Tub Ring
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Jason Fields, Kevin Gibson, Chris "Mouse" Blake, Geoff Valker |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Tub Ring is a rock group originating from Chicago, established in 1992 by Jason Fields, Kevin Gibson, Chris "Mouse" Blake, and Geoff Valker.
Biography
Initially formed as an experimental rock ensemble during their high school years, Tub Ring underwent significant changes following the 1994 death of their manager Lee Swanson and the recruitment of keyboardist Rob Kleiner. Kleiner introduced new influences inspired by his admiration for the band Mr. Bungle. Their debut full-length record, Drake Equation, was produced by Trey Spruance, guitarist of Mr. Bungle. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Tub Ring worked alongside bands such as Dog Fashion Disco and Mindless Self Indulgence, with Kleiner stepping in as a guitarist for Mindless Self Indulgence during their 2004–2005 tours. On December 10, 2005, Tub Ring secured second place in MTV2's "Dew Circuit Breakout" contest, delivering performances of "Future Was Free" and a rendition of Justin Timberlake's "Rock Your Body".
On October 17, 2006, the band signed with experimental metal/rock label The End Records, subsequently releasing The Great Filter in May 2007. Their fifth studio album, Secret Handshakes, was issued on August 31, 2010. On October 31, 2016, Tub Ring announced via Facebook a Kickstarter-funded project slated for release in May 2017. After successfully reaching their funding target by November 2, they confirmed the project would be a full-length album rather than an EP. This album, titled A Choice of Catastrophes, was launched on September 8, 2017.
Touring
Tub Ring has embarked on numerous tours, performing alongside artists such as Pigface, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, The Birthday Massacre, Foxy Shazam, Clutch, Mindless Self Indulgence, and Dog Fashion Disco. Renowned for their dynamic live shows, the band incorporates intense elements including the use of a tazer during performances.
In January 2008, Tub Ring appeared at the Sundance Film Festival as part of a Green Initiative event. That year’s touring lineup featured guest guitarists Darren Keen and Curtis Rx on select dates. The 2010 tour promoting Secret Handshakes included Patrik Windsor on guitar and Sean Motley on drums.
- Super 8-Bit Brothers
- 3-2-1 Activate!
- Edison's Arm
- Pum
- The Pastries
- Deli Meat and the French Eroticas
- Sex & Violets
Rob Kleiner solo
Rob Kleiner debuted his solo work with No Eyes in 2005, followed by the EP Doctor Sleep in 2007. He participates in the video game-inspired rock duo Super 8 Bit Brothers and plays a significant role in Edison's Arm. Additionally, Kleiner has composed music scores for films such as Ending The Eternal, the documentary Working Class Rock Star, and director Steve Balderson’s movies Watch Out and Stuck!.
Studio albums
- Drake Equation (2001)
- Fermi Paradox (2002)
- Zoo Hypothesis (2004)
- The Great Filter (2007)
- Secret Handshakes (2010)
- A Choice of Catastrophes (2017)
- Last and First Men (2024)
Demo albums
- Stupid Pet Tricks (1992)
- Music for the Bathroom (1993)
- ...And the Mashed Potato Mountain Etiquette (1995)
- Super Sci-Fi Samurai Rockstar Ultra Turbo II (ver3.6) (1997)
Compilation Albums
- Book of Water (2001)
- Optics and Sonics (2005)
- The Best of Tub Ring: Polyvinyl Chloride (2017)