Tielli's siblings include brothers Doug Tielli and John Tielli and sister Sara Tielli. The brothers were members of the band People From Earth. Martin co-produced People From Earth's 1997 album, Luvskull, with the band and Don Kerr.
Career
In 1992, Tielli, along with Jonathan Goldsmith, Hugh Marsh and Rob Piltch, provided backup for a track on the album Back to the Garden; these four later formed the band Nick Buzz and produced two albums and an EP.[1][2][3]
In 2001 Tielli released his first solo album, We Didn't Even Suspect That He Was The Poppy Salesman.[4]
Tielli painted his Ibanez guitar with a "never quite presented idea" for the new Canadian flag, designed by A.Y. Jackson.[9] This design is often mistaken for one originally championed by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson to be the Canadian flag (nicknamed "the Pearson Pennant"). This guitar appears on the cover for the Rheostatics album, Double Live. Tielli's Steinberger guitar is nicknamed "Steiny".