Royal Trux

Infobox musical artist
Name = Royal Trux


Img_capt = Royal Trux, 1999
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Washington, D.C., USA
Genre = Alternative rock, noise rock
Years_active = 1987 – 2001
Label = Drag City, Virgin, Domino, P-Vine
Associated_acts = Pussy Galore, Blues Explosion, [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=5611085 RTX] , The Howling Hex, Jon Theodore, David Pajo, Alex Minoff, Weird War, David Berman, Silver Jews
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members = Neil Michael Hagerty
Jennifer Herrema
Notable_instruments =

Royal Trux was an American alternative rock band from 1987 to 2001, founded by Neil Hagerty (vocals, guitar) and Jennifer Herrema (vocals).

History

While still a teenager, Hagerty joined Washington DC garage punk band Pussy Galore, led by Jon Spencer, and subsequently relocated to New York. During his time in Pussy Galore, Hagerty convinced his bandmates to release a cassette-only remake of the entire Rolling Stones album "Exile on Main Street". While he gained underground notoriety for his work with Pussy Galore, Hagerty reportedly viewed it as a job and intended to pursue his own artistic vision with his girlfriend, Jennifer Herrema, under the name Royal TruxFact|date=June 2008.

Hagerty and Herrema released their first album, Royal Trux, in 1989. Then, after moving to San Francisco, Royal Trux released the experimental double-album "Twin Infinitives."

After "Twin Infinitives", Royal Trux released an untitled album (sometimes referred to as the "Skulls" record because of its sleeve artworkFact|date=June 2008). Forgoing the experimentalism of "Twin Infinitives", the band instead opted for a more lo-fi approach, recording on an 8-track. This album was left untitled. The arguably atypical lyricism and sonic atonality of their first album was largely abandoned in favor of a more stripped, direct sound.

Following the release of their untitled album, Hagerty and Herrema hired a guitarist and drummer in order to complete their fourth full-length, "Cats and Dogs." The songwriting remained highly experimental, but was more melodicFact|date=June 2008, which was revealed on tracks such as "The Flag," "The Spectre," and "Turn of the Century."

During the corporate interest in underground music that followed Nirvana's breakthrough success in 1991, Royal Trux signed a three-record contract totaling over one million dollars with the major label VirginFact|date=June 2008. They added a considerably heavier rhythm section with Dan Brown on bass guitar and Chris Pyle (son of Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle) on drums. They also added a percussionist named Rob Armstrong for a short period. In 1995, they released "Thank You," recorded almost completely live in the studio with producer David BriggsFact|date=June 2008. Next came "Sweet Sixteen". While the band received mainstream media exposure during their time on Virgin (Herrema appeared in Calvin Klein print and TV ads from 1995-2000), Virgin was reportedly unhappy with "Sweet Sixteen"Fact|date=June 2008. The band was unwilling to record a third record for the labelFact|date=June 2008, but was persuaded when Virgin offered to pay for all costsFact|date=June 2008. Royal Trux returned back to their old label Drag City.

On Drag City, the band released "Accelerator". They followed this album with "Veterans of Disorder" in 1999, and "Pound for Pound" in 2000.

Royal Trux also released the triple-LP "Singles, Live, Unreleased", as well as a pair of EPs and substantial video and webworkFact|date=June 2008.

Hagerty and Herrema were often credited as Adam and Eve for their production workFact|date=June 2008. They separated as a couple and dissolved the band following the release of "Pound for Pound". Since then, both have recorded albums for Drag City; Hagerty under his own name and as The Howling Hex, and Herrema under the name RTX.

Discography

* (1988) "Royal Trux"
* (1990) "Twin Infinitives"
* (1992) "Untitled"
* (1993) "Cats and Dogs"
* (1995) "Thank You"
* (1997) "Sweet Sixteen"
* (1997) "Singles, Live, Unreleased"
* (1998) "3-Song EP"
* (1998) "Accelerator"
* (1999) "Veterans of Disorder"
* (2000) "Radio Video"
* (2000) "Pound for Pound"
* (2002) "Hand of Glory"

External links

* [http://www.rtxusa.com rtxusa.com] : Royal Trux and RTX fan site with interviews, pictures, and a forum.
* [http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/beatinghearts/ Beating Hearts] : Yahoo discussion group
* [http://www.outsideleft.com/main.php?updateID=777 Jennifer Herrema, Happy Shopper, outsideleft.com]