Le Tigre

refimprove|date=February 2008Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Le Tigre


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = New York City, New York, USA
Instruments =
Genre = Dance-punk
Electroclash
Electropunk
Years_active = 1998–2008 (hiatus)
Label = Mr. Lady
Universal Records
Associated_acts = Julie Ruin, Bikini Kill
URL = [http://www.letigreworld.com/ Official site]
Current_members = Kathleen Hanna
Johanna Fateman
JD Samson
Past_members = Sadie Benning

Le Tigre (French for "The Tiger") is an American dance-punk band, formed by Kathleen Hanna (formerly of Bikini Kill) and Johanna Fateman in 1998. It also featured Sadie Benning from 1998 until 2001, and JD Samson for the rest of the group's run. Le Tigre is known for its socio-political lyrics, dealing with issues of feminism and the LGBT community. The band is currently on hiatus.

History

Initially envisioned as a live back up band for Hanna's solo project Julie Ruin, Le Tigre mixed the politics and feminism of riot grrrl with fun electronic samples and lo-fi beats. Other members included Johanna Fateman and JD Samson. JD joined Le Tigre as a full member when co-founder Sadie Benning left the band before the "Feminist Sweepstakes" album was recorded. JD had previously worked with the band as a roadie and the operator of Benning's slide show during live performances in support of their first record. The self-proclaimed "underground electro-feminist performance artists" combined visuals, music and dance in their performances. JD is a gay rights activist, and the excerpts in "New Kicks" are from an actual protest that JD recorded herself. Kathleen is a public speaker against sexual abuse.

The song "Hot Topic" on Le Tigre's self-titled debut pays tribute to dozens of female visual artists, musicians, writers, feminists and others who have inspired them. Among the honorees are: Yoko Ono, Cibo Matto, Aretha Franklin, Vaginal Cream Davis, Yayoi Kusama, Angela Davis, Sleater-Kinney, Billy Tipton, Laura Cottingham, James Baldwin, and Hanna's close friend, Tammy Rae Carland. In a similar fashion the song "FYR" off the album "Feminist Sweepstakes" is a tribute to the chapter and ideals put forth in Shulamith Firestone's "Fifty Years of Ridicule" in her 1970 feminist work The Dialectic of Sex. The album contains a sample of an essay written by Mark Rothko in response to a negative review in 1942 where he debuted the style he would become famous for.

The first two recordings by the band were released on the independent label Mr. Lady Records, run by Kaia Wilson of The Butchies and her girlfriend, artist Tammy Rae Carland. "Feminist Sweepstakes" (2001) came out on Chicks on Speed's record label. The album "This Island" (2004) was Le Tigre's first on a major label (Universal Records). Ric Ocasek of the Cars produced one track, "Tell You Now." Even after signing with Universal, Le Tigre continued to work with independent labels. In 2005 they released "This Island Remixes" with Chicks on Speed.

In the second half of 2006, the band decided to take an extended break starting early 2007. [ [http://www.queerkit.org/turnitup.php?id=5 queerkit.org ] ] Since then Kathleen has participated in The Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls and taught an art class at NYU. JD Samson has toured as keyboard player with Peaches and made many DJ appearances, while Johanna Fateman has kept busy with a hairdressing salon in NYC's Greenwich Village. [ [http://www.letigreworld.com/sweepstakes/flash_home/newspage_flash.html newspage ] ] In 2008 JD and Johanna formed a new project, Men, that will do a DJ tour and record. [cite news |title=Le Tigre Hiatus Spawns MEN |url=http://www.pollstar.com/news/viewnews.pl?NewsID=9307 |work=Concert Hotwire |publisher=Pollstar |date=2008-02-01 |accessdate=2008-02-02]

Notable appearances

In 2006, Le Tigre contributed to Yoko Ono's "Yes, I'm A Witch" album by remixing "Sisters O Sisters".

Le Tigre licensed two of their songs for use in advertisements by Canadian telephone provider Telus and Australian jewellery chain Goldmark. A sample from "Deceptacon" (one letter changed from "Decepticon") plays in the background of a 2006 television commercial for Nivea cosmetics. The song is featured in the 2006 Norwegian film Reprise during its comical party scene. Le Tigre's "TKO" is featured in the 2006 movie Accepted, as well as on FOX's Teen Drama The OC in Season 2, and The CW's Teen Drama One Tree Hill in Season 3.

The Boston Red Sox radio broadcast often uses a sample of "Deceptacon", the first song on Le Tigre's debut album, as filler when returning from commercial break. The song was also featured in the Girl Skateboard Company's film Yeah Right! (playing during Rick McCrank's skateboarding segment), the freestyle ski film Teddybear Crisis, and Robot Food's Snowboard film Afterbang, thus elevating it to cult status among skateboarders, freestyle skiers, snowboarders, and the like.

Discography

Albums

*"Le Tigre" (1999) Mr. Lady
*"Feminist Sweepstakes" (2001) Mr. Lady
*"This Island" (2004) Universal

EPs and singles

*"Hot Topic" (1999)
*"From the Desk of Mr. Lady EP" (2001)
*"Remix" (2003)
*"Standing In The Way Of Control" 12" split EP with The Gossip on Kill Rock Stars
*"This Island Remixes Volume 1" EP, Chicks On Speed Records
*"This Island Remixes Volume 2"EP, Chicks On Speed Records

Notes

External links

* [http://www.letigreworld.com/ Le Tigre World] (official site)
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0268/is_6_41/ai_98123127 Le Tigre's live show]
* [http://creativecommons.org/wired/ "Fake French," a song submitted to the "Creative Commons"]
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