Tzimis Panousis
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Tzimis Panousis (also spelled Jimis, Greek: Τζίμης Πανούσης) is a Greek musician and stand-up comedian born in Athens on February 12, 1954, where he has spent most of his life. His fans often refer to him as “Tzimakos.” He was married to Lili Daskalothanasi and has a son, Aris.
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[edit] Artistic style
Panousis made his first appearances in the 1980s, performing in various pubs in Athens and elsewhere. He first appeared with a band named "Music Brigades" (Greek: Μουσικές Ταξιαρχίες), which also appeared under the name "Alamana Bridge". In both groups Panousis was the leading composer and performer, which may have contributed to the final dissolution of the "Music Brigades".
Since his debut album, "Disco Weenie" (“Disco Tsoutsouni,” in Greek), Panousis promoted a controversial style of Greek rock music with humorous and sarcastic verses. His songs are caustic commentaries of the political and social reality of Greece. His varied musical style includes rock, reggae and rembetika. In his live performances, Panousis renders sarcastic comments about current events and Greek musicians and personalities. He often interacts with his public, in a self-styled type of stand-up-comedy and is notorious for his live on-stage telephone pranks.
[edit] Controversy
Panousis had several run-ins with the now defunct Greek censorship authorities. His second album, “Musical Brigades” (“Μουσικές Ταξιαρχίες,” in Greek), was briefly withdrawn from circulation in 1982 because of the ostensibly blasphemous lyrics of a love ballad. In 1984, censors placed beeps over some of the lyrics in Panousis’s third album, “If my Granny had a pair of scooter wheels” (“Αν η Γιαγιά μου είχε Ρουλεμάν,” in Greek). Panousis made a point of satirizing the then socialist Greek government allowing this.
Moreover, Panousis has often poked fun of the celebrated Greek singer George Dalaras. A Greek court issued, on the behalf of Dalaras who sued for slander, a restraining order that would charge Panousis with a one million Drachmae fine (approximately $3,000) every time he were to mention Dalaras by name. Panousis retorted with his famous on-stage quip, “Ladies and gentlemen, I am about to become three million drachmae poorer: Dalaras, Dalaras, Dalaras.”
All this has contributed to the depiction of Panousis as a highly controversial artist. Some regard him as a modern-day Aristophanes[1] while many consider that his pranks and commentaries are of bad taste. Panousis often uses offensive language, while the advertising posters of his depict provocative images. In one instance, he replaced the cross of the Greek flag with a communist hammer and sickle, for which he was given a four-month probation. In another instance, he appeared dressed as a priest with a medallion hanging around his neck which depicted the head of a chicken instead of Mary. This elicited the angry reaction of Archbishop Christodoulos, head of the Church of Greece.[2]
[edit] Other activities
Panousis has hosted a highly popular weekly radio for several years on Skai radio, until his show was dropped for unknown reasons. Panousis is also author to six books (a peculiar type of sarcastic essays) and poetry. He has also appeared in four movies. The most notable is The Dracula of Exarcheia (1981, directed by Nicos Zervos), where Panousis is the protagonist.
[edit] External links
- Fan site, the most complete web site on Panousis and apart from information on his appearances, interviews, articles, samples of his books etc., it also disposes a large collection of photos.
- Greek website, inactive but still with valuable information
- Another site in Greek
[edit] Notes
- ^ http://www.iospress.gr/ios2000/ios20001029a.htm Eleftherotypia, 29 October 2000, The Tzimis Panousis Affair (in Greek).
- ^ Kathimerini English Edition, 30 October 2006, Comic no joke for archbishop.
