Thursday, August 27, 2026

THE TYROS - Parasites 7'' 1978

There is little information available about this mysterious band known as The Tyros but I give you everything I have. Their only recorded output is the Parasites 7Inch, an extremely rare, privately pressed record from the San Francisco Bay Area. Aside from artwork by Rosalie Smith (who wasn't an active member of the group), the sleeve lists no personnel credits. Released on Widget Records, the single bears all the hallmarks of a "vanity pressing", a self-released record where the label was created solely for this specific release. No other records were ever issued by Widget Records. What is fact, the band's sound is surprising precision, instead of classic, aggressive three chord trash, the Tyros play a more nervous, intellectual brand of New Wave Punk, characterized by a frenetic, high tension energy. The lyrics to "Parasites" are exemplary that could be described as an "Anti-Idol Song", a reckoning with the false role models found in the music industry or our deranged fucked up society. Musically, the 7Inch reveals a palpable, nervous restlessness and sense of unease through solid, minimalist songwriting, featuring precise, staccato rhythms in the band's signature style. It isn't wildly frenetic, but rather maintains a fitting mid-tempo pace. It serves as an excellent tone document of the San Francisco Bay Area scene from that era. There were also a few Compilation appearances, all unofficial. The Tyros remain a phantom of early California Punk. To this day, there are no known identities for the musicians on bass, guitar, vocals, or drums.


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