TTNG

TTNG are a British math rock group from Oxford, United Kingdom, active since 2004. They begin as This Town Needs Guns and use the initials TTNG as their later name. Their music sits across math rock, emo, indie rock, midwest emo, crossover prog and rock.

Line-up and name change

The band starts in 2002 under the name This Town Needs Guns, with Stuart Smith on vocals and rhythm guitar, Tim Collis on lead guitar, Simon Thompson on drums and Ian Lewis on bass. After a series of line-up changes, the group becomes a trio built around Tim Collis on guitar, Chris Collis on drums and Henry Tremain on bass and lead vocals. Chris Collis joins on drums in 2006, replacing Matt Bennington, while Henry Tremain replaces Stuart Smith on vocals in 2011 and later takes over bass duties. The band adopts the TTNG name with the release of its second album, 13.0.0.0.0.

Members and former members

Current members are Tim Collis, Chris Collis and Henry Tremain. Former members include Simon Thompson, Ian Lewis, Matt Bennington, Stuart Smith, Dan Adams, Jody Prewett and Jamie Cooper. The group also has former touring musicians Chris Baker, Henry Kohen and Garrett Karp.

Records and labels

TTNG's debut full-length album, Animals, is released in the UK through Big Scary Monsters Recording Company and in the US through Sargent House. The band also records for Rallye Label and Yellow Ghost Records. Its catalogue includes 13.0.0.0.0, the album associated with the move to the TTNG name.

Background

The band says the earlier name is meant ironically, reflecting the lack of guns in Oxford and in the UK more broadly, but later finds it less suitable as its audience grows internationally and as it wants to avoid associations with gun violence. Before music became their main focus, several members work in other jobs: Jamie Cooper works as a graphic designer, Chris Collis works as a librarian at the University of Oxford, Tim Collis works as a primary school teacher, and Stuart Smith builds websites for a publisher.