TISM- Australia’s finest (idiots).
May 3rd, 2008 Posted in MusicPossibly the smartest dumb band that ever existed. Definitely one of my top 5 favourites. But why, when they don’t even take themselves seriously?
I first heard of TISM (This Is Serious, Mum) in the early ’90s, but by this stage they had already earned themselves a strong following in Melbourne, as they had been around for about 10 years. I was gently nudged in their direction by a friend of mine, mainly due to the fact that I had become a big fan of The Doors… This friend of mine wanted me to listen to “Morrison Hostel” on the “Great Truckin’ Songs of the Renaissance” album. Which I did. Of course.
At first, I was a little offended at the not-so-subtle digs that the band was having at the expense of The Doors (particularly Ol’ Jimbo, hehe)… Later, I started to agree with their vitriol, and on listening to the album some more, I came to be converted to their perverted view on life, celebrities, and everything.
Seriously, these guys are f***ed in the head. But that’s why I love them. And why do I like them? Awesome puns (how do you like these for lyrics- “Gimme your seal of approval- let’s club it to death!”), out-there stupidity (”I’m gonna sit right down and whittle away my furniture”), cultural and historical references (too many to mention, but ranging from sports through literature- main focus is on Australian references, of course), songs with my name in them… 
… TISM have it all. Depending of your definition of “all”. Mine’s pretty loose.
And if you think TISM are shit, you wouldn’t be the first. In fact, there is almost one song on every album lamenting (or should I say “celebrating”?) how bad they are… They say it themselves, so feel free to agree.
In reality, I feel that TISM is to music what South Park is to cartoons. They both have something to say (although neither of them want to admit it) and they want that thought to be presented in as offensive a manner as possible. And it’s great.
And damn– to have been around the traps for so many years, and still be almost totally anonymous… well… that just trips me out. Guess those masks help in that regard (go to Youtube and watch more of them in action… awesome). But then again, given enough squirrelling about on the internet, one can find out some info about who they are, under the masks…
Regardless of who they are, the driving members of the band– Ron Hilter-Barassi and Humphrey B. Flaubert (love those aliases, fellas)– are easily the most recognisable, and, in a way, it seems as if the other guys are just there to play instruments.. or play cards. But that seems to be the way they like it. Bands are always recognised by their front-men, and for those bands that wear masks, well… I guess they are only distinguished by their voices… And that’s the only way it can work…
If you’re an Aussie- try them out, there’s something there for everyone… Maybe. If you’re not an Aussie… Maybe you’re not missing out on much. Who knows?
In 2004, TISM released “The White Albun”, CD, documentary, DVD concert, and nothing much has happened since… The concert filmed on the DVD was a “Save our TISM” concert, and it was announced that TISM would disband unless they raised one million dollars. At the end of the concert they were only one dollar off target (at which point the crowd pelted the stage with coins). Although TISM played a couple of times since then (at around the same time as that concert was filmed, I believe), their recent inactivity has led many to believe that they have run their course… Or perhaps they have been inactive due to Tokin Blackman’s fight against cancer (rest his soul)? Nobody knows but TISM, and it seems that it may very well be over… Oh well… BFW?
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