Liliput (Kleenex)
Lislot Hafner (Drums), Regula Sing (vocals), Marlene Marder (guitar), Klaudia Schifferle (bass)
Liliputは珍しくスイスのバンドです。 ドイツ語で歌っているけれど、チューリッヒ出身です。もともとはKleenexというバンド名で、クリーネックス社から、うちの商品名を使うなと叱られ、Liliputに改名しました。
Kleenex were a Zürich, Switzerland punk band. The group started out in 1978 and evolved through numerous personnel changes throughout the next five years, touring with bands such as Spizzenergi, The Raincoats and Gang of Four. Guitarist/bassist Marlene Marder and bassist/guitarist Klaudia Schifferle were the sole constants throughout the band’s recording career. In 1980, the group changed their name to Liliput (due to pressures from the Kleenex tissue company) and continued under that moniker until their demise in 1983.
The group formed in Zurich in 1978 under the name Kleenex, with a line-up of Regula Sing (vocals), Marlene Marder (Marlene Marti, guitar), Klaudia Schiff (Klaudia Schifferle, bass, vocals), and Lislot Ha (Lieselotte Hafner, drums). After releasing an EP in Switzerland, the band were signed by Rough Trade Records and released their debut single “Ain’t You” in November 1978. In early 1979, Sing joined the Mo-dettes, and was replaced by Chrigle Freund. who was later replaced by Astrid Spirit (Astrid Spirig).
Second single “You” was their last under the Kleenex name as the threat of legal action by Kimberly-Clark in 1979 prompted a change of name to LiLiPUT (Kleenex being a proprietary brand in Switzerland). The band released two further singles, both of which were hits on the UK Indie Chart, before releasing their first, self-titled album in 1982.
A second album, Some Songs, was released in December 1983, by which time the band had split up.
In 1993, Swiss label Off Course Records released a 46-track double-disc CD collecting Kleenex/LiLiPUT’s 1978-83 releases. In 2001 it was re-issued in the USA by the Kill Rock Stars label and subsequently on a 4 LP Box-Set on Mississippi Records.
Kurt Cobain from Nirvana listed the band on his Top 50 favorites albums.
In 2010, Kill Rock Stars released a 24-track CD/DVD set Live Recordings, TV-Clips, and Roadmovie.
On 15 May 2016, guitarist Marlene Marder died at age 61.