Timbuk 3

The Futures So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades

Timbuk3 (also spelled Timbuk 3) was formed in 1984 by the husband and wife team of Pat MacDonald (acoustic, electric, bass and MIDI guitars, harmonica, vocals, drum programming) and Barbara K. MacDonald (electric guitar, mandolin, violin, rhythm programming, vocals).

Career
The duo began playing together in Madison, Wisconsin. Initially they performed live as a duo backed up by a large boombox.

Timbuk3 was signed by I.R.S. Records after appearing on an episode of MTV’s The Cutting Edge in 1986. Soon after, they released their first album, Greetings from Timbuk 3, which included their only single to chart, "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades". That song has had numerous movie and television appearances over the years since its release, and been included in numerous compilation CDs. Also from the same album, the song "Shame On You" was played during the opening scene of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, released in 1986. The band was nominated for a Grammy Award. They appeared onscreen as the house band in a bar in the 1988 film, D.O.A.

After their successful debut, Timbuk3 receded from the spotlight but went on to record five more critically acclaimed albums. They were joined in 1991 by Wally Ingram and Courtney Audain.

The group broke up in 1995, with the ex-members going on to record other music independently. Pat MacDonald moved to Barcelona and recorded several albums for Ulftone, a German indie label (Sleeps With his Guitar, Begging Her Graces, Degrees of Gone, In the Red Room (a live album) and Strange Love: PM does DM, a collection of Depeche Mode covers), none of which were released Stateside. His latest effort, Troubadour of Stomp (2007) on the Broken Halo label, is his first U.S. release since 1997.

Barbara K (MacDonald) has released two albums: Ready, and Undercover which is set of acoustic covers of Timbuk3 songs. She is currently working as part of Sparrow's Wheel, an Austin label for independent music, and a new group, Ghosts and Sparrows.

Discography

Single
"The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" (1986) - Billboard Hot 100 # 19; UK Singles Chart # 21

Albums
Greetings from Timbuk 3 (1986) - Billboard Hot 200 # 50; UK Albums Chart # 51
Eden Alley (1988) - Billboard Hot 200 # 107
Edge of Allegiance (1989)
Big Shot in the Dark (1991)
Espace Ornano (1993) - their only live album
Looks Like Dark to Me (1994) - EP
A Hundred Lovers (1995)

References
Jon Young and Scott Schinder. "Timbuk 3 (profile)", Trouser Press.
Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums, 19th, London: Guinness World Records Limited, p. 560. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

External links
Timbuk 3 on All Music Guide