Damian Cowell
Damian Cowell | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Humphrey B. Flaubert DC Root |
| Born | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, drums, drum machine, keyboards |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Labels | Elvis, Musicland, Phonogram, Shock, FMR, Madman, Meek Joe, Museum of Old and New Art |
| Member of | TISM, Arseless Chaps |
| Formerly of | I Can Run, Root!, The DC3, Damian Cowell's Disco Machine |
Damian Joseph Cowell[1], also known by his stage names Humphrey B. Flaubert and DC Root, is an Australian musician who is best known as the frontman for TISM, Root!, The DC3, Damian Cowell's Disco Machine and Arseless Chaps.
History
Cowell was born and schooled in Melbourne. His musical output began in the 1970s, when he played in various high school bands, such as Abroz and Kestrel Hawk. In the early 1980s, he was part of a little-known group called I Can Run, featuring future TISM bandmate Eugene Cester. In December 1982, TISM formed and Cowell adopted the pseudonym "Humphrey B. Flaubert", a play on Australian children's television character Humphrey B. Bear and French author Gustave Flaubert. The group enjoyed underground success in the late 1980s and reached the ARIA top 10 in 1995 with their album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons. TISM won two ARIA Music Awards, and split in late 2004 following the release of their sixth album, The White Albun.
TISM remained largely anonymous throughout their career. In 2010, Cowell publicly acknowledged his involvement in TISM via the debut single of his band The DC3 – a song titled "I Was The Guy In TISM".[2]
In 2022, following an almost 18-year hiatus, TISM reformed, performing at the Good Things festival, and releasing a new album Death to Art.[3]
Even though much of Cowell's work uses programmed drums, he has played live drums at times, most notably during some songs in TISM's performance at Homebake 1998.
Post-TISM
Cowell returned to the stage in 2007 under the moniker DC Root, fronting a band called Root![4] Root! released two albums. During this period he was commissioned by David Walsh to create a soundtrack for his Museum of Old and New Art. The soundtrack was titled Vs Art.
In 2010, Root! disbanded and quickly re-formed as a three-piece, The DC3.[5][6] This group would continue on until 2013, releasing two albums.
Between 2014 and 2021, Cowell performed in the band Damian Cowell's Disco Machine, with Tony Martin as a recurring guest. The Disco Machine released three albums, including 2021's Only The Shit You Love, an ambitious double album which formed the basis of a 19-part web-series, scripted and animated by Cowell.[7] Disco Machine members Gordon Blake and Bek Chapman also appear as guests on "I've Gone Hillsong", the first single off Death to Art.
In 2024, Cowell and Martin formed the duo Arseless Chaps.[8]
Album discography
TISM
- Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance (1988)
- Hot Dogma (1990)
- Machiavelli and the Four Seasons (1995)
- www.tism.wanker.com (1998)
- De RigueurMortis (2001)
- The White Albun (2004)
- Death to Art (2024)
Root!
- Root Supposed He Was Out of the Question... (2007)
- Surface Paradise (2009)
Damian Cowell
The DC3
- The Future Sound of Nostalgia (2011)
- May Contain Traces of Nut (2013)
Damian Cowell's Disco Machine
- Damian Cowell's Disco Machine (2015)[10]
- Get Yer Dag On! (2017)[2][11]
- Only The Shit You Love (2021)[12]
References
- ^ "Damian Cowell – MusicBrainz".
- ^ a b Stafford, Andrew (16 February 2017). "Damian Cowell: Get Yer Dag On review – TISM frontman lampoons us again, and pines for Waleed Aly". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ "TISM make long-awaited return: 'After the election there's a gap in the market for grotesque clowns'". The Guardian. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ Root: a musical celebration of our beloved national verb
- ^ The DC3 / Ponyloaf
- ^ An Interview With Damian Cowell
- ^ "Former TISM Singer Launches New Web-Series". What's My Scene. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "Arseless Chaps featuring TISM's Damian Cowell and comedy legend Tony Martin coming to Howler in April". Melbourning. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
- ^ "Damian Cowell introduces the songs from his album Damian Cowell". 19 October 2023 – via 3CR.
- ^ Dwyer, Michael (12 February 2015). "The mirror ball imperative". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ Dwyer, Michael (3 January 2017). "A tale of two dags: TISM's Damian Cowell and Tony Martin continue the satire with new album". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ Jenke, Tyler (1 December 2021). "Damian Cowell Bypasses the Algorithm to Bring You 'Only the Shit You Love'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 July 2025.