Melbourne’s famed seven-piece anonymous alternative rock band TISM (aka This Is Serious Mum) have had an obscure African turtle named in their honour. A 2021 issue of the Australian Journal of Herpetology*, says that “Cycloderma Tismorum sp.nov. is named in honour of the Australian Alternative Rock band TISM”
It goes on to explain that the Cycloderma Tismorum is “from the Ruvuma River system bordering Tanzania and Mozambique”. “In Africa it is commonly said that those Africans who live south of the Zambesi River (eg South Africa) do not have the same sense of rhythm and music making of those further north and so it is appropriate that species from north of the Zambesi River be named in honour of a group of people with rhythm”.
The species was discovered and named by Australian snake guy Raymond Hoser.
TISM were formed on 30 December 1982 by vocalist/drummer Humphrey B. Flaubert, bassist/vocalist Jock Cheese and keyboardist/vocalist Eugene de la Hot Croix Bun, and enjoyed a large underground/independent following. Their third album, Machiavelli and the Four Seasons, reached the Australian national top 10 in 1995. The band released several much loved independent singles such as “Greg, The Stop Sign”, “Shut Up-The Footy’s on the Radio” and “Whatareya”
TISM has recently been active with re-releases from their back catalogue, as well as new, previously unavailable recordings. Here’s a few from this year:
TISM – THIS IS SERIOUS MUM Release date: Friday 21 May 2021. LP on Opaque Yellow vinyl.
In 1984 TISM compiled a number of recent recordings, and dubbed up a couple of dozen cassettes. The cassette was created predominantly for the band’s own amusement but a handful were sold at a performance at Melbourne University and another half dozen or so were sold to a few Melbourne indie record stores. One copy found its way to booking agent Mark Burchett and indie label owner Gavan Purdy, who immediately signed them up for gigs and a record deal. The rest is history, but those quickly forgotten cassettes, and the recordings which graced them, have become a holy grail for collectors.
Here finally, remastered and sounding better than ever before, are those recordings.
The Art-Income Dialectic
Eckermann Is Very Silly
The Back Upon Which Jezza Jumped
Defecate On My Face
Lyric For Jack
I Go To Werribee
Crime Against The Spirit Oo Poo Pee Doo
Pus Of The Dead
Clarse Distinction
The Reserection
TISM – PUNT ROAD Release date: Friday 21 May 2021
LP on Opaque Green vinyl
Three years later, having released a debut single, and mini-album, TISM were preparing the release of “40 Years – Then Death” a song that would be a highlight of their forthcoming debut LP. Rehearsals were undertaken for upcoming live performances to launch the single. Punt Road is a fly on the wall document of those rehearsals.
If You’re Creative, Get Stuffed
Anarchy Means Crossing When It Says “Don’t Walk”
The Ballad of John Bonham’s Coke Roadie
Saturday Night Palsy
I’m Into Led Zep
(I Think I’ve Got) Mick Jagger Worked Out
40 Years – Then Death
The Fosters Car Park Boogie
A Faceful Of Divertamenti
Defecate On My Face
Babies Bite Back
Choose Bad Smack
Mistah Eliot – He Wanker
I Drive A Truck
CD Bonus Tracks:
U2, Brute?
The Fosters Car Park Boogie (HBF vocal)
Choose Bad Smack (2nd take)
TISM – MISTAH ELIOT – HE WANKER Release date: 12 June 2021
Limited to 750 copies on translucent red vinyl.
By Aug 1986, flush with the success of their debut single “Defecate On My Face” TISM had recorded what was intended as a follow-up single, “Mistah Eliot – He Wanker”. Two other songs were recorded during those sessions, “A Faceful Of Divertamenti” and “Kill Yourself Now And Avoid The Rush”. A last-minute rethink by the band saw them record further songs and release all the recordings together as Form and Meaning Reach Ultimate Communion. 35 Years later, here is “Mistah Eliot – He Wanker” released on 7” single especially for Record Store day on June 12. The B-side is a previously unreleased early mix of “Kill Yourself Now And Avoid The Rush”.
“Mistah Eliot – He Wanker” was exclusively available in record stores on June 12.
NEW RELEASE ALBUM – RELEASE DATE 17 SEPT 2021
1. The White Albun
Initial pressing includes 7″ep featuring “I Don’t Give A Fuck”, “I Drive A Truck”, “I’ll Ave Ya” and “Sid Viscous” all live and from Save Our TISM.
Avail on White Vinyl or Black Vinyl.
White Vinyl also includes exclusive poster.
Also avail on CD featuring all the songs from Save Our TISM.
2. Collected Remixes
Avail on Black Vinyl or Lucky Dip Coloured Vinyl. (even we don’t know what the colours are yet)
Find out more about TISM on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TISM-11620802106
*Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and the gymnophiona) and reptiles (including snakes, lizards, amphisbaenids, turtles, terrapins, tortoises, crocodilians and the tuataras)