The Tigers were formed in the UK in autumn 1979 by singer, guitarist and songwriter Tony Jacks. Jacks co-founded, with Carole Striker, Strike Records which released the 'Nightime Games' EP at the end of 1978. The Tigers 1980He had also teamed up with lyricist Al Price to write a collection of quick fire pop/rock/ska nuggets that would be fine-tuned into the album 'Savage Music'. The recording was at Sound Suite Studios, Camden Town, North London, in the autumn of 1979. The co-owner and engineer was Alvin Clark who had recorded sessions in the late 70's for, among others, The Rubettes and Buggles and later, in the 8O's, The Specials 'Free Nelson Mandela' and Paul Hardcastle's '19.' We had the graveyard shift IIpm - 4am. The Tigers rehearsed from 4-8pm, then into a Greek Taverna until I0pm. The band set up at IIpm and recorded from midnight until 4am. In late 1979, The Tigers released their first singles - 'Savage Music,' 'Jack it Up' and 'Kidding Stops/Big Expense, Small Income' on Strike Records .The band had support from BBC Radio One's John Peel Show and helpful suggestions from Elvis Costello's manager Jake Riviera regarding "upping the ante.'" With their second single, 'Kidding Stops', the music press took notice. In the 1979 pre-Christmas edition of the New musical Express (NME), Danny Baker made it 'Record of the week'.

Major record labels pricked up their ears and The Tigers were signed to Warners UK by Moira Bellas who had brought The Pretenders to the label and to the top of the UK charts with 'Brass In Pocket". At the start of 1980, after a wild and raucous party/showcase/promo 'launch' at Olympia's Nomis Studios, the band were signed by renowned Joe Jackson producer/A&R supremo, David Kershenbaum to A&M Records for the US and Canada.

The Tigers toured the USA for most of 1980's, based and fêted at the infamous Tropicana Hotel in Los Angeles and The Tudor on 42nd Street in New York where they held court. Some fabulous reviews for their gigs made them flavour of the year with American "royalty" Lauren Bacall, the Kennedy Kids, David Carradine, practically every fellow musician and loads of bands that they met along the road. They had a ball and played, amongst others, Whiskey a Go Go and Madame Wong's in Los Angeles and Max's Kansas City in New York.

The band members are still active in the music business, notabty bassist Nic Potter and keyboard player Nick Coler. Ex Van der Graff Generator, Potter, has played Festivals in Italy, and has just released his CD. Nick Coler is a prominent member of the music production team Xenomania, writing and producing for, among others, Girls Aloud and The Sugababes.