King Tammy (1990 - 1995?)

(Someone please submit a real bio) Um, King Tammy was a band. Their drummer was John Barneveld who lived in Grand Rapids for a long time. They made really funny videos. Their house, while appreciated by many, especially the guys in Screwtape, was, understatedly, in disrepair. Jason Fortier may still live there. Arguably, King Tammy and the Sinatras were the best links between the TI spacemetal scene and the groovy Leppotone fellas. King Tammy, for what seemed like years, seemed to relish in their own state of disrepair, but transformed into a mean machine after recording their first CD, suddenly overdriving their creativity and prowess. Most will remember hearing WABUMA clang on and on, show after show, for the many years of KT-ear Kzoo, but most should remember "Welcome to the County Fair, Motherfucker" era KT when they were tight, clever as hell, imaginative, and ON it.

- Chris Simons, guitar and vocals
- Jason Fortier, bass
- John Barneveld, Drums
- Steve Davison, Guitar
- Darren Doyle, Guitar

- Who could tell, but members were in Fatty 2X4 and countless other side projects


THINK OF WHAT YOU ARE EATING AND HOW IT POWERS YOU
- 01_Shitfingerstink.mp3
- 02_wabuma.mp3
- 03_I_Tricked_Deegans.mp3
- 04_Crack_Yer_Back.mp3
- 05_Jerry.mp3
- 06_house.mp3
- 07_Surprise.mp3
- 08_Pecos_Bob.mp3
- 09_Gomez.mp3
- 10_Shoot_You.mp3
- 11_Clothes.mp3
- 12_We_Love_You.mp3
WELCOME TO THE COUNTY FAIR, MOTHERFUCKER
- 01-Superfriends.mp3
- 02_I_Lost_My_Car.mp3
- 03_Recession_Of_The_Jaw .mp3
- 04_Wedding_Song.mp3
- 05_White_Caps.mp3
- 06_Scar_Trek.mp3
- 07_The_Little_Man.mp3
- 08_Monkey_Machine.mp3
- 09_Daemon_Of_The Dragway.mp3
- 10_Mr_Greenjeans.mp3
- 11_My_Shadow_In_Vain.mp3
- 12_Beautiful_Beast.mp3
Comments from the world
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Posted by: Jeff on 01-29-10 about King Tammy
They had a 'greasiest hair' competition
In response to: Culture Of None on 01-28-10 for King Tammy
someone should coax a reminiscence out of Brent Oberlin for this discussion...some insight into what it was like being behind the boards for King Tammy's debut --- end of previous message ---
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Posted by: Culture Of None on 01-28-10 about King Tammy
someone should coax a reminiscence out of Brent Oberlin for this discussion...some insight into what it was like being behind the boards for King Tammy's debut
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Posted by: Lord of the Temple on 11-03-09 about King Tammy
What is "live at Harveys" and should the public have it? Let me know if you can digitize and send in. In response to: kiMi on 11-01-09 for King Tammy
hey, i'm listening to "live at harvey's" and i was wondering if anyone has or knows the lyrics to "space fantasy: a journey beneath orion's belt"?
any help would be much appreciated! thanks...
--- end of previous message ---
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Posted by: kiMi on 11-01-09 about King Tammy
hey, i'm listening to "live at harvey's" and i was wondering if anyone has or knows the lyrics to "space fantasy: a journey beneath orion's belt"?
any help would be much appreciated! thanks...
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Posted by: Jeff Till on 04-14-09 about King Tammy
I just ordered it at Amazon for $11 new. I will submit a book report when I'm done reading it.
In response to: amy on 04-10-09 for King Tammy
Darrin's book "Revenge of the Teacher's Pet" is out now and available, at least on line and at Michigan News. he did a reading last night at WMU's Little Theater. I grabbed a copy last night and have started the first chapter. God love him, it's just what you would hope a King Tammyman fine-tuning and super-charging his craft would come up with. So far, a great blend of humor, sadness, sweetness and straight-up weirdness. "I LOVE EGGS" appears in the first paragraph. GIT IT! --- end of previous message ---
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Posted by: amy on 04-10-09 about King Tammy
Darrin's book "Revenge of the Teacher's Pet" is out now and available, at least on line and at Michigan News. he did a reading last night at WMU's Little Theater. I grabbed a copy last night and have started the first chapter. God love him, it's just what you would hope a King Tammyman fine-tuning and super-charging his craft would come up with. So far, a great blend of humor, sadness, sweetness and straight-up weirdness. "I LOVE EGGS" appears in the first paragraph. GIT IT!
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Posted by: RTA on 11-16-08 about King Tammy
I actually enjoy digitizing things. I have already digitized a bunch of King Tammy things including the aforementioned Halloween show (which I recorded and sang "When Doves Cry"). I may even have Zelda. I definitely have Bad Caramel from their pre-hard rock days.
I'm not sure if the guys want this stuff available or not, so I'll get back to you about uploading it.
Long live King Tammy! Even though technically they don't actually exist anymore. :(
Another great side project you should all track down is Basement Parade which features both Darrin Doyle and Steve Davison.
The yer-a-dope shorts are on youtube (including a King Tammy clip of Shitfingerstink) courtesy of Chris Simons. Darrin Doyle's novel is due in bookstores next year.
Peace,
RTA
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Posted by: Master on 10-28-08 about King Tammy
It would be a fine addition. Who wants to digitize it for us?
I found moving stuff from tape to digital is a pain. In fact, just PLAYING an old tape can be challenging. I have to try to hitchhike with somebody whose got a 1999 Malibu and am like "do you have a tape deck in there?"
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Posted by: brennan on 10-27-08 about King Tammy
Hey, who has Criminal Like Cheeseburgers Too?
Maybe even Steal Wheels? I need my Zelda With The Crazy Eyes.
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Posted by: jeff winton on 08-16-07 about King Tammy
I played keyboard with King Tammy for a Halloween show in 1993. The show was at the Club Soda and the line up was In Ourselves, Genius Hired Guns, EVERCLEAR, and King Tammy. We played all 80's music and kept a packed house until 2:00am +. I have the show on cassette and listened to it recently and it still ROXORZ!!1!!
All hail the KING
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Posted by: Jeff T on 06-28-07 about King Tammy
Boy, even after not seeing the man himself for ten years, you could just TELL, you just KNEW, you just had to BELEIVE that he was in the same house.
As for renovations I would recommend (from my last visit in 1995 or so) the following:
- Vacuuming
- Fix the head hole in the wall in the living room
- Let John Barneveld sleep upstairs.
In response to: Amy/Dingey on 06-28-07 for King Tammy
You gonna do duelling basses with Fortier? Fortier is a MONSTER, and having seen him sitting in again recently with Fortune and Maltese and in my basement, he hasn't lost a thing. Good GOD. Boy is the ROCK. AND he's still in the old King Tammy house. He actually bought it, and is working on renovations slowly but steadily..... --- end of previous message ---
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Posted by: Amy/Dingey on 06-28-07 about King Tammy
You gonna do duelling basses with Fortier? Fortier is a MONSTER, and having seen him sitting in again recently with Fortune and Maltese and in my basement, he hasn't lost a thing. Good GOD. Boy is the ROCK. AND he's still in the old King Tammy house. He actually bought it, and is working on renovations slowly but steadily.....
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Posted by: kiry on 06-01-07 about King Tammy
king tammy....hmmm.....amazing.....
think of what your eating....recorded by tim mac from halo of flies.....it was recorded in a studio in minneapolis that was just put together by thee all mighty helmet......i remember jason explaining to me the layers and layers of carpet suspended from the ceiling to deaden sound......
welcome to the county fair motherfucker....genius...everytime i put this record on i smile and giggle.....giggle....recorded by kramer of shimmy disc fame.....you know...bongwater and the likes.....second release on snse.....much better production....
first time i saw them chris slimons smashed a muppet drum set....they opened for king vitamin.....i had the flyer for years...
everytime i hear the song "kiss" by prince....i think of doyle destroying his throat to pull it off...amazing...for years i shouted it at every show......
did i see king tammy destroy sebadoh?.....yes...i did.....destroyed them....
did they have their "off" nights?.....oh yes...ever so "off".....but did the "on" nights eclipse those "off" nights?.... ..yes......profusely.....
i love king tammy with all my heart.....
including all the boys in the band....
sitting in the living room at the king tammy house was one of my favorite things to do.....crack ups were always a factor....creativity coupled with highlariousness.....thats one of my favorites....
i learned how to properly say the word "cake" in that house.....
hooray for king tammy.....
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Posted by: Mark "cheese wiz" Peeters on 05-26-07 about King Tammy
A bit of history: The Leppotone - King Tammy connection started when I was booking shows for Klub-K (1987) and they saw a flyer I put up at Boggie Records calling for bands. They played that basement and freeking blew my mind! Chris played a solo on a broken guitar with a cresent wrench that I will never forget! It was all so beautiful and powerfull and ugly, very very ugly. I fell deeply in love. Thus began my eternal admiration of TK, playing shows together whenever possible, and asking them to jion the LT group when it formed a few years later.
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Posted by: Chafe on 05-03-07 about King Tammy
King Tammy was and is the ruler! Please check out White Man Call Me Spirithorse sometime this winter for some residual King Tammy energy. Man, King Tammy made me want to "stay" in a band. Much love fellas.
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Posted by: Thadeus on 04-13-07 about King Tammy
I never could figure out why Levi only played congas for Tammy. That guy is a world-class bass player! Maybe a Tammy reunion will spotlight that fact? Here's hoping!
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Posted by: Andy Beagle on 04-13-07 about King Tammy
I remember Levi! he played a show in my house for new years '89/'90 with the Tammy! it ruled! blew my mind... I hope he re-joins them! stellar stuff!
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Posted by: Joby on 04-12-07 about King Tammy
So happy to see King Tammy on here. Definately one of my fav live acts from Kzoo past.
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Posted by: Levi Strictland on 04-12-07 about King Tammy
it should be pointed out that while I originally formed King Tammy, I also played congas for a while in the early days. Later, I had to quit in favor of an offer to play bass in a genius ska outfit called Tom Collins. I have been talking to Slimons lately about a Tammy reunion... we'll see, bros!
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