If you have heard of Them at all, it will probably be from either the Malcolm in the Middle theme song, "Boss of Me", or their 1990 hit "Birdhouse in Your Soul". And you know the song in Austin Powers 2, "Doctor Evil"? Well, They did that too. I know!
I have heard from certain sources that their music is far too happy and has no depth. This is Bollocks. That's right, with a capital B. With songs like "Older" (You're older than you've ever been/ And now you're even older) and "The End of the Tour" to name but two, They deal with all kinds of issues, and even carry an underlying Socialist streak.
1972: The film "They Might Be Giants" is released, starring George C. Scott as a paranoiac who believes himself to be Sherlock Holmes. The words "they might be giants" come from the story of Don Quixote, a medieval Spanish knight who attacked windmills. When asked why, he replied, "because they might be giants."
1982: They join up after spending college together and moving to the same apartment block in New York. They play Their first concert in Central Park to a group of hispanic immigrants, under the name "El Grupo de Rock and Roll".
1984: After Flansburgh's aparment is burglarised and Linnell breaks his arm, They look for a new way to spread Their appeal while unable to play live. The answer was Dial-A-Song, an answering machine into which They programmed new compositions using a drum machine. The machine (legendary Third Giant) once complained about being left out of the Johns' conversations "because they'd go on and on about their precious high school paper and Puritan ancestors and opposable thumbs". Dial-A-Song can still be reached in the US on 718 387-6962.
1986: They Might Be Giants' self-titled debut album (aka the Pink Album) is released, using nothing more than the two Johns and the drum machine.
1987: First single, "Don't Let's Start", is a US college hit, topping the alternative charts.
1988: Second Album, "Lincoln". Named after the town in Massachusetts where the Johns went to high school.
1990: "Flood"
1992: "Apollo 18" Semi-concept album, based around the possibility of the USA continuing the Apollo mission, and what they would find. Judging from the cover, a fight between a giant squid and a whale.
1994: "John Henry" John and John are joined by Brian Doherty of drums and Tony Maimone on bass.
1996: "Factory Showroom"
1998: "Severe Tire Damage". Also, They begin work on the score and theme tune for TV show Malcolm in the Middle.
1999: "Long Tall Weekend" an album exclusively available on the internet.