Biography
Playing engaging and imaginative alternative rock with a pop twist, Trip Shakespeare were a Minneapolis-based combo who earned a loyal cult following for their playful but literate, rhythmically inventive music. The group's origins trace to the early 1980s, when Harvard anthropology graduate Elaine Harris responded to an advertisement seeking “wicked percussion hands” placed by English major Matt Wilson, who soon left academics behind to pursue music and return to his native Minneapolis. Harris and Wilson established Trip Shakespeare alongside University of Minnesota Chinese-language major John Munson. Following the 1988 release of their debut LP Applehead Man on the local Gark Records imprint, Restless Records acquired the album for wider national distribution. Shortly thereafter the lineup expanded with the addition of Matt’s older brother Dan Wilson, another Harvard alumnus then completing graduate studies in art. The band’s second effort, 1989’s Are You Shakesperienced?, appeared on Twin/Tone and reflected an arty yet unpretentious sensibility that drew fresh listeners. Signing with A&M, Trip Shakespeare issued Across the Universe in 1990 and Lulu in 1991; both major-label sets highlighted a bright melodic approach supported by increasingly polished production that framed their arcane lyrics and wide-ranging instrumentation. Commercial success remained elusive, however, and after the band completed a six-song covers EP titled Volt, A&M declined the project and terminated the contract, though Twin/Tone eventually issued Volt in 1994. Soon after parting ways with A&M, Trip Shakespeare disbanded. Elaine Harris relocated to the Boston area, Matt Wilson played with several Minneapolis ensembles, and Dan Wilson and John Munson teamed with Jacob Slichter to form Pleasure, later renamed Semisonic. Dan Wilson subsequently built a successful songwriting and solo career while occasionally performing with Matt Wilson on a pair of live albums. In 2013 Wilson joined the Minneapolis jazz/rock outfit the New Standards—whose bassist is John Munson—for their annual Christmas concert and surprised attendees by bringing onstage both Elaine Harris and Matt Wilson, marking the first full Trip Shakespeare reunion since the breakup. Omnivore Records followed in 2014 with deluxe expanded reissues of the band’s first two albums, Applehead Man and Are You Shakesperienced?
Albums
