Editing TISM (section)

=== 1985–1990: First releases, ''Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance'' and ''Hot Dogma'' ===
By 1985, TISM were playing regularly around Melbourne. They released their debut single, "[[Defecate on My Face]]", in 1986; a 7" [[Gramophone record|vinyl record]] packaged in a 12" sleeve with all four sides glued shut. The song is also found (in an unlisted "country" version) on the mini-album ''Form and Meaning Reach Ultimate Communion''. Their next single, "[[40 Years – Then Death]]", was released in 1987 on transparent vinyl in a clear plastic sleeve with no cover art or labels. TISM's first radio-friendly single, despite the obscure packaging, was received well.<ref name="tismhistory">[https://web.archive.org/web/20001206202000/http://www.tism.com.au/history/ TISM – The History of This Is Serious Mum] (2000). Archived on 6 December 2000 by the [[Internet Archive]]. Retrieved on 16 October 2007.</ref>

TISM's debut album ''[[Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance]]'' was released in 1988, as a double vinyl release in an embossed gatefold sleeve. The first record contained twelve of TISM's most popular tracks, and the second was a collage of interviews, bedroom recordings and live "diatribes" from Ron Hitler-Barassi. ''Great Truckin' Songs of the Renaissance'' entered the lower reaches of Australia's mainstream Top 50, as did the single "[[Saturday Night Palsy]]", the following year.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2001-02-18 |title=TISM: the History of TISM - 1989 |url=http://www.tism.com.au/history/1989.html |access-date=2022-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010218100647/http://www.tism.com.au/history/1989.html |archive-date=18 February 2001 }}</ref> The group appeared on the long-running variety TV program ''[[Hey Hey It's Saturday]]'' performing the single; during this appearance three additional seven-person line-ups joined the initial seven members of the band onstage, leading to a total of twenty-eight "members" of TISM miming the song by the end of the performance.<ref>{{Citation |title=TISM, Saturday Night Palsy on Hey Hey 1989 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG4janHITY8 |language=en |access-date=2022-11-27}}</ref><ref name=":8" />

In 1989, TISM self-published a book compiling lyrics, interviews and press releases titled ''The TISM Guide to Little Aesthetics'',<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=www.bibliopolis.com |title=The TISM Guide to Little Aesthetics: Based on the Works of This Is Serious Mum by TISM, The Most Beautiful Economist in the World on Weiser Antiquarian |url=https://www.weiserantiquarian.com/pages/books/62295/tism-the-most-beautiful-economist-in-the-world/the-tism-guide-to-little-aesthetics-based-on-the-works-of-this-is-serious-mum?soldItem=true |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=Weiser Antiquarian |language=en-US}}</ref> however the book could not be released until early 1990 as TISM, having been threatened with legal action for libel, were required to censor the book, which they did by hand with a mixture of white-out and permanent marker (also placing stickers reading "CENSORED DUE TO LEGAL ADVICE" on the cover of each copy).<ref name=":12" /> Despite this, some uncensored copies exist, and a document with the censored content is available.

In 1990, TISM entered negotiations with [[CBS Records International|CBS Records]] and [[Phonogram Records]] and were signed by the latter. In April that year, the band began work on what would become their next album with producer Laurence Maddy. When Phonogram released ''[[Hot Dogma]]'' in 1990, it failed to reach the commercial charts, and TISM were fired six months later due to management issues, despite owing the label tens of thousands of dollars.<ref name="tismhistory"/> ''Hot Dogma'' is the first release to use the acronymic form of the band's name exclusively.

Over two nights in May 1991, the band were filmed live and released the video ''Incontinent in Ten Continents''. These performances were the last for guitarist Leak Van Vlalen.<ref name="tism-tourdates">[https://web.archive.org/web/20040923022202/http://www.tism.com.au/tourdates/ This Is Serious Mum live dates: 1991] (list) (2004). Archived on 23 September 2004 by the [[Internet Archive]]. Retrieved on 9 December 2007.</ref>