1507825442&sr=1-5 Amazon.com
  18. http://www.electricsix.co.uk/spencer-launches-second-e-book-pornographic-thriller/ Electricsix.co.uk
  19. https://www.amazon.com/Dick-Valentines-2014-Party-Planner-ebook/dp/B00LWMBZPO/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1507825442&sr=1-4 Amazon.com
  20. https://www.amazon.com/Dick-Valentines-Party-Planner-Guide-ebook/dp/B00SU9N78U/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1507825442&sr=1-3 Amazon.com
  21. http://www.electricsix.co.uk/dick-valentine-releases-fairfax-facial/ Electricsix.co.uk
  22. https://www.amazon.com/Glendale-Glory-Ducane-Pornographic-Thriller-ebook/dp/B01MSD82W1/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1507825442&sr=1-2 Amazon.com
  23. https://music.avclub.com/electric-six-covers-youre-a-mean-one-mr-grinch-1798163271 The A.V. Club
  24. https://www.facebook.com/electricsixofficial/videos/10155893030313762/ Facebook.com
  25. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/e6absolutetreasure/a-very-electric-sixmas-and-chill-out Kickstarter.com