Location: San Diego
Active: 1981 – 1987
A very early gothic band from San Diego active in the 1980s. After punk band Fifth Column split up, members Tamara Henry on vocals and Jeffrey Hamblin with drum programming, guitar and piano formed Black Tango as a two piece band. They present a Cocteau Twins/4AD-Blood & Roses sound with cascading, dissonant guitar, primary over drum-machine, though towards the end of their run they incorporated live drums.
Scott Blackstone, on loan from Forbidden Chant joined them on bas for a Wall of Voodoo gig in 1982, followed by Shane Flanery. Charles Cole of The Brood stepped joined on a more permanent basis in 1983, when they released the ‘Sequel Avalanche Ritual’ cassette EP. They supported Sex Gang Children in Los Angeles later that year. 1984 however saw little activity from the band and they were essentially split up until reviving in 1985, including a supporting gig with The Jesus & Mary Chain.
Their seven track album ‘Maggots in the Icing’ was released on cassette in 1986. Following that, Peter ZO and Matthew Rabe joined as drummers replacing the synthetic percussion. Unfortunately that October, they played their final gig. In 1987 they came to an end.
The Black Tango track ‘Ritual’ appeared on the 1983 ‘Our Blow Out’ compilation from Slow Death Cassettes. Also appearing on that various artists tape is 5051, Battalion Of Saints and a slew of other punk bands from that scene. 5051 played with Cramps and Christian Death in 1981, and Battalion of Saints were a thrash hardcore band with a significantly sinister bent that often lent them towards appearing with deathrock and gothic bands.
‘Maggots in the Icing’ was reissued in 2013 by Normal Heights Records. That year also invited them to a reunion performance at iconic San Diego venue Casbah for its 25 year anniversary.
Links:
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/2903827-Black-Tango
BandCamp: https://blacktango.bandcamp.com/album/maggots-in-the-icing
Related: Fifth Column, Forbidden Chant, The Brood, Wall of Voodoo, Sex Gang Children, 5051, Battalion Of Saints, Tamara Henry, Jeffrey Hamblin, Scott Blackstone, Shane Flanery, Charles Cole, Peter ZO, Matthew Rabe, San Diego, Our Blow Out
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