The true identities of the members of TISM have been kept secret. For this reason, the band often appear in balaclavas when they play concerts, although they have also been known to indulge in ridiculously complex costumery to the same end. They have been thought to have been influenced by The Residents in this regard. However, the true identities of the members are common knowledge among fans of the band.
Numerous rumours have arisen as to why the members of TISM do not reveal their identities. One of which is that due to the highly controversial nature of their lyrics, if people were to know their true identities they could risk legal action. Another is that they are all, in fact, school teachers and need to keep their reputation in check. The latter theory is supported by the fact that the band's tour dates virtually always coincide with school holidays.
The band members have created pseudonyms for themselves.
Current known members include:
* Ron Hitler-Barassi: Vocals
* Humphrey B. Flaubert: Vocals
* Jock Cheese: Bass
* Eugene de la Hot-Croix Bun: Keyboards and samples
* Jon St. Peenis: Saxophone
* Les Miserables: Dancing
Past members are:
Tokin' Blackman (R.I.P. 2008)
Genre B. Goode
Leak Van Vlalen
Tony Coitus
Steak and Charles Kidney
Hits include:
(He'll Never Be An) Ol' Man River
Greg! The Stop Sign!!
Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me
All Homeboys Are Dickheads
Whatareya
Thunderbirds Are Coming Out
On the 9th April 2008 James "Tokin' Blackman" Paull died after a 15 month battle with lung cancer. Jock was the guitarist with the Aussie legends for 16 years. He was 50 years old.
Father And Son
TISM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My old man used to take me to the footy, now it's me takes him
Been barracking for the Sainters, season on end, season cold and grim
Every season we'd pretend that we were the great pretenders
And watch, in the rain, getting done again by the real contenders
Oh hear the cry, ring out to the Moorabbin sky!
Winmar, Winmar, Winmar to Lockett!
Winmar, Winmar, Winmar to Lockett!
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooh, Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooh
Those Collingwood bastards did us by a point the day my mother died
Ooo-ooo-ooh
When I told Dad he shook his head and said, "Makes you want to cry"
Ooo-ooo-ooh
Winmar, you're a football genius, and oh let me tell you son
Ooo-ooo-ooh
Remember my old man, cos he wasn't referring to Mum
You've got my heart, when you've got the leather!
For the gods' sake don't drop it! Yeah
Winmar, Winmar, Winmar to Lockett!
Winmar, Winmar, Winmar to Lockett!
Oh Dad'll be gone in ten season's time, and you know they can
Ooo-ooo-ooh-oo-oh
Build rockets that can think, have prime time TV, napalm Vietnam
Ooo-ooo-ooh-oo-oh
Just for my Dad, they could give us a flag, who says they oughtn't?
Ooo-ooo-ooh-oo-oh
It ain't a matter of life and death, it's more important
Here comes Nicky!
Tony's broken free!
Winmar to Lockett!
Winmar, Winmar, Winmar to Lockett!
Winmar, Winmar, Winmar to Lockett!
Winmar, Winmar, Winmar to Lockett!
Winmar to Lockett!
Winmar, Winmar, Winmar to Lockett!
In "Father and Son," TISM reflects on the bond between a father and son as fostered by their shared love for football. The singer's father used to take him to the football games, but as his father gets older, it is now he who takes his father to the games. The singer admits that despite their loyalty to their team, the Sainters, they could never quite make it to the top and were just pretenders. They watch in the rain as they are defeated once again by the real contenders. The chorus is a tribute to two St Kilda football luminaries, Gilbert McAdam and Tony Lockett, and their crucial connection.
The second verse tells the story of the day the singer's mother died, and the Saints lost to their arch-rivals, Collingwood, by a point. It was a day of bleakness, and the father only had words of resignation for his son, "Makes you want to cry." But then he speaks to Winmar, a St Kilda legend, and addresses the singer as "son" to tell him that when he talks about a football genius, the old man wasn't referring to the mother. The final verse expresses the singer's distress that despite the advances in technology and the power to wage war, something as simple as a football flag for his father couldn't be forthcoming. The line "It ain't a matter of life and death, it's more important," suggests that football has the power to outweigh the importance of material and worldly affairs for some people.
Line by Line Meaning
My old man used to take me to the footy, now it's me takes him
The singer's father used to take him to football games, but now the singer takes his father instead.
Been barracking for the Sainters, season on end, season cold and grim
The singer and his father have been cheering for the St Kilda Football Club, even during the difficult seasons.
Every season we'd pretend that we were the great pretenders
Despite their love for the team, the singer and his father knew that they were never truly contenders for the win.
And watch, in the rain, getting done again by the real contenders
They would watch the games in bad weather, and the better teams would beat their beloved St Kilda.
Those Collingwood bastards did us by a point the day my mother died
The singer's mother died on the day that St Kilda lost to their rival team, Collingwood, by just one point.
When I told Dad he shook his head and said, "Makes you want to cry"
When the singer told his father about the loss and his mother's death, the father was saddened by the news.
Winmar, you're a football genius, and oh let me tell you son
The singer praises Nicky Winmar's football skills and directs his comment to his own son.
Remember my old man, cos he wasn't referring to Mum
The singer's father's comment about Winmar's football genius was not a reference to the singer's mother.
Oh Dad'll be gone in ten season's time, and you know they can
The singer laments that his father will not be around for many more football seasons.
Build rockets that can think, have prime time TV, napalm Vietnam
Despite humanity's scientific advancements and destructive capabilities, the singer still wishes for his father to see a St Kilda premiership victory.
Just for my Dad, they could give us a flag, who says they oughtn't?
The singer believes that a St Kilda premiership victory would be a fitting tribute to his father.
It ain't a matter of life and death, it's more important
The singer believes that winning a premiership is not a matter of life or death, but it is still highly significant.
Here comes Nicky!
The singer shows excitement as Nicky Winmar takes the field.
Tony's broken free!
The singer is thrilled as Tony Lockett, another St Kilda player, becomes available to receive a pass.
For the gods' sake don't drop it! Yeah
The singer urges the St Kilda player not to drop the ball, to ensure a successful play.
Winmar to Lockett!
The singer hopes that Nicky Winmar will pass the ball to Tony Lockett.
Winmar, Winmar, Winmar to Lockett!
The singer repeats his hope for a successful play between Winmar and Lockett.
Contributed by Camilla K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Krafton
TISM's clip or did you put this together yourself? if your own work, pretty friggin' awesome. Thanks for showing a ladder with the Roys in the five :D (must have been early in the season!)