Formed in 1977 by multi-instrumentalists Reininger and Brown, then two students of electronic music at San Francisco City College, with technical assistance from video artist Tommy Tadlock, Tuxedomoon started playing salons and accompanying performances by Angels of Light. Brown's connections to local theatre gave the band access to vocalists Gregory Cruikshank, Victoria Lowe, and, most frequently, Winston Tong, the latter bringing along filmmaker and performance artist Bruce Geduldig who, in an unusual capacity for a band member, took care of the band's visuals, both live and on video.[1]
The band gained some level of recognition in 1978 when they opened for Devo. Michael Belfer, (guitarist), and Paul Zahl, (drummer) joined the band in time to help with the group's first EP, No Tears[2] Lowe left prior to the album's release in 1978. Soon afterward, Tong and Belfer left the group temporarily, and bassist Peter Principle joined the lineup.
In 1979, the group signed to The Residents' Ralph Records, with whom they recorded their next two albums, Half Mute and Desire, (which was recorded in England with Gareth Jones.)
In late 1980 the band relocated to Rotterdam for a short time and then moved on to Brussels, believing their sound better fit the electronic scene in Europe.
The band created the score for a ballet by Maurice Béjart, which was released in 1982 as Divine. In 1983 Reininger left the group in order to pursue a solo career, and trumpeter Luc Van Lieshout joined. In 1985 Tuxedomoon had its largest success commercially with the international release of Holy Wars. Tong left the group again soon after its release. Multi-instrumentalist Ivan Georgiev was brought in to perform on the group's next two albums, 1986's Ship of Fools and 1987's You. The band remained inactive through most of the 1990s, although never technically broke up.
On July 20, 2004 a reborn Tuxedomoon, consisting of Brown, Reininger, Principle, and Luc Van Lieshout released a new studio album, Cabin in the Sky. They had been given the opportunity to spend over two months together[3] in Cagli, Italy, at the Teatro di Cagli under a program begun by theater director and then-mayor of the town, Sandro Pascucci.[4]
They continue to work and tour together and have since released Bardo Hotel Soundtrack in 2006. For the group's 30th year anniversary in 2007 they released another studio album, Vapour Trails. At this time, Crammed Discs released the box set 77o7 Tm (the 30th Anniversary Box) containing: Vapour Trails, Unearthed: Lost Cords, a collection of previously unreleased recordings, 162o7 (39°N 7°W), a live concert recorded on February 16, 2007 in Portalegre, Portugal, as well as a DVD (in both PAL and NTSC editions) Unearthed: Found Films, rare videos from 1977 - 1988.[5] The box set was designed by noted graphic designer Jonathan Barnbrook.[6]
In 2008, writer/journalist Isabelle Corbisier[7] published a 476-page biography, entitled Music For Vagabonds - The Tuxedomoon Chronicles covering the band's entire career as well as members' solo activities.[8]
Band members Brown, Geduldig, Lieshout, Principle, Reininger, and Tong continue to work, as they have always done, on solo and other collaborative projects.
Desire
Tuxedo Moon Lyrics
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makes you want what you can't have,
I'm glad I made you cry,
Makes you go where you can't go,
Makes you want what you can't have,
Desire
Don't think, x4
Don't buy,
Buying the moment,
Sometimes I want to die in my bed,
All I can think about is "When are we leaving?",
Everytime I think of you I want a cigarette,
Man chooses himself,
Hero with a thousand faces,
It's the third night and the walls are shaking,
Boys buying boys,
Pleasure bringing pain, it's all the same,
I put my hand near my mouth so I know I'm still breathing,
So we joke about the TV set,
Calling it the "eye of Hell",
I would love to have people see what I see,
I would love to be a pillar of strength in my community,
A little order, a little grace,
Something new to fill up this place,
Live a thousand lives by picture,
Mark, this song is for you,
I'm a lousy lover - I give but never take,
Makes you go where you can't go, makes you want what you can'thave,
(repeats)
Live a thousand lives by picture
The lyrics to Tuxedo Moon's song "Desire" are rich and complex, offering a penetrating exploration of the human experience of longing and yearning, particularly in the context of desire for what cannot be obtained. The first stanza opens with the lines "You're the buyer or the seller, makes you want what you can't have, I'm glad I made you cry," introducing the central theme of wanting something that is out of reach. The complexity of this desire is conveyed through the repetition of the phrase "makes you go where you can't go, makes you want what you can't have" and the refrain of "don't buy, don't think," suggesting that the object of desire is not just physical, but also psychological and emotional.
The second stanza delves further into the idea of desire and its relationship to identity and purpose. The lines "Man chooses himself, hero with a thousand faces" suggest that desire is not just a matter of wanting something external, but also a facet of self-definition and self-assertion. The reference to Joseph Campbell's seminal work "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" reinforces this idea, emphasizing the heroic nature of the quest for desire. The stanza also hints at the destructive power of desire, with its references to "boys buying boys" and "pleasure bringing pain, it's all the same," suggesting that the pursuit of desire can lead to harm and suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
You're the buyer or the seller,
Whether you're buying or selling, you desire what you cannot possess.
makes you want what you can't have,
The act of participating in commerce fuels a desire for that which is unattainable.
I'm glad I made you cry,
I'm pleased that I've elicited an emotional response from you.
Makes you go where you can't go,
Desire can lead you to places you ordinarily wouldn't visit.
Desire
Desire is a powerful driving force that can be both exhilarating and destructive.
Don't think, x4
Stop analyzing and let your impulses guide you.
Don't buy,
Resist the temptation to acquire material possessions.
Don't think, x3
Ignore rationality and let desire dictate your actions.
Buying the moment,
Investing in the present, living for immediate pleasure.
Sometimes I want to die in my bed,
At times, the intensity of desire can be overwhelming and emotionally exhausting.
All I can think about is "When are we leaving?",
The desire to escape or move on to the next experience consumes all thoughts.
Everytime I think of you I want a cigarette,
The desire for a lover or partner can be as addictive as a physical substance.
Man chooses himself,
Each individual is responsible for their own desires and actions.
Hero with a thousand faces,
The quest for fulfillment and desire takes many different forms and shapes.
It's the third night and the walls are shaking,
The physical manifestation of desire is intense and palpable in this moment.
Boys buying boys,
Sexual desire and fulfillment transcends gender and orientation.
Pleasure bringing pain, it's all the same,
The pursuit of pleasure can often lead to emotional pain or longing.
I put my hand near my mouth so I know I'm still breathing,
Breathing serves as a reminder of the vital, physical nature of desire and its accompanying emotions.
So we joke about the TV set,
Humor can serve as a coping mechanism when confronting the harsh realities of desire.
Calling it the "eye of Hell",
The seductive pull of desire can be likened to a demonic or nightmarish force.
I would love to have people see what I see,
The desire to share one's vision or experience with others is a powerful motivator.
I would love to be a pillar of strength in my community,
Desire can extend beyond personal fulfillment to encompass a desire to positively impact others.
A little order, a little grace,
Balance and harmony are desirable qualities for both individuals and communities.
Something new to fill up this place,
Desire is often accompanied by a desire for change or variety.
Live a thousand lives by picture,
Desire can be fulfilled through imaginative or vicarious experiences.
Mark, this song is for you,
A message directed to a specific individual, expressing desire, admiration, or even resentment.
I'm a lousy lover - I give but never take,
Desire can manifest in a sense of inadequacy or guilt when one feels they cannot satisfy their own or their partner's desires.
Makes you go where you can't go, makes you want what you can'thave,
Reiteration of the theme that desire often leads to unattainable or forbidden objects or experiences.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER, EDDIE HOLLAND, BRIAN HOLLAND, TROY DONALD JAMERSON, ALAN MAMAN, LURONER LETHEL BROOKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind