Timbuk 3

Timbuk3
Origin	Madison, Wisconsin
Genres	Post-punk new wave
Years active	1984–1995
Labels	I.R.S. Watermelon High Street

Past members	Pat MacDonald Barbara K. MacDonald Courtney Audain Wally Ingram

Timbuk3 was an American post-punk band which released six original studio albums between 1986 and 1995. They are most well known for their Top 20 single "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades". The band's music has been featured on more than 20 compilation and soundtrack albums. In 1989, the band appeared on the PBS music program Austin City Limits during Season 14.

Their name is a reference to the Malian city of Timbuktu.

Timbuk3 was formed in 1984 in Madison, Wisconsin, by the husband and wife team of Pat MacDonald (acoustic, electric, bass and MIDI guitars, harmonica, vocals, drum programming) and Barbara K. MacDonald (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, violin, rhythm programming, vocals).

Timbuk3 was signed by I.R.S. Records after appearing on an episode of MTV's The Cutting Edge in 1986. Soon after, they released their first album, Greetings from Timbuk3, which included their only single to chart, "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades". That song has had numerous film and television appearances over the years since its release, and been included in numerous compilation CDs. Also from the same album, the song "Shame On You" was played during the opening scene of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, released in 1986. The band was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1987. They appeared onscreen as the house band in a bar in the 1988 film, D.O.A., and appeared on the PBS music program Austin City Limits in 1989 during Season 14.