Cows were a

noise rock Noise rock (sometimes called noise punk) is a noise-oriented style of experimental rock that spun off from punk rock in the 1980s. Drawing on movements such as minimalism, industrial music, and New York hardcore, artists indulge in extre ...

band from Minneapolis, Minnesota who formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1998. The band’s music mixed punk rock with

surreal humour Surreal humour (also called surreal comedy, absurdist humour, or absurdist comedy) is a form of humour predicated on deliberate violations of causal reasoning, thus producing events and behaviours that are obviously illogical. Portrayals of surrea ...

and copious amounts of

noise Noise is unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud or disruptive to hearing. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrations through a medium, such as air or water. The difference aris ...

played through distorted amplifiers and trumpet bleats, codifying them as a

band. Throughout their career Cows released nine studio albums, all but one on the Minneapolis-based label Amphetamine Reptile Records. A star in honor of the Cows is on the outside mural of First Avenue.

History

Cows formed in 1986 with

Kevin Rutmanis Kevin Rutmanis (born October 17, 1958) is an American bass guitarist. He is of Latvian descent. Before getting into music, he was a student teacher. In late 1985, along with his younger brother Sandris Rutmanis, Thor Eisentrager, and then Jayh ...

on bass, Thor Eisentrager on guitar, then front man Norm Rogers on vocals, and on drums Kevin's younger brother Sandris Rutmanis. Norm Rogers left the band in January 1987 to dedicate his time to drumming for

the Jayhawks The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene in the mid-1980s. Led by vocalists/guitarists/songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson, their country rock sound was influential ...

, later returning to play drums for Cows in 1990. Shannon Selberg become Cows’ front man in February 1987, providing both vocal and

bugle The bugle is one of the simplest brass instruments, normally having no valves or other pitch-altering devices. All pitch control is done by varying the player's embouchure. History The bugle developed from early musical or communication ...

duties. Sandris left the band in January 1998 and Cows disbanded thereafter. After disbanding, Shannon Selberg went on to front The Heroine Sheiks.

Live performances

Cows were notorious for their raucous live performances. Acts the band have performed onstage include kicking people in the front row, spitting on the stage, throwing the microphone stand into the crowd, throwing food at the crowd, and drawing on themselves, among others. Lead singer Shannon Selberg's trademark is that he has a tattoo illustrating the game Hangman on his body that reads "F_CK" and another tattoo of an anchor with the word "DAD" on top of it. One reviewer wrote about the band's shows, "I have no doubt that the Cows know how to play their instruments. What I don't understand is why they refuse to tune them.""Cows: Mark's Record Reviews"
Mark Prindle Review Site. cited August, 2009

Legacy

Cows have been honored with a star on the outside mural of the

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue. Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.

Band members

* Shannon Selberg – Vocals, Bugle, Trumpet, Trombone (1987–1998) *

– Bass (1987–1998) * Thor Eisentrager – Guitar (1987–1998) *David van der Steen – Fifth Udder (1987–1992) *Sandris Rutmanis – Drums (1987–1988) * Tony Oliveri – Drums (1988–1990) * Norm Rogers – Drums (d. 2018) (1990–1995) * Freddy Votel – Drums (1995–1998)

Discography

Studio albums

*'' Taint Pluribus Taint Unum'' – Treehouse Records, 1987 *'' Daddy Has a Tail!'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1989 *''

Effete and Impudent Snobs ''Effete and Impudent Snobs'' is the third album by the Minneapolis-based noise rock band Cows. It was released on March 23, 1990, by Amphetamine Reptile Records. Track listing Personnel Adapted from the ''Effete and Impudent Snobs'' liner no ...

'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1990 *''

Peacetika ''Peacetika'' is the fourth studio album by the Minneapolis-based noise rock band Cows. It was released on March 25, 1991, by Amphetamine Reptile Records. The band supported the album with a North American tour. Critical reception ''Trouser Pre ...

'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1991 *'' Cunning Stunts'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1992 *''

Sexy Pee Story ''Sexy Pee Story'' is the sixth studio album by Minneapolis-based noise rock band Cows. It was released on March 23, 1993, by Amphetamine Reptile Records. Release and reception A music video was made for "Sugar Torch" and directed by David Rot ...

'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1993 *''

Orphan's Tragedy ''Orphan's Tragedy'' is the seventh studio album by the Minneapolis-based noise rock band The Cows. It was released on September 9, 1994, by Amphetamine Reptile Records. Track listing Personnel Adapted from the ''Orphan's Tragedy'' liner n ...

'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1994 *''

Whorn ''Whorn'' is the eighth album by the Minneapolis-based noise rock band The Cows. It was released on March 26, 1996, by Amphetamine Reptile Records. Production ''Whorn'' was the band's first time working with Tim Mac since their fourth album ''P ...

'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1996 *''

Sorry in Pig Minor ''Sorry in Pig Minor'' is the ninth and final studio album by the Minneapolis-based noise rock band the Cows, released on March 10, 1998, by Amphetamine Reptile Records. It was produced by Buzz Osborne (aka King Buzzo) of the Melvins. Track l ...

'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1998

Singles and EPs

*''Chow'' 7" – Treehouse Records, 1988 *''Slap Back'' 7" – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1990 *'' Plowed'' EP – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1992 *''Woman Inside'' 7" – Insipid Records, 1992 *''Cow Island'' 7" – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1994 *''The Missing Letter Is You'' EP –

Thick Records Thick Records is a Chicago-based independent record label which actively operated from 1994 to 2007. It now exists as a catalog only label for its previous releases. History Thick was formed in 1994 by Detroit native Zak Einstein, who started the ...

, 1998 *'' Sugar Daddy Live Split Series Vol. 2'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 2012 (split with the Melvins)

Compilations

*'' Old Gold 1989-1991'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 1995 *''Orpheus’ Travesty'' – KMFMT Records, 1998 (''A retrospective album put together by

and Freddy Votel and sold before their final concert'') *''Stunning Cunts'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 2014 (''Demos from Cunning Stunts'') *''Stunning Cunts Vol. 2'' – Amphetamine Reptile Records, 2015 (''Demos from Cunning Stunts'')

References

External links

The Unofficial COWS Home Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cows American noise rock music groups Amphetamine Reptile Records artists Indie rock musical groups from Minnesota Musical groups established in 1987 Musical groups disestablished in 1998 Punk blues musical groups Punk rock groups from Minnesota Glitterhouse Records artists Musical groups from the Twin Cities