Cows were a

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

band from

Minneapolis, Minnesota 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 ...

who formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1998. The band’s music mixed punk rock with surreal humour 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 arise ...

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 Amphetamine Reptile Records (or AmRep Industries) is a record label founded in 1986 by Tom Hazelmyer in Washington state. The label specializes in noise rock and also released '' Strap It On'', the debut album by alternative metal band Helmet w ...

. 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, later returning to play drums for Cows in 1990.

Shannon Selberg Shannon Scott Selberg (born June 3, 1960) is a noise/punk rock musician known for his unusual antics on stage. Formerly the frontman for the Minneapolis-based group The Cows, Selberg provided lead vocals, trumpet, bugle and hardcore guitar.Robbi ...

become Cows’ front man in February 1987, providing both vocal and bugle duties. Sandris left the band in January 1998 and Cows disbanded thereafter. After disbanding,

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

'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

– 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 Cows were a noise rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota who formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1998. The band’s music mixed punk rock with surreal humour and copious amounts of noise played through distorted amplifiers and trumpet bleats, codif ...

– Drums (1988–1990) * Norm Rogers – Drums (d. 2018) (1990–1995) *

Freddy Votel Freddy Votel is an American drummer and best known as a member of the noise rock group Cows and as a founding member of T.V.B.C. Biography Freddy Votel grew up in Saint Paul before moving to Minneapolis and becoming involved in the music scene t ...

– Drums (1995–1998)

Discography

Studio albums

*''

Taint Pluribus Taint Unum ''Taint Pluribus Taint Unum'' is the debut studio album by the Minneapolis-based noise rock band Cows, released in 1987 through Treehouse Records. Music The first track of the album, "Koyaanisqatsi," is a cover of the intro piece from the 1982 f ...

'' – Treehouse Records, 1987 *''

Daddy Has a Tail! ''Daddy Has a Tail!'' is the second studio album by Minneapolis-based noise rock band Cows. It was released on July 10, 1989, via Amphetamine Reptile Records, their first album for the label. Recording The album was recorded and mixed by David ...

'' –

, 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 ...

'' –

, 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 ...

'' –

, 1991 *'' Cunning Stunts'' –

, 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 ...

'' –

, 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 ...

'' –

, 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 ...

'' –

, 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 ...

'' –

, 1998

Singles and EPs

*''Chow'' 7" – Treehouse Records, 1988 *''Slap Back'' 7" –

, 1990 *'' Plowed'' EP –

, 1992 *''Woman Inside'' 7" – Insipid Records, 1992 *''Cow Island'' 7" –

, 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'' –

, 2012 (split with the

Melvins Melvins (sometimes The Melvins) are an American rock band formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington. Their early work was key to the development of both grunge and sludge metal. Initially, they performed as a trio but later also sometimes appeare ...

)

Compilations

*'' Old Gold 1989-1991'' –

, 1995 *''Orpheus’ Travesty'' – KMFMT Records, 1998 (''A retrospective album put together by

and

and sold before their final concert'') *''Stunning Cunts'' –

, 2014 (''Demos from Cunning Stunts'') *''Stunning Cunts Vol. 2'' –

, 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