Tuxedomoon - Biography
By Marcus Kagler
Tuxedomoon may not be as well known as audio/visual artists Lori Anderson but they have been working in the same avant-garde medium for over 30 years with similarly amazing results. Since their formation in 1977 the loose collective of San Francisco City College art students has successfully married avant-garde soundscapes, jazz fusion, and electronic wizardry with performance art gaining much deserved notoriety throughout art circles in the U.S. and Europe. As the brainchild of core members and multi-instrumentalists Blaine Reininger and Steven Brown, Tuxedomoon formed in San Francisco with a mission statement to marry avant-garde art with music. Brown used his influence in the local theatre company to bring in outside vocalists Victoria Lowe and Winston Tong as part time members and the group cut their debut single “Pinheads on the Move”, which grabbed the attention of Devo who invited Tuxedomoon on tour in 1978. Later that year the band released their debut EP, No Tears on the Residents imprint Ralph Records, which gained considerably notoriety in Europe. After adding full time bassist Peter Principle the band released their second full length, Half Mute (1980 Ralph) and embarked on their first European tour accompanied by visual artist Bruce Geduldig. The appreciation of their European audiences spurned the band to relocate to Brussels after the release of their follow up full length, Desire (1981 Ralph).
Divine (1982 Operation Twilight) was originally commissioned as the score for a Maurice Bejart ballet but also served as the last Tuxedomoon album to feature founding member Reininger who left the band later that year to pursue a solo career. Trumpet player and multi-instrumentalist Luc Van Lieshout took Reininger’s place and the band released their most popular full length, Holy Wars (Restless Records) in 1985. Blending new wave, goth, strings, and a minimalist electronic element, Holy Wars was far more accessible than any of their previous work and gained a sizable following in Europe. Although the sound of Tuxedomoon was enhanced by the addition of multi-instrumentalist Ivan Georgiev the follow up albums, Ship Of Fools (1986 Restless Records) and You (1987 Restless Records) did little to capitalize on the success of Holy Wars. Tuxedomoon remained largely inactive throughout the entirety of the 1990’s with various members pursuing outside projects.
Blaine Reininger reconvened with Tuxedomoon for the first time in 21 years for the prolonged comeback full length, Cabin In The Sky (2004 Crammed Discs). Crammed with minimalist electronic soundscapes, ghostly vocals, and the usual eclectic instrumentation Cabin In The Sky is a tour de force return to form. Tuxedomoon returned two years later with Barbo Hotel Soundtrack (2006 Crammed Discs) followed by Vapour Trails (Cramboy) in 2007. Tuxedomoon’s 30th anniversary was observed by the release of their first box set, 7707tm: 30th Anniversary Box (2007 Cramboy) which combines their latest release Vapour Trails with remastered rarities and b-sides stretching back to their inception in 1977.