Quick Facts
Biography
Black Tambourine was an American indie pop band and one of the earliest Slumberland groups of the early 1990s. Formed in Silver Spring, Maryland, the band comprised vocalist Pam Berry and instrumentalists Archie Moore, Brian Nelson and Mike Schulman. Along with Tiger Trap, Lois, Honeybunch, Tullycraft, and Beat Happening, they are considered to be one of the most influential bands of the American twee pop movement.
History
The members came to the project already acquainted with each other: Both Nelson (also of Big Jesus Trashcan) and Schulman were in Whorl together, while Schulman (also of Powderburns) co-founded Slumberland Records. Moore, meanwhile, was in Velocity Girl and played on early recordings by Lilys, and Berry had co-founded the Chickfactor zine.
The band was influenced by The Jesus and Mary Chain, Phil Spector, Smokey Robinson, Love, The Ramones, the Shop Assistants, The Pastels, 14 Iced Bears, Orange Juice, and the English bands signed to Creation Records.
Black Tambourine was described by Allmusic as one of the "seminal American indie pop bands of the 1980s." Bands they influenced included The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Vivian Girls, Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls and Times New Viking.
After the band parted ways, Berry went on to sing with numerous bands including The Shapiros, Glo-worm, The Castaway Stones, Veronica Lake, Bright Colored Lights, Belmondo, Seashell Sea, The Relict and The Pines; she also returned to Chickfactor. Nelson continued with Velocity Girl. Moore went on to Heartworms and The Saturday People; Schulman to Magpies, Candleman, The Crabapples, Manatee and Hard Left.
Discography
EPs
- By Tomorrow 7" EP (1991, Slumberland Records)
- Throw Aggi Off the Bridge 7" EP(1992, Audrey's Diary)
- OneTwoThreeFour 7" EP(2012, Slumberland Records)
- Black Tambourine Cassette digital EP (2010, self-release)
- Black Tambourine cassette EP (2012, self-release)
Compilation albums
- Complete Recordings (1999, Slumberland Records)
- Black Tambourine (2010, Slumberland Records)
Compilation appearances
- "We Can't Be Friends" on One Last Kiss (1992, spinART)
- "Pam's Tan" on What Kind of Heaven Do You Want? 7" EP (1989, Slumberland)