Royal Trux
Royal Trux, 1999.
Country	Washington, DC, USA
Years active	1989 – 2001
Genres	Indie Rock
Labels	Drag City Virgin Records Domino Records P-Vine

Royal Trux was an American rock band, founded by Neil Hagerty (vocals, guitar) and Jennifer Herrema (vocals). From 1989 to 2001, the band explored every inch of the rock-and-roll cliché from sub-underground nihilism to major-label biz for hire, without abandoning their unique romanticism and artistic integrity. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Official language(s) English Capital Olympia Largest city Seattle Area  Ranked 18th  - Total 71,342 sq mi (184,827 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 6. ... DC may stand for: // A. P. de Candolle in botanical nomenclature, a botanist who developed an extensive system of botanical classification Dendritic cell, a type of immune cell Doctor of Chiropractic, a health care profession DC - Dirty Cunt DC Shoes, a skateboarding apparel manufacturer Dot-com business, any company that... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Alternative rock (also called alternative music or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Drag City is a Chicago based independent record label. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ... Domino Records is an independent record label based in London. ... Rock is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars, and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles, however saxophones have been omitted from newer subgenres of rock music since the 90s. ... Neil Michael Hagerty is the author of Public Works and a musician in Pussy Galore, Royal Trux and The Howling Hex. ... Jennifer Herrema born March 1st 1972 in Washington, DC is a rock music singer, song writer, record producer, artist, and model. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History

While still a teenager, Hagerty joined Washington DC's avant garde noise experimentalists Pussy Galore, led by Jon Spencer, and subsequently relocated to New York. During his time in Pussy Galore, Hagerty convinced his bandmates to release a cassette-only remake of the entire Rolling Stones album Exile on Main Street. While he gained a certain amount of underground notoriety for his work with Pussy Galore, Hagerty reportedly viewed it as a job and intended to pursue his own artistic vision with his girlfriend, Jennifer Herrema, under the name Royal Trux. Pussy Galore was an American noise rock band that formed in Washington D.C. during 1985. ... The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (sometimes abbreviated JSBX) is a New York based band, made up of members Jon Spencer (vocals, guitar), Judah Bauer (guitar) and Russell Simins (drums). ... This article is about the rock band. ...

Hagerty and Herrema released their first (self-titled) Royal Trux album in 1989. The idiosyncratic album offered skeletal projections of songs that betrayed a singular logic groomed on bizarre and previously unconnected realms of the rock canon.

After moving to San Francisco, Royal Trux released the highly experimental double-album Twin Infinitives. This album remains an extreme work on the periphery of rock music, worthy of being compared to Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music and Suicide's debut album. Though most casual listeners will find it utterly unlistenable, many musicians from the scene hold it in high regard. Lewis Allan Lou Reed[1] (born March 2, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. ... Suicide is an American rock music group intermittently active since 1971 and composed of Alan Vega (vocals) and Martin Rev (synthesizers and drum machines). ...

After Twin Infinitives, Royal Trux released an untitled album (sometimes referred to as the "Skulls" record because of the sleeve artwork.) Forgoing the wild experimentalism of "Twin Infinitives," the band revealed previously-unheard musicianship and songwriting skills in their lo-fi, untitled album, which they recorded on an 8-track. The quirky lyricism and odd anti-melodies of the first LP had passed through the mirror of "Twin Infinitives" and emerged as genuine heartfelt poetry.

Following the release of their untitled album, Hagerty and Herrema hired a guitarist and drummer in order to complete their fourth full-length effort, Cats and Dogs. The songwriting remained highly original and unpredictable, but was much more melodic, which was revealed on such standout tracks as "The Flag," "The Spectre" and "Turn of the Century."

In the corporate sweep of the underground scene that followed Nirvana, Royal Trux signed a lucrative three-record contract totaling over one million dollars with the major label Virgin. In 1995, they released "Thank You," a straightforward, seventies-influenced rocker that they recorded almost completely live in the studio with legendary producer David Briggs. Next came "Sweet Sixteen," a much more adventurous, densely-produced album. While the band received mainstream media exposure during their time on Virgin (Herrema even appeared in several Calvin Klein print and TV ad's from 1995-2000), Virgin was reportedly unhappy with "Sweet Sixteen," The band; not willing to hand a 3rd record over to the label made it most appealing to Virgin to pay for the third LP. and let the band take it back to their old label Drag City. Nirvana was an American Grunge band that formed in Aberdeen, Washington. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ... David Briggs is the name of: David Briggs (producer) (1944-1995), American record producer David Briggs (musician) (b. ... Drag City is a Chicago based independent record label. ...

Back on the label that they had helped to start, Drag City, the band released "Accelerator," a relentlessly catchy hook-driven monster that yielded bizarre tones and frequencies through layer upon layer of compression in the recording and lyrics. They quickly followed this album with "Veterans of Disorder," their most sonically varied LP. "Pound for Pound" showcased Hagerty's technical mastery of the guitar and Herrema's distinctive vocal approach. Drag City is a Chicago based independent record label. ...

Royal Trux also released the triple LP "Singles, Live, Unreleased," which aptly summed up the astonishing variance of styles and consistency of quality that Royal Trux had crafted over the preceding decade or so, as well as a pair of EPs and substantial video and webwork.

Hagerty and Herrema were often credited as Adam and Eve for their production work. They separated as a couple and dissolved the band following the release of "Pound for Pound" in 2000. Since then, both have recorded albums for Drag City - Hagerty under his own name and as The Howling Hex, and Herrema under the name RTX. Michelangelos Creation of Adam, from the Sistine Chapel. ... The Howling Hex is an American rock band founded by guitarist Neil Hagerty. ... Danish company. ...

Discography

Discography

• Royal Trux (First Album) (1989)
• Twin Infinitives (1990)
• (untitled) (Third Album) (1992)
• Cats & Dogs (1993)
• Thank You (1995)
• Sweet Sixteen (1997)
• Singles, Live, Unreleased (1997)
• Three Song EP. (1998)
• Accelerator (1998)
• Veterans of Disorder (1999)
• Radio Video EP. (2000)
• Pound for Pound (2000)
• Hand of Glory (2002)

Related Artists

Pussy Galore
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
RTX
The Howling Hex
Jon Theodore
David Pajo
Artimus Pyle
Alex Minoff
Weird War
Mike Fellows
David Berman
Silver Jews
Chris Bald
Pussy Galore is a character from the Goldfinger novel and feature film. ... The Blues Explosion. ... Danish company. ... The Howling Hex is an American rock band founded by guitarist Neil Hagerty. ... Jon Theodore Jon Theodore (born December 1, 1973) is a drummer, formerly a member of The Mars Volta. ... David Pajo is an alternative rock musician. ... Artimus Pyle was drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1975 to 1992. ... Alex Minoff is an American musician from Pennsylvania who is known for his work with the groups Golden, Weird War, and Extra-Golden. ... Weird War (also known as Weird War II/Weird War 2/Weird Wars) is a Horror roleplaying game set during World War Two produced by Pinnacle Entertainment Group, which uses the D20 System. ... David Berman (born 1967 in Williamsburg, Virginia) is a poet, author, and singer/songwriter for the musical group the Silver Jews. ... Silver Jews are an indie rock group, formed in 1989 by writer David Berman along with Pavements Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich. ...

External links

• rtxusa.com : Royal Trux and RTX fan site with interviews, pics, and forum.
• Beating Hearts : Yahoo discussion group
• The Wire's100 Records That Set The World On Fire (When No One Was Listening)
• Jennifer Herrema, Happy Shopper, outsideleft.com
• Jennifer Herrema interview by Travis Jeppesen