Martyn Jacques
"When I started the Tiger Lillies I had the naive belief that if you make music which is hard to place within easily defined categories and has a unique sound, then success will follow. I of course now realize just how stupid I was." Martyn Jacques founded the Tiger Lillies in 1989 and is the songwriter, lyricist, and accordion player for the group. Jacques had been living in a rather seedy part of London's Soho, taking occasional singing lessons and spending his days with the people that he now describes in song: drug addicts, pimps, and prostitutes. Then, he bought an accordion, and everything changed. More than just a band, Jacques has led Tiger Lillies into theatrical performances. Shockheaded Peter, adapted from a collection of 19th century stories, won the Olivier Award for Best Entertainment (2002), and a Best Supporting Performance award for Jacques. Jacques continued his theatre/music adaptations with The Little Match Girl from Hans Christian Andersen. Jacques makes theatre even when the music doesn't play. In 1997, the group announced a Good Friday concert at the Union Chapel in Islington. The press release read, "the perverse troubadours, the Tiger Lillies, will perform extreme tales of romance, insanity, blasphemy and surreal sexual practices at this event, performed in a demented decadent accordion-led style that mixes pre-war Berlin cabaret from Hell, strange gypsy music, black comedy, French chanson, and English music hall. You will on Friday be able to hear songs such as 'Banging in the Nails'… So grab your crown of thorns, polish your nails. Reduced entrance for those dressed as Jesus or Mary Magdalene." The concert never happened, but the PR did create an event.
