Tom Tom Club have revealed plans for a special series of 30th anniversary shows later this year.
Beginning as a side project, Tom Tom Club have proved to have an enduring popularity. When the summer months roll round, ClashMusic staff will invariably place ‘Genius Of Love’ on our mixtape.
Formed by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth during a break from Talking Heads, the band were effectively left alone in the studio. Heading out to the Bahamas, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry was supposed to oversee their debut album.
Always unpredictable, ol’ Scratch decided that he had other plans. Allowed to continue relatively unsupervised, Tom Tom Club seemed to capture something special.
Approaching their 30th anniversary, the band’s output remains fresh. ‘Wordy Rappinghood’ is an eternal party favourite, while breakthrough single ‘Genius Of Love’ is as fresh as the day it was released.
A soundsystem staple, ‘Genius Of Love’ was re-worked by Grandmaster Flash and remained so potent that Mariah Carey was able to score a number one hit in 1995 by half-inching the backing track.
Reforming for a series of dates, Tom Tom Club are set to toast their anniversary with a series of British shows. Still writing and performing new music, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth will be joined by some special guests for the shows.
Opening in London, the band will play a three night stint at the Camden Jazz Cafe. Running between July 15th – 17th, the residency marks a return to the capital for the influential post-punk collective.
Aside from this, Tom Tom Club have announced a show in Birmingham on July 19th. Taking place in the HMV Institute venue, the show concludes a brief visit to British shores from the band.
Tickets are on sale now.
Tom Tom club have confirmed the following shows:
July
15 London Camden Jazz Cafe
16 London Camden Jazz Cafe
17 London Camden Jazz Cafe
19 Birmingham HMV Institute
