# Aaron Tanner
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{{Short description|American musician and writer}}
{{Infobox artist
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Aaron Tanner
| alt = Aaron Tanner
| honorific_suffix =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1976}}
| birth_place = [Evansville, Indiana](/source/Evansville%2C_Indiana), United States
| known_for = [Graphic design](/source/Graphic_design)
| notable_works = see Bibliography
| website = {{URL|www.aarontanner.com}}
}}
'''Aaron Tanner''' is an American [graphic designer](/source/graphic_designer), author, archivist, and musician who creates [coffee table book](/source/coffee_table_book)s on [underground bands](/source/Underground_music) and artists.[{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=John |date=2023-11-06 |title=Backstage Pass |url=https://www.evansvilleliving.com/backstage-pass/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Evansville Living Magazine |language=en-US}}][{{Cite web |last=Mykals |first=Kat|date=2022-11-30 |title=IN Artist Goes from Freelancer to Publisher of Coffee Table Books |url=https://womiowensboro.com/indiana-artist-aaron-tanner/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=WOMI Owensboro |language=en}}][{{Cite web |last=Shtreis |first=Irina |date=2022-02-03 |title=The Residents: A Sight For Sore Eyes Vol. 1 – book review |url=https://louderthanwar.com/the-residents-a-sight-for-sore-eyes-vol-1-by-aaron-tanner-book-review/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Louder Than War |language=en-GB}}]
== Career ==
Raised in the Midwest, Tanner drew inspiration from everyday visuals including the logos on railroad cars, matchbook advertisements, and other regional imagery. His design work gained recognition within the underground music scene, leading to him becoming [Ween](/source/Ween)'s resident designer in 2002, a role he has held for more than two decades.[{{Cite web |last=Hq |first=Tvd |date=2023-06-16 |title=TVD Radar: The Residents: A Sight for Sore Eyes Vol. 2 visual history book in stores 8/11 |url=https://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/tvd-radar-the-residents-a-sight-for-sore-eyes-vol-2-visual-history-book-in-stores-8-11/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=The Vinyl District |language=en-US}}]
In 2014, while compiling a book on the [Pixies](/source/Pixies_(band)), Tanner discovered that the visual archives of many underground bands had not been formally published. He subsequently founded Melodic Virtue, an independent publisher “dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacies of underground bands through limited-run coffee table books.”[{{Cite web |last=Burton-Jernigan |first=Rayonna |date=2024-03-06 |title=Q&A: Local man's publishing company highlights independent rock bands |url=https://www.aol.com/q-local-mans-publishing-company-101302110.html |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=www.aol.com |language=en-US}}] Through Melodic Virtue, he has curated and released visual histories featuring rare photographs, artwork, and memorabilia.[{{Cite web |date=2019-03-13 |title=Butthole Surfers: What Does Regret Mean?: by Aaron Tanner |url=https://spectrumculture.com/2019/03/12/butthole-surfers-what-does-regret-mean-by-aaron-tanner-review/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Spectrum Culture |language=en-US}}] His publications include books on [The Residents](/source/The_Residents), [Butthole Surfers](/source/Butthole_Surfers), [Ministry](/source/Ministry_(band)), [Face to Face](/source/Face_to_Face_(punk_band)), and [Cardiacs](/source/Cardiacs).[{{Cite news |last=Saldaña |first=Hector |title=Shocking: Butthole Surfers get a coffee table book |url=https://www.expressnews.com/entertainment/music-stage/article/Shocking-Butthole-Surfers-get-a-coffee-table-book-13825920.php |access-date=2024-01-14 |work=San Antonio Express-News |language=en}}]
Tanner was a founding member of the instrumental group [Stationary Odyssey](/source/Stationary_Odyssey) alongside Brett Siler. The band released four albums before disbanding. Their final release was a split 7" single with [Joey Santiago](/source/Joey_Santiago) and [David Lovering](/source/David_Lovering) of the [Pixies](/source/Pixies_(band)).[{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Trisha |date=2012-05-15 |title=For the Record |url=https://www.evansvilleliving.com/for-the-record-2/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=Evansville Living Magazine |language=en-US}}][{{cite web|title=Stationary Odyssey split 7" with Pixies project|date=28 November 2011 |url=https://www.nuvo.net/music/local_music_profiles/stationary-odyssey-split-with-pixies-project/article_a83be315-f41b-5cc6-8e25-52900728da33.html|publisher=nuvo.net|accessdate=28 November 2011}}] He later formed the noise rock group Off-Ox[{{cite web|title=Berserker IV Feature – Off-Ox|url=http://www.hipindetroit.com/2017/04/berserker-iv-feature-off-ox.html|publisher=hipindetroit.com|accessdate=12 April 2017}}] and has collaborated musically with [Nick Rhodes](/source/Nick_Rhodes) ([Duran Duran](/source/Duran_Duran)),[{{Cite web |last=Mykals |first=Kat |date=2024-02-08 |title=Indiana Man to Co-Release Cover of The Residents' 'Mahogany Wood' |url=https://103gbfrocks.com/star-stunted-mahogany-wood/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=103GBF |language=en}}] [Rob Crow](/source/Rob_Crow) ([Pinback](/source/Pinback)),[{{Cite web |date=2021-12-15 |title=New 'visual history' book celebrates 50 years of the Residents! Sneak peek and exclusive premiere! |url=https://dangerousminds.net/comments/new_visual_history_book_celebrates_50_years_of_the_residents_sneak_peek_and |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=DangerousMinds}}] and [Spencer Seim](/source/Spencer_Seim) ([Hella](/source/Hella_(band))).[{{Cite web |last=HUNTER |first=NIKK |date=2018-11-22 |title=FOCUS // A history of Rob Crow's many (many) musical projects |url=https://feckingbahamas.com/focus-a-history-of-rob-crows-many-many-musical-projects |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Fecking Bahamas |language=en-US}}]
== Achievements ==
His work in publishing has been added to the libraries and permanent collections of the [Smithsonian](/source/Smithsonian_Institution), [The Museum of Modern Art](/source/Museum_of_Modern_Art), [Rock and Roll Hall of Fame](/source/Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame), and [The Punk Rock Museum](/source/The_Punk_Rock_Museum).[{{cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/book-of-the-month-butthole-surfers-what-does-regret-mean/|title=Book of the Month: Butthole Surfers: What Does Regret Mean? – LA Weekly|publisher=laweekly.com}}]
== Bibliography ==
* ''[Pixies](/source/Pixies_(band)): A Visual History, Volume 1'' (Madtempest, 2014)[{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Gerrod |date=2017-12-01 |title=SPILL BOOKS: AARON TANNER – FACE TO FACE: 25 YEARS OF SOCAL PUNK, THE VISUAL HISTORY |url=https://spillmagazine.com/spill-books-aaron-tanner-face-face-25-years-socal-punk-visual-history/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=The Spill Magazine |language=en-US}}]
* ''[Face to Face](/source/Face_to_Face_(punk_band)): 25 Years of SoCal Punk'' (Melodic Virtue, 2017)[{{Cite web |date=2018-01-03 |title=This punk band turned 25 years of music into a 200-page coffee table book |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2018/01/03/this-punk-band-turned-25-years-of-music-into-a-200-page-coffee-table-book/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}]
* ''[Butthole Surfers](/source/Butthole_Surfers): What Does Regret Mean?'' (Melodic Virtue, 2019)[{{Cite web |title=The Quietus {{!}} Features {{!}} Books {{!}} I Am Reality: Butthole Surfers In Coffee Table Book Shocker |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/26201-what-does-regret-mean-butthole-surfers-book |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=The Quietus |date=17 March 2019 |language=en-us}}]
* ''[Ministry](/source/Ministry_(band)): Prescripture'' (Melodic Virtue, 2019)[{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2019-10-29 |title=MINISTRY's AL JOURGENSEN Announces In-Store Signing Of 'Ministry: Prescripture' Alongside Author AARON TANNER |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/ministrys-al-jourgensen-announces-in-store-signing-of-ministry-prescripture-alongside-author-aaron-tanner/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}]
* ''[Lil Bub](/source/Lil_Bub): The Earth Years'' (Melodic Virtue, 2021)[{{Cite web |title=Lil BUB: The Earth Years Book and Music Project to Feature Jack Black, El-P, Thurston Moore |url=https://www.spin.com/2021/03/lil-bub-the-earth-years-book-and-music-project-to-feature-jack-black-el-p-thurston-moore/}}]
* ''[The Residents](/source/The_Residents): A Sight for Sore Eyes, Vol. 1'' (Melodic Virtue, 2022)[{{Cite web |date=2022-01-10 |title=The Residents' New Book Illustrates 50 Years of Art-Rock Weirdness |url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13907873/the-residents-new-book-illustrates-50-years-of-art-rock-weirdness |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=KQED |language=en-us}}][{{Cite web |last=staff |first=Treble |date=2023-06-15 |title=New The Residents book, A Sight for Sore Eyes Vol. 2 due this summer |url=https://www.treblezine.com/new-the-residents-book-a-sight-for-sore-eyes-vol-2-due-this-summer/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Treble |language=en-US}}]
* ''[The Residents](/source/The_Residents): A Sight for Sore Eyes, Vol. 2'' (Melodic Virtue, 2023)[{{Cite web |last=Illezca |first=Damian |date=2023-07-18 |title=Rockaxis {{!}} preparan-libro-de-the-residents—a-sight-for-sore-eyes-vol—2- |url=https://www.rockaxis.com/vanguardia/noticia/40644/preparan-libro-de-the-residents-a-sight-for-sore-eyes-vol-2-/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Rockaxis |language=en}}]
* ''[Joan of Arc](/source/Joan_of_Arc_(band)): A Window & A Mirror'' (Joyful Noise Recordings, 2024)
* ''[Cardiacs](/source/Cardiacs): A Big Book and a Band and the Whole World Window'' (Melodic Virtue, 2025)[{{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=2024-10-02 |title=Fully authorised visual history of Cardiacs to be published |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/fully-authorised-visual-history-of-cardiacs-to-be-published |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Louder |language=en}}]
== Discography ==
{{See also|Stationary Odyssey#Discography}}
'''With Byre'''
* ''Here in Dead Lights'' (May 15, 2018, [Joyful Noise Recordings](/source/Joyful_Noise_Recordings))[{{Cite web |last=Doyle |first=Abbey |title=15 things to do in Evansville area this weekend |url=https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/local/2018/08/15/15-things-do-evansville-area-weekend-dinosaur-discovery-oak-ridge-boys-civic-theatre-mock-orange/994592002/ |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Courier & Press |language=en-US}}]
'''With Star Stunted'''
* Star Stunted ''Santa Dog'' (April 15, 2022, Melodic Virtue)