Tuxedomoon is an experimental Post-punk/New Wave group formed in San Francisco, Californiaconsisting of core members Blaine L. Reininger, Steven Brown and Peter Principle.
Formed in 1977 by multi-instrumentalists Blaine L. Reininger and Steven Brown, then two students of electronic music at San Francisco City College, with technical assistance from video artist Tommy Tadlock, Tuxedomoon started playing salons and accompanying performances by Angels of Light. Brown's connections to local theatre gave the band access to vocalists Gregory Cruikshank, Victoria Lowe, and, most frequently, Winston Tong, the latter bringing along filmmaker and performance artistBruce Geduldig who, in an unusual capacity for a band member, took care of the band's visuals, both live and on video.[1] The band gained some level of recognition in 1978 when they opened for Devo.Michael Belfer, (guitarist), and Paul Zahl, (drummer) joined the band in time to help with the group's first EP, No Tears (ironically, given that this was the only time the band used a live drummer, "No Tears (For the Creatures of the Night)" became a perennial club hit thereafter, prompting many requests over the years for this song during live concerts -- rarely acquiesced.)[2] Lowe left prior to the album's release in 1978. Soon afterward, Tong and Belfer left the group temporarily, and bassist Peter Principle joined the lineup. In 1979, the group signed to The Residents' Ralph Records, with whom they recorded their next two albums, Half Mute and Desire, (which was recorded in England with Gareth Jones.) In late 1980 the band relocated to Rotterdam for a short time and then moved on to Brussels, believing their sound better fit the electronic scene in Europe.
The band soon created the score for a ballet by Maurice Béjart, which was released in 1982 as Divine. In 1983 Reininger left the group in order to pursue a solo career, and trumpeter Luc Van Lieshoutjoined. In 1985 Tuxedomoon had its largest success commercially with the international release ofHoly Wars. Tong left the group again soon after its release. Multi-instrumentalist Ivan Georgiev was brought in to perform on the group's next two albums, 1986's Ship of Fools and 1987's You. The band remained inactive through most of the 1990s, although never technically broke up.
On July 20, 2004 a reborn Tuxedomoon, consisting of Steven Brown, Blaine Reininger, Peter Principle, and Luc Van Lieshout released a new studio album, Cabin in the Sky. They had been given the opportunity to spend over two months together[3] in Cagli, Italy, at the Teatro di Cagli under a program begun by theater director and then-mayor of the town, Sandro Pascucci[4]. They continue to work and tour together and have since released Bardo Hotel Soundtrack in 2006. For the group's 30th year anniversary in 2007 they released another studio album, Vapour Trails. At this time, Crammed Discs released the box set 77o7 Tm (the 30th Anniversary Box) containing: Vapour Trails, Unearthed: Lost Cords, a collection of previously unreleased recordings, 162o7 (39°N 7°W), a live concert recorded on February 16, 2007 in Portalegre, Portugal, as well as a DVD (in both PAL and NTSC editions) Unearthed: Found Films, rare videos from 1977 - 1988.[5] The box set was designed by noted graphic designerJonathan Barnbrook.[6]
In 2008, writer/journalist Isabelle Corbisier[7] published a 476-page biography, entitled Music For Vagabonds - The Tuxedomoon Chronicles covering the band's entire career as well as members' solo activities.[8]
Band members Steven Brown, Bruce Geduldig, Luc Van Lieshout, Peter Principle, Blaine L. Reininger, and Winston Tong continue to work, as they have always done, on solo and other collaborative projects
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