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Tomahawk (band)

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Tomahawk
Tomahawk in 2002 at The Middle East
Tomahawk in 2002 at The Middle East
Background information
OriginUnited States
Genres
Years active1999–2004, 2006–2008,
2011–2014,[1][2] 2020–present
LabelsIpecac
Members
Past membersKevin Rutmanis
Websiteipecac.com/artists/tomahawk

Tomahawk is an American rock supergroup. They formed in 1999 when singer/keyboardist Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle) met guitar player Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard) and the pair started swapping tapes with the intention of collaborating. Denison then recruited drummer John Stanier (Helmet), while Patton invited bass player Kevin Rutmanis (Melvins/ex-Cows). The group recorded three albums and toured extensively from 2000–2007 then went on extended hiatus, and reformed in 2013 with Trevor Dunn replacing Rutmanis.

History

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Early days (1999–2000)

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When Faith No More broke up in 1998[3] Mike Patton created the record label Ipecac Recordings, returned to work with his other band Mr. Bungle, and formed the experimental metal supergroup Fantômas with Buzz Osborne of the Melvins and Dave Lombardo of Slayer. Patton met Duane Denison in 1999 at a Mr. Bungle concert in Nashville and the two began exchanging music and jamming.[4]

Tomahawk (2001–2002)

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During May and June 2001, the band recorded their debut album in Nashville.[5] The album was released on October 30, 2001, it was produced by Joe Funderburk. After the release of Tomahawk, the band began touring extensively, playing in many countries around the world, including the United States, Australia, Europe and Japan. They generally headlined shows but were the supporting act for bands such as Tool. When opening for Tool on their 2002 summer tour of North America, the band was frequently booed for insulting the crowds.[6][7] Tomahawk also played at various festivals, including the 2002 Big Day Out festival in Australia.[8]

Mit Gas (2003–2004)

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Second album Mit Gas, recorded with producer Joe Barresi, was released in 2003. Tomahawk took part in the "Geek Tour" during 2003, which featured labelmates the Melvins and Fantômas.[9] During the band's early years they were known for dressing up as police officers in promotional photo shoots and during concerts.[10] The band went on a short hiatus from 2004 to 2006 after finishing touring for Tomahawk and Mit Gas in late 2003 as the members began to focus on other projects.

Anonymous (2007–2008)

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The band's third album, Anonymous, was released on June 19, 2007 through Ipecac Recordings. Kevin Rutmanis left the band during the recording; reasons for his departure are unknown.[11] For the album, Denison and Stanier recorded their parts in Nashville, and then sent their finished product to San Francisco where Patton added his vocals and samples.[12] No live shows were performed during this period.[13][14] Tomahawk remained inactive from 2008 to 2011.[15]

Oddfellows (2012–2014)

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In July 2011, Mike Patton announced that Tomahawk was preparing to record its fourth album.[16] In early 2012, Tomahawk announced that Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantômas, John Zorn, MadLove, Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant) would play bass for the band.[17] On April 21, 2012 the band released Eponymous To Anonymous, a box set containing the band's first three records released on vinyl for the first time.[18] In late 2012, the band began playing their first live shows since 2003.[13][14] On December 3, 2012, a full-length video for first single, "Stone Letter", was posted online.[19] Oddfellows was released January 29, 2013.[20] The band were scheduled to play in Mexico for the first time on March 21, 2014 but withdrew due to an illness.[21] On April 9, 2014 the band announced they would be releasing two previously unreleased tracks from the Oddfellows recording session.[22] The single, entitled M.E.A.T., was first released on May 23, 2014 on vinyl.[23]

Tonic Immobility (2020–present)

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In February 2020, Duane Denison revealed that Tomahawk had been writing and recording new record material.[24] On January 21, 2021, a single called "Business Casual" was released, which also revealed the name of their upcoming fifth album as Tonic Immobility, which has later been released on March 26, 2021.[25] Bassist Trevor Dunn remarked in 2021, "Me and Duane [Denison] and John [Stanier] recorded all of our parts for that record about four years ago actually. Duane had finished the music and I guess Mike was busy at the time, so John and I flew down to Nashville and recorded with Duane. Then over the years, we've just been waiting for Mike, and he's been doing other stuff so it took a while. I think the pandemic kind of helped spur it along because he was stuck at home, so he wrote the vocal melodies and the rest of the lyrics at his studio in San Francisco."[26]

The band is set to play its first show since 2013, on April 12th 2025, as part of the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas.

Musical style and influences

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Critics have described the band's sound as alternative metal,[27][28][16][29][30][31][32] alternative rock,[29][33][34] avant-prog,[29] progressive rock,[35] and post-rock.[36] In 2002, the band considered their genre to be "cinematic rock", since all members were fans of film soundtracks.[37] Butch Lazorchak of the Boston Herald has compared the band's sound to 1970s hard rock groups such as Blue Öyster Cult.[38]

The band's self-titled first album combines rock with elements of experimental music, country music, and hardcore;[39] critic Blake Butler of Allmusic described their debut album as one of the most straightforward rock-oriented projects of Patton following his work with Faith No More, but he still notes their eclectic side stating that they are not a “mass-marketable band.”[40] Their second album Mit Gas features influences from metal as well as punk rock.[6][41] The album also includes instrumental segues.[6] The band's 2007 album Anonymous incorporates Native American music elements.[12][42] Oddfellows features a more accessible sound which the band has labeled as "avant-pop".[43] The record includes influences from jazz music.[44][45]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album details Peak chart positions
US
[46] 		US
Heat.
[46] 		US
Ind.
[46] 		AUS
[47] 		BEL
(FL)
[48] 		NOR
[49] 		UK
[50]
2001 Tomahawk
  • Released: October 30, 2001
  • Label: Ipecac
  • Formats: CD, DI
 — 31 20 37 — — —
2003 Mit Gas
  • Released: May 6, 2003
  • Label: Ipecac
  • Formats: CD, DI
 137 3 7 28 — 17 98
2007 Anonymous
  • Released: June 19, 2007
  • Label: Ipecac
  • Formats: CD, DI
 158 2 12 32 — 31 —
2013 Oddfellows
  • Released: January 29, 2013
  • Label: Ipecac
  • Formats: CD, DI, LP
 69 — 9 37 149 — —
2021 Tonic Immobility
  • Released: March 26, 2021
  • Label: Ipecac
  • Formats: CD, DI, LP
 — — — 18
[51] 		182 — —

Box sets

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Year Album details
2012 Eponymous to Anonymous
  • Released: April 21, 2012
  • Label: Ipecac
  • Formats: LP

Singles

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Year Song Album
2003 "Rape This Day" Mit Gas
2007 "Sun Dance" Anonymous
2012 "Stone Letter" Oddfellows
2014 "M.E.A.T."
2021 "Business Casual" Tonic Immobility
2021 "Dog Eat Dog" Tonic Immobility
2021 "Predators and Scavengers" Tonic Immobility

Music videos

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The band's first music video was for "Rape This Day" from Mit Gas, featuring a cameo from Queens of the Stone Age's Nick Oliveri. No official music videos were released for Anonymous. For the release of Oddfellows in 2013 the band made music videos for "Stone Letter" and the title-track.[52][53][54] In August 2014, over a year after the release of Oddfellows, the band released a music video for "South Paw".[55] In addition to the band's four official music videos, there have also been a number of unofficial/fan-made videos.

Year Song
2003 "Rape This Day"
2012 "Stone Letter"
2013 "Oddfellows"
2014 "South Paw"
2021 "Dog Eat Dog"
2021 "Predators and Scavengers"

References

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  1. ^ "defyUnlearn.com::Online Music Magazine". Sefyunlearn.com. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. ^ "The Venom Tooth of Tomahawk". Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  3. ^ "Faith No More Biography". Faith No More Official Site. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  4. ^ DeRogatis, Jim (November 2, 2001). "Super Models: New Bands Show That Supergroups Can Get It Right". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2001. (subscription required)
  5. ^ ". : T O M A H A W K : ". February 13, 2006. Archived from the original on February 13, 2006.
  6. ^ a b c "Tomahawk". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  7. ^ "Star Tribune Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. August 30, 2002. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  8. ^ "Big Day Out 2002 Line Up". Big Day Out Official Website. Archived from the original on May 16, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
  9. ^ "Tomahawk, The Melvins, FantÔmas To Team Up For Australian Tour". Blabbermouth.net. July 31, 2003. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  10. ^ "cc – Tomahawk : Mike Patton [ Interview ] » Faith No More, Fantômas, Mr Bungle, Lovage, Duane Denison, Kevin Rutmanis, John Stanier, Mit Gas, You Can't Win, When The Stars Begin To Fall, King For A Day Fool For A Lifetime, Rape This Day, The Director's Cut, Peeping Tom". Counterculture.co.uk. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  11. ^ "Tomahawk Biography". Ipecac.com. Retrieved June 6, 2007.
  12. ^ a b Lymangrover, Jason (June 19, 2007). "Anonymous – Tomahawk : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Tomahawk back on tour for the first time in nearly a decade". FasterLouder. June 29, 2012. Archived from the original on January 29, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  14. ^ a b "Tomahawk: New Single Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth.net. October 4, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  15. ^ "Tomahawk Returns From Hiatus With 'Oddfellows'". Blabbermouth.net. June 28, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  16. ^ a b Nagy, Evie, "Mike Patton on Voicing a Video Game, Faith No More Reunion", Rolling Stone, Jul 25, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2011
  17. ^ Facebook, "New Tomahawk page!! Which means a NEW record is coming soon!", Facebook, April 11, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2011
  18. ^ "Tomahawk To Release "From Eponymous To Anonymous" Vinyl Set On "Record Store Day" | Theprp.com – Metal, Hardcore And Rock News, Reviews And More". Theprp.com. February 15, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  19. ^ "Tomahawk! Patton and Co release new Video: Stone Letter". Trebuchet Magazine. December 3, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  20. ^ Weingarten, Christopher R. (October 4, 2012). "Hear the Gnashing First Taste of Tomahawk's First LP in Six Years | SPIN | SPIN Mix | Premieres". SPIN. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  21. ^ "Tomahawk". Facebook.com. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  22. ^ Andy Couch. "Ipecac Recordings". Ipecac.com. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  23. ^ "Tomahawk To Release 'M.E.A.T.' Seven Inch Single". Blabbermouth.net. April 10, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  24. ^ "Mike Patton-led Tomahawk working on first new album in seven years". Consequence of Sound. February 10, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  25. ^ "Ipecac Recordings".
  26. ^ "MXDWN Interview: Mr. Bungle and Tomahawk Bassist Trevor Dunn on Tonic Immobility, Re-Recording First Demo & Future Fantomas Plans -". March 5, 2021.
  27. ^ Weingarten, Christopher R. (January 22, 2013). "Stream Tomahawk's Stripped-Down LP 'Oddfellows,' Read Our Q&A With All Four Odd Fellows". Spin. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  28. ^ Murphy, Sarah (June 4, 2013). "Tomahawk – "White Hats/Black Hats" (live on 'Fallon')". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  29. ^ a b c Prato, Greg. "Tomahawk – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  30. ^ Martins, Chris. "See Tomahawk Carve Out 'Stone Letter' in Raw New Video | SPIN | SPIN Mix | Videos". SPIN. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  31. ^ Pattonhawk (November 5, 2012). "Mike Patton on new Tomahawk: "It's a rock record"". Fasterlouder.com.au. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  32. ^ Craig Mathieson. "The leap from Faith | Mike Patton's Mondo Cane". Theage.com.au. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  33. ^ Eakin, Marah (June 29, 2012). "After a long hiatus, alt-rock supergroup Tomahawk reunites, readies new album | Music | Newswire". The A.V. Club. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  34. ^ Eakin, Marah (June 29, 2012). "After a long hiatus, alt-rock supergroup Tomahawk reunites, readies new album". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  35. ^ "Tomahawk 'Oddfellows' – Ipecac Recordings – Sound Colour Vibration". Sound Colour Vibration. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  36. ^ "Tomahawk's Trevor Dunn on Why There Won't Be a Mr. Bungle Reunion". SF Weekly. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  37. ^ 2002 Dutch interview with Mike Patton and John Stanier Youtube.
  38. ^ Lazorchak, Butch (November 18, 2001). "Lynne's Latest Softens Edges". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on June 10, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2012. (subscription required)
  39. ^ "Tomahawk". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  40. ^ "Tomahawk - Tomahawk | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  41. ^ "Tomahawk – Mit Gas – Ipecac". The Daily Nexus. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  42. ^ Schiller, Mike. "Tomahawk: Anonymous". PopMatters. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  43. ^ "Tomahawk: 'Oddfellows' Video Released". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  44. ^ "Tomahawk are Delightfully Odd Fellows on Oddfellows". MetalSucks. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  45. ^ "Tomahawk". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  46. ^ a b c "Tomahawk > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  47. ^ "Discography Tomahawk". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  48. ^ "Discografie Tomahawk". Ultratop. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  49. ^ "Discography Tomahawk". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  50. ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: DJ T – Tzant". Zobbel. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  51. ^ "Skegss score first ARIA #1 album with Rehearsal". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  52. ^ "Tomahawk, 'Oddfellows' – Exclusive Video Premiere". Loudwire. February 11, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  53. ^ "Watch Tomahawk's Occult-Loving 'Oddfellows' Video". SPIN. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  54. ^ Battan, Carrie (November 30, 2012). "Watch the Video for the Mike Patton-Lead Group Tomahawk's First Song in Six Years, "Stone Letter"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  55. ^ "Watch: Mike Patton's Tomahawk, as terrifying puppets, in video for "South Paw" – Consequence of Sound". Consequence of Sound. August 13, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
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