Tackhead
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980s |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | International |
Key people | Doug Wimbish, Keith LeBlanc, Skip McDonald, Adrian Sherwood |
| Products | Music albums and live performances |
| Website | www |
Tackhead (often presented as TACK>>HEAD and occasionally referred to as Fats Comet) is an industrial hip-hop ensemble primarily active throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, with a short-lived reunion in 2004. Their sound is a fusion of funk, dub, industrial music, and electronica. The group’s principal lineup consists of bassist Doug Wimbish, percussionist Keith LeBlanc, guitarist Skip McDonald, and producer Adrian Sherwood. Although their period of activity was relatively brief, their artistic impact and body of work remain influential.
History
During the late 1970s, Wimbish, LeBlanc, and McDonald served as the house band for Sugar Hill Records, backing artists such as the Sugarhill Gang and contributing to landmark tracks including "The Message" and "White Lines."
While visiting New York, producer Sherwood, based in London, connected with LeBlanc, which led to collaborative efforts involving Wimbish and McDonald under Sherwood’s On-U Sound label. One of their early projects was with "Mark Stewart and the Maffia," featuring Stewart from Bristol's The Pop Group. Their initial album under this collaboration, As the Veneer of Democracy Starts to Fade, was distinguished by its industrial and noise influences.
MC Gary Clail, hailing from Bristol, became part of Tackhead’s touring On-U sound system, contributing vocals to live sets mixed by Sherwood that created a unique mid-1980s sonic wall. The 1987 album Tackhead Tape Time, issued as "Gary Clail's Tackhead Sound System," included standout tracks such as "What's My Mission Now?", "Mind at the End of the Tether", and "Hard Left." These songs combined funk-driven bass rhythms, robust percussion, and Sherwood’s sample-rich dub production—elements that came to define Tackhead’s signature style.
During this era, LeBlanc released two solo records: Major Malfunction (1986) and Stranger Than Fiction (1989), both featuring contributions from Tackhead members. The group solidified into a full band format with their first official Tackhead album, Friendly as a Hand Grenade, which introduced vocalist Bernard Fowler. This release marked a more structured phase for the band by integrating prior instrumentals with vocal tracks. In 1990, Tackhead embarked on an international tour that represented the height of their commercial achievements.
Their subsequent 1990 album Strange Things, distributed by major label EMI, showcased singles with a harder edge such as "Dangerous Sex" and "Class Rock", though it received mixed critical reactions. The album’s more subdued production style combined with increased R&B influences disappointed some longtime followers. It failed to attain widespread commercial success, resulting in EMI dropping the band.
Although Tackhead has not produced new recordings since then, members have remained active through various On-U Sound collaborations including Gary Clail’s solo projects, African Head Charge, Dub Syndicate, and New Age Steppers. Offshoot groups have performed under names like Strange Parcels, Barmy Army, and the blues-oriented project Little Axe.
Individual members continue to pursue solo careers: McDonald fronts Little Axe; LeBlanc operated a record label while participating in jazz ensembles Noah Ground and Nikki Yeoh's Infinitum; Wimbish joined Living Colour as bassist, released solo material, and co-founded drum and bass group Jungle Funk (later known as Head>>Fake) alongside drummer Will Calhoun.
In 2004, Tackhead briefly reunited for limited tours across North America and Europe. More recently, in April 2022, the complete lineup including Mark Stewart toured various UK cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London.
Keith LeBlanc passed away in April 2024.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Tackhead Tape Time (1987)
- Friendly as a Hand Grenade (1989)
- Strange Things (1990)
- For the Love of Money (2014)
- Powerstation 2.0 (2023, Emergency Hearts)
- Powerstation 2.0 (scott crow Hard Left Remix) (2024, Emergency Hearts)