| Black Tambourine | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Washington, D.C. area, U.S. |
| Genres | Twee pop (Indie pop) Noise Pop Shoegaze |
| Years active | Early 1990s |
| Labels | Slumberland Audrey's Diary |
Black Tambourine was an influential twee pop band and one of the earliest Slumberland groups of the early 1990s. Formed in Silver Spring, Maryland, the band comprised singer Pam Berry, Brian Nelson, Archie Moore and Mike Schulman. Along with Tiger Trap, Lois, Honeybunch, Tullycraft, and Beat Happening they are considered to be one of the most influential bands of the American twee pop movement.
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The members came to the project already acquainted with each other: both Nelson and Schulman were in Whorl together, while Schulman (also of Powderburns) co-founded Slumberland Records. Moore, meanwhile, was in Velocity Girl, and Berry had co-founded the Chickfactor zine.[1][2]
The band was influenced by The Jesus and Mary Chain, Phil Spector, Smokey Robinson, Love, The Ramones, the Shop Assistants, The Pastels, 14 Iced Bears, Orange Juice, and the English bands signed to Creation Records.[1] [2]
Black Tambourine is described by Allmusic as one of the "seminal American indie pop bands of the 1980s." Bands they have influenced include The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Vivian Girls, Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls, Rough Bunnies, The Mayfair Set, The Champagne Socialists, and Procedure Club.[2]
After the band parted ways, Berry went on to sing with numerous bands including The Shapiros, glo-worm, Castaway Stones, Veronica Lake, Bright Colored Lights, Belmondo, Seashell Sea and The Pines; she also returned to Chickfactor. Nelson went on to Velocity Girl; Moore to Heartworms; and Schulman to Magpies and Candleman.