Warning: the following chat with TISM creative controller Ron Hitler-Barassi may contain offensively bad jokes, puns or other attempts at humour. It has also been heavily censored to remove any defamatory remarks about the author, her heritage or that of her bosses. TISM (below) stridently deny they are a comedy act.
They prefer to call themselves a "rock band with a pronounced sense of the absurd".
And this semi-anonymous group of day jobbers has managed to eke out an 18-year career by poking musical fun at politicians, a lack of sexual activity, celebrities and ordinary people with names like Trevor and Ken.
Their latest opus is The White Albun (and no, everyone, this is not a typo). It elicits sympathy from the listener from the opening track because it is plainly clear that TISM members have been missing out in the horizontal folk dancing department for quite some time.
"Yes, I suppose you could surmise that from the title of Everyone Else Has Had More Sex Than Me," H-B says.
"I think TISM have broken one of the great social taboos and that is that we now talk to each other as females talk to each other. I think it's time for all rock bands to get in touch with their feminine side. Look at Daniel Johns.
He looks great in mascara and he has for a while now."
But isn't all of this Daniel Johns talk deflecting from the main issue?
"Oh, all right. We aren't suffering so much from frustration as complete sexual impotency," H-B says.
"Rock bands should come out and be honest about this problem. I have been talking to Powderfinger and not one of them can raise the flag.
"Since we played our first gig in 1982, there has not been one offer of sex from groupies after a show.
"I will agree that we are a very unsexy band."
Once that was cleared up, it was time to discuss TISM's political leanings.
This has become relevant in recent years with the local music industry rife with speculation Federal AttorneyGeneral Philip Ruddock has joined their ranks. Of course, this is impossible to confirm as the members of TISM wear elaborate disguises.
They did record a tribute song to his work during the ongoing refugee crisis called The Philip Ruddock Blues, so that proves something, doesn't it?
"Philip Ruddock has been our bass player for the past eight years," H-B insists.
But the TISM press release accompanying The White Albun insists there is no one famous under the masks.
"Oh, we are using that denial in a very Howard Government sense," H-B explains.
TISM's musical chops are pretty impressive, despite their witty and often crude lyrics tending to steal all the focus.
H-B is flabbergasted when the matter of their music and its excellence is raised.
"I am very surprised ... you are the first rock journalist in 18 years to ever ask about our music," he says, sounding close to tears.
H-B doesn't really want to talk about their blatant attempt at crass commercialism with The White Albun.
Fans could turn against the band when they realise to obtain the CD of new music, they must purchase a three-disc package which also features two DVDs showing live performances and other moments when they attempt to be hilarious.
