Princess Tinymeat
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Philosophy graduate from Trinity College Dublin[1], child star and hob-goblin, Binttii formed Princess Tinymeat in 1984, a couple of years after leaving the Virgin Prunes. The line-up varied over the band's three-year existence, but the main members were Binttii (vocals, keyboards, tapes), Tom Rice (guitar), Ian Sissy Box (bass) and C. Zappa (drums).
Other members included the Irish avant-garde composer Roger Doyle, Virgin Prunes guitarist Dik Evans, Gorehounds drummer Gerry Gore, ex-Hinterland and current David Bowie guitarist Gerry Leonard, Super Karan, The Outrageous Antoinette, Pete Brown and Séan Dall. The name Princess Tinymeat was taken from actor Montgomery Clift's Hollywood sobriquet (He reputedly had a small penis).[2]
Their first record, released in 1984, was the reverb drenched 12" SLOBLANDS c/w THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL (Rough Trade), engineered by Paul Thomas (Virgin Prunes, Thin Lizzy, U2). The cover, which was censored in all countries of release except for France, shows a slightly gender-confused Binttii, naked save for a pillow tied to him. The production and attention to detail on this debut is demented. Binttii had shown himself here to be a very accomplished producer. SLOBLANDS was proof, if proof were needed, of a very genuine talent.[3]
After the sweet aural bludgeoning of SLOBLANDS, they released a slightly more danceable (only slightly..mind you!) 7" called A BUN IN THE OVEN c/w WIGS ON THE GREEN (Rough Trade). This was a sort of halfway house between 40's influenced jazz hi-hat rhythms played by a sanatorium inmate with a sledgehammer, and the Pet Shop Boys at half speed, on helium.[4]
Their final contribution was released in 1986 on both 7" and 12" and was called ANGELS IN PAIN c/w PUT IT THERE / DEVILCOCK (12" only) (Rough Trade). This managed more of an 80's dance floor appeal but still maintained that feeling of having woken up from a very bad dream. Pop with malevolence! It became an underground success in clubs in the United States, Japan and various countries in Europe.[5]
HERSTORY - A COMPILATION was released in 1987 on Rough Trade and contained all of the above with the inclusion of two tracks LUCKY BAG and JAY GONE BIMBO, both of which were not unlike having your teeth removed by a gang of imps without anesthetic. These tracks had previously been available on the compilation YOU BET WE'VE GOT SOMETHING AGAINST YOU, for which they had been especially recorded.[6]
Binttii started his musical career in 1979 with a band called Normal Service Will Be Resumed As Soon As Possible, an apparent conglomeration of punk-meets-Rick Wakeman. Dadaist cut-ups mixed with ladies in straight jackets. He then spent a brief but productive period with the Virgin Prunes, recording their first two ep's with them.[7]
Princess Tinymeat hence began a very promising career. They achieved a cult status, not least amongst the gay and goth sets, although there was considerably more to them than gender-bending and hair spray. They had an intellectual wit, humour and a genuine intensity that was lacking from most of the bands they were associated with from that time. Bintti had a vision and an ability which far outreached those of his contemporaries.
Witnessing a Princess Tinymeat performance was like being hit by a train draped in flowers. They became a common 'event' at Sides night club in Dublin during the mid-eighties, their shows being a veritable assault of strobes and smoke. The stage would invariably be filled with band members and dancers, dressed in flamboyant clothes or in body paint and miming to viciously loud backing tracks. Most of their performances lasted less than 25 minutes which was probably a good thing for the unsuspecting in the audience.
Amid rock press reviews and several television appearances, Binttii achieved celebrity status for several years. He produced a couple of bands during this time, most notably Dublin's garage-punks, the notorious Gorehounds, giving them the meat-and-two-veg they otherwise might have lacked.[8]
Princess Tinymeat might have gone on to better things but, through a combination of over-eager substance-use, a modicum of violence and a general recklessness, they managed to implode before reaching the heights they deserved. Binttii was also quite eager to shed the tranny image and subsequent following he had gained.[9]
Princess Tinymeat came and went in the blink of a heavily mascaraed fake eyelash. They are still yet to be equalled. Binttii has often been considered to be the most far-out musician ever to emerge from Irish rock.
Binttii dropped his nom de plume after the demise of PT. He is happily married and currently lives, records and performs under his own name.
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