Favorite Side Projects #3 - Tones on Tail
@teamfreak16 (43418)
Denver, Colorado
November 26, 2017 3:14pm CST
If you look around enough, you might be surprised at just how many musicians start side projects while still with their real band. I'm not talking about solo efforts, rather, they form an actual, second band. My favorite side projects is the theme of this particular music series, and we are at #3: Tones on Tail.
Bauhaus (you know, the band most credited for inventing goth) guitarist/saxophonist Daniel Ash formed Tones on Tail as a side project, with Bauhaus roadie Glenn Campling, in 1982 (Bauhaus drummer Kevin Haskins joined up a year later after that band broke up.) Tones on Tail lasted just two years, after which Ash and Haskins reunited with Bauhaus bassist David J to form Love and Rockets.
Most known for their dance club hit, "Go!" (you've heard it in films such as Grosse Point Blank,) Tones on Tail sounded like a cross between Bauhaus and what would become Love and Rockets. As Wikipedia says, Tones on Tail made "Doom and dance pop." Critical reaction was generally favorable, other than the fine folks at Trouser Press, who blasted the band (don't worry. Trouser Press doesn't like anyone,) as having "Little songwriting content...scant ideas...and pointless studio fiddling."
I loved them anyway.
In two years, Ash and company released just one studio album and three EP's, along with six singles.
I've linked to one of my favorite Tones on Tail songs, "OK this Is the Pops." It was not released as a single, but remains popular with fans.
Enjoy!
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
13 people like this
11 responses
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Nov 17
I didn't know Tones on Tail was a side project. Learn something new every day.
3 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Nov 17
I don't know if Bauhaus could have pulled off something like "Go!" A little too danceable for them.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340286)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Nov 17
@teamfreak16 Some of the films that have had rave reviews I wouldn't give you tuppence for which is what I mean about having funny tastes. Such things are all very subjective though aren't they?
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Nov 17
@JudyEv - That's the beauty of it. It would be quite boring if we all liked the same movies or music.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Nov 17
I use music reviews mostly just to see if it's something I might want to look into, and it often works, but I never buy something based upon the review itself.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (68137)
• United States
27 Nov 17
Sheesh, I quick read that and thought it said "toenails."
As for Trouser Press, I'd be afraid to listen to anything they liked.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Nov 17
I loved it when they called The Mission's best album, Children, "semi-listenable." Trouser Press at it's finest!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Nov 17
Hey! Where have you been? Hope all is well.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
29 Nov 17
@Ronrybs - Well that sucks. Good to hear it's better.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (19380)
• London, England
29 Nov 17
@teamfreak16 Managed to hurt my back and get really, really lazy. I was spending all my time in front of the idiot box. My get and go, got up and left, but now I am getting more active and starting to get some miles on the bike
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
27 Nov 17
Ive often wondered why the side projects don't turn out to be bigger, sometimes they stay pretty obscure
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Nov 17
I think it's probably that most people only want to listen to the main band, honestly.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Nov 17
@FayeHazel - Everybody seems to love "Mustang Sally."
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
28 Nov 17
@teamfreak16 That does seem to make sense. It's also why songs like "Mustang Sally", "Johnny B Goode" always go over well in cover bands. People want what they know
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
26 Nov 17
doom and dance is such a great name for what they do
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
27 Nov 17
I thought it was pretty accurate.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
27 Nov 17
@teamfreak16 three out of five there.They do not do ten any more
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
26 Nov 17
I like this band! I had to go listen to Go also.
1 person likes this
@misunderstood_zombie (8142)
• United States
27 Nov 17
I never heard this in the 80's, but it sounds like something I would have loved then. I listened to a small amount of their other songs also, and Go would be my favorite. I keep thinking I remember the Go video with the skeletons, but I'm not sure if that's the original video or not.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Nov 17
I don't think that is an original video, although whoever did it was pretty clever.