If you have heard of our next Tune-Ups Guest, Tyson Meade, you are possibly in the minority of the population. But if you hear his music and aren't an instant superfan, you definitely are in said minority.
Being a fan of Tyson's almost 40-year career, which started in the '80s with Defenestration, continued through the '90s with Chainsaw Kittens, and is still going with his solo career now, would put you in lofty company. Kurt Cobain cited Defenestration as an influence for Nirvana. The Smashing Pumpkins, Iggy Pop, Jane's Addiction, PiL, and Meat Puppets took The Chainsaw Kittens on tour as their favorite band. And the Kittens attracted super producers Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day) and John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., Patti Smith, Sonic Youth) to record their albums.
Tyson crafts perfect pop songs with a guitar-driven edge and massive hooks, drawing elements of The Smiths, The New York Dolls, and The Stooges. The Chainsaw Kittens had a cross-dressing stage presence that was deceiving, considering how powerful their shows were. Their tunes can be as heavy as anything from the Seattle grunge era or as pretty and heartbreaking as any ballad you've heard.
The subject matter of Tyson's songs cover a lot of ground, from drag queens to Fellini, Judy Garland to religion, and drugs to John Wayne. Fans and critics alike say The Chainsaw Kittens are the best American band that should have been huge.
Seek out his records, and you will see why so many people love Tyson and what he has accomplished over his career. You can hear all the phases of his recordings here:
Tyson also has a thriving art career, with even his house being a living, evolving gallery. And if he wasn't busy enough creating, he decided to run for Congress in 2018. We are fortunate that Tyson has given us so many years of great tunes and art. He has deep musical knowledge, and you'll hear it in his mix.
Give Tyson a follow on Instagram @ttmeade
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