The Trashmen

Last updated

The Trashmen
The Trashmen band.jpg
The Trashmen live in 2008
Background information
Origin Minneapolis, Minnesota
Genres
Years active1962–1967, 1982–2016
Labels Soma, Major Label Records
Past members

The Trashmen were an American rock band formed in Minneapolis in 1962 [1] and are best known for their biggest hit, 1963's "Surfin' Bird", [1] which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The original line-up of the group featured guitarists Tony Andreason and Dal Winslow, bassist Bob Reed, and drummer Steve Wahrer.

Contents

Along with Colorado-based contemporaries the Astronauts, the Trashmen have been described as "the premier landlocked Midwestern surf group of the '60s." [2] The band took their name from "Trashman's Blues", a song written and recorded in 1961 by Minneapolis musician Kai Ray (Richard Caire, 19352017), who later wrote songs for the band. [3]

History

Pre-Trashmen

Tony Andreason and Mike Jann were friends who learned and played guitar together, starting in 1955. They primarily played country. In 1957, at the Crystal Coliseum, Tony and Mike met Steve Wahrer, a drummer, Dallas "Dal" Winslow, a guitar player, and a saxophone player. Tony, Steve, Dal, and the saxophone player played as The String Kings for a brief time period. Mike wasn't part of the group, due to being more interested in country music. Tony met Jim Thaxter through Steve and Dale. Jim was a singer who was looking to front a band. "Jim Thaxter and the Travelers" was then formed with the following line-up: Jim Thaxter on lead vocals and guitar (tuned to a bass guitar); Tony Andreason on lead guitar; Dal Winslow on rhythm guitar; Tom Diehl on piano; and Steve Wahrer on drums. In Spring 1961, the group took a break as Tony and Jim had to go into the military. In February or March 1962, the two returned. However, disagreements on musical direction between the two caused Tony to leave the band. Steve and Dal left with him.

Early Trashmen

Don (Woody) Wood, a bass player, joined the group. Steve made the decision to call the band "The Trashmen" when a friend of Don's showed them an album by guitarist Tony Caire, alias Kai Ray, titled "The Trashmen's Blues." The group was primarily an instrumental group, with occasional lead vocals by Steve. Steve began to sing more and more. Tony has occasionally sung lead. Don left the band and was replaced by Bob Reed, picked from an audition. The group gained an interest in surf rock after listening to Dick Dale. A song called "Surfin' Bird" was conceptualized by Steve and was instantly liked by their audience at shows. [4]

"Surfin' Bird" as first success

Cover of the 1995 reissue of the album featuring the hit single Trashman.jpg
Cover of the 1995 reissue of the album featuring the hit single

The Trashmen's biggest hit was 1963's "Surfin' Bird", [1] which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the latter part of that year. The song was a combination of two R&B hits by The Rivingtons, "The Bird's the Word" and "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow". [5] The song was recorded at Kay Bank Studios in Minneapolis. [6] Early pressings of the single credit the Trashmen's drummer and vocalist Steve Wahrer as the composer, but following a threat from The Rivingtons' legal counsel, the writing credit was removed from Wahrer and transferred to the members of The Rivingtons. [7]

The song was later covered by The Ramones, The Cramps, Silverchair, The Psychotic Petunias, Pee-wee Herman, Equipe 84, and the thrash metal band Sodom. It has also been featured in several films, including Full Metal Jacket , Fred Claus , Pink Flamingos , Back to the Beach , and The Big Year .

"Surfin' Bird" was the subject of the episode "I Dream of Jesus" of the television series Family Guy , sending the song to No. 8 on the iTunes Top 10 Rock songs chart and No. 50 on the UK Singles Chart in 2009. It has since become a running gag on the show.[ who? ]

In 2010, a Facebook campaign was launched to send the song to No. 1 in the UK over the Christmas season; this was largely intended (as with Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name", in 2009) as a protest against the takeover of the Christmas No. 1 spot by The X Factor winner's song. The track debuted in the UK Top Ten for the first time on December 19, at No. 3.

It was also featured in the video game Battlefield Vietnam .

Continuing of music career

Beyond "Surfin' Bird", The Trashmen experienced limited success. In 1964, "Bird Dance Beat" reached No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States [8] and was a top 10 hit in Canada. The group disbanded in 1967. A four-CD box set of their work was released by Sundazed Records. [9]

Reunion

The group made sporadic reunions in the 1970s and 1980s, performing together until Steve Wahrer died of throat cancer in 1989. [10] [11] Later, Tony Andreason's brother Mark replaced Wahrer as drummer. Reed's son Robin joined as a touring member in 2009 on drums, filling in for Mark Andreason.

In 1999, the Trashmen played at the Las Vegas Grind. They also performed in Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Spain in 2007 and 2008.

The Trashmen toured Europe in 2008 and in 2010, performing in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

The band recorded four tracks at Custom Recording Studios in Golden Valley, Minnesota, with longtime fan and guitarist Deke Dickerson, for the record label Major Label, releasing the 7-inch EP I'm a Trashman in March 2013. A full-length follow-up LP, Bringing Back the Trash, was released in April 2014. After several 2015 shows in the band's hometown of Minneapolis, the band re-entered retirement. [12]

Members

Classic line-up

Other members

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumLabelReissue US 200 Notes
1963 Surfin' Bird GarrettSundazed (1995)48 [13]
1965Bird Dance BeatGarrettSoma (1996±)Debatably a compilation. The recordings span a range of time, but none were featured on Surfin' Bird and only one on The Great Lost Trashmen Album. The album was released during the original era of the band.
1989Comic Book CollectorNPR
1994The Great Lost Trashmen Album!
2014Deke Dickerson and the Trashmen: Bringing Back the TrashMajor Label Records

Compilations, live albums, and EPs

YearAlbumLabelReissueNotes
1990Live Bird '65–'67SundazedLive album
1992Tube City!: The Best of the TrashmenCompilation album
1998Bird Call!: The Twin City Stomp of the Trashmen4-CD box setCompilation album
2009Teen Trot: Live At Ellsworth, WI, August 22, 1965Live album
2013I'm a TrashmanTracklisting
  1. "I'm a Trashman"
  2. "Torture"
  3. "Bop a Lena"
  4. "Brewski"

Singles

YearSingleB-sidePeak positionsAlbum
US CAN UK
1963"Surfin' Bird""King of the Surf"42 [14] 3Surfin' Bird
1964"Bird Dance Beat""A-Bone"3012 [15] Bird Dance Beat
1964"Bad News""On the Move"124Bird Dance Beat
1964"Peppermint Man""New Generation"Bird Dance Beat
1964"Whoa Dad""Walking My Baby"Bird Dance Beat
1964"Dancing with Santa""Real Live Doll"Bird Dance Beat
1965"Hanging on Me""Same Lines"Bird Dance Beat
1965"Bird '65""Ubangi Stomp"Bird Dance Beat
1965"Keep Your Hands Off My Baby""Lost Angel"
1967"Green, Green Backs Back Home""Address Enclosed"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Surfaris</span> American surf rock band

The Surfaris are an American surf music band formed in Glendora, California, in 1962. They are best known for two songs that hit the charts in the Los Angeles area, and nationally by May 1963: "Surfer Joe" and "Wipe Out", which were the A-side and B-side of the same 45 rpm single.

Surf music is a genre of rock music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Southern California. It was especially popular from 1958 to 1964 in two major forms. The first is instrumental surf, distinguished by reverb-heavy electric guitars played to evoke the sound of crashing waves, largely pioneered by Dick Dale and the Del-Tones. The second is vocal surf, which took elements of the original surf sound and added vocal harmonies, a movement led by the Beach Boys.

The Rivingtons were a 1960s doo-wop band, known for their 1962 novelty hit "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow". The members were lead vocalist Carl White, tenor Al Frazier, baritone Sonny Harris and bassist Turner "Rocky" Wilson Jr. Frazier was replaced by Madero White for a period in the late 1970s.

The Sentinals were a surf rock band from San Luis Obispo, California (1961–1965). The band is notable for a Latino influence in some works, such as "Latin'ia" (1962). Notable band members included Tommy Nuñes, drummer John Barbata and Lee Michaels on keyboards.

"Malagueña" is a song by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona. It was originally the sixth movement of Lecuona's Suite Andalucía (1933), to which he added lyrics in Spanish. The song has since become a popular, jazz, marching band, and drum and bugle corps standard and has been provided with lyrics in several languages. In general terms, malagueñas are flamenco dance styles from Málaga, in the southeast of Spain.

Kay Bank Studios, also known as Kay Bank Recording Corporation, was a recording studio and phonograph manufacturer based in Minneapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surfin' Bird</span> 1963 single by the Trashmen

"Surfin' Bird" is a song performed by American surf rock band the Trashmen, containing the repetitive lyric "the bird is the word". It has been covered many times. It is a combination of two R&B hits by the Rivingtons: "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and "The Bird's the Word".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surfin' Safari (song)</span> 1962 single by the Beach Boys

"Surfin' Safari" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys, written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. Released as a single with "409" in June 1962, it peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also appeared on the 1962 album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ten Little Indians (The Beach Boys song)</span> 1962 single by the Beach Boys

"Ten Little Indians" is a song recorded by American rock band the Beach Boys. It was first released in October 1962 as the third track on the Beach Boys' debut album, Surfin' Safari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow</span> 1962 single by The Rivingtons

"Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" is a novelty nonsensical doo-wop song by the Rivingtons in 1962. It peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 35 on the Cashbox charts. The band released two similar follow-up songs over the next several months, "Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow " and "The Bird's the Word".

Da Yoopers are an American comedy and novelty musical group from Ishpeming, Michigan, United States. They are known primarily for their comedic songs and skits, most of which center on life in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The band's name includes the term "yooper", slang for residents of that part of the state, and the use of "da" instead of "the" is typical of the Yooper dialect. The band's members are Jim Bellmore and his wife, Lynn Bellmore, along with Jim "Hoolie" DeCaire. The original band lineup in 1985 consisted of Anderson and DeCaire, along with Joe Potila and Jim Pennell, with a number of membership changes ensuing throughout the band's history. Da Yoopers have released twelve studio albums and two compilation albums, all through their own You Guys Records label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tribute to Buddy Holly</span> 1961 song written by Geoff Goddard

"Tribute to Buddy Holly" is a song written by Geoff Goddard, first recorded by Mike Berry and the Outlaws as a single, which was released in September 1961 on His Master's Voice records. His first chart success, it reached number 24 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1961. The song was banned by the BBC for being too "morbid", regarding the death of 1950s rock and roll singer Buddy Holly, who died in a plane crash on 3 February 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Astronauts (band)</span> American surf music band

The Astronauts were an American rock band, who had a minor hit in 1963 with "Baja" and remained successful for several years, especially in Japan. They have been described as being, "along with...(the) Trashmen, the premier landlocked Midwestern surf group of the '60s." For most of their career, the band members were Rich Fifield, Jon "Storm" Patterson, Bob Demmon, Dennis Lindsey, and Jim Gallagher.

The Surfin' Lungs are an English surf music band originally from Bracknell, Berkshire, who were formed in 1981 by Chris Pearce and Geoffo Knipe. The original line-up consisted of: Chris Pearce, Geoffo Knipe, Steve Dean and Lee Money (drums).

<i>Hang Loose with the Surfin Lungs</i> 1996 studio album by the Surfin Lungs

Hang Loose with the Surfin' Lungs is the fourth studio album by English surf music band the Surfin' Lungs, released in 1996 on the Spanish label No Tomorrow. The album featured new drummer Ray Webb, re-christened Ray Banz by the group, who replaced Graeme Block. Coming six years after their previous album, The Beach Will Never Die, the record represented a progression in terms of musicianship and style, while Webb's vocals helped create a rounder sound to the group. Also, Hang Loose had more of an edgier feel, with Clive Gilling's guitar work more prominent than on previous releases. Of the 14 tracks, 13 were written by the group, while one, "Peppermint Twist", was a Joey Dee and the Starliters cover, which was a no.1 hit single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1961.

<i>Goin to Rockingham</i> 2002 studio album by The Surfin Lungs

Goin' To Rockingham is the fifth album released by surf music band The Surfin' Lungs, released in 2002 on the Spanish label No Tomorrow. This was the most productive longplayer released by the band yet as it contained 17 tracks, three of which were covers: "The Godfather", written by Nino Rota for the film of the same name; "Surfin' Hearse" had originally been a Jan & Dean song, which had been included on their 1963 album Drag City; "In The Sun" was a Blondie song. Rockingham also featured the first lead vocal from Clive Gilling, "Go Mr Gasser ". Overall the album was very similar in style to previous longplayer Hang Loose with The Surfin' Lungs, again epitomising the group's focus on sun, surfing, cars and girls to great effect.

<i>Surfin Bird</i> (album) 1964 studio album by The Trashmen

Surfin' Bird is the debut studio album by the Trashmen, released on January 14, 1964. It was named after their novelty hit of the same name. The album peaked at No. 48 at the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>The Searchers 30th Anniversary Collection 1962–1992</i> 1992 compilation album of The Searchers

The Searchers 30th Anniversary Collection 1962–1992 is a compilation album of songs by the English rock band The Searchers released by Sequel Records. This collection including all of their A-sides released on Pye Records, nearly all B-sides and many of their album tracks. The third disc featured rarities, plus previously unreleased material intended for unfinished LP from 1983.

Steve Wahrer was an American drummer and singer who is best known for being the co-lead vocalist in the rock band The Trashmen. He sung their hit song "Surfin' Bird", and also shared lead vocals with guitarist Tony Andreason.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Andreason</span> American Musician

Tony Andreason is an American guitarist and co lead vocalist of The Trashmen along with drummer Steve Wahrer, he is also known as the guitarist in the Platte Valley Boys. The Trashmen are best known for the song Surfin' Bird. Tony has also played in The Surf Dogs as well as several other bands.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music. Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 33. ISBN   1-904041-96-5.
  2. Unterberger, Richie. "The Astronauts Biography". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  3. Miguel Otárola, "Richard Caire, rock 'n' roll musician known as Kai-Ray, dies at 81", Star Tribune, June 24, 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2019
  4. "Trashmen". MinniePaulMusic.com. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  5. Scholtes, Peter S. (October 14, 1998). "Birdland Revisited". City Pages . Archived from the original on May 21, 2001.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. https://twincitiesmusichighlights.net/kay-bank/
  7. " The Trashmen – Surfin' Bird " at Discogs
  8. Koda, Cub. "The Trashmen Biography". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  9. "The Trashmen – Bird Call". Sundazed Records . Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  10. "Trashmen Drummer Steve Wahrer Dies At 47". AP News. Associated Press. January 23, 1989. Archived from the original on March 8, 2020.
  11. Simmonds, Jeremy (2008). The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Review Press. p. 252. ISBN   978-1556527548. Steve Wahrer (born November 22, 1941 in Minnesota – January 21, 1989)
  12. "The Trashmen Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  13. "The Trashmen | Billboard Albums". AllMusic . Archived from the original on December 28, 2010.
  14. "CHUM Hit Parade - January 27, 1964".
  15. "CHUM Hit Parade - March 23, 1964".