Le Tigre
is an American dance-punk band, formed by Kathleen Hanna (formerly of Bikini Kill) and Johanna Fateman in 1998. It also featured Sadie Benning from 1998 until 2001, and JD Samson for the rest of the group's run. Le Tigre is known for its socio-political lyrics, dealing with issues of feminism and the LGBT community.
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LE TIGRE TICKETS
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History
Initially envisioned as a live back up band for Hanna's solo project
Julie Ruin, Le Tigre mixed the politics and feminism of
riot grrrl with electronic samples and
lo-fi beats. Other members included
Johanna Fateman and
JD Samson. JD joined Le Tigre as a full member when co-founder
Sadie Benning left the band before the
Feminist Sweepstakes
album was recorded. JD had previously worked with the band as a roadie and the operator of Benning's slide show during live performances in support of their first record. The self-proclaimed "underground electro-feminist performance artists" combined visuals, music and dance in their performances. JD is a
gay rights activist, and the excerpts in "New Kicks" are from an actual protest that JD recorded herself. Kathleen is a
public speaker against
sexual abuse.
The song "Hot Topic" on Le Tigre's self-titled debut pays tribute to dozens of female visual artists, musicians, writers, feminists and others who have inspired them. Among the honorees are:
Yoko Ono,
Cibo Matto,
Aretha Franklin,
Vaginal Cream Davis,
Yayoi Kusama,
Angela Davis,
Sleater-Kinney,
The Slits,
Billy Tipton,
Laura Cottingham,
James Baldwin,
David Wojnarowicz,
Justin Bond and Hanna's close friend,
Tammy Rae Carland. In a similar fashion the song "FYR" off the album
Feminist Sweepstakes
is a tribute to the chapter and ideals put forth in
Shulamith Firestone's
Fifty Years of Ridicule
in her 1970 feminist work
The Dialectic of Sex. The album contains a sample of an essay written by
Mark Rothko in response to a negative review in 1942 where he debuted the style he would become famous for.
The first two recordings by the band were released on the
independent label Mr. Lady Records, run by
Kaia Wilson of
The Butchies and her girlfriend, artist
Tammy Rae Carland.
Feminist Sweepstakes
(2001) came out on
Chicks on Speed's record label. The album
This Island
(2004) was Le Tigre's first on a
major label (
Universal Records).
Ric Ocasek of
the Cars produced one track, "Tell You Now." Even after signing with Universal, Le Tigre continued to work with independent labels. In 2005 they released
This Island Remixes
with Chicks on Speed.
In the second half of 2006, the band decided to take an extended break starting early 2007.
[1]
Since then Kathleen has participated in
The Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls and taught an art class at
NYU. JD Samson toured as keyboard player with
Peaches and made many
DJ appearances, while Johanna Fateman has kept busy with a hairdressing salon in NYC's
Greenwich Village.
[2] In 2008 JD and Johanna formed a new project,
Men, to do a DJ tour and record. After doing some remix work, Fateman took time off to have a baby, and Samson recruited the members of her side band Hirsute to perform live under that name. With input from Fateman and Emily Roysdon an album has been recorded but is, as yet, unreleased. The band has toured Europe and is currently touring North America.
[3]
In June 2009, it was announced that Le Tigre were back in the studio working with
Christina Aguilera on her record.
Notable appearances
In 2006, Le Tigre contributed to
Yoko Ono's
Yes, I'm A Witch
album by remixing "Sisters O Sisters".
Le Tigre licensed two of their songs for use in advertisements by Canadian telephone provider
Telus and Australian jewellery chain Goldmark. A sample from "Deceptacon" (one letter changed from
Decepticon
) plays in the background of a 2006 television commercial for
Nivea cosmetics. The song is featured in the 2006 Norwegian film
Reprise during its comical party scene. Le Tigre's "TKO" is featured in the 2006 movie
Accepted, as well as on FOX's Teen Drama
The OC in Season 2, and The CW's Teen Drama
One Tree Hill in Season 3.
The Boston Red Sox radio broadcast often uses a sample of "Deceptacon", the first song on Le Tigre's debut album, as filler when returning from commercial break. The song was also featured in the
Girl Skateboard Company's film
Yeah Right! (playing during
Rick McCrank's skateboarding segment), the freestyle ski film
Teddybear Crisis, and
Robot Food's Snowboard film
Afterbang, thus elevating it to cult status among skateboarders, freestyle skiers, snowboarders, and the like.
Many of their songs feature prominently in the 2007 film
Itty Bitty Titty Committee
.
Discography
For a complete list of releases, see Le Tigre discography.
Albums
- Le Tigre
(1999) Mr. Lady
- Feminist Sweepstakes
(2001) Mr. Lady
- This Island
(2004) Universal
EPs and singles
- Hot Topic
(1999)
- From the Desk of Mr. Lady EP
(2001)
- Remix
(2003)
- Standing In The Way Of Control
12" split EP with The Gossip on Kill Rock Stars
- This Island Remixes Volume 1
EP, Chicks On Speed Records
- This Island Remixes Volume 2
EP, Chicks On Speed Records
Notes