Tripping Daisy

Tripping Daisy
Origin Dallas, Texas, USA
Genres Grunge, alternative rock, Neo-Psychedelia
Years active 1990–1999
Labels Dragon Street Records, Island Records, Sugar Fix
Associated acts The Polyphonic Spree, Secret Machines, School of Seven Bells, Smash Mouth, Preteen Zenith
Past members Tim DeLaughter
Wes Berggren
Mark Pirro
Jeff Bouck
Bryan Wakeland
Mitch Marine
Ben Curtis
Philip Karnats

Tripping Daisy was a neo psychedelic pop rock band that was formed in Dallas, Texas, USA by lead singer/guitarist Tim DeLaughter in 1990 along with Jeff Bouck (drums), Wes Berggren (guitar) and Mark Pirro (bass).

History

The band incorporated a light show similar to The Joshua Light Show at the Fillmore East, such as hand made slide shows with multi layered 16 mm projections along with oil and water. This visual attention was present in the very first show and was the beginning of many multi media attractions to come.

In 1992 Bryan Wakeland replaced Jeff Bouck as the band's drummer, remaining in the band until after the tour for I Am an Elastic Firecracker when he was replaced by Mitch Marine and Cory Lemons. Phil Karnats joined the band soon after Wakeland's departure. Marine toured with the band until he was replaced by Ben Curtis, who drummed on Jesus Hit Like the Atom Bomb and Tripping Daisy.

First album

After playing local gigs, the band released their first single, "Lost and Found", which received moderate airplay on local radio station KDGE. The band soon began recording what would become their first full-length album, Bill, released on the independent label Dragon Street Records. The album was a favorite on Dallas radio. The sound on Bill is characterized by the heavy use of vocal effects and unconventional riffs, both of which lend to a neo-psychedelic sound.

The band released a live album in 1994 titled Get It On. The album closes with a cover of the Bad Religion song "We're Only Gonna Die".

Commercial breakthrough

After signing a deal with Island Records, the band recorded their first major-label release, I Am an Elastic Firecracker. The music video for the song "I Got a Girl" received extended airplay on MTV.

Later albums

The band's third album, Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb, was a mix of both creativity and experimentalism. DeLaughter has been quoted as saying that the album "is the band at their best". The album has a fragmented style: from one vignette to another.

Death of Wes Berggren and split

Wes Berggren was found dead of a drug overdose in his apartment on October 27, 1999. The Dallas County Medical Examiner's office found traces of cocaine, propoxyphene, and benzodiazepine in his body.[1] With Berggren's death, the band cancelled its upcoming tour dates and finished some minor recording sessions for the final album. The self-titled album was released posthumously, with Berggren's father Don playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano on the unfinished song "Soothing Jubilee". The album included a re-recording of "One Through Four", a song originally featured on Bill.

After the band disbanded, Tim DeLaughter, Mark Pirro, Bryan Wakeland and Jeff Bouck formed the chamber pop group The Polyphonic Spree. Ben Curtis went on to join brother Brandon Curtis in the progressive space rock trio called The Secret Machines and later, the dream pop trio School of Seven Bells. Curtis died on December 29, 2013 from complications of lymphoma.

Tripping Daisy officially disbanded on December 14, 1999.

Personnel

Substitute musicians
Recording Staff

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
US
Air

[2]

 US
Main

[3]

 US
Mod

[3]

1993 "My Umbrella" — — 24 Bill
1995 "I Got a Girl" 53 33 6 I Am an Elastic Firecracker
1995 "Piranha" — 35 32
1998 "Sonic Bloom" — — — Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb
1998 "Waited a Light Year" — — —
1999 "Bedhead" — — — non-album single
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

References

  1. ↑ "Tripping, Falling". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2008-12-20.
  2. ↑ Billboard Hot 100 Airplay Archived January 20, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. 1 2 "Artist Chart History: Singles". Billboard charts. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved 2008-07-30.

External links

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