T.S.O.L. | |
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Left to right: Roche, Biuso, Grisham and Emory in 2011
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Background information | |
Origin | Long Beach, California |
Genres | Punk rock, gothic rock, hard rock, hardcore punk, horror punk, art punk, deathrock, glam metal |
Years active | 1978–2006, 2007–present |
Labels | Posh Boy, Frontier, Alternative Tentacles, Enigma, Restless, Nitro, Anarchy Music, Hurley International, DC-Jam Records, TKO Records, Rise Records |
Associated acts | SS Cult, Johnny Koathanger and the Abortions, Vicious Circle, Cathedral of Tears, Tender Fury, the Joykiller, Jack Grisham and the Manic Low, Jack Grisham's LOST Soul, Bad Religion, Der Stab, Joe Wood & the Lonely Ones, Orange Wedge, Cisco Poison, Dino's Revenge, Sugar Ray, Uniform Choice, All Day, American Jihad, Rude Awakening, Bad Xample, Full Metal Racket, the Dickies, Hed PE, Doyle, Corrupted Ideals, the Gears, Stains, the Skulls, the Weirdos, the Duane Peters Gunfight |
Members |
Jack Grisham Ron Emory Mike Roche Greg Kuehn Chip Hanna |
Past members | Todd Barnes Joe Wood Mitch Dean Marshall Rohner Murphy Karges Mike Martt Drac Conley Dave Mello Steve "Sully" O’Sullivan Jay O'Brien Billy Blaze Anthony "Tiny" Biuso Matt Rainwater |
T.S.O.L. (True Sounds of Liberty) is a punk rock band formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California. Although most commonly associated with hardcore punk, T.S.O.L.'s music has varied on each release, including such styles as deathrock, art punk, horror punk and other varieties of punk music.
Formed in 1978 in Long Beach, T.S.O.L. originated as a punk band, developing from earlier bands SS Cult and Johnny Koathanger and the Abortions. The original lineup consisted of vocalist Jack Grisham (who has been credited as Jack Greggors, Alex Morgon, Jack Ladoga, Jack Delauge and Jack Loyd, among pseudonyms), guitarist Ron Emory, bassist Mike Roche and drummer Todd Barnes.
Later in 1978, Grisham and Barnes formed Vicious Circle, and T.S.O.L. took a brief hiatus (in 2013, TKO Records released an eponymous Vicious Circle EP, composed of circa-1979 rehearsal tapes).
T.S.O.L.'s debut five-song EP, T.S.O.L., was released in spring 1981 by Posh Boy Records, featuring the reconvened original lineup. This first release was harshly political, featuring tracks such as "Superficial Love," "World War III" and "Abolish Government."
Their first full-length album, Dance with Me, was released later in 1981 on Frontier Records, and showcased a more gothic/deathrock sound. They then signed to independent label Alternative Tentacles, releasing the Weathered Statues EP early in 1982, and the melodic Beneath the Shadows album later that year; the latter featured a new member, keyboardist Greg Kuehn.
Amid personal turmoil, Grisham, Barnes and Kuehn all left the band in 1983.