Tlot Tlot
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Founder | Owen Bolwell, Andrew Briant, Stanley Paulzen |
| Defunct | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Tlot Tlot () was an Australian pop rock group that originated in 1986 under the name Man in the Wood. The founding members included Owen Bolwell (bass guitar and lead vocals), Andrew Briant (lead guitar), and Stanley Paulzen (drums and lead vocals). After Briant left in 1991, the band adopted the name Tlot Tlot. Their 1995 single, "The Girlfriend Song", entered the ARIA Singles Chart Top 100 and received a nomination for Best Pop Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 1995. Over their career, they released four albums: A Day at the Bay (1991), Pistolbuttsa'twinkle (1992), The Live Set - Volume 1 (1993), and Fashion Takes a Holiday (1995), before disbanding in 1997.
History
Originally formed in Melbourne in 1986 as an alternative rock band named Man in the Wood, the lineup consisted of Owen Bolwell on bass and lead vocals, Andrew Briant on lead guitar, and Stanley Paulzen handling drums and lead vocals. Their first release was the 1989 single "Rain", followed by the 1990 EP Thumper, both produced under Manhole Productions. Bolwell and Paulzen were responsible for writing all songs, which featured a darker atmosphere compared to their subsequent material.
Following Briant’s departure in 1991, the band reemerged as Tlot Tlot—a name drawn from Alfred Noyes' poem "The Highwayman". This transition marked a stylistic shift from post-punk toward a livelier pop rock sound characterized by witty lyrics. Their debut release as Tlot Tlot was the 14-track cassette album A Day at the Bay, issued in December 1991. In 1992, they launched their first CD, Pistolbuttsa'twinkle, accompanied by the single "Old Mac", which climbed to No. 5 on the 2XX Independent chart in April 1993. The song "Birthday" was also featured on the compilation Live at the Empress.
In 1993, Tlot Tlot released a compilation titled Pistolbuttsatwinklea'twinkle, which gathered selections from earlier works, followed by The Live Set - Volume 1, containing unreleased tracks and re-recordings. That same year, Paulzen initiated a side project called Fred Astereo with former member Briant.
By 1995, they secured a deal with EMI and issued "The Girlfriend Song" in February, which entered ARIA’s Top 100 and earned a Best Pop Release nomination at that year’s ARIA Music Awards. In May, they supported Things of Stone and Wood during a performance at ANU Bar. July brought forth their covers album Fashion Takes a Holiday, featuring interpretations of Depeche Mode's "Just Can't Get Enough" and The Romantics' "What I Like About You". Additionally, they co-produced and co-wrote Merril Bainbridge's debut album The Garden, which achieved international acclaim.
"The Girlfriend Song" appeared on the Collision 4 compilation in 1996. In April 1997, their track "When We Were Young Stars" was included on Candle Records' compilation A Minute or Less. They opened for Sydney’s The Simpletons at Punters Club in July before dissolving later that year.
After disbandment, Bolwell contributed as co-writer to Bainbridge's second album Between the Days. Paulzen formed Ruck Rover in 1998 alongside Robert Clarkson and Michael Allen; Ruck Rover ceased activities in 2004. Subsequently, Paulzen revived Fred Astereo and currently performs with The Sublets. Bolwell shifted from music production to become Marketing Director at Bolwell, collaborating professionally with his wife, Merril Bainbridge.
During live shows, Bolwell and Paulzen played guitars and provided vocals over pre-recorded backing tracks containing keyboards, drums, bass, and samples operated via CD player—an approach reminiscent of early performances by They Might Be Giants. Occasionally, technical glitches caused backing tracks to fail live; one such moment is documented on a bootleg recording of "Old Mac" from September 1992.
Personnel
- Owen Bolwell – vocals, bass guitar, tape machine, drum programming, lead guitar (1991–1997)
- Stanley Paulzen – vocals, drums (1986–1991), rhythm guitar (1991–1997)
- Andrew Briant – guitar (1986–1991)
Albums
| Title | Album information |
|---|---|
| A Day at the Bay |
|
| Pistolbuttsa'twinkle |
|
| The Live Set - Volume 1 |
|
| Fashion Takes a Holiday |
|
Extended plays
| Title | Release details |
|---|---|
| Thumper (under the name Man in the Wood) |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | AUS |
|---|---|---|
| "Rain" (as Man in the Wood) | 1989 | — |
| "Old Mac" | 1992 | — |
| "The Girlfriend Song" | 1995 | 73 |
ARIA Music Awards
Since 1987, the ARIA Music Awards, hosted annually by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), have honored outstanding achievement and creativity in Australian music across various genres.
| Year | Work | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "The Girlfriend Song" | Best Pop Release | Nominated |
External links
- Man in the Wood at Discogs
- Tlot Tlot at Discogs