Screams For Tina
Encyclopedia
Screams for Tina is a dark wave rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985 by Marvin Rinnig (guitar) and Warren Mansfield (vocals, bass, keyboards).
The duo recorded a 12” EP Strobelight Funeral in 1986, which was distributed in both the United States and Europe. Reviews of their music have cited influences ranging from Bauhaus
, The Sisters of Mercy
and Joy Division
, to the Psychedelic Furs among other, similar post-punk and gothic rock-related bands of the 1980s. “Deathrock
” was another term frequently used by critics when describing their early sound.
English bassist Billy Budd and local drummer Bobbi Drier were added in 1987 and the completed band became regular performers at local, underground scene clubs The Krypt, Scream, Zombie Zoo, Hapihaus, Obituary, Helter Skelter, as well as more legitimate, mainstream venues i.e., The Roxy and the Whiskey Au-Go-Go.
In 1988, the L.A. Weekly entertainment newspaper held a citywide Rock Music Awards poll. Final vote tabulation placed Screams for Tina in the Top 5 of the Best New Band and Best Underground Band categories, as well as in the Top 10, for Independent Album.
The year 1990 saw the exit of the original guitarist, who was replaced by Kent Bancroft. Like Wreckage / Spahn Ranch. By 1992, the band had caught the attention of Cleopatra Records
president, Brian Perrera, who subsequently included the band’s song Eleven Eleven on a new compilation CD alongside previously established artists The Whip, in 1993. This led to the release of the band’s first, and best-known full-length album Screams for Tina. The CD ranked among Caroline Distribution
’s top 50 selling albums during its month of release. It was subsequently licensed to Talitha Records in Germany, for distribution outside the U.S.A.
From 1993 through 1996, the band continued to perform live and could be heard on various genre-related compilations through 2001. In 1998, the group disbanded. It was revived again in 2002 when their friends in the Austrian band Kiss the Blade, invited them to be on their new label Strobelight Records
. Scream For Tina’s two remaining members, Billy Budd and Warren Mansfield, signed an interim deal and the label released a new 4 song EP 2003 A.D. that included songs written and recorded after the breakup.
As of 2008, the band is still active in both recorded and live performance capacities.
The duo recorded a 12” EP Strobelight Funeral in 1986, which was distributed in both the United States and Europe. Reviews of their music have cited influences ranging from Bauhaus
Bauhaus (band)
Bauhaus was an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy , Daniel Ash , Kevin Haskins and David J . The band was originally Bauhaus 1919 before they dropped the numerical portion within a year of formation...
, The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy are an English rock band that formed in 1980. After achieving early underground fame in UK, the band had their commercial breakthrough in mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasing new recorded output in protest against their record company...
and Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, to the Psychedelic Furs among other, similar post-punk and gothic rock-related bands of the 1980s. “Deathrock
Deathrock
Deathrock is a term used to identify a sub-genre of punk rock incorporating horror elements and spooky atmospherics, that emerged on the West Coast of the United States in 1979.-Characteristics:...
” was another term frequently used by critics when describing their early sound.
English bassist Billy Budd and local drummer Bobbi Drier were added in 1987 and the completed band became regular performers at local, underground scene clubs The Krypt, Scream, Zombie Zoo, Hapihaus, Obituary, Helter Skelter, as well as more legitimate, mainstream venues i.e., The Roxy and the Whiskey Au-Go-Go.
In 1988, the L.A. Weekly entertainment newspaper held a citywide Rock Music Awards poll. Final vote tabulation placed Screams for Tina in the Top 5 of the Best New Band and Best Underground Band categories, as well as in the Top 10, for Independent Album.
The year 1990 saw the exit of the original guitarist, who was replaced by Kent Bancroft. Like Wreckage / Spahn Ranch. By 1992, the band had caught the attention of Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records
Cleopatra Records is a Los Angeles-based independent record label.- History :Founded in 1992 by Brian Perera, it specializes in gothic rock, hard rock, heavy metal and reissues of out-of-print music...
president, Brian Perrera, who subsequently included the band’s song Eleven Eleven on a new compilation CD alongside previously established artists The Whip, in 1993. This led to the release of the band’s first, and best-known full-length album Screams for Tina. The CD ranked among Caroline Distribution
Caroline Distribution
Caroline Distribution, founded in 1983 as a unit of Virgin Records, has become one of the U.S. music industry’s largest third party distribution companies for the independent music sector....
’s top 50 selling albums during its month of release. It was subsequently licensed to Talitha Records in Germany, for distribution outside the U.S.A.
From 1993 through 1996, the band continued to perform live and could be heard on various genre-related compilations through 2001. In 1998, the group disbanded. It was revived again in 2002 when their friends in the Austrian band Kiss the Blade, invited them to be on their new label Strobelight Records
Strobelight Records
Strobelight Records is a record label and mail-order seller based in Götzis, Austria. The label specializes in gothic rock and death rock music....
. Scream For Tina’s two remaining members, Billy Budd and Warren Mansfield, signed an interim deal and the label released a new 4 song EP 2003 A.D. that included songs written and recorded after the breakup.
As of 2008, the band is still active in both recorded and live performance capacities.
Singles and EPs
- Strobelight Funeral - 1986 (EP)
- Judgement Day - 1992 (Single)
- 2003 A.D. - 2003 (EP)