Damian Cowell | |
---|---|
Also known as | Humphrey B. Flaubert DC Root |
Born | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Genres | Alternative rock |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, drums, drum machine, keyboards |
Years active | 1970s–present |
Labels | Elvis, Musicland, Phonogram, Shock, FMR, Madman, Meek Joe, Museum of Old and New Art |
Damian Joseph Cowell [1] , also known by his former stage names Humphrey B. Flaubert and DC Root, is an Australian musician who is best known as the frontman for TISM, Root!, The DC3 and Damian Cowell's Disco Machine.
Cowell was born and schooled in Melbourne. His musical output began in the 1970s, when he played in various high school bands. In the early 1980s, he was part of a little-known group called I Can Run, featuring future TISM bandmate Eugene Cester. In December 1982, TISM formed and Cowell adopted the pseudonym "Humphrey B. Flaubert", a play on Australian children's television character Humphrey B. Bear and French author Gustave Flaubert. The group enjoyed underground success in the late 1980s and reached the ARIA top 10 in 1995 with their album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons .
TISM remained largely anonymous throughout their career. Cowell publicly acknowledged his involvement in TISM via the debut single of his band the DC3 – a song titled "I Was The Guy In TISM". [2]
Cowell returned to the stage in 2007 under the moniker DC Root, fronting a band called ROOT! [3] During this period Cowell was commissioned by David Walsh to create a soundtrack for his Museum of Old and New Art. The soundtrack was titled Vs Art.
In 2010, ROOT! disbanded and quickly re-formed as The DC3. [4] [5]
Even though much of Cowell's work uses programmed drums, he has played live drums at times, most notably during some songs in TISM's performance at Homebake 1998.
The line-up of his current band, Damian Cowell's Disco Machine, consists of:[ citation needed ]
TISM are a seven-piece anonymous alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia on 30 December 1982 by vocalist/drummer Humphrey B. Flaubert, bassist/vocalist Jock Cheese and keyboardist/vocalist Eugene de la Hot Croix Bun, with vocalist Ron Hitler-Barassi joining the group the following year. These four members have formed the core of the band since their inception, with the line-up being rounded out by guitarists Leak Van Vlalen (1982–1991), Tokin' Blackman and Vladimir Lenin-McCartney (2022–present), as well as backing vocalists/dancers Les Miserables and Jon St. Peenis.
Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance is the debut album by the Australian band TISM. The album peaked at No. 48 on the ARIA Charts in October 1988.
Beneath... Between... Beyond... is the first compilation album by American industrial metal band Static-X, released on July 20, 2004, through Warner Bros. Records. It is a compilation of previously unreleased tracks, remixes, cover versions, and the band's original demo tracks. The band did some touring in support of the album.
Machiavelli and the Four Seasons is the third studio album by the Australian rock group TISM. It was released on 4 May 1995.
Coachwhips was a garage rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 2001. The band consisted of John Dwyer, John Harlow (drums) and Mary Ann McNamara. In their second incarnation, Val-Tronic played keyboard/tambourine, and Matt Hartman played drums.
"Lovely Money" is a single by English rock band the Damned, released on 18 June 1982.
Outdoor Elvis is the second album by rock band The Swirling Eddies, released in 1989 on Alarma Records.
Platter is a solo album released by TISM bassist Jock Cheese. All the tracks were written by Cheese and fellow TISM members Ron Hitler-Barassi and Humphrey B. Flaubert. Holt plays all of the instruments on the album, excluding drums, and on one track, classical guitar, which was played by TISM bandmate Tokin' Blackman.
"(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River" is a song by Australian alternative rock band TISM, released in June 1995 as the second single from their third studio album, Machiavelli and the Four Seasons. The song peaked at number 23 on the ARIA Charts, becoming the band's highest charting single and polled at number 9 in the Triple J Hottest 100, 1995
"Greg! The Stop Sign!!" is a song by Australian alternative rock band TISM. It was released in August 1995 as the third single from the album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons (1995).
Mazenod College is an independent, Roman Catholic, day-school for boys, located in Mulgrave, Victoria. It is one of three schools run by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and the only one in Victoria. Mazenod College is a member of the Associated Catholic Colleges. Currently, the principal is Dr. Paul Shannon with the rector currently being Fr. Harry Dyer OMI.
Root! was an Australian rock band from Melbourne formed in 2005. Their music combines alt-country, blues and indie rock with elements of spoken word, satire, social commentary and post-modernism. They have gained attention through a band member being a former member of Melbourne band TISM.
The Badloves are an Australian R&B, soul band that formed as DC3 in 1990 by founding mainstay member Michael Spiby on guitar and lead vocals. They changed their name after a year. Their debut studio album, Get on Board, was issued in July 1993, which peaked at No. 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994 they won Best New Talent and Breakthrough Artist – Album for Get on Board and Breakthrough Artist – Single for its first single, "Lost" (1993). The Badloves' second album, Holy Roadside, reached the top 20. Their highest-charting single, "The Weight" (1993), is a cover version of the Band's 1968 single and features Jimmy Barnes on co-lead vocals. It reached the ARIA singles chart top 10.
The New Zapp IV U is the fourth studio album by the American funk band Zapp, released on October 25, 1985 by Warner Bros. Records. The album contained the song "Computer Love", which reached #8 on the US Billboard R&B chart. The album became the last release before frontman Roger Troutman would focus his efforts on his solo career; their next album, titled Zapp Vibe would be released later in 1989.
One Eyed Man is the second studio album by Australian musician Mark Seymour. The album was released in March 2001 and peaked at number 67 on the ARIA Charts. Seymour said the album's title was inspired by an incident during a 1998 Hunters and Collectors tour when he was mugged in Sydney's Kings Cross nightclub precinct by a group led by a man with one eye. He said the album marked a break from the "Hunters hangover" evident on his solo debut, King Without a Clue.
The DC3 were an Australian rock band who were composed of three members of Root!. They were known for lead singer Damian Cowell being a former member of TISM. They released their first single, "I Was the Guy in TISM" in 2010. A remixed and extended version appears on their debut album The Future Sound of Nostalgia, released in 2011.
Vs Art is the first solo album by Damian Cowell. It is sometimes considered a DC3 album, due to Cowell's DC3 bandmates Henri Grawe and Douglas Lee Robertson serving as the backing band.
Peter Carl Minack is an Australian teacher of English. He is known by his stage name Ron Hitler-Barassi as the vocalist for the alternative rock band TISM, initially active from 1984 to 2004. Under his own name he published an American Civil War novel, C.W.G. in 2000. While a member of TISM, Minack periodically worked as a secondary school teacher of Drama and fully resumed that role after they disbanded. In 2022, TISM reformed.
When Love Comes Down is the first solo studio album from the former Survivor lead singer Jimi Jamison released on July 9, 1991 on Scotti Brothers and Top Notch Records. It featured the singles "Taste of Love", "Rock Hard" and the album's title track. The album was anticipated to perform better than Survivor's Too Hot to Sleep but only managed marginal success, featuring a couple singles that appeared in movies and TV series soundtracks.
The Bennies are an Australian ska punk band originally from Melbourne, Victoria and currently based on the Gold Coast, Queensland. Self-described as "psychedelic reggae ska doom metal punk rock from Hell," the band are known for their high-energy live shows and their mix of genres including dub, punk rock and heavy metal. To date, the band have released four studio albums and two EPs.