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Tuatara is an American, Seattle-basedinstrumental music group, featuring members ofR.E.M.,The Minus 5,Critters Buggin,The Chills and theScreaming Trees.[1]
The band was formed in 1996 by R.E.M.'sPeter Buck (guitar),Barrett Martin of theScreaming Trees (drums and percussion),Justin Harwood ofLuna andThe Chills (bass guitar, double bass), andSkerik ofCritters Buggin (saxophones).[1] The band was named, at Harwood's suggestion, after areptile from his native New Zealand.
Originally a project to get musician friends some soundtrack work, the project evolved into an active band, doing occasional live shows, and recording their first albumBreaking the Ethers, encompassing a sound influenced by various styles of music, fromLebanese and Asian music to more traditional Westernfolk music.[1]
The band expanded in 1998, adding guitaristScott McCaughey on guitar,Steve Berlin on saxophone and flute, Craig Flory on clarinets and saxophones, Elizabeth Pupo-Walker oncongas and other percussion, and Mike Stone ondrum kit; with Stone now on drums, Barrett Martin focused more on vibes and marimba. This expanded line-up releasedTrading With the Enemy, which added more exotic instrumentation while sticking to the familiar formula of borrowing from a variety of styles.[1]
The band had eleven members at the time of 2001'sCinemathique, which was intended to fulfill the original desire of creating music for soundtracks. A remix album,The Loading Program, was released in 2003.
McCaughey and Buck are also permanent members ofThe Minus 5, and Martin has contributed to their performances and recordings as well.
Tuatara released a new double album on August 15, 2014, calledUnderworld which featuredMike McCready ofPearl Jam.[2]
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