Tomahawk (band)

Tomahawk
Background information
Origin	California, USA
Genres	Alternative metal, experimental rock, hard rock, alternative rock, progressive rock, native american music
Years active	1999–present[1][2]
Labels	Ipecac Recordings
Associated acts	The Denison/Kimball Trio, Fantômas, The Melvins, Mr. Bungle, The Jesus Lizard, Faith No More, Helmet, Battles, The Mark of Cain, Tool, Cows
Website	Official Site
Members	Mike Patton Duane Denison John Stanier Trevor Dunn
Past members	Kevin Rutmanis

Tomahawk is an experimental alternative metal/alternative rock supergroup from the United States. They formed in 1999 when Fantômas, ex-Mr. Bungle and Faith No More singer/keyboardist Mike Patton and ex-The Jesus Lizard guitar player Duane Denison started swapping tapes with the intention of collaborating. Denison then recruited ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier, while Mike Patton recruited Melvins/Cows bass player Kevin Rutmanis into the group.

History

When Faith No More broke up in 1998^[3] Mike Patton created the record label Ipecac Recordings, returned to work with his other band Mr. Bungle, and formed the experimental metal supergroup Fantômas with Buzz Osborne of Melvins and Dave Lombardo of Slayer. Patton met Duane Denison in 1999 at a Mr. Bungle concert in Nashville and the two began exchanging music and jamming.^[4]

During May and June 2001 the band recorded their eponymous debut album in Nashville.^[5] The album was released on October 30, 2001, it was produced by Joe Funderburk. Sophomore album Mit Gas, recorded with producer Joe Barresi, was released in 2003.

Tomahawk have toured extensively, playing in many countries around the world, including the United States, Australia, Europe and Japan. They generally headline shows but have been the supporting act for bands such as Tool. When opening for Tool in 2002, the band were booed off stage.^[6][7] Tomahawk took part in the "Geek Tour", which featured labelmates The Melvins and Fantômas. Tomahawk have also played at various festivals, including the Big Day Out festival in Australia.^[8]

The band's third album, Anonymous, was released on June 19, 2007 through Ipecac Recordings. Kevin Rutmanis left the band during the recording; reasons for his departure are unknown.^[9] For the album, Denison and Stanier recorded their parts in Nashville, and then sent their finished product to San Francisco where Patton added his vocals and samples.^[10]

In July 2011, Mike Patton announced that Tomahawk was preparing to record its fourth album.^[11] In early 2012, Tomahawk announced that Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, John Zorn, MadLove, trio-convulsant) would play bass for the band.^[12]

In late 2012, the band began playing their first live shows since 2003.^[13][14] On December 3, 2012, a full-length video for first single, "Stone Letter", was posted online.^[15] Oddfellows was released January 29, 2013^[16]

Musical style and influences

Critics have described the band's sound as alternative metal,^{[17][18][19][20]} alternative rock^[17][21] and experimental rock.^[17] Other labels that have been affixed to the group include progressive rock,^[22] post-rock,^[23] hard rock,^[17] and heavy metal.^[17] Butch Lazorchak of the Boston Herald has compared the band's sound to 1970s hard rock groups such as Blue Öyster Cult.^[24] The band's 2007 album Anonymous incorporates Native American music elements.^[10][25]

Discography

Studio albums

Box sets

Singles

Music videos

Notes

1. ↑ http://www.defyunlearn.com/interviews.php?id=9
2. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20130405184457/http://www.sonic.net/~goblin/2002tomahawk.html
3. ↑ "Faith No More Biography". Faith No More Official Site. Retrieved 2012-12-02. 
4. ↑ DeRogatis, Jim (November 2, 2001). "Super Models: New Bands Show That Supergroups Can Get It Right". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved August 27, 2001.  (subscription required)
5. ↑ http://wayback.archive.org/web/20060213103057/http://www.asparagusproductions.com/tomahawk/
6. ↑ "Tomahawk: Mit Gas | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 2003-05-01. Retrieved 2012-12-02. 
7. ↑ "Star Tribune Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. 2002-08-30. Retrieved 2012-12-02. 
8. ↑ "Big Day Out 2002 Line Up". Big Day Out Official Website. Archived from the original on 2007-05-16. Retrieved 2007-07-10. 
9. ↑ "Tomahawk Biography". Ipecac.com. Retrieved 2007-06-06. 
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lymangrover, Jason (2007-06-19). "Anonymous - Tomahawk : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-11-30. 
11. ↑ Nagy, Evie, "Mike Patton on Voicing a Video Game, Faith No More Reunion", Rolling Stone, 7-25-2011. Retrieved 8-4-2011
12. ↑ Facebook, "New Tomahawk page!! Which means a NEW record is coming soon!", Facebook, 11-04-2011. Retrieved 11-04-2011
13. ↑ http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/33043/Tomahawk-back-on-tour-for-the-first-time-in-nearly-a-decade
14. ↑ http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/tomahawk-new-single-available-for-streaming/
15. ↑ Trebuchet (940 Posts). "Tomahawk! Patton and Co release new Video: Stone Letter". Trebuchet Magazine. Retrieved 2012-12-03. 
16. ↑ Weingarten, Christopher R. (2012-10-04). "Hear the Gnashing First Taste of Tomahawk's First LP in Six Years | SPIN | SPIN Mix | Premieres". SPIN. Retrieved 2012-11-30. 
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 Prato, Greg. "Tomahawk - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-11-30. 
18. ↑ Martins, Chris. "See Tomahawk Carve Out 'Stone Letter' in Raw New Video | SPIN | SPIN Mix | Videos". SPIN. Retrieved 2012-12-02. 
19. ↑ Pattonhawk (2012-11-05). "Mike Patton on new Tomahawk: "It's a rock record"". Fasterlouder.com.au. Retrieved 2012-11-30. 
20. ↑ Craig Mathieson. "The leap from Faith | Mike Patton's Mondo Cane". Theage.com.au. Retrieved 2012-11-30. 
21. ↑ Eakin, Marah (2012-06-29). "After a long hiatus, alt-rock supergroup Tomahawk reunites, readies new album | Music | Newswire". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2012-11-30. 
22. ↑ http://soundcolourvibration.com/2013/01/29/tomahawk-oddfellows/
23. ↑ Tomahawk's Trevor Dunn on Why There Won't Be a Mr. Bungle Reunion Sf Weekley February 12, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-03
24. ↑ Lazorchak, Butch (November 18, 2001). "Lynne's Latest Softens Edges". Boston Herald. Retrieved October 30, 2012.  (subscription required)
25. ↑ Schiller, Mike. "Tomahawk: Anonymous". PopMatters. Retrieved 2012-11-30. 
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 "Tomahawk > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-08-04. 
27. ↑ "Discography Tomahawk". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-08-04. 
28. ↑ "Discography Tomahawk". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-08-04. 
29. ↑ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: DJ T – Tzant". Zobbel. Retrieved 2010-08-04. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tomahawk (band).

• Ipecac Recordings
• Tomahawk on Myspace