TISM
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TISM (an acronym of This Is Serious Mum) are an Australian alternative rock band.
An anonymous seven piece band from Melbourne, TISM first gained radio airplay with the single Defecate On My Face. The single is typical of much of TISM's entire career. Although on the surface their songs often appear to be offensive tunes of no redeeming value, they also have witty, sometimes dry humour that appeals to their fans. Their first and last performance was in late 1983, each subsequent gig has been a reunion concert.
The true identities of the members of TISM have been kept secret. For this reason, the band often appear in balaclavas when they play concerts, although they have also been known to indulge in ridiculously complex costumery to the same end. There has always been a great amount of speculation as to why the band do not want their identity to be known. One of the more popular theories is that TISM are actually members of other bands who don't want their fans to know. Another theory is that they are school teachers, and don't want the students to find out.
The band has been known to create alter-egos, often with the same sense of humour used in their songs. Member lists have included Ron Hitler Barassi (a reference to Australian Rules great Ron Barassi), Humphrey B Flaubert, John St Cheese and John Coitus. The band is also famous for asking Paul Keating, Philip Roth and Eddie Van Halen to join the band as lead tambourine player.
The height of TISM's popularity and success came in the mid 1990s with the release of Machiavelli and the Four Seasons/New York, London, Paris, Springvale, three songs from which performed very well in JJJ's hottest 100. In 1996, (He'll Never Be an) Ol' Man River came in at #2, and the following year, Greg! The Stop Sign!! and All Homeboys Are Dickheads came in at #9 and #10 respectively.
Although TISM seemed to have officially broken up after the release of their best of compilation in 2002, they continued to perform a small number of gigs, and in early 2004 announced that they were making a comeback. Such rumours of breakups are perhaps only to be expected from the band, as mentioned above each performance has technically been a reunion concert.
The official film clip (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/bunny.php) for one of their songs, "Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me," was decided by means of a competition (http://www.madman.com.au/tism/comp.html).
Discography
- Form and Meaning reach Ultimate Communion (1986)
- Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance (1988)
- Hot Dogma (1990)
- Gentlemen, Start Your Egos (1991)
- Beasts of Suburban (1992)
- Australia The Lucky Cunt (1993) - Reissued as Censored Due To Legal Advice due to legal action from artist Ken Done over the cover)
- Machiavelli and the Four Seasons (1995) - a.k.a New York, London, Paris, Springvale†
- Machines Against the Rage (1996)
- www.tism.wanker.com (1998)
- De Rigueurmortis (2001)
- tism.bestoff. (2002) - Best of compilation
- The White Albun (2004)
† This album had an exterior claiming to be by Machiavelli and the Four Seasons and making no reference at all to TISM themselves; the lyric booklet inside indicated that the album was in fact called New York, London, Paris, Springvale.
External links
- Official Site (http://www.tism.com.au/)
- "The Age" Newspaper Interview (2004) (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/01/1088488079697.html)
- TISM Self Storage - lyrics, interviews, and multimedia (http://www.geocities.com/tismselfstorage/)