LiLiPUT

LiLiPUT were a Swiss punk band active from 1978 to 1983, initially known as Kleenex. According to AllMusic, the band "made some of the best, most adventurous, most exhilarating, and most critically derided music" of the punk rock era.[1]

LiLiPUT
Also known asKleenex
OriginZurich, Switzerland
GenresPunk
Years active1978–1983
Past membersRegula Sing
Marlene Marder
Klaudia Schiff
Lislot Ha
Chrigle Freund
Astrid Spirit
Gogi
Rudolph Dietrich
Angie Barrack
Beat Schlatter
Christoph Herzog

History

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).[2] 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.[2] In early 1979, Sing was replaced by Chrigle Freund,[2] who was later replaced by Astrid Spirit (Astrid Spirig).

The band's 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.[2]

A second album, Some Songs, was released in December 1983, by which time the band had split up.[2]

Post break-up

In 1993, Swiss label Off Course Records released a 46-track double-disc CD collecting Kleenex/LiLiPUT's 1978-83 releases.[2] In 2001 it was re-issued in the US by the Kill Rock Stars label and subsequently on a 4 LP Box-Set on Mississippi Records.

Kurt Cobain from Nirvana listed the band's music in his list of Top 50 favorite albums.[3]

In 2010, Kill Rock Stars released a 24-track CD/DVD set Live Recordings, TV-Clips, and Roadmovie.[4]

On 15 May 2016, guitarist Marlene Marder died at age 61.[5]

Musical style

LiLiPUT's exuberant sound combined spirited thrashy punk with unconventional vocals and lyrics, both in English and German. Their music featured husky or squealing 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.

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

Discography

Singles/EPs
as Kleenex
  • Kleenex (1978), Sunrise
  • "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[6]
  • "Die Matrosen" / "Split" (1980), Rough Trade - UK Indie No. 31[6]
  • "The Jatz" / "You Did It" (1983), Rough Trade

Albums
  • Liliput (1982), Rough Trade
  • Some Songs (1983), Rough Trade

Compilations
  • LiLiPUT (1993), Off Course (reissued Kill Rock Stars/Mississippi Records, 2001)
  • Live Recordings, TV-Clips, and Roadmovie CD/DVD (2010), Kill Rock Stars

References
  1. "LiLiPUT | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  2. Strong, Martin C. (1999) The Great Alternative & Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 0-86241-913-1, p. 356
  3. Baker, C. J. "The Music That Inspired Nirvana: Kurt Cobain's Top 50 Albums". Spinditty.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  4. "Kleenex/LiLiPUT, 'Live Recordings, TV-Clips & Roadmovies' (Kill Rock Stars)". Spin.com. 9 March 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  5. "Marlene Marder of Swiss post-punk band Kleenex/LiLiPUT dies at 61" Claire Lobenfeld, Fact Magazine, May 18, 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  6. Lazell, Barry (1998) Indie Hits 1980-1989, Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-95172-069-4, p. 134
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