Tirez Tirez

Tirez Tirez
Origin	Kansas City, Missouri
Genres	New Wave Minimalism
Years active	1978–1988
Labels	Object Music Aura Records Les Disques Du Crépuscule Sire Records IRS Records
Associated acts	Mikel Rouse Broken Consort Tuxedomoon
Website	Mikel Rouse's Website
Past members
Mikel Rouse Rob Shepperson Jeff Burk James Bergman Philip Johnston Blaine L. Reininger Bill Tesar Rave Tesar Mark Lampariello

Tirez Tirez was an American rock band led by composer/performer Mikel Rouse, the band's only constant member. The group was active from 1978 through 1988, and had a new wave/art rock sensibility that was strongly influenced by minimalism.

History

Tirez Tirez was founded by Missouri native Mikel Rouse, and gave its first performance as the opening act for the rock band Talking Heads at a 1978 concert in Kansas City, Missouri. The group subsequently moved to New York City in 1979.

The line up for their first album (1980's Etudes) was Rouse (vocals/guitar), Rob Shepperson (drums) and Jeff Burk (bass). Though recorded in New York City, the album did not initially see a US release, and was at first only picked up for distribution by the tiny British independent label Object Music. The LP went on to sell a very respectable 2,000 copies in the UK, and US indie Aura Records later issued in the album in the US in late 1981. Aura also issued "Razorblades", a single taken from the album.

Bassist Burk left Tirez Tirez in 1982, and was replaced by James Bergman. Philip Johnston (keyboards/woodwinds) was also added to the group at about the same time. This line-up (Rouse/Shepperson/Bergman/Johnston) recorded 1983's Story Of The Year, which was released only in Europe via Belgian label Les Disques Du Crépuscule.

In 1984, Rouse would begin recording more minimalist work with his "chamber orchestra" Broken Consort. From this point forward, there was often crossover between members of Tirez Tirez and Broken Consort, although the two groups were not identical. However, for the first album credited to "Mikel Rouse Broken Consort" (1984's Jade Tiger) the band line up of Rouse/Shepperson/Bergman/Johnston was exactly the same as that of Tirez Tirez's Story Of The Year.

In 1984, Tirez Tirez released the Europe-only non-LP 12" single "Under The Door" / "Sleep". The only credited musicians on this release were Rouse (guitars/keyboards/synthesizers/percussion/vocals) and, on the A-side only, Blaine L. Reininger (violin/bass programming). By 1986, bassist Bergman re-joined the fold, and Tirez Tirez (now a duo of Rouse and Bergman) issued the non-LP 12" "Set The Timer" / "Uptight" on Sire Records. This was their first US release in five years, and their first release to receive major label distribution.

Shortly after the release of "Set The Timer", the group found a permanent US home with the IRS label. For their third album (1987's Social Responsibility), the band was still a duo of Rouse and Bergman, with Rouse performing all instruments except bass.

The band expanded to a quintet for a subsequent tour, and for their final studio release, 1988's Against All Flags, Tirez Tirez's line-up consisted of Rouse (vocals/guitar), Bergman (bass), and new members Bill Tesar (drums), Rave Tesar (keyboards) and Mark Lampariello (guitar).

According to Mikel Rouse's web site, one further Tirez Tirez album was recorded after 1988, but it was never released. Rouse slowly phased out Tirez Tirez over the next few years, while continuing to work with many of the same musicians: the 1993 line-up of his Broken Consort ensemble consisted of Tirez Tirez players Mikel Rouse (keyboards), James Bergman (bass), Bill Tesar (drums), and Mark Lampariello (guitar), along with non-Tirez member Dale Kleps (woodwinds). Tirez Tirez was still listed as a going concern in the liner notes to the 1993 Broken Consort release Soul Menu, but both groups wound down shortly thereafter.

Rouse continues to live in New York City, and since 1994 has performed and recorded as a solo artist.

Albums

• Etudes (1980)
• Story Of The Year (1983)
• Social Responsibility (1987)
• Against All Flags (1988)

Singles

• "Scattered" / "Scenery" (1979)
• "Razorblades" / "Hair" (1981)
• "Under The Door" / "Sleep" (1984)
• "Set The Timer" / "Uptight" (1986)

External links

• Tirez Tirez information from Trouser Press site

See also

• Mikel Rouse