TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio performing at the 2008 Treasure Island Festival
Background information
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres	Indie rock, alternative rock, experimental rock, art rock
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Interscope 4AD Touch and Go Records
Associated acts	Celebration, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, David Bowie, Dragons of Zynth, Nine Inch Nails, Iran, Maximum Balloon, Rain Machine
Website	tvontheradio.com
Members	Tunde Adebimpe David Sitek Kyp Malone Jaleel Bunton
Past members	Gerard Smith

TV on the Radio is an American indie rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro to soul music.

The group has released several EPs including their debut Young Liars (2003), and four critically acclaimed studio albums: Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (2004), Return to Cookie Mountain (2006), Dear Science (2008), and Nine Types of Light (2011).

For the bulk of their existence, the core TV on the Radio lineup has been Tunde Adebimpe (vocals/loops), David Andrew Sitek (guitars/keyboards/loops), Kyp Malone (vocals/guitars/bass/loops), Jaleel Bunton (drums/vocals/loops/guitars) and Gerard Smith (bass/keyboards) as official members. Smith died from lung cancer on April 20, 2011. The band has replaced Smith for their current tour but have not yet announced their long term plans as a band without him.

Other contributors have included David Bowie, Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Peter Murphy of Bauhaus, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead, Martin Perna of Antibalas and Katrina Ford of Celebration.

History [edit]

The first release from TV on the Radio (initially just founding members Adebimpe and Sitek) was the self-released OK Calculator (the title being a reference to Radiohead's album OK Computer^[1]) They were later joined by Kyp Malone, and released the Young Liars EP in 2003 to critical acclaim. This was followed by the full-length Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes which earned the band the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize. They released a second EP, New Health Rock, later that year.

Their third album, Return to Cookie Mountain, leaked in early 2006 and garnered pre-release praise from such outlets as Pitchfork Media^[2] before its official release in July overseas. U.S. and Canadian release was in September on Interscope. The album received critical acclaim after its release from many sources, including Spin magazine which named Return to Cookie Mountain its Album of the Year for 2006.^[3] The album features guest appearances from David Bowie, Omega Moon, Celebration, Dragons of Zynth, Martin Perna and Stuart D. Bogie of Antibalas, Blonde Redhead, Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner. Bowie contributed back-up vocals on the song "Province". In promotion of the album, the band performed " Wolf Like Me" on the Late Show with David Letterman, which has garnered over 2 million views on YouTube.^[4] During the U.S. tour, the band performed a few covers with Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy and Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor.

The band's 4th album, Dear Science, was released September 23, 2008 on Interscope. It was made available for streaming on their Myspace page and subsequently leaked onto the internet on September 6, 2008. The album received widespread critical acclaim. It was named the best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone,^[5] The Guardian,^[6] Spin magazine,^[7] The Onion AV Club,^[8] MTV,^[9] Entertainment Weekly,^[10] the Pitchfork Media's readers poll^[11] as well as the Pazz and Jop critic's poll.^[12] It was also named the second best album of 2008 by NME and the fourth best album of 2008 by Planet Sound.

On September 22, 2008, they performed "Dancing Choose" in the setting of a flight of outer apartment stairs on the Late Show with David Letterman.^[13] They also appeared on Later... with Jools Holland on September 30, 2008, performing "Golden Age" and "Dancing Choose", which were the same songs they performed on Saturday Night Live on February 7, 2009. The band performed "Dancing Choose" on the February 9, 2009 episode of The Colbert Report.

On September 3, 2009, Tunde Adebimpe announced that TV on the Radio would be taking a year long hiatus.^[14] Guitarist Kyp Malone's solo album, under the name Rain Machine, was released on September 22, 2009 on ANTI-.^[15] A solo album by Dave Sitek, Maximum Balloon, was released August 24, 2010 on Interscope, featuring a variety of guest vocals by many of his musician friends such as Karen O, David Byrne, and both of his TV on the Radio vocalist bandmates, and numerous others.^[16]

In addition, Sitek produced Holly Miranda's album The Magician's Private Library, which also featured fellow TV on the Radio members Jaleel Bunton and Kyp Malone.^[17]

On February 7, 2011, the band announced an end to their hiatus, along with their upcoming album Nine Types of Light.^[18][19]

On April 12, 2011, the album Nine Types of Light was released along with a one-hour film under the same name containing music videos for all the songs on the album as well as interviews with various New Yorkers. The film was directed by various directors under the supervision of Tunde Adebimpe.^[20]

It was announced in March 2011, that the band's bassist, Gerard Smith, was diagnosed with lung cancer. On April 20, 2011, the band announced the death of Gerard Smith on their homepage: "We are very sad to announce the death of our beloved friend and bandmate, Gerard Smith, following a courageous fight against lung cancer. Gerard passed away the morning of April 20th, 2011. We will miss him terribly."^[21]

The band will re-emerge in 2013 - it has been announced they will headline and curate the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival held at Pontins holiday camp in Camber Sands, England from the 10–12 May 2013.^[22]

Style and influences [edit]

TV on the Radio has said that their eclectic music is due for their liking of very diverse bands, including Bad Brains, Earth, Wind & Fire, Nancy Sinatra, Serge Gainsbourg,^[23] Brian Eno,^[24] and the Pixies. Adebimpe covered the Pixies song "Mr. Grieves" under the TV on the Radio moniker at the beginning of his career, layering his voice over forty times. The band has also cited Prince's "Purple Rain" as a classic.^[25]

As references for their catchy beats and verses, TV on the Radio also named post-punk acts Wire^[23] and Siouxsie and the Banshees,^[26] stating that they have "always tried to make a song that begins like 'Kiss Them For Me.'"^[26]

Line-ups [edit]

2000–2003

• Tunde Adebimpe – Vocals, loops
• David Andrew Sitek – Guitar, Keyboards, drums

2003–2005

• Tunde Adebimpe – Vocals, loops
• David Andrew Sitek – Guitar, keyboards, drums, loops, bass, synthesizer
• Kyp Malone – Vocals, guitar, loops

2005–2008

• Tunde Adebimpe – Vocals, percussion
• David Andrew Sitek – Sampler, guitar, bass, flute, keyboards, synthesizer
• Kyp Malone – Vocals, bass, guitar
• Gerard Smith – Piano, bass, organ, vocals, guitar, sitar
• Jaleel Bunton – Drums, guitar, piano, percussion, vocals, Rhodes

• Contributing artists:
  • Kazu Makino – Vocals
  • Jeremy Wilms – Cello
  • David Bowie – Vocals
  • Omega Moon – Vocals
  • Katrina Ford – Vocals
  • Martin Perna – Saxophone, horns
  • Dragons of Zynth – Vocals, percussion
  • Aaron Tites – Vocals
  • Chris Taylor – Horns, clarinet
  • Stuart Bogie – Bass, harmonica, clarinet

2008–2011

• Tunde Adebimpe – Vocals
• Kyp Malone – Vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizer, strings
• David Andrew Sitek – Programmer, guitar, sampler, bass, synthesizer, horns
• Gerard Smith – Bass, organ, synthesizer, sampler, Rhodes
• Jaleel Bunton – Drums, guitar, Rhodes, organ, synthesizer, bass, programmer, strings

• Contributing artists:
  • Katrina Ford – Vocals
  • Eleanore Everdell – Vocals
  • David Bergander – Drums
  • Yoshi Takamasa – Percussion
  • Stuart Bogie – Saxophone, horns
  • Colin Stetson – Saxophone
  • Matana Roberts – Saxophone, clarinet
  • Leah Paul – Horns
  • Eric Biondo – Trumpet
  • Aaron Johnson – Trombone
  • Martin Perna – Flute
  • Claudia Chopek – Violin, strings
  • Janis Shen – Violin, strings
  • Perry Serpa – Strings
  • Lara Hicks – Viola
  • Eleanor Norton – Cello

2011–present

• Tunde Adebimpe – Vocals
• Kyp Malone – Vocals, guitar, bass, synthesizer, strings
• David Andrew Sitek – Programmer, guitar, sampler, bass, synthesizer, horns
• Jaleel Bunton – Drums, guitar, Rhodes, organ, synthesizer, bass, programmer, strings

• Contributing artists:
  • Katrina Ford – Vocals
  • Eleanore Everdell – Vocals
  • David Bergander – Drums
  • Yoshi Takamasa – Percussion
  • Stuart Bogie – Saxophone, horns
  • Colin Stetson – Saxophone
  • Matana Roberts – Saxophone, clarinet
  • Leah Paul – Horns
  • Eric Biondo – Trumpet
  • Aaron Johnson – Trombone
  • Martin Perna – Flute
  • Claudia Chopek – Violin, strings
  • Janis Shen – Violin, Strings
  • Perry Serpa – Strings
  • Lara Hicks – Viola
  • Eleanor Norton – Cello
  • Priscilla Ahn – Vocals

Discography [edit]

Albums [edit]

EPs [edit]

Singles [edit]

• "Staring at the Sun" [CD & 7"] (2004), 4AD
• "New Health Rock" [CD & 7"] (2004), Touch and Go No. 76 UK
• "Dry Drunk Emperor" (2005) (free download)
• "Wolf Like Me" [CD & 7"] (2006), 4AD, (#37 Hot Modern Rock Tracks)^[27] No. 89 UK
• "Province" [7"] (2007), 4AD
• "Golden Age" (2008), 4AD
• "Dancing Choose" [12"] (2008), 4AD
• "Crying" (2009), 4AD
• "Family Tree" (2009), 4AD
• "Will Do" (2011), 4AD, (#48 Rock Songs, No. 36 Hot Modern Rock Tracks)^[28]
• "Chemical Peels" (2011), 4AD

Other [edit]

• The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered (cover album) – "Walking the Cow"
• Warm & Scratchy (Adult Swim compilation album) – "Me – I" (featuring Derek Thomas Ambrosi)
• War Child Presents Heroes (charity covers compilation) – "Heroes" (David Bowie cover)

Remixes [edit]

TV on the Radio Remixes

• Bumblebeez 81 "Pony Ride (TV on the Radio Remix)" (2004), 81 Records
• Fischerspooner "Never Win (TV on the Radio Hoof-Hearted Mix)" (2005), FS Studios
• Gang Gang Dance "First Communion (TV on the Radio Remix)" (2009), Sinedín Music

David Sitek Remixes

• Fischerspooner "Never Win (Dave Sitek Remix)" (2005), FS Studios
• Hope of the States "Sing It Out (David Andrew Sitek's Skyhorse Mix)" (2006), Columbia
• Lee "Scratch" Perry "Fire In Babylon (Dave Sitek Remix)" (2006), Narnack
• Nine Inch Nails "Survivalism (Dave Sitek Remix)" (2007), Interscope
• The Knife "Marble House (Dave Sitek Remix)" (2007), Brille
• Beck "Dark Star (David Andrew Sitek Remix)" (2007), Interscope
• Bat for Lashes "Sleep Alone (909s In Darktimes Mix)" (2009), Parlophone
• Steven Wilson "Harmony Korine (David A. Sitek Magnetized Nebula Mix)" (2009), Kscope
• Fanfarlo "Fire Escape (David Sitek Remix)" (2010), Atlantic
• UNKLE "Follow Me Down (Dave Sitek Remix)" (2010), Surrender All
• Gypsy and the Cat "Time to Wander (David Andrew Sitek Remix)" (2010), RCA
• MF Doom "Gazzillion Ear (Dave Sitek / Jneiro Jarel Remix)" (2010), Lex Records
• Tegan and Sara "Alligator (Dave Sitek Remix)" (2010), Sire
• Lykke Li "I Follow Rivers (Dave Sitek Remix)" (2011), LL Recordings
• Dels "Gob (David Andrew Sitek Remix)" (2011), Big Dada Recordings
• The Naked and Famous "Young Blood (David Andrew Sitek Remix)" (2011), Universal Music
• Norah Jones "After the Fall (David Andrew Sitek Remix)" (2012), Parlophone
• Norah Jones "She's 22 (David Andrew Sitek Remix)" (2012), Parlophone
• Florence and the Machine "No Light, No Light (DAS Remix)" (2012), Island Records

Videography [edit]

• "Staring at the Sun" (March 2004, directed by Elliot Jokelson)
• "Dreams" (May 2004, directed by Elliot Jokelson & UVPhactory)
• "Wolf Like Me" (August 2006, directed by Lee Lennox)
• "Wolf Like Me" (September 2006, directed by Jon Watts)
• "Province" (January 2007, directed by Jeff Scheven)
• "Me - I" (May 2007, directed by Daniel Garcia & Mixtape Club
• "Golden Age" (September 2008, directed by Petro Papahadjopoulos)
• "Dancing Choose" (September 2008, directed by Brad & Brian Palmer)
• "Will Do" (March 2011, directed by Dugan O'Neal)
• "Nine Types of Light" (April 2011, directed by Tunde Adebimpe)

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: TV on the Radio

• Official website
• TV on the Radio on Myspace
• Interscope Records profile
• Interview (November 2008) at Webcuts
• Nov 2008 Interview with L.A. Record
• Interview with Gerard & Tunde Brooklyn Rail 2008 – contains details of band's formation.
• Kyp Malone discusses his favorite songs with NPR Music