They Might Be Giants

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Biography

Recent Role:
Themselves on A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus
Gender:
 
Born:
6-1-1982
Birthplace:
New York, New York. (Band Birthdate)
Birth Name:
John Flansburgh (May 6, 1960); John Linnell (June 12, 1959)
AKA:
John Flansburgh, John Linnell, TMBG
They met in Junior High School when they both worked on the school newspaper. Linnell was an editor of "the only high school newspaper without a sports section" and he became friends with Flansburgh through their work on the paper. They each went their separate way for a while after high school. Flansburgh went to art school in NY for a year, but eventually left to pursue music. Linnell spent some time around the Providence, RI area playing with a group called the Mundanes. The Mundanes were fairly successful locally and released a 7" album.



… More Eventually, however, Linnell moved to Brooklyn to pursue bigger opportunities. It was here in Brooklyn in 1981 where John and John met up again. They had been interested in making music from their childhood days in Massachusetts, and now that they were both living in NY they decided to pursue a career in music. Their first performance together was in the summer of 1982 at a Sandinista rally in Central Park where they were introduced as "El Grupo de Rock 'n' Roll." Six months later they performed their second show under the name "They Might Be Giants" at a club called Dr. B's in Soho. Linnell played a Farfisa organ and Flansburgh played electric guitar. They used a taped rhythm track as backup. Despite a heavy snowstorm, 23 of their friends showed up and the show was a big success.

The continued to grow using a song service called Dial-A-Song to get their songs out. The band has an extremely unique sound, which others have tried and failed to copy. The band's lyrics are unusual as well, incorporating some very sophisticated allusions and imagery. To understand what we are talking about, you really need to hear some of Their music.

TMBG are John Linnell (accordion, keyboards, woodwinds, vocals) and John Flansburgh (guitar, vocals). The instrumentation of the band has been evolving since the release of the first album back in 1986. Originally (and through the Flood tour in 1990) the band toured as just John and John backed with synthesizers and tapes. Then, during the Apollo 18 tour, the band started adding talent such as J. D. Feinberg (drums) and Kurt Hoffman (horns, keyboards) to live tours. When John Henry was released, John and John used Brian Doherty (drums) and Tony Maimone (bass), among others, in the recording sessions as well as tours. On Factory Showroom, the band consists of John and John plus Brian, Graham Maby (bass), and Eric Schermerhorn (lead guitar). Subsequest concerts no longer include Eric or Brian, but add Dan Hickey on drums. Fans wait with bated breath to find out what will happen to that distinctive sound next.

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  •  
    9 Superb
    empty hide show

    A very underrated little band.

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    marbles01 Added Oct 16, 2008 All my reviews
  •  
    9 Superb
    empty hide show

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    marbles01 Added Nov 4, 2006 All my reviews
  •  
    9.8 Superb
    These guys are gods of alternetive rock! hide show

    This is currently my favorite band. I don't know why people at my school don't know who these guys are. Everyone listens to the same stuff: Fall out Boy, 50 Cent, Blink 182, Phil Collins, the list goes on. Although I don't have anything against these artists (except for Phil), but it still makes it hard for me to find friends with similar intrests. During the 80s, TMBG wrote songs such as Don't let's start, Ana Ng, and one of my favorites, Put your Hand Inside the Puppet Head.

    John and John, also known as Flansburgh and Linnell, have somehow always made me smile. Obviously because of their catchy songs they've used to please a crowd. A lot of fans always choose Linnell over Flans but I would choose Flans over Linnell for some odd reason. He's always been the funniest guy and knew exactly how to make people laugh during shows.
    I also wish people would stop calling him a fatty. Yeah I know, he's kinda flabby but he's way awesomer than all the people who call him a fatass put together!

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    zenigame Added Oct 12, 2006 All my reviews
  •  
    8 Great
    They might be cool. hide show

    I am a big fan of this band. I haven't heard much from them lately. Except for tv theme songs they never really took off the ground. I remembeer them doing great stuff for Home Movies and Courage The Cowerdly dog. I would really really like to see a lot more from them. I think they broke up. I really hope they didn't. If anyone knows if they did or not can you tv.com e-mail me? Anywho it was great music and great fun. They really made great music and I wish more people saw that which they really don't.

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    dude6363 Added Jun 24, 2006 All my reviews
 

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