Tribe 8
E-mail: info@tribe8.com
Booking: booking@tribe8.com

 

For Immediate Release
Tribe 8 Announces New Line-up!
January 2002

After taking a three-year hiatus from recording and major touring, Tribe 8 announces a new line-up and plans for a new album.

In 1999, Tribe 8 returned to their home city of San Francisco after nearly a year of touring the world in support of Role Models for Amerika (Alternative Tentacles Records). Long-time drummer Slade Bellum decided to retire shortly thereafter, giving up her punk rock career for a more “normal” lifestyle and a happy marriage.

Not long after Slade’s departure, bass player Lynn “Tantrum” Payne, a Canadian citizen, realized that immigration laws were all too trying for her to remain in the U.S. as an active member of Tribe 8. She returned to Toronto and now writes and plays music with several different Canadian acts (making guest appearances with Tribe 8 when she can).

Without a drummer and full-time bass player, Tribe 8 maintained its D.I.Y. attitude, pulling the band together for special events including World Pride 2000 in Rome and the Michigan Women’s Music Festival. But borrowing drummers from various bands (including The Butchies’ Melissa York), and performing only a few times a year was not enough for the remaining members of Tribe 8.

Founding members Lynne Breedlove, Silas Flipper and Leslie Mah started their search for a new drummer and bass player in early 2001. Lynne found drummer Jen Schwartz through friends of Lickety Split, Lynne’s now retired all-girl courier business. Jen was one of two “finalists” considered for the job and made the cut during a slightly unconventional audition. “Lynnee basically sat me down behind a drumset and said ‘Play something!’” Schwartz recounts. “It was just the two of us, no guitars or singing or anything!”

Jen Schwartz started playing drums 18 years ago and studied extensively with Greg Caputo, a student of legendary swing drummer Joe Morello. Schwartz is a multi-instrumentalist and also plays guitar, bass and piano. She is a singer-songwriter as well and released her first solo album in May 2000 entitled Candy from a Stranger.

Schwartz’s solo work found her performing gigs with a local bass player. Upon joining Tribe 8, Schwartz suggested the band hire her bass player so they could start playing shows. Breedlove, Flipper and Mah were so impressed by the new energy in the band, they dared not break the vibe and decided to hold onto the new line-up. Mama T became Tribe 8’s permanent bass player after several successful shows in June and July of 2001.

After nearly a year of building the rhythm section, Tribe 8 is now writing new material and has plans to record a new album in the summer of 2002. They have started playing regular shows in San Francisco and will begin playing various West Coast cities throughout the spring. They will also be performing at the South by Southwest Music Festival in March 2002.

For scheduled show dates or booking information, please email booking@tribe8.com.