Le Tigre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Le Tigre | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Background information | ||
| Origin | New York City, New York, USA | |
| Genre(s) | Punk rock Electronica New Wave |
|
| Years active | 1998–2007 | |
| Label(s) | Mr. Lady Universal Records |
|
| Website | Official site | |
| Members | ||
| Johanna Fateman JD Samson Kathleen Hanna |
||
| Former members | ||
| Sadie Benning | ||
- This article deals with the musical artist Le Tigre. For their debut album, see Le Tigre (album). For clothing, see Le Tigre Clothing.
Le Tigre was an American post-punk / electro-pop/New Wave band, formed by Kathleen Hanna (formerly of Bikini Kill) and Johanna Fateman in 1998. It also featured Sadie Benning from 1998 until 2001, and JD Samson for the rest of the group's run. They were known for their highly political lyrics, dealing with issues of feminism and community.
[edit] History
Initially envisioned as a live back up band for Hanna's solo project Julie Ruin, Le Tigre mixed the politics and feminism of riot grrrl with fun electronic samples and lo-fi beats. Other members included Johanna Fateman and JD Samson. JD joined Le Tigre as a full member when co-founder Sadie Benning left the band before the Feminist Sweepstakes album was recorded. JD had previously worked with the band as a roadie and the operator of Benning's slide show during live performances in support of their first record. The self-proclaimed "underground electro-feminist performance artists" combined visuals, music and dance in their performances.
The song "Hot Topic" on Le Tigre's self-titled debut pays tribute to dozens of visual artists, musicians, writers, feminists and others who have inspired them. Among the honorees are: Yoko Ono, Aretha Franklin, Vaginal Creme Davis, Yayoi Kusama, John Cassavetes, Sleater-Kinney, Billy Tipton, James Baldwin, and Jean Genet. In a similar fashion the song "FYR" off the album Feminist Sweepstakes is a tribute to the chapter and ideals put forth in Shulamith Firestone's Fifty Years of Ridicule in her 1970 feminist work The Dialectic of Sex.
The first two recordings by the band were released on the independent label Mr. Lady Records, run by Kaia Wilson of The Butchies and artist Tammy Rae Carland. Feminist Sweepstakes (2001) came out on Chicks on Speed's record label. The album This Island (2004) was Le Tigre's first on a major label (Universal/Strummer). Ric Ocasek of the Cars produced one track, "Tell You Now."
Even after signing with Universal, Le Tigre continued to work with independent labels. In 2005 they released This Island Remixes with Chicks on Speed.
In 2005 Le Tigre performed at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, in which accusations of them essentialising womenhood had arisen.[citation needed]
Even though riotgrrrl has had a tradition of being anti-Establishment, Le Tigre licensed two of their songs for use in advertisements by Canadian telephone provider Telus and Australian jewelery chain Goldmark. A sample from 'Deceptacon' plays in the background of a 2006 television commercial for Nivea cosmetics. Le Tigre's TKO is featured in the 2006 movie Accepted.
In the second half of 2006, Le Tigre went on hiatus [1].In 2006, Le Tigre contributed to Yoko Ono's Yes, I'm A Witch album by remixing "Sisters O Sisters". The band decided to split up in January 2007.[2]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
[edit] EPs and singles
- Hot Topic (1999)
- From the Desk of Mr. Lady EP (2001)
- Remix (2003)
- Standing In The Way Of Control 12" split EP with The Gossip on Kill Rock Stars
- This Island Remixes Volume 1 EP, Chicks On Speed Records
- This Island Remixes Volume 2EP, Chicks On Speed Records
[edit] Compilations
- "Sweetie", Calling All Kings & Queens, Mr. Lady Records, (2001)
- "Revolt" from Giggles In The Dark, Lesbians On Ecstasy Remixes, Alien8 Recordings, (2005)
