Tutu and the Pirates: Difference between revisions

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'''Tutu and the Pirates''' were one of the very first punk bands in Chicago.  Though I don't think they released any recordings, they were playing shows since the late 70s. They hosted the first ever gig for [[Silver Abuse]] in [[1977]], so they've been around at least that long. 
Tutu & The Pirates, Chicago's first anti-lectual sub-urban insult rock band and perhaps even its first punk band finally gets its due in their first 17-trak LP compilation of demos (from ’77/’78), practice tapes (recorded at their rehearsal loft, “The Placenta”), and live material (from ’78). Formed in 1977 by a cross-section of childhood friends and misfits, the Pirates culled inspiration from The Stooges, MC5, and the New York Dolls, as well as 60's garage and the Mothers Of Invention. Quirky and fearless, these guys made it up as they went along, quickly becoming Chicago’s go-to opening band for the Ramones (five times), the Undertones, and the Pretenders. True to punk credo, they lived hard and played harder, and within a few short years the rot set in and the group disbanded. Yet despite their influence in and on the Chicago punk scene, the legendary Midwestern pioneers of punk never managed to release an album until now. A new recording of "Berlin" proves that even three decades later, they can still
 
rock the fuck out.  
Tutu and the Pirates was one of the most well-known bands during the earliest of punk eras, at [[La Mere Vipere]]. They were one of the few punk bands in Chicago during that time and played regularly at places like [[Mothers]].  They were one of the bands features in the [[You Weren't There]] documentary.
 
The drummer in the band was Jeff Thomas, son of Chicago television personality Frazier Thomas of ''Garfield Goose'' and ''Bozo's Circus'' fame.


== Fun Facts ==
== Fun Facts ==

Revision as of 18:24, 24 April 2010

Tutu & The Pirates, Chicago's first anti-lectual sub-urban insult rock band and perhaps even its first punk band finally gets its due in their first 17-trak LP compilation of demos (from ’77/’78), practice tapes (recorded at their rehearsal loft, “The Placenta”), and live material (from ’78). Formed in 1977 by a cross-section of childhood friends and misfits, the Pirates culled inspiration from The Stooges, MC5, and the New York Dolls, as well as 60's garage and the Mothers Of Invention. Quirky and fearless, these guys made it up as they went along, quickly becoming Chicago’s go-to opening band for the Ramones (five times), the Undertones, and the Pretenders. True to punk credo, they lived hard and played harder, and within a few short years the rot set in and the group disbanded. Yet despite their influence in and on the Chicago punk scene, the legendary Midwestern pioneers of punk never managed to release an album until now. A new recording of "Berlin" proves that even three decades later, they can still rock the fuck out.

Fun Facts

  • The band appeared in Dan Dinello's 1979 independent film "Rock Lobster" performing "Boiled Alive," a punked-up version of the Bee Gees' hit "Stayin' Alive," as well as a Devo-like version of The Temptations' "My Girl" and an incendiary cover of the Cure´s "Killing an Arab".
  • Bassist Frankie Paradise used a guitar made out of a toilet seat during performances of "I Wanna be a Janitor." Using a plunger, Li'l Richie Speck would act out his janitorial fantasies.

Tutu Today

In 2005, Tutu played a reunion gig at the 10th O'Banion's reunions at The Note. A couple of the original Pirates are now in Vendooza, who play shows throughout the Chicagoland area. On October 24, 2009, Tutu and the Pirates will also be playing the after show for the DVD release of You Weren't There.

External Links