The Tiger Lillies
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The Tiger Lillies at TFF Rudolstadt 2013
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| Background information | |
| Origin | London |
| Genres | Dark cabaret, circus music |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Misery Guts Music |
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| Past members |
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| Website | tigerlillies |
The Tiger Lillies are a British musical trio formed in 1989 by singer-songwriter Martyn Jacques. Described as the forefathers of Brechtian Punk Cabaret,[1] the Tiger Lillies are known for their unique sound and style which merges "the macabre magic of pre-war Berlin with the savage edge of punk".[2]
The band's name is rumoured to have been inspired by a murdered Soho sex worker called Lillie who used to dress up in animal print.[3][4] Jacques, however, has stated that he named the band after a painting he had on his wall.[5] The band formed in 1989 when Martyn Jacques placed an ad on Loot looking for a drummer and a bass player for a new band. Adrian Huge and Phil Butcher (the band's first bassist who was succeeded by Adrian Stout in 1995)[6] were the only musicians that got in touch with him and therefore became the original Tiger Lillies' drummer and bassist respectively.
In Spring 2012 Adrian Huge decided to take a leave of absence and was replaced by drummer Mike Pickering who toured with the Tiger Lillies from 2012.[7] In early 2015 Pickering was replaced by Jonas Golland.[8] By late 2021 the band had recruited their current drummer, Budi Butenop. [9]
The Independent has described The Tiger Lillies as "a provocative and avant-garde three-piece band that combines cabaret, vaudeville, music-hall and street theatre",[10] while Tim Arthur of Time Out described them as: "Kurt Weill conjuring up images of prewar Berlin while a falsetto vocalist screams, squeaks and squawks his way through every number like some rambling madman".[11] The Tiger Lillies' songs often involve bestiality, prostitution, blasphemy and other vices.[12][13][14] Their musical style is mainly influenced by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's masterpiece The Threepenny Opera and pre-war Berlin cabaret but other influences such as gypsy and circus music, French chanson and British music hall tunes are also evident.[15][4]
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The Tiger Lillies have appeared in numerous shows, the following are listed according to their premiere date:
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