Tripping Daisy

Tripping Daisy was a rock band that formed in Dallas, Texas in 1991. After the band disbanded in 1999, member Tim DeLaughter, along with original Tripping Daisy bandmates Mark Pirro and Bryan Wakeland, went on to form the 24-piece symphonic choral rock group The Polyphonic Spree. Ben Curtis formed a progressive rock trio called Secret Machines.



Bill



After playing local gigs, the band released their first single "Lost and Found", which received moderate airplay on local radio. The band soon began recording what would become their first full length album titled Bill released on the independent label Dragon Street Records. The album was a favorite on Dallas college radio. The sound on Bill is characterized by the heavy use of vocal effects and unconventional riffs, both of which lend to a neo-psychedelic sound.



The band released a live album in 1994 titled "Get it ON", which was recorded during their live show at Trees in Dallas. The album closes with a cover of "We're Only Gonna Die", the opening track from the Bad Religion album How Could Hell Be Any Worse?.



I Am an Elastic Firecracker



After signing a deal with Island records, the band recorded their first major-label release I Am an Elastic Firecracker. Overcoming the sophomore slump that plagues nearly every artist, Firecracker was a much tighter and production heavy record than Bill (which was re-released on Island). The video for the song "I Got a Girl" received extended airplay on MTV.



Jesus Hits Like an Atom Bomb.



For the third installment in the Tripping Daisy Discography, Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb was a mix of both creativity and experimentalism. Tim DeLaughter has been quoted as saying that "Jesus Hits Like an Atom Bomb is the band at their best". Though minimalism dominates the better part of the recording, the album has a fragmented style: from one vignette to another.



Wes Berggren and Tripping Daisy.



Wes Berggren was found dead of an apparent heart attack in his apartment on October 27, 1999. Although never officially stated, rumors have circulated that Wes's death was due to a drug overdose. With the death of Berggren the band canceled its upcoming tour dates and finished some minor recording sessions for the final album. The final self-titled album was released posthumously with Berggren's father Don playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano on the yet unfinished 'Soothing Jubilee'. Their eponymous album had a warm symphonic feel with instrumentation and lyrics that were a bit lighter than "Jesus Hits". The album includes a re-recording of "One Through Four", a song originally featured on Bill, bringing the band full-circle. Tripping Daisy officially disbanded on December 14, 1999.



The Polyphonic Spree - At the Movies