Tones on Tail

Last updated

Tones on Tail
Tones-on-tail.jpg
Background information
Origin Northampton, England
Genres Post-punk, gothic rock
Years active1982–1984
Labels 4AD, Situation 2, Beggars Banquet Records
Associated acts Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, The Bubblemen, Poptone
Past members Daniel Ash
Glenn Campling
Kevin Haskins

Tones on Tail was a British post-punk band formed in 1982, originally as a musical side project of Daniel Ash of the gothic rock group Bauhaus. Their music was described by one critic as "doom-and-dance-pop." [1]

Contents

History

While still a member of Bauhaus, Ash formed Tones on Tail early in 1982, originally as a duo with art school friend, flatmate and Bauhaus roadie Glenn Campling. The band's name was a reference to the way calibration tones were recorded on the "tail" of reel-to-reel tape.

The pair issued their debut eponymous EP on 4AD in March 1982, followed by the single "There's Only One!", released by Beggars Banquet Records on 24 September.

After the break-up of Bauhaus in 1983, they were joined by drummer Kevin Haskins, and became a full-time concern for all three members. Their first release as a trio was the Burning Skies EP, issued by Situation Two on 6 May 1983.

Their sole studio album, Pop , was released by Beggars Banquet on 6 April 1984 in the UK; featuring the singles "Performance" (released 9 March) and "Lions" (released 11 May). The album was also issued in North America in altered form as The Album Pop. "Go!", the popular B-side of "Lions", was issued on its own as a single in Canada, licensed by Vertigo Records.

During October 1984, the group embarked on a short 12-date tour of the US; in concert, the band sported all white outfits. [2] [3]

The final Tones on Tail single, "Christian Says", was issued on 9 November 1984.

The band disbanded in late 1984, and Ash and Haskins quickly formed Love and Rockets with former Bauhaus bassist David J. [4] [5]

The 1998 compilation Everything! compiled every Tones on Tail track in remastered form, plus a radio interview with Ash and Haskins.

Reception

Writing for AllMusic, critic Ned Raggett said: "With their former band's generally gloomier shadows left behind, what Ash and Haskins draw from their time with Bauhaus is that group's melange of styles—their most underappreciated strength". [6] Richard Williams of The Michigan Daily said "Tones on Tail carries on with the traditional Bauhaus taste for the macabre, but charts new courses of twisting the pop thing." [7] James Muretich of The Calgary Herald wrote "From the ashes of Bauhaus has arisen a British trio that is turning into one of the most impressive and macabre dance bands around." [8]

"Go!" was used during a rave scene in the 1991 Beverly Hills, 90210 episode "U4EA"; in the 1991 movie Career Opportunities it is used as montage music as Jennifer Connelly, Dermot Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney steal merchandise from the Target store; and during a class reunion disco scene in the 1997 film Grosse Point Blank , during a party scene in the 2003 film Party Monster , for a 2008 Ford Motor Company commercial for the Mercury Mariner, in a 2015 trailer for the second season of the Adult Swim show Rick and Morty and during a basketball game in the "Chapter Three: The Pollywog" 2017 episode of the second season of Stranger Things . [9] The vocal of "Go!" was sampled prominently for Go by Moby in 1991.

Discography

Studio albums
EPs
Singles
Compilation albums

Related Research Articles

Bauhaus (band) English gothic rock band

Bauhaus are an English rock band, formed in Northampton, England, in 1978. The group consists of Daniel Ash, Peter Murphy, Kevin Haskins (drums) and David J (bass). The band was originally named Bauhaus 1919 in reference to the first operating year of the German art school Bauhaus, although they shortened the name within a year of formation. One of the pioneers of gothic rock, Bauhaus were known for their dark image and gloomy sound, although they mixed many genres, including dub, glam rock, psychedelia, funk, power pop and ska.

Daniel Ash

Daniel Gaston Ash is an English musician, songwriter and singer. He became prominent in the late 1970s as the guitarist for the iconic goth rock band Bauhaus, which spawned two related bands led by Ash: Tones on Tail and Love and Rockets. Recently, he reunited with bandmate Kevin Haskins to form Poptone, a retrospective of their respective careers, featuring Kevin's daughter Diva Dompe on bass. He has also recorded several solo albums. Several guitarists have listed Ash as an influence, including Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction, Kim Thayil of Soundgarden and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Love and Rockets (band)

Love and Rockets were an English alternative rock band formed in 1985 by former Bauhaus members Daniel Ash, David J and Kevin Haskins after that group split in 1983. Ash and Haskins had recorded and performed in another band, Tones on Tail, between 1982 and 1984. Love and Rockets' fusion of underground rock music with elements of pop music provided an early catalyst for alternative rock. They released seven studio albums before breaking up in 1999 and reformed briefly in 2007 for a few live shows, before splitting again in 2009.

Bela Lugosis Dead Song by Bauhaus

"Bela Lugosi's Dead" is a song by the English post-punk band Bauhaus. It was the band's first single, released on 6 August 1979 by record label Small Wonder. It is often considered the first gothic rock record.

<i>In the Flat Field</i> 1980 studio album by Bauhaus

In the Flat Field is the debut studio album by English post-punk band Bauhaus. It was recorded between December 1979 and July 1980, and was released on 3 November 1980 by record label 4AD, the first full-length release on that label.

<i>Mask</i> (Bauhaus album) 1981 studio album by Bauhaus

Mask is the second studio album by English post-punk band Bauhaus. It was released in October 16 1981 by record label Beggars Banquet.

<i>Hot Trip to Heaven</i> 1994 studio album by Love and Rockets

Hot Trip to Heaven is the fifth studio album by British rock band Love and Rockets, released in 1994 on Beggars Banquet in the United Kingdom and American in the United States. Released after a five-year hiatus, the album saw the band drop their former gothic, alternative rock sound in favour of a hi-tech electronic, ambient direction, taking influences from ambient techno artists such as The Orb and Orbital, while retaining the band's psychedelic focus. The group were first intrigued in making electronic music at the start of the decade.

<i>The Skys Gone Out</i> 1982 studio album by Bauhaus

The Sky's Gone Out is the third studio album by English gothic rock band Bauhaus, released in 1982 by record label Beggars Banquet.

<i>Burning from the Inside</i> 1983 studio album by Bauhaus

Burning from the Inside is the fourth studio album by English gothic rock band Bauhaus, released in 1983 by record label Beggars Banquet.

<i>Everything!</i> (Tones on Tail album) 1998 compilation album by Tones on Tail

Everything! is a compilation album by post-punk band Tones on Tail, released in 1998 as a double CD.

<i>Crackle</i> (album) 1998 greatest hits album by Bauhaus

Crackle is a greatest hits album by English goth-rock band Bauhaus. The album was released in 1998 by record label Beggars Banquet, during the band's Resurrection Tour. It includes remastered versions of some of their single hits and most popular songs.

The Passion of Lovers

"The Passion of Lovers" is the sixth single released by British gothic rock band Bauhaus. It was released in 7" format on the Beggars Banquet label in 1981. The initial copies came with the lyrics on a printed insert.

<i>Go Away White</i> 2008 studio album by Bauhaus

Go Away White is the fifth and final studio album by English gothic rock band Bauhaus. Released in 2008 by record labels Cooking Vinyl in the UK and Bauhaus Music internationally, it was the band's first album of new material since 1983.

Bauhaus discography

The discography of Bauhaus, a British gothic rock band, consists of five studio albums, four live albums, three compilation albums, four extended plays (EPs), eleven singles and three video albums. The band was formed in Northampton in 1978 by Daniel Ash (guitar), David J (bass), Kevin Haskins (drums) and Peter Murphy (vocals).

<i>Bauhaus 1979–1983</i> 1985 compilation album by Bauhaus

Bauhaus 1979–1983 is a compilation album by English post-punk band Bauhaus, released in 1985 by record label Beggars Banquet.

<i>The Singles 1981–1983</i> 1983 greatest hits album by Bauhaus

The Singles 1981–1983 is a greatest hits mini-album by English post-punk band Bauhaus. It was released in 1983 by record label Beggars Banquet.

<i>Pop</i> (Tones on Tail album) 1984 studio album by Tones on Tail

Pop is the only studio album by the English post-punk band Tones on Tail, a side project of the Bauhaus members Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins, and the Bauhaus roadie Glenn Campling. It was released on 6 April 1984 by the Beggars Banquet record label.

<i>Burning Skies</i> 1983 EP by Tones on Tail

Burning Skies is an EP by English post-punk band Tones on Tail. It was released on 6 May 1983 on record label Situation Two.

Poptone is a rock band formed in early 2017 by British musicians Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins with Diva Dompé. Ash and Haskins were both formerly of the bands Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, Love and Rockets and the Bubblemen.

<i>Stripped</i> (Daniel Ash album) 2014 remix album by Daniel Ash

Stripped is Daniel Ash's fifth album and his first studio album since his 2002 release, Daniel Ash. The album features reworkings of songs from his previous work with bands Bauhaus, Tones on Tail and Love and Rockets, as well as one original track.

References

  1. ↑ Gettelman, Parry (1 March 1991). "Daniel Ash". Orlando Sentinel . Orlando, FL. p. 21. Retrieved 12 April 2011. There also are hints of Tones on Tail, his doom-and-dance-pop side project.
  2. ↑ "For Fans of Dark '80s Music, Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins' Poptone Is a Dream Project". Laweekly.com. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  3. ↑ "Tones On Tail - 1984 - US tour". Bauhausgigguide.info. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  4. ↑ Molitor, Mike (14 January 1991). "Tones on Tail". The Michigan Daily . Ann Arbor, Michigan. p. 8. Retrieved 24 May 2015. Somewhere around 1982 things began to go wrong with (Bauhaus), and before one could say "gothic," or even "goth," guitarist Daniel Ash and drummer Kevin Haskins were out on their own with Tones on Tail. This new band lasted until 1985, when Bauhaus bassist David J came back into the fold and the group was "reunited" as the famed Love and Rockets.
  5. ↑ Steve Huey. "Tones on Tail". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Ned Raggett. "Pop – Tones on Tail". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  7. ↑ Williams, Richard (21 October 1984). "Tones on Tail: a subtle reminder of British skill". The Michigan Daily . p. 5. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  8. ↑ Muretich, James (23 March 1985). "Tones on Tail: Twist/Go!". The Calgary Herald . Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  9. ↑ Boyd, Helen (4 September 2008). "Go!". en|Gender. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.