The Tiger Lillies Explained

The Tiger Lillies
Landscape:yes
Background:group_or_band
Origin:London
Genre:Dark cabaret, circus music
Years Active:1989–present
Label:Misery Guts Music
Current Members:
  • Martyn Jacques
  • Adrian Stout
  • Budi Butenop
Past Members:
  • Phil Butcher
  • Adrian Huge
  • Mike Pickering
  • Jonas Golland

The Tiger Lillies are a British musical trio formed in 1989 by singer-songwriter Martyn Jacques. Described as the forefathers of Brechtian Punk Cabaret,[1] the Tiger Lillies are known for their unique sound and style which merges "the macabre magic of pre-war Berlin with the savage edge of punk".[2]

History

The band's name is rumoured to have been inspired by a murdered Soho sex worker called Lillie who used to dress up in animal print.[3] [4] Jacques, however, has stated that he named the band after a painting he had on his wall.[5] The band formed in 1989 when Martyn Jacques placed an ad on Loot looking for a drummer and a bass player for a new band. Adrian Huge and Phil Butcher (the band's first bassist who was succeeded by Adrian Stout in 1995)[6] were the only musicians that got in touch with him and therefore became the original Tiger Lillies' drummer and bassist respectively.

In Spring 2012 Adrian Huge decided to take a leave of absence and was replaced by drummer Mike Pickering who toured with the Tiger Lillies from 2012.[7] In early 2015 Pickering was replaced by Jonas Golland.[8] By late 2021 the band had recruited their current drummer, Budi Butenop. [9]

Musical style

The Independent has described The Tiger Lillies as "a provocative and avant-garde three-piece band that combines cabaret, vaudeville, music-hall and street theatre",[10] while Tim Arthur of Time Out described them as: "Kurt Weill conjuring up images of prewar Berlin while a falsetto vocalist screams, squeaks and squawks his way through every number like some rambling madman".[11] The Tiger Lillies' songs often involve bestiality, prostitution, blasphemy and other vices.[12] [13] [14] Their musical style is mainly influenced by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's masterpiece The Threepenny Opera and pre-war Berlin cabaret but other influences such as gypsy and circus music, French chanson and British music hall tunes are also evident.[15] [4]

Awards and nominations

Members

Current
Past

Discography

Cassettes

Studio CDs

Soundtracks

Live CDs

Compilation CDs

DVDs

Collaborations CDs

Extended play CDs

Contributions / various artists

Digital release

Books

Shows and films

ShowsThe Tiger Lillies have appeared in numerous shows, the following are listed according to their premiere date:
Films

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Meads. Glenn. Tiger Lillies play Queer Contact Date: 21 December 2011. What's on Stage. 11 March 2013.
  2. Web site: Mann. Tom. The Tiger Lillies – 20 years of deviant theatrics. Faster Louder. 5 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20140307021532/http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/local/19268/The-Tiger-Lillies--20-years-of-deviant-theatrics. 7 March 2014. dead. dmy-all.
  3. News: McCall. Chris. Music Beyond The Edge: The Tiger Lillies. 5 July 2015. Fest. 15 July 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407034230/https://www.festmag.co.uk/archive/2010/99729-music_beyond_edge_tiger_lillies. 7 April 2016. dead. dmy-all.
  4. News: Goldsmith. Kenneth. Criminal Castrati: The Tiger Lillies. 5 July 2015. New York Press. 13 May 1998.
  5. Web site: Interview: The Tiger Lillies. Deviant Nation. 5 July 2015.
  6. Web site: Bios. The Tiger Lillies. www.tigerlillies.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20101201063509/http://tigerlillies.com/655884/band/bios. December 1, 2010.
  7. Web site: Mister Huge.. April 3, 2012. www.tigerlillies.com. The Tiger Lillies. https://web.archive.org/web/20120425102722/http://www.tigerlillies.com/450596/news/mister-huge.. April 25, 2012.
  8. Web site: Jonas Golland Band The Tiger Lillies. www.tigerlillies.com. 2016-01-13.
  9. Web site: Budi Butenop Band The Tiger Lillies. www.tigerlillies.com. 2022-04-29.
  10. News: Cripps. Charlotte. Dark Tales of the Unexpected. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/dark-tales-of-the-unexpected-77750.html . 20 June 2022 . subscription . live. 5 July 2015. The Independent. 11 November 2003.
  11. News: Arthur. Tim. Time Out Review. 5 July 2015. Time Out London. 9 November 1996. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150706121242/https://www.tigerlillies.com/music/the-brothel-to-the-cemetary#roll-up. 6 July 2015. dmy-all.
  12. Web site: D.. Keith. FRINGE REVIEW – The Tiger Lillies Live in Concert (Pleasance). Edinburgh Spotlight. 5 July 2015.
  13. News: Cobley. Mike. The Tiger Lillies: Stories Full Of Eccentricity, Blasphemy & Weirdness!. 5 July 2015. Brighton Magazine. 4 October 2007.
  14. News: Music review: The Tiger Lillies. 5 July 2015. The Scotsman. 23 August 2009.
  15. Web site: Fractal. Suicide. Interviews: Martyn Jacques of The Tiger Lillies. Suicide Girls. 5 July 2015.
  16. Web site: Olivier Winners 2002. Olivier Awards.
  17. Web site: The Gorey End has been nominated for a Grammy. December 5, 2003. The Tiger Lillies. www.tigerlillies.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20101201112026/http://tigerlillies.com/471401/news/the-gorey-end-has-been-nominated-for-a-grammy. December 1, 2010.
  18. Web site: ON TOUR: HAMLET as musical theatre by Olivier Award winners THE TIGER LILLIES and new Danish theatre Republique. May 18, 2012. news.cision.com. Danish Agency for Culture.
  19. Web site: Goosebumps Alive - the only way out... Is through!. 10 April 2017.

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