Tuxedomoon

Tuxedomoon
Tuxedomoon live in 2007
Background information
Origin	San Francisco, California
Genres	Experimental, post-punk, new wave
Years active	1977–present
Labels	Ralph Records, Crammed Discs
Website	http://www.tuxedomoon.co/
Members	Blaine L. Reininger Steven Brown Peter Dachert Luc Van Lieshout David Haneke
Past members	Bruce Geduldig (d.2016) Winston Tong Gregory Cruikshank Victoria Lowe Michael Belfer Paul Zahl Ivan Georgiev Nikolas Klau George Kakanakis Marcia Barcellos

Tuxedomoon is an experimental, post-punk, new wave band from San Francisco, California, United States. The band formed in the late 1970s at the beginning of the punk rock movement. Pulling influence from punk and electronic music, the group, originally consisting of Steven Brown and Blaine L. Reininger, used electronic violins, guitars, screaming vocals and synthesizers to develop a unique "cabaret no-wave" sound. Bassist Peter Principle joined the band and in 1979 they released the single "No Tears", which remains a post-punk cult classic. That year they signed to Ralph Records and released their first album, Half-Mute. Eventually Reininger left the group and Tuxedomoon relocated to Europe, signing to Crammed Discs and releasing Holy Wars in 1985. The band separated in the early 1990s, only to reunite later that decade. They have remained together since releasing the album Cabin in the Sky in 2004.

In 1977, Tuxedomoon formed out of Angels of Light, an artist collective and commune, a group in which Steve Brown was involved. He met Blaine L. Reininger in an electronic music class at San Francisco City College. Brown worked with Tommy Tadlock, of the Angels of Light, to create the final project of the class. Tadlock would go on to be Tuxedomoon's manager. Reininger and Brown started playing music together at Tadlock's house. Reininger played electronic violin and guitar. Tadlock assisted with the sound and audio. He also created tools for the band, including a "Treatment Mountain", which was a pyramid made of plywood which held all of Reininger's effects pedals.