Biography
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Years Active
1979 – 1983 (4 years)
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Founded In
Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Members
- Angie Barrack (1980 – 1980)
- Astrid Spirit (1981 – 1983)
- Beat Schlatter (1981 – 1982)
- Chrigle Freund (1979 – 1981)
- Christoph Herzog (1981 – 1982)
LiLiPUT were a Swiss female post-punk band active from 1978 to 1983, initially known as Kleenex.
The group formed in Zurich in 1978 under the name Kleenex, with a line-up of Regula Sing (vocals), Marlene Marder (Marlene Marti, guitar), Klaudia Schiff (Klaudia Schifferle, bass, vocals), and Lislot Ha (Lieselotte Hafner, drums). After releasing an EP in Switzerland, the band were signed by Rough Trade Records and released their debut single "Ain't You" in November 1978. In early 1979, Sing left, and contrary to misinformation, did not join the Mo-dettes, and was replaced by Chrigle Freund. who was later replaced by Astrid Spirit (Astrid Spirig).
Second single "You" was their last under the Kleenex name as the threat of legal action by Kimberly-Clark in 1979 prompted a change of name to LiLiPUT (Kleenex being a proprietary brand in Switzerland). The band released two further singles, both of which were hits on the UK Indie Chart, before releasing their first, self-titled album in 1982.
A second album, Some Songs, was released in December 1983, by which time the band had split up.
In 1993, Swiss label Off Course Records released a 46-track double-disc CD collecting Kleenex/LiLiPUT's 1978-83 releases. In 2001 it was re-issued in the USA by the Kill Rock Stars label and subsequently on a 4 LP Box-Set on Mississippi Records.
Kurt Cobain from Nirvana listed the band on his Top 50 favorites albums.
In 2010, Kill Rock Stars released a 24-track CD/DVD set Live Recordings, TV-Clips, and Roadmovie.
On 15 May 2016, guitarist Marlene Marder died at age 61.
Band member chronology
1978: Klaudia Schiff, Lislot Ha, Regula Sing, Rudolph Dietrich, Gogi
1978-1979: Klaudia Schiff, Marlene Marder, Lislot Ha, Regula Sing
1979-1980: Klaudia Schiff, Marlene Marder, Lislot Ha, Chrigle Freund, Angie Barrack
1981: Klaudia Schiff, Marlene Marder, Chrigle Freund
1981-1982: Klaudia Schiff, Marlene Marder, Astrid Spirit, Beat Schlatter, Christoph Herzog
1982-1983: Klaudia Schiff, Marlene Marder, Astrid Spirit
LiLiPUT's exuberant sound combined spirited thrashy post-punk with unconventional vocals and lyrics, both in English and German. Their music featured husky or squealing female vocals, ramshackle drums, scratchy and twanging guitar, thick funky bass, saxophone and occasionally flute, violin, or other instruments. The cut-up surreality of their lyrics and energetic sound put them in a league with bands like The Raincoats (frequent tour partners), Delta 5, The Slits, Essential Logic and Bush Tetras. The band's sound developed throughout their career, due in part to line-up changes; the earlier recordings are more noisy and energetic, while the later songs are more complex and haunting.
Discography
Singles
as Kleenex
"Ain't You" / "Hedi's Head" (1978), Rough Trade
"You" (Friendly Side)/"Ü" (Angry Side) (1979), Rough Trade
as LiLiPUT
"Eisiger Wind" / "When The Cat's Away Then The Mice Will Play" (1980), Off Course - reissued (1981), Rough Trade - UK Indie No. 17
"Die Matrosen" / "Split" (1980), Rough Trade - UK Indie No. 31
"The Jatz" / "You Did It" (1983), Rough Trade
EPs
Kleenex (1978), Sunrise
Albums
Liliput (1982), Rough Trade
Some Songs (1983), Rough Trade
LiLiPUT (1993), Off Course (compilation)
Live Recordings, TV-Clips, and Roadmovie CD/DVD (2010), Kill Rock Stars
Video
Live Recordings, TV-Clips, and Roadmovie CD/DVD, 2010
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