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Music for Vagabonds: The Tuxedomoon Chronicles
Tuxedomoon is a group of musicians and performers that was formed in San Francisco in 1977.
The core members (Blaine Reininger, Steven Brown, Peter Principle, Winston Tong, Luc van Lieshout and Bruce Geduldig) started out as the musical backdrop of the Angels Of Light, a gender-fuck free theater group, which was itself an offshoot of the (in)famous Cockettes, founded by the legendary Hibiscus (aka New York actor George Harris) in the late sixties.
When the local version of punk rock broke loose, Tuxedomoon, originally a rather psychedelic/hippie venture, embraced that new energy and became one of the most revered bands of the Bay Area. They wrote the celebrated "No Tears" single, still a classic on the electro/post-punk/techno scene.
Over the years they have been described in a myriad of ways: "Post-punk," "early techno," "avant-garde," "music for non-existent films," "cybergypsy," "lyrical and romantic," "a brilliant fusion between new wave's rigidity, classical emphase and traditional melancholy," "punk jazz," "a musical Tower of Babel," "equal parts cabaret, jazz, rock and contemporary chamber music," "a distinctly European sound but tempered by a facetiously sinister wit," "a kaleidoscope of many influences, but disposing of them with the same nonchalant ease as a snake shedding its old skin."
Journalists have never been short of devising labels to describe Tuxedomoon's music, yet none of these ever seemed completely satisfactory. Tuxedomoon's identity is as elusive as their geographical location. In 1981, they fled Ronald Reagan's America and established themselves in Brussels, from where they started an endless exploration of Europe. They toured improbable little towns as well as big cities, released inspired records and initiated many collaborations. Tuxedomoon attracted followers and gained cult status, never ceasing their quest for a permanently elusive and lost "home," - some other America or the quaint Europe of their fantasies.
Over time the certainty of finding that destination disappeared, but the will to travel remained. The members of Tuxedomoon are the musical vagabonds of our times of nomadism. From 2001 onwards, the author of this book found herself sucked into Tuxedomoon's spiral of vagrancy and traveled the world to meet the actors in this ongoing 30-year-old story. The interviews presented within the pages of her book form the chronicle of a unique group of wandering performers. The book features many black & white photographs from the early days until now.
The core members (Blaine Reininger, Steven Brown, Peter Principle, Winston Tong, Luc van Lieshout and Bruce Geduldig) started out as the musical backdrop of the Angels Of Light, a gender-fuck free theater group, which was itself an offshoot of the (in)famous Cockettes, founded by the legendary Hibiscus (aka New York actor George Harris) in the late sixties.
When the local version of punk rock broke loose, Tuxedomoon, originally a rather psychedelic/hippie venture, embraced that new energy and became one of the most revered bands of the Bay Area. They wrote the celebrated "No Tears" single, still a classic on the electro/post-punk/techno scene.
Over the years they have been described in a myriad of ways: "Post-punk," "early techno," "avant-garde," "music for non-existent films," "cybergypsy," "lyrical and romantic," "a brilliant fusion between new wave's rigidity, classical emphase and traditional melancholy," "punk jazz," "a musical Tower of Babel," "equal parts cabaret, jazz, rock and contemporary chamber music," "a distinctly European sound but tempered by a facetiously sinister wit," "a kaleidoscope of many influences, but disposing of them with the same nonchalant ease as a snake shedding its old skin."
Journalists have never been short of devising labels to describe Tuxedomoon's music, yet none of these ever seemed completely satisfactory. Tuxedomoon's identity is as elusive as their geographical location. In 1981, they fled Ronald Reagan's America and established themselves in Brussels, from where they started an endless exploration of Europe. They toured improbable little towns as well as big cities, released inspired records and initiated many collaborations. Tuxedomoon attracted followers and gained cult status, never ceasing their quest for a permanently elusive and lost "home," - some other America or the quaint Europe of their fantasies.
Over time the certainty of finding that destination disappeared, but the will to travel remained. The members of Tuxedomoon are the musical vagabonds of our times of nomadism. From 2001 onwards, the author of this book found herself sucked into Tuxedomoon's spiral of vagrancy and traveled the world to meet the actors in this ongoing 30-year-old story. The interviews presented within the pages of her book form the chronicle of a unique group of wandering performers. The book features many black & white photographs from the early days until now.
- GenresMusic
459 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 13, 2008
This book is almost as thick as the Bible. Most questions and facts about anyone involved with Tuxedomoon from the early days until now are answered.
I felt the book to be honest in approach. Nothing seemed to be held back for the sake of vanity. A good read for any Tuxedomoon fan.
I felt the book to be honest in approach. Nothing seemed to be held back for the sake of vanity. A good read for any Tuxedomoon fan.
April 12, 2021
A sprawling, messy chronicle of Tuxedomoon's sprawling, messy history. Any aficianado of the band will find it fascinating tracking them through their myriad substance addictions and emotional flare-ups which somehow nonetheless gave rise to music of uncanny beauty.
August 21, 2011
I never made it to the end, although I was more interested in the earlier years. It is a tad annoying to read with the side notes often containing as much info as the main text, so i never knew what to read first!
June 6, 2010
Lots of interesting and valuable information, but a bit of a rambling mess.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews