The Residents

The Residents are an American art collective and art rock band best known for their avant-garde music and multimedia works. Since their first official release, Meet the Residents (1974), they have released over 60 albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects, and ten DVDs. They have undertaken seven major world tours and scored multiple films. Pioneers in exploring the potential of CD-ROM and similar technologies, the Residents have won several awards for their multimedia projects. They founded Ralph Records, a record label focusing on avant-garde music, in 1972.

Quick facts: The Residents, Background information, Origin... ▼

The Residents
An eyeball helmet used by the Residents in concert
Background information
Origin	Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres	Art rock industrial electronic avant-pop
Years active	1969–1971 (unnamed) ^ 1971–1972 (Residents, Uninc.) 1973–present (The Residents)
Labels	Ralph Rykodisc Enigma East Side Digital Mute MVD
Past members	Hardy Fox
Website	residents.com

Throughout the group's existence, the individual members have ostensibly attempted to work anonymously, preferring to have attention focused on their art. Much speculation and rumor has focused on this aspect of the group. In public, they appear silent and costumed, often wearing eyeball helmets, top hats and tails—a costume now recognized as their signature iconography. In 2017, Hardy Fox, long known to be associated with the Residents, identified himself as the band's co-founder and primary composer; he died in 2018.