439:
general seemed so restricted. When I started writing music, I was not satisfied with the two choices that were given to me as an 18-year-old. The first choice was go to college in order to work your life away at an office. The other choice was to be a townie and work at a machine shop or restaurant in my hometown. I wanted something different that did not entail a new couch, a new car, a new dining room set. Fortunately, I met a like-minded soul in my hometown and we innocently and haphazardly went about putting together a band. This whole process was a head banging one; that is, a banging my head against the wall one. I soon learned, no clubs would book a band that played original songs. Clubs only booked cover bands at that time in the early and mid-80s. So, we played house parties and VFW halls. If we made 20 bucks we were happy, not 20 bucks apiece but altogether. There were a few other bands that were not hardcore punk doing the same thing but not very many. And, I wrote songs about my life and my inner-struggles and all of that sort of stuff that you have going on when you are in your late teens and early 20s. We rammed 50s guitar licks into 60s power pop colliding into 70s glam and punk and more glam and then pureed it in a blender and we had our sound. Soon after, a hoard of other bands did the same and called it grunge or alternative rock. It then became a big business. I never made any money; I have been paid in fan letters, which is really what I set out to do. I set out to make some sort of change. And I feel as if I did. So, I guess I am one of the alterna-Forefathers. I am a starving alterna-Forefather.
419:, where he taught English. Although Meade still adores the aura of glam rock and looks back fondly on his days with Defenestration and Chainsaw Kittens, he admitted burning out as a performer. When he put aside his rock persona and shifted into more of a storyteller with a guitar, he said he fell in love with being onstage again. To this end, Meade now returns to America annually and treats his fans to the occasional concert at Chouse in Norman. He now lives back in Norman. Meade is currently set to work on a third solo album, wherein Meade will record at high schools and universities in China with students. Meade describes the project: “In many ways this is diplomatic and, at the very least, a cultural exchange; in some small way. I would like people to know that Chinese people are awesome. This has become very important to me because when I talk about my love for the Chinese people I sometimes get the most heartbreaking responses from people who just do not know how much the Chinese LOVE us! I was in Shanghai and other areas of China for five years and the one thing that I learned is that the Chinese LOVE America and Americans!”
253:, who also won a Grammy as a producer in 2012. Bell informed Meade about a group of high schoolers that had a band and were about to kick out their singer. Bell suggested that Meade's songs would be perfect for the band. Meade recalled, "I thought it was ridiculous, but I didn't have any other options I could think of, so I decided to play the kids my songs." After holding practice session for a month in 1989, Chainsaw Kittens were born, their name a nod to their trashy punk guitar sound and baby faces. Along with the other founding members—guitarist Mark Metzger, bass guitarist Kevin McElhaney, and drummer Ted Leader—Chainsaw Kittens recorded a demo and received a contract offer almost immediately from
257:. Whereas in Defenestration it was all tempered with a vaguely mainstream rock sensibility, Todd Walker's main contribution to the band—the Chainsaw Kittens dove enthusiastically off the deep end, into the extreme waters of glam-pop-punk, full-on transvestitism, and openly gay lyrics. And while it had a lot do with creative statement, it was also the work of Meade's increased understanding of his chosen industry: “I had a definite of what I wanted the Kittens to be," Meade says. "I wanted to have a band that was signed and made records. A month , we made our first demo, and a month after that we were in negotiations with Mammoth Records.”
33:
241:
guitarist, things were just awful. We started working at an algae farm because we were so broke. It was basically slave labor with 12-hour workdays at $ 5.00 an hour no overtime. I started to have a breakdown.” Though he dove headfirst into writing songs, it became apparent to Meade that the new incarnation of
Defenestration was lacking something. Frustrated and demoralized, Meade packed it in and returned to Norman, where he took a job at indie shop Shadowplay Records. Defenestration was no more.
153:, the youngest of five children. Before settling into retirement, his father worked as an architect, and his mother pursued a career as a nurse. Both parents, according to Meade, instilled in their son the values of treating others with respect, as well as frugality. Meade's childhood was filled by music: “ was the only thing I was into" says Meade, "It consumed me." His sister Connie—16 when he was born in 1962—would yank him out of the crib when the
408:
205:. My cousin Duane showed me three chords, and said I could learn from there. One of the skaters was Todd Walker, who started writing songs with me." Their common love of music and Meade's frustration with 1980s corporate rock led to the formation of his first band, Defenestration, with Todd Walker Clark Walker and other associates.
438:
I hate to try to credit myself for something that I may or may not have created. At the time, I was fed up with everything going on in music. If you were alive in the 80s you know to what music and bands I am referring. The music that was happening was in no way speaking to me. Furthermore, life in
275:
Before touring in support of their debut, guitarist Trent Bell joined
Chainsaw Kittens. While on the road, the band witnessed two additional changes to the lineup; Aaron Preston took over drumming duties, while Clint McBay replaced McElhaney on bass. With the new lineup, featuring Meade, Metzger,
240:
Eventually, artistic differences created a power struggle between Meade and Walker. The result was Walker being asked to leave the band and
Defenestration falling apart: “Todd Walker and I had the usual power struggle, and the other guys and I kicked him out,” Meade says. “When we got another
200:
After graduating from high school in 1980, Meade and fellow music lover, Todd Walker, hung out that summer and wrote songs. According to Meade, "We were all listening to the same stuff—punk, new wave, and fringe bands like Bowie, early Who and T-Rex. My brother Gentry sold me a
1081:
380:
too received critical praise. Since 2001, Chainsaw
Kittens have been on indefinite hiatus. The band reunited for a performance at the Norman Music Festival in Norman, Oklahoma on April 26, 2008.
881:
340:
Meade installed
Kittens-obsessed Chicagoan Matt Johnson on bass and Eric Harmon on drums, promoted Trent Bell to lead guitarist, and the Kittens set to work on their third album,
950:
264:, introduced Chainsaw Kittens' knack for creating fragile melodies and catchy pop choruses alongside twisted lyrics and powerful, raw guitars. The last track on
1101:
137:(born September 15, 1962) is an American singer and songwriter best known as the leader and creative force behind alternative rock groups Defenestration and
740:
1061:
838:
1096:
270:
485:
449:
162:
1016:
976:
767:
356:
and
Chainsaw Kittens had shared producers and toured together in the early 1990s, members of both bands had become friends. So when
1076:
1071:
1066:
954:
368:, the available Chainsaw Kittens were the perfect place to start. In 1996, the Chainsaw Kittens released their self-titled album,
217:, where the band recorded its 1984's self-titled record. The relative success of that debut led to a deal with the record company
617:
599:
581:
563:
538:
510:
1026:
249:
While working at
Shadowplay Records, Meade met Trent Bell, “a regular customer and loiterer,” and eventual lead guitarist to
696:
327:. Eventually, Clint McBay and Aaron Preston left the band, both landing on the lineup of straight-and-narrow alt-rockers
471:
465:
395:
389:
744:
237:
was reviewed as "a straightforward rock album, albeit one with the staunchly idiosyncratic Tyson Meade at its heart."
453:
1006:
197:. According to Meade, music was the only place where he could find people who thought and dressed like him.
923:
178:
32:
1086:
150:
170:
1091:
332:
268:, "She's Gone Mad," was covered by fellow-Norman based alt-rockers, The Flaming Lips on their album
424:
882:"Oklahoma's own globe-trotting rocker-cum-professor returns home from China with a renewed vigor"
401:
218:
428:
365:
361:
353:
328:
407:
349:
314:
250:
230:
214:
138:
77:
984:
671:
400:. He also recently collaborated with Derek Brown of The Flaming Lips and Jesse Tabish of
318:
254:
202:
434:
Asked about being called a godfather of alternative rock music, Meade had this to say:
281:
182:
1055:
81:
719:
345:
174:
794:
517:
372:, under Scratchie Records. Later, the band released a fifth full-length album,
324:
194:
186:
181:
tour in 1975 . Meade's musical interest eventually gravitated to musicians like
692:
1041:
1036:
1021:
1011:
300:
294:
357:
290:
285:
348:. Eventually because of strained relationship between Mammoth Records and
1031:
293:. Released on Mammoth Records in 1992, the album, containing the songs "
226:
158:
859:
1082:
839:"Record Store Day to keep retailers, vinyl collectors busy on Saturday"
305:," enabled the group's profile and fan base to grow. Another song from
154:
924:"Former Chainsaw Kittens band member teaching English at Mustang High"
816:
276:
McBay, Preston, and Bell, the band recorded their sophomore effort,
416:
406:
190:
166:
157:
came on the radio. His mom would do the same with groups like the
448:
In 2018 Meade was one of several
Democrats who filed to run for
1046:
902:
1001:
364:
of
Smashing Pumpkins started their own independent label
423:
Meade moved back to the U.S. and now teaches English at
120:
1032:
Collection of Chainsaw Kittens Music and Videos, 2012
376:, on Four Alarm Records. Despite limited exposure,
115:
111:
103:
95:
87:
72:
54:
44:
39:
23:
352:, Mammoth cut Chainsaw Kittens loose. Because the
388:Meade has produced two full-length solo albums:
411:Tyson performing live at CHouse (June 20, 2012)
331:, who scored a song on the 1994 soundtrack for
165:,'" says Meade. His first two rock shows were
8:
665:
663:
661:
659:
788:
786:
784:
482:
280:, for which they employed the services of
31:
20:
271:The Day They Shot a Hole in the Jesus Egg
1042:Performing "Soldier on My Shoulder" 2010
951:"Confessions of a Traveler: Tyson Meade"
860:"Shanghai Shenanigans, Arabian Whispers"
655:
699:from the original on December 15, 2015
384:Solo career and life after the Kittens
741:"Dali Does Windows: Critics' Reviews"
492:
486:Oklahoma's 5th congressional district
450:Oklahoma's 5th congressional district
7:
1102:20th-century American male musicians
1027:Interview with John Paul Jones, 2001
313:", is featured on the soundtrack to
404:on a project called "Winter Boys."
213:Defenestration eventually moved to
163:Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart
1062:People from Bartlesville, Oklahoma
14:
1022:Interview with Dolly Parton, 2001
815:Triplett, Gene (April 30, 2008).
1097:20th-century American guitarists
1047:Performing "She's Gone Mad" 2010
613:
595:
577:
559:
533:
505:
1037:Performing with Arbor Day, 2006
1007:Tyson Meade Is a Rock God, 2002
415:Meade resided in Shanghai, the
16:American singer and songwriter
1:
817:"Chainsaw Kittens reuniting"
468:(Echostatic/Spacebaby, 1995)
260:The band's inaugural album,
1002:Tyson Meade Home Page, 2008
672:"Tyson Meade is a Rock God"
488:Democratic primary results
91:Singer-songwriter, musician
1118:
417:People's Republic of China
296:Connie I’ve Found the Door
221:and the release of 1987's
977:"Candidate Filings, 2018"
632:
501:
498:
495:
225:Produced by Randy Burns (
173:in 1972 and a night with
30:
1077:American male guitarists
1072:American rock guitarists
1067:Guitarists from Oklahoma
472:Kitchens & Bathrooms
307:Flipped Out in Singapore
278:Flipped Out in Singapore
1012:Babysue Interview, 1997
344:, with A-list producer
179:Welcome to My Nightmare
837:Chancellor, Jennifer.
766:Chancellor, Jennifer.
441:
412:
397:Kitchens and Bathrooms
151:Bartlesville, Oklahoma
40:Background information
1017:Oasis Interview, 1996
604:Leona Kelley-Leonard
474:(Self Released, 2008)
436:
410:
171:Tulsa Assembly Center
161:. "She really loved '
107:Echostatic, Spacebaby
466:Motorcycle Childhood
391:Motorcycle Childhood
930:. September 5, 2023
747:on January 29, 2013
489:
425:Mustang High School
302:High in High School
987:on April 12, 2018.
795:"Chainsaw Kittens"
483:
413:
223:Dali Does Windows.
219:Relativity Records
149:Meade was born in
65:September 15, 1962
880:Martin, Charles.
647:
646:
479:Electoral history
429:Mustang, Oklahoma
366:Scratchie Records
354:Smashing Pumpkins
329:For Love Not Lisa
235:Dali Does Windows
129:
128:
1109:
989:
988:
983:. Archived from
973:
967:
966:
964:
962:
957:on July 23, 2014
953:. Archived from
946:
940:
939:
937:
935:
920:
914:
913:
911:
909:
903:"tysonmeade.com"
899:
893:
892:
890:
888:
877:
871:
870:
868:
866:
856:
850:
849:
847:
845:
834:
828:
827:
825:
823:
812:
806:
805:
803:
801:
790:
779:
778:
776:
774:
768:"Night of Music"
763:
757:
756:
754:
752:
743:. Archived from
737:
731:
730:
728:
726:
720:"Defenestration"
715:
709:
708:
706:
704:
693:"Defenestration"
689:
683:
682:
680:
678:
667:
568:Elysabeth Britt
490:
460:Solo discography
444:Political career
378:The All American
374:The All American
370:Chainsaw Kittens
350:Atlantic Records
315:William Friedkin
266:Violent Religion
262:Violent Religion
251:Chainsaw Kittens
245:Chainsaw Kittens
231:The Flaming Lips
215:Norman, Oklahoma
139:Chainsaw Kittens
135:Tyson Todd Meade
125:
122:
78:alternative rock
68:
64:
62:
50:Tyson Todd Meade
47:
35:
21:
1117:
1116:
1112:
1111:
1110:
1108:
1107:
1106:
1052:
1051:
998:
993:
992:
975:
974:
970:
960:
958:
948:
947:
943:
933:
931:
922:
921:
917:
907:
905:
901:
900:
896:
886:
884:
879:
878:
874:
864:
862:
858:
857:
853:
843:
841:
836:
835:
831:
821:
819:
814:
813:
809:
799:
797:
792:
791:
782:
772:
770:
765:
764:
760:
750:
748:
739:
738:
734:
724:
722:
717:
716:
712:
702:
700:
691:
690:
686:
676:
674:
669:
668:
657:
652:
481:
462:
452:, then held by
446:
422:
386:
317:'s 2006 movie,
255:Mammoth Records
247:
211:
203:Gibson Marauder
147:
132:
119:
66:
60:
58:
45:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1115:
1113:
1105:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1064:
1054:
1053:
1050:
1049:
1044:
1039:
1034:
1029:
1024:
1019:
1014:
1009:
1004:
997:
996:External links
994:
991:
990:
968:
941:
915:
894:
872:
851:
829:
807:
780:
758:
732:
710:
684:
654:
653:
651:
648:
645:
644:
639:
634:
630:
629:
626:
623:
620:
615:
612:
611:
608:
605:
602:
597:
594:
593:
590:
587:
584:
579:
576:
575:
572:
569:
566:
561:
558:
557:
552:
547:
542:
535:
532:
531:
526:
521:
514:
507:
504:
503:
500:
497:
494:
480:
477:
476:
475:
469:
461:
458:
445:
442:
385:
382:
362:D'arcy Wretzky
246:
243:
210:
209:Defenestration
207:
183:New York Dolls
146:
143:
131:Musical artist
130:
127:
126:
117:
113:
112:
109:
108:
105:
101:
100:
99:vocals, guitar
97:
93:
92:
89:
85:
84:
74:
70:
69:
56:
52:
51:
48:
42:
41:
37:
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1114:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1087:Living people
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1059:
1057:
1048:
1045:
1043:
1040:
1038:
1035:
1033:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1020:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1010:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
999:
995:
986:
982:
978:
972:
969:
956:
952:
949:Queen, Aric.
945:
942:
929:
925:
919:
916:
904:
898:
895:
883:
876:
873:
861:
855:
852:
840:
833:
830:
818:
811:
808:
796:
789:
787:
785:
781:
769:
762:
759:
746:
742:
736:
733:
721:
714:
711:
698:
694:
688:
685:
673:
666:
664:
662:
660:
656:
649:
643:
640:
638:
635:
631:
627:
624:
621:
619:
616:
614:
609:
606:
603:
601:
598:
596:
591:
588:
586:Eddie Porter
585:
583:
580:
578:
573:
570:
567:
565:
562:
560:
556:
553:
551:
548:
546:
543:
541:
540:
536:
534:
530:
527:
525:
522:
520:
519:
515:
513:
512:
508:
506:
491:
487:
478:
473:
470:
467:
464:
463:
459:
457:
455:
454:Steve Russell
451:
443:
440:
435:
432:
430:
426:
420:
418:
409:
405:
403:
399:
398:
393:
392:
383:
381:
379:
375:
371:
367:
363:
359:
355:
351:
347:
343:
338:
336:
335:
330:
326:
322:
321:
316:
312:
308:
304:
303:
298:
297:
292:
288:
287:
283:
279:
274:
272:
267:
263:
258:
256:
252:
244:
242:
238:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
208:
206:
204:
198:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
177:'s harrowing
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
144:
142:
140:
136:
124:
118:
114:
110:
106:
102:
98:
96:Instrument(s)
94:
90:
88:Occupation(s)
86:
83:
79:
75:
71:
67:(age 61)
57:
53:
49:
43:
38:
34:
29:
22:
19:
985:the original
980:
971:
959:. Retrieved
955:the original
944:
932:. Retrieved
927:
918:
906:. Retrieved
897:
885:. Retrieved
875:
863:. Retrieved
854:
842:. Retrieved
832:
820:. Retrieved
810:
798:. Retrieved
793:May, Steve.
771:. Retrieved
761:
749:. Retrieved
745:the original
735:
723:. Retrieved
718:May, Steve.
713:
701:. Retrieved
687:
675:. Retrieved
670:May, Steve.
641:
636:
633:Total votes
622:Tyson Meade
554:
549:
544:
537:
528:
523:
516:
509:
447:
437:
433:
421:
414:
396:
390:
387:
377:
373:
369:
346:John Agnello
341:
339:
333:
319:
310:
306:
301:
295:
284:
277:
269:
265:
261:
259:
248:
239:
234:
222:
212:
199:
191:T-Rex (band)
175:Alice Cooper
148:
134:
133:
18:
1092:1962 births
703:December 2,
518:Kendra Horn
402:Other Lives
342:Pop Heiress
325:Ashley Judd
195:Patti Smith
187:David Bowie
25:Tyson Meade
1056:Categories
981:www.ok.gov
928:Yahoo News
650:References
618:Democratic
600:Democratic
582:Democratic
564:Democratic
545:Tom Guild
539:Democratic
511:Democratic
496:Candidate
289:producer,
145:Background
121:tysonmeade
82:indie rock
61:1962-09-15
46:Birth name
358:James Iha
323:starring
291:Butch Vig
286:Nevermind
282:Nirvana's
961:June 27,
908:June 27,
887:June 27,
865:June 27,
844:June 27,
822:June 27,
800:June 27,
773:June 27,
751:June 27,
725:June 27,
697:Archived
677:June 27,
334:The Crow
311:She Gets
227:Megadeth
159:Supremes
637:79,505
571:10,739
550:14,242
524:34,857
299:" and "
169:at the
155:Beatles
116:Website
934:May 1,
642:100.0
625:4,527
607:6,693
589:8,447
499:Votes
493:Party
193:, and
104:Labels
76:Rock,
73:Genres
592:10.6
574:13.5
555:17.9
529:43.8
484:2018
167:Elvis
963:2012
936:2024
910:2012
889:2012
867:2012
846:2012
824:2012
802:2012
775:2012
753:2012
727:2012
705:2020
679:2012
628:5.7
610:8.4
394:and
360:and
141:.
123:.com
55:Born
427:in
320:Bug
309:, "
233:),
1058::
979:.
926:.
783:^
695:.
658:^
502:%
456:.
431:.
337:.
229:,
189:,
185:,
80:,
63:)
965:.
938:.
912:.
891:.
869:.
848:.
826:.
804:.
777:.
755:.
729:.
707:.
681:.
273:.
59:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
