Le Tigre

{{About|the band|their album|Le Tigre (album)|the clothing brand|Le Tigre (clothing brand)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Le Tigre

| image = LeTigre1.jpg

| caption = Le Tigre performing in 2004

| image_size = 270

| landscape = yes

| origin = New York City, New York, U.S.

| genre = {{hlist|Electronic rock|riot grrrl

{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w24sDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Electronic+rock+rock%22&pg=PT144|title=Gender and Rock|first=Mary Celeste|last=Kearney|date=July 13, 2017|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-029769-5|access-date=November 24, 2017|via=Google Books}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/film/the-punk-singer-meet-the-original-riot-grrrl-8858398.html|title=The Punk Singer: meet the original Riot Grrrl|date=7 October 2013|access-date=6 December 2017}}
{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cueaZ07TO3AC&q=%22Le+Tigre%22+%22electro+rock%22&pg=PA16|title=CMJ New Music Report|date=11 October 2004|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|access-date=6 December 2017|via=Google Books}}|electroclash
{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1448511/the-10-best-le-tigre-songs/franchises/10-best-songs/|title=The 10 Best Le Tigre Songs|date=30 August 2013|access-date=6 December 2017}}
{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/article/2016/10/19/le-tigre-clinton-im-with-her/|title=Le Tigre Debut Pro-Clinton 'I'm With Her' Anthem|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=6 December 2017}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2012/11/27/165004397/old-music-tuesday-le-tigre|title=Bedroom Dancing: Le Tigre By Accident|newspaper=NPR|date=27 November 2012|access-date=6 December 2017|last1=Tyler-Ameen|first1=Daoud}}|dance-punk
{{cite web|url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/news/le-tigre-reunite-new-one-single|title=Le Tigre to reunite with new one-off single|access-date=6 December 2017}}
{{cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2016/10/le-tigre-reunite-for-new-pro-hillary-clinton-song-im-with-her-watch/|title=Le Tigre reunite for new pro-Hillary Clinton song "I'm With Her" — watch|date=19 October 2016|access-date=6 December 2017}}}}

| years_active = {{hlist|1998–2007|2010|2016{{cite web | url=http://pitchfork.com/news/68670-le-tigre-reunite/ | title=Le Tigre Reunite | website=Pitchfork | date=30 September 2016 | access-date = 30 September 2016}}|2022–present{{cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |title=Le Tigre Roar Back for First Tour in 18 Years |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/le-tigre-2023-reunion-tour-dates-1234666672/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=24 January 2023 |access-date=24 January 2023}}}}

| label = {{hlist|Mr. Lady|Strummer|Universal|Le Tigre Records}}

| spinoffs = *The Julie Ruin

| website = {{URL|letigre.world}}

| spinoff_of = *Bikini Kill

| current_members = * Kathleen Hanna

| past_members = Sadie Benning

}}

Le Tigre ({{IPAc-en|l|ə|_|ˈ|t|iː|ɡ|r|ə}}, {{IPA|fr|lə tiɡʁ}}; French for "The Tiger") is an American art punk and riot grrrl band formed by Kathleen Hanna (of Bikini Kill), Johanna Fateman and Sadie Benning in 1998 in New York City. Benning left in 2000 and was replaced by JD Samson. They mixed punk's directness and politics with playful samples, eclectic pop, and lo-fi electronics. Like with many bands in and from the riot grrrl movement, many of the lyrics addressed feminist themes and ideas. The group also added multimedia and performance art elements to their live shows, which often featured support from like-minded acts such as the Need.5 “Music for Everyone.” Contact - Spotify, www.spotify.com/.

The band released three full-length albums and toured extensively until 2007, when they announced a hiatus due to exhaustion. After a series of brief reunions to work with artists like Christina Aguilera and Pussy Riot, the band reunited in 2023 for a largely sold out{{Cite web |title=Tour |url=https://www.letigre.world/tour |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Le Tigre |language=en-US}} tour of Europe and North America. They have been the subject of several controversies, including criticism for their participation in the trans-exclusionary Michigan Womyn's Music Festival in the early 2000s, and a 2021 copyright infringement lawsuit targeting their most popular song, "Deceptacon" (1999).

History

= 1998–2000: Formation and ''Le Tigre'' =

Following the breakup of Bikini Kill in 1998, Kathleen Hanna released a solo album under the pseudonym Julie Ruin and moved to New York, where she wanted to perform Julie Ruin songs live. Not wanting to perform the material alone, she recruited Johanna Fateman, whom Hanna had known since meeting at a Bikini Kill concert several years prior. Sadie Benning, who had helped Hanna make a music video for the Julie Ruin song "Aerobicide", also joined in order to help with visuals and translating the music into performable material. These performances never happened, and instead resulted in the formation of a new band entirely, Le Tigre.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-25 |title='Le Tigre' Turns 20 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2062654/le-tigre-turns-20/reviews/the-anniversary/ |access-date=2022-02-12 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}

While Benning was still in Chicago, Hanna and Fateman began sharing cassettes between the three band members, with songs that would eventually become material for Le Tigre. They took their name from one of many hypothetical bands made up by Hanna {{circa|1994}}.{{Cite web |title=Just the Facts, Ma'am |url=http://www.letigreworld.com/sweepstakes/html_site/keep/keep.html |access-date=2022-02-12 |website=www.letigreworld.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422215527/http://www.letigreworld.com/sweepstakes/html_site/keep/keep.html |archive-date=22 April 2006 |url-status=dead}}

The band signed with Mr. Lady Records, a label founded in San Francisco by Hanna's friend Tammy Rae Carland and her then-girlfriend Kaia Wilson. Hanna called the signing "a logical choice" because of the label's greater political commitment over their music releases.{{Cite web|title=SPOTLIGHT|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/2000-04/21/095r-042100-idx.html|access-date=2022-02-12|website=www.washingtonpost.com}}

The band's first album, Le Tigre, was released in October 1999. The band's original live performances consisted of Hanna, Fateman and Sadie performing music, along with JD Samson, a roadie they had met in September 1999, who manually operated a slideshow as a visual component to their music, as the band could not afford a projector at the time. File:Le Tigre - Indianapolis B - Stierch.jpg

= 2000–2004: ''From The Desk of Mr. Lady EP'' and ''Feminist Sweepstakes'' =

In 2000, Benning left the band to focus on filmmaking.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-17 |title="We were ahead of our time": Le Tigre talk politics and fashion faux… |url=https://theface.com/music/le-tigre-interview-kathleen-hannah-jd-sampson-johanna-fateman-deceptacon-tiktok-tour-dates |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=The Face |language=en-gb}} As the band was already into a month-long tour, they asked Samson to fill in during live performances. The band had already been considering increasing the involvement of Samson as possibly a backup singer or dancer, so they asked them to become an official member. Hanna remarked that "JD added an undeniable flair and charisma to the live show and took to touring and recording like a fish to water."

In October 2001, the band released their second album, Feminist Sweepstakes.

In 2003, Le Tigre collaborated with Chicks on Speed on their cover of Tom Tom Club's "Wordy Rappinghood" from their album 99 Cents along with other artists such as Miss Kittin, Kevin Blechdom, ADULT.'s Nicola Kuperus, and Tina Weymouth of Tom Tom Club.{{cite web| last = Phares| first = Heather|url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=99-cents-r668474|pure_url=yes}}| title = 99 Cents - Chicks on Speed | work = Allmusic| publisher = Rovi Corporation| year = 2003 | access-date = 2011-02-26}} The cover became a moderate dance hit in Europe, peaking at number five on the Belgian Dance Chart,{{cite web|url= https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/5a824/Chicks-On-Speed-Wordy-Rappinghood |title=Ultratop.be - Chicks On Speed - Wordy Rappinghood|language=nl|work=Ultratop|publisher=Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch|access-date=2011-02-26}} and at number sixty-six on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ |title=The Official Charts Company - Chicks On Speed |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=2011-02-26 }}{{Cite web |title=Official Singles Chart Top 100 {{!}} Official Charts Company |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20040307/7501/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=www.officialcharts.com |language=en}}

= 2004–2007: Major label deal, ''This Island'' and hiatus =

In March 2004, Le Tigre signed with Strummer, a subsidiary of major label Universal Records,{{Cite magazine|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|date=2004-03-11|title=Le Tigre Inks With Strummer/Universal|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/le-tigre-inks-with-strummeruniversal-1442419/|access-date=2022-02-12|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}} a move described by Kathleen Hanna as a make-or-break for the band, who were considering breaking up due to exhaustion.{{Cite web|title=Le Tigre|url=https://www.pollstar.com/article/le-tigre-49824|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Pollstar|date=24 January 2005 }} In June 2004, Mr. Lady closed down,{{Cite web |date=2007-09-27 |title=DISCORDER Farewell, Mr. Lady |url=http://discorder.citr.ca/features/04julyfarewell.html |access-date=2022-02-12 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927205836/http://discorder.citr.ca/features/04julyfarewell.html |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead}} and the band began reissuing their back catalogue under their own label, Le Tigre Records, with distribution from Touch & Go Records.{{Cite web|title=Le Tigre / Interviews / Silent Uproar|url=https://silentuproar.com/interviews/67/le-tigre/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=silentuproar.com}}

They released their debut major-label album, This Island, in October 2004. The album was a moderate success, selling over 90,000 copies in the US.{{Cite magazine|last=Peters|first=Mitchell|date=2008-02-19|title=Le Tigre Members Tour Behind New Project|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/le-tigre-members-tour-behind-new-project-1046496/|access-date=2022-02-12|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}

The band entered a "long hiatus" in August 2007, due to the band being burnt out from touring This Island, and the band members wanting to "do their own thing".{{Cite web |date=2007-08-20 |title=The Latest on Le Tigre: DVD, Teaching, DJ Dates |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/27472-the-latest-on-le-tigre-dvd-teaching-dj-dates/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}

= 2010–present: Brief reunions =

In 2010, Le Tigre briefly returned from a hiatus{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/27472-the-latest-on-le-tigre-dvd-teaching-dj-dates/|title=The Latest on Le Tigre: DVD, Teaching, DJ Dates|website=Pitchfork|date=20 August 2007}} to produce Christina Aguilera's "My Girls", from her sixth studio album Bionic. The track features Peaches.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/35558-le-tigre-working-with-christina-aguilera/|title=Le Tigre Working With Christina Aguilera - Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork|date=8 June 2009|access-date=20 December 2016}}

Le Tigre members JD Samson and Johanna Fateman collaborated with Russian activist punk rock collective Pussy Riot during a concert organised by Vice magazine in 2014, performing Le Tigre's “Deceptacon”.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRAEcyWe9kg|title=VICE 20th Pussy Riot Performs Le Tigre's Deceptacon - YouTube|website=YouTube|date=15 July 2017 |access-date=15 July 2017}} Later, in 2015, they reunited with Pussy Riot to record a song and video for Netflix series House of Cards.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/58574-pussy-riots-dont-cry-genocide-featuring-le-tigre-members-appears-on-house-of-cards/|title=Pussy Riot's "Don't Cry Genocide" Featuring Le Tigre Members Appears on "House of Cards" - Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork|date=28 February 2015|access-date=28 February 2015}}

In September 2016, the band announced they were reuniting just to release a "special song".{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/68670-le-tigre-reunite/|title=Le Tigre Reunite {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|date=30 September 2016|access-date=2016-10-20}} On October 19, 2016, Le Tigre released the song, titled "I'm With Her", and its accompanying video to voice their support of the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton.{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/10/le-tigre-im-with-her-hillary-clinton/|title=New Music: Le Tigre Return With Pro-Hillary "I'm With Her"|date=19 October 2016|access-date=20 December 2016}}

In December 2021, the band announced they would be getting together to play at This Ain't No Picnic Festival in 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-strokes-lcd-soundsystem-and-le-tigre-to-perform-at-2022-this-aint-no-picnic-festival/|title = The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, and le Tigre to Perform at 2022 This Ain't No Picnic Festival|website = Pitchfork|date = 3 December 2021}}

In January 2023, the band announced they would be reuniting for the first tour in eighteen years.{{cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |title=Le Tigre Roar Back for First Tour in 18 Years |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/le-tigre-2023-reunion-tour-dates-1234666672/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=24 January 2023 |access-date=24 January 2023}}

Controversies

= Involvement in Michigan Womyn's Music Festival =

Le Tigre, along with several acts from Mr. Lady, played at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival in 2001 and 2005. This festival became controversial for its "womyn-born womyn" stance and exclusion of trans women from the festival,{{Cite web |last=Vitello |first=Paul |date=August 20, 2006 |title=The Trouble When Jane Becomes Jack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/fashion/20gender.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210109174127/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/fashion/20gender.html |archive-date=Jan 9, 2021 |access-date=April 11, 2024 |website=The New York Times}} leading critics to accuse Mr. Lady and Le Tigre of being transphobic. Several acts from the label, including Le Tigre and The Butchies, received verbal harassment and death threats as a result of playing at the 2001 festival.http://eminism.org/michigan/20011007-carns.txt {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217170507/http://eminism.org/michigan/20011007-carns.txt|date=February 17, 2022|title=Archive}}

In 2014, amid a boycott of the festival led by Equality Michigan, a group of fans dropped a banner that read "Apologise for Michigan" at a Julie Ruin concert at the Mod Club, Toronto, calling for Hanna to apologise for their performances at the festival.{{Cite web|first=Richard|last=Trapunski|date=2014-04-07|title=Fans demand an apology from Kathleen Hanna in Toronto Julie Ruin concert banner drop|url=https://www.chartattack.com/julie-ruin-concert-banner-drop/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202204239/http://www.chartattack.com/news/2014/04/07/apologize-michigan-julie-ruin-kathleen-hanna-michfest/|archive-date=2016-02-02|access-date=2016-02-02|website=Chart Attack|language=en-US|url-status=usurped}} JD Samson released a statement in response, announcing a personal boycott of the festival until all self-identified women were included.{{Cite web|last=jdsamson|title=For My Community {{!}} JD SAMSON|url=https://jdsamson.tumblr.com/post/52747191958/for-my-community|access-date=2022-02-17}} The festival shut down in 2015.{{Cite web|last=Holden|first=Dominic|title=Michigan Music Festival That Excluded Transgender People To Shut Down|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/dominicholden/michigan-music-festival-that-excluded-transgender-people-to|access-date=2022-02-17|website=BuzzFeed News|date=22 April 2015 |language=en}} Hanna has not directly addressed their participation in the festival, but in 2018 has said on Twitter that she supports trans rights.{{Cite web |date=2018-10-22 |title=Kathleen Hanna on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/kathleenhanna/status/1054227962944352257 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228103433/https://twitter.com/kathleenhanna/status/1054227962944352257 |archive-date=2022-12-28 |access-date=2022-02-17 |website=Twitter |language=en}}

= Deceptacon copyright lawsuit =

In October 2021, Hanna and Fateman countersued singer-songwriter Barry Mann, who sent the band cease-and-desist letters after claiming the song "Deceptacon" was infringing the copyright on his song "Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)". Hanna and Fateman argued that the use of "bomp" was transformative of the song and was also a critique of the messaging in Mann's song.{{Cite web|last=Hussey|first=Allison|title=Le Tigre's Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman Sue Over "Deceptacon" Copyright Infringement Accusation|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/le-tigres-kathleen-hanna-and-johanna-fateman-sue-over-deceptacon-copyright-infringement-accusation/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Pitchfork|date=9 October 2021 }} They settled the case in November 2021, with the dispute "amicably resolved by a confidential settlement agreement without any public admission of liability", according to Pitchfork.{{Cite web|date=2021-11-02|title=Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman Settle Le Tigre "Deceptacon" Lawsuit|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/kathleen-hanna-and-johanna-fateman-settle-le-tigre-deceptacon-lawsuit/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=Pitchfork|language=en-US}}

Band members

Current members

Kathleen Hanna – vocals, guitars, bass guitar, drums, drum machines, sampler (1998–2007, 2010, 2016, 2022)
Johanna Fateman – vocals, guitars, keyboards (1998–2007, 2010, 2016, 2022)
JD Samson – vocals, synthesizers, production, trumpet, guitars, sampler (2000–2007, 2010, 2016, 2022)

Former members