TOM TOM CLUB
www.tomtomclub.com
Tom Tom Club was formed by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth in 1981. Graduates from the Rhode Island School of Design, they moved to New York City where they founded Talking Heads as a trio with David Byrne in 1975. When Talking Heads took a hiatus in early 1981, Chris and Tina began Tom Tom Club. Their first single, ‘Wordy Rappinghood’, was an unusual and original mix of schoolyard rap over a funky groove that charted high in 17 countries and was instrumental in bringing mainstream attention to the new spirit of hip-hop. The group’s second single was the remarkable ‘Genius of Love’. Prior to its release in North America, the track became an underground hit in the UK with dozens of unsolicited remixes and versions doing the rounds. The most notable of these was Grandmaster Flash’s ‘It’s Nasty/Genius of Love’, which was a massive hit in the clubs and on the R&B and Dance Charts in 1982. In 1995, Mariah Carey topped the Singles Chart with ‘Fantasy’, her version of of the track featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard rapping over the original instrumental track. ‘Genius of Love’ continues to be frequently sampled by various artists, from Tupac Shakur to, most recently, T.I. (feat. Fergie and will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas).
TUESDAY 25 JUNE
THEKLA
The Grove, Bristol
Doors 7:30pm
Ages 18+
Tickets £20.00 advance
0845 413 4444
www.alt-tickets.co.uk
Bristol Ticket Shop
