Cows were a noise rock 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 played through distorted amplifiers and trumpet bleats, codifying them as a noise rock 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 Helme ...

. A star in honor of the Cows is on the outside mural of First Avenue.

History

Cows formed in 1986 with Kevin Rutmanis on bass,

Thor Eisentrager Thor Eisentrager is a founding member and former guitarist for the Minneapolis-based Noise rock-outfit, the Cows. After the release of the Cows's ninth album, ''Sorry in Pig Minor'', Thor announced that he had grown tired of touring and left th ...

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 ...

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 The Heroine Sheiks was a New York-based Noise Rock band until early 2006. It began in 1999, as a collaboration of Shannon Selberg, George Porfiris, Norman Westberg and John Fell. Selberg emerged as a major songwriter in the complete history of t ...

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 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) * Kevin Rutmanis – Bass (1987–1998) *

– 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'' –

, 1990 *'' Peacetika'' –

, 1991 *'' Cunning Stunts'' –

, 1992 *'' Sexy Pee Story'' –

, 1993 *'' Orphan's Tragedy'' –

, 1994 *'' Whorn'' –

, 1996 *'' Sorry in Pig Minor'' –

, 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, 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 Old or OLD may refer to: Places *Old, Baranya, Hungary *Old, Northamptonshire, England * Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD) *OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Ma ...

'' –

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