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TISM
EntityQ1898365· pop 15· linked from 172 articles

Also known as This Is Serious Mum, The Frank Vitkovic Jazz Quartet, Machiavelli and the Four Seasons, Late for Breakfast

TISM ( ; an acronym of This Is Serious Mum) are a seven-piece anonymous alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia, on 30 December 1982 by vocalist/drummer Humphrey B. Flaubert, bassist/vocalist Jock Cheese and keyboardist/vocalist Eugene de la Hot Croix Bun, with vocalist Ron Hitler-Barassi joining the group the following year. These four members have formed the core of the band since their inception, with the line-up being rounded out by guitarists Leak Van Vlalen (1982–1991), Tokin' Blackman (1991–2004; died 2008) and Vladimir Lenin-McCartney (2022–present), as well as backing vo

Key facts

Musical artist <! See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians >.name
TISM
Musical artist <! See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians >.image
TISM-band.jpg
Musical artist <! See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians >.caption
TISM live in Brisbane, December 2022
Musical artist <! See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians >.background
group_or_band
Musical artist <! See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians >.alias
This Is Serious Mum
Musical artist <! See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians >.origin
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Musical artist <! See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians >.current_members
Ron Hitler-Barassi Humphrey B. Flaubert Jock Cheese Eugene de la Hot-Croix Bun Jon St. Peenis (II) Les Miserables (II) Vladimir Lenin-McCartney (II)
Musical artist <! See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians >.past_members
Genre B. Goode Leek Van Vlalen Jon St. Peenis (I) Les Miserables (I) Tokin' Blackman Vladimir Lenin-McCartney (I)

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Wikidata facts

Official name
This Is Serious Mum
Official website
www.tism.net.au
Show 3 more facts
start of work period
1982-00-00
inception
1982-00-00
short name
TISM
Sources (2)

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Article

24 sections
Contents
  • History
  • 1982–1984: Early years, first break up and reunion
  • 1985–1990: First releases, ''Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance'' and ''Hot Dogma''
  • 1991–1998: Rise to fame, ''Machiavelli and the Four Seasons'' and ''www.tism.wanker.com''
  • 1999–2002: Festival Records and ''De RigueurMortis''
  • 2003–2006: ''The White Albun'' and last appearances
  • 2006–2019: Post-TISM activity
  • 2020–2021: Reissue campaign
  • 2022–present: Reunion and ''Death to Art''
  • Members
  • Identities
  • Timeline
  • Style
  • Discography
  • Studio albums
  • Bibliography
  • Books
  • Comics
  • Awards and nominations
  • APRA Music Awards
  • ARIA Music Awards
  • The Age EG Awards
  • Notes
  • References

TISM ( ; an acronym of This Is Serious Mum) are a seven-piece anonymous alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia, on 30 December 1982 by vocalist/drummer Humphrey B. Flaubert, bassist/vocalist Jock Cheese and keyboardist/vocalist Eugene de la Hot Croix Bun, with vocalist Ron Hitler-Barassi joining the group the following year. These four members have formed the core of the band since their inception, with the line-up being rounded out by guitarists Leak Van Vlalen (1982–1991), Tokin' Blackman (1991–2004; died 2008) and Vladimir Lenin-McCartney (2022–present), as well as backing vocalists/dancers Les Miserables and Jon St. Peenis.

Noted for their dark humour, sarcastic delivery and melodic songwriting, the seven members of TISM appear in public as a pseudonymous, semi-paramilitary collective masked in a variety of balaclavas (usually as part of a more elaborate costume), and are known for their "chaotic" appearances in Australian media, often frustrating interviewers with absurd non sequiturs and tongue-in-cheek nihilism. Their catalogue is replete with references to popular culture, particularly literature, music and Australian rules football; their (usually derogatory) references to celebrities have sometimes incurred controversy and even censorship.

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