Tiger were an English indie rock band from Princes Risborough and London, England, who were formed in 1996.Strong, Martin C.: "The Great Alternative & Indie Discography", 1999, Canongate,
Tiger quickly got British press attention after their debut and single "Shining in the Wood" was played on BBC Radio 1. The musical climate of the time was dominated by Britpop and retro bands influenced by Oasis. Tiger, who were characterised by fuzzy guitars and multiple keyboards, were quickly held up as part of a new alternative.
The band had two keyboardists using synthesizers and used droning song structures similar to Stereolab and Neu!, but with a stronger pop element. The band were often criticised for their (lack of) fashion sense: they wore outdated clothes and at least two members of the band had mullet haircuts, which, although they became fashionable, were out of place at the time.
The band recorded and released their 1996 debut album We are Puppets less than a year after they first formed. The album's singles, "Race", "My Puppet Pal", and "On The Rose" were minor successes although only "Race" reached the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart.
NME invited them to perform on their Brat Bus Tour in 1997.
In late 1998, they supported Pulp, but any impetus had been lost by this point and they were dropped from their record label shortly after. Their Stephen Street-produced second album Rosaria eventually appeared on the Tugboat label in 1999, but shortly afterwards they split up.
Line-up Dan Laidler: vocals, guitar Julie Sims: guitar, vocals Tina Whitlow: keyboards, guitar Dido Hallett: keyboards, bass guitar Seamus Feeney: drums Gavin Skinner: drums (on the 2nd album) Craig 'Ed' Grimshaw (drummer from Warm Jets) on debut single "Shining In The Wood" Louis Jones (singer & guitarist from Warm Jets) on debut single "Shining In The Wood"
Discography
The discography of Tiger consists of two studio albums, an extended play, six singles, and "Best in Bucks"; a one-off collaboration single with keyboardist Fleas, and Duncan Goddard from Radio Massacre International.
Studio albums YearAlbum details UK 1996 We Are Puppets Released: 22 November 1996 Labels: Trade 2, Island 108 1997 Shining in the Wood (EP) Released: 22 April 1997 Labels: Bar/None Records, Trade 2, Island – 1999 Rosaria Released: May 1999 Labels: Tugboat Records –
Singles YearTitleUKAlbum1996"Shining in the Wood" 135 —"Race" 37We Are Puppets"My Puppet Pal" 621997"On the Rose" 57"Best in Bucks" (limited single with and as 'Fleas')(B-sides: "Sports Day" and "Nasty Landscapes") – —1998"Friends" 72Rosaria"Girl From the Petrol Station" N/R
References
External links Cult Bands Fan Site