The Residents is an American avant-garde music and visual arts group who have been active since 1969. Their first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and since then the band have gone on to release over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects, ten DVDs, and have undertaken seven major world tours. Throughout the group's existence, the individual members have ostensibly attempted to conceal their identities from the public, and much public speculation and rumor has focused on this aspect of the group. In public, the group appears silent and costumed, often wearing eyeball helmets, top hats and tuxedos - a long-lasting costume now recognized as their signature iconography. Their albums are often complex conceptual pieces, composed around a theme, theory or plot, and are noted for surrealistic lyrics and disregard for standard Western pop music composition.
Despite polarizing critical opinion and mostly eluding mainstream recognition, The Residents have maintained a dedicated fan following throughout the length of their career, and have remained active throughout. Noted fans include The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, comedian Penn Jillette, and bands such as Primus, They Might Be Giants, Animal Collective, Mr. Bungle, and ISM. The group received a Grammy nomination for their 1979 album Eskimo.
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