The Leaving Trains
Encyclopedia
The Leaving Trains were an American indie rock
band from Los Angeles
, California
. The Leaving Trains were founded in 1980 by Falling James Moreland, a frontman who became known for his chaotic performances and penchant for cross-dressing. Falling James had previously been a member of punk rock bands The Mongrels and The Downers before assembling the group with guitarist Manfred Hofer, bassist Tom Hofer, keyboardist Sylvia Juncosa
and drummer Hillary Laddin. They played locally for three years before releasing their first album, Well Down Blue Highway, in 1984.
Following their Kill Tunes LP (1985) for SST Records
, Mike Barnett and Eric Stringer replaced the Hofer brothers in the group's lineup.
Next came Fuck (SST, 1987)
,Transportational D. Vices (SST, 1988), and the Loser Illusion EP.
Sometime during the 1980s Falling James was married to Courtney Love
for a short while.
In 1991 Moreland briefly disbanded The Leaving Trains to form The Power of Sky. Along with Power of Sky's bassist, Whitey Sims, Moreland reassembled a new Leaving Trains with Bobby Belltower (who had briefly played in the previous incarnation of the band) and Lenny Montoya. This lineup produced the 1993 album The Lump in My Forehead, but soon after Chaz Ramirez and Dennis Carlin took over on bass and drums, respectively. Ramirez died in an accident in 1995, shortly after the release of The Big Jinx, and Moreland was kicked out of the group, after which he formed a new band under the same name with Melanie Vammen on keyboards, Jimmy Green on Bass, and Allen Clark on drums. This lineup yielded Smoke Follows Beauty in 1997. The Leaving Train's last studio album, Emotional Legs, features a variety of musicians: Melanie Vammen (now on guitar), Dennis Carlin, Maddog Karla, Miss Koko Puff, Andrew Buscher, Allen Clark, and Jimi Green. Emotional Legs was released on Steel Cage Records Steel Cage Records in 2001. The Leaving Trains, that same year, would also do their final live performance at The Knitting Factory in Hollywood as a backup band for Australian punk pioneer Rob Younger
, performing songs Younger had done with Radio Birdman
and The New Christs. In 2005, Steel Cage Records released a live Leaving Trains album called Amplified Pillows.
Mark Lanegan
of the Screaming Trees
has cited their first album, Well Down Blue Highway as a major inspiration.
Moreland is currently a music writer for the L.A. Weekly and no longer performs music. Rumors that Moreland would start a new Leaving Trains with the Hofer brothers have circulated, but as of 2011 no plans for a new Leaving Trains have come to fruition.
Later members
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The Leaving Trains were founded in 1980 by Falling James Moreland, a frontman who became known for his chaotic performances and penchant for cross-dressing. Falling James had previously been a member of punk rock bands The Mongrels and The Downers before assembling the group with guitarist Manfred Hofer, bassist Tom Hofer, keyboardist Sylvia Juncosa
Sylvia Juncosa
Sylvia Juncosa is an American punk and metal guitarist, singer, songwriter and keyboardist from Los Angeles. Noted primarily for her guitar work, during the 1980s she was among relatively few women with established aggressive rock guitar credibility...
and drummer Hillary Laddin. They played locally for three years before releasing their first album, Well Down Blue Highway, in 1984.
Following their Kill Tunes LP (1985) for SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, Mike Barnett and Eric Stringer replaced the Hofer brothers in the group's lineup.
Next came Fuck (SST, 1987)
,Transportational D. Vices (SST, 1988), and the Loser Illusion EP.
Sometime during the 1980s Falling James was married to Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
for a short while.
In 1991 Moreland briefly disbanded The Leaving Trains to form The Power of Sky. Along with Power of Sky's bassist, Whitey Sims, Moreland reassembled a new Leaving Trains with Bobby Belltower (who had briefly played in the previous incarnation of the band) and Lenny Montoya. This lineup produced the 1993 album The Lump in My Forehead, but soon after Chaz Ramirez and Dennis Carlin took over on bass and drums, respectively. Ramirez died in an accident in 1995, shortly after the release of The Big Jinx, and Moreland was kicked out of the group, after which he formed a new band under the same name with Melanie Vammen on keyboards, Jimmy Green on Bass, and Allen Clark on drums. This lineup yielded Smoke Follows Beauty in 1997. The Leaving Train's last studio album, Emotional Legs, features a variety of musicians: Melanie Vammen (now on guitar), Dennis Carlin, Maddog Karla, Miss Koko Puff, Andrew Buscher, Allen Clark, and Jimi Green. Emotional Legs was released on Steel Cage Records Steel Cage Records in 2001. The Leaving Trains, that same year, would also do their final live performance at The Knitting Factory in Hollywood as a backup band for Australian punk pioneer Rob Younger
Rob Younger
Rob Younger is an Australian rock musician, vocalist and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the influential Sydney-based punk rock group Radio Birdman, which formed in 1974. After the Radio Birdman break-up, Younger joined the super-group, New Race, who were active in 1981...
, performing songs Younger had done with Radio Birdman
Radio Birdman
Radio Birdman was one of the first punk bands in Australia along with The Saints. Deniz Tek and Rob Younger formed the group in Sydney, Australia in 1974...
and The New Christs. In 2005, Steel Cage Records released a live Leaving Trains album called Amplified Pillows.
Mark Lanegan
Mark Lanegan
Mark Lanegan is an American rock musician and songwriter. Lanegan began his music career in the 1980s, forming the grunge group Screaming Trees with Gary Lee Conner, Van Conner and Mark Pickerel. During his time in the band Lanegan would start a low-key solo career...
of the Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees
Screaming Trees was an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington in 1985 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bass player Van Conner and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the time the band reached its most successful period...
has cited their first album, Well Down Blue Highway as a major inspiration.
Moreland is currently a music writer for the L.A. Weekly and no longer performs music. Rumors that Moreland would start a new Leaving Trains with the Hofer brothers have circulated, but as of 2011 no plans for a new Leaving Trains have come to fruition.
Members
Original lineup- James Moreland - vocals
- Manfred Hofer - guitar
- Tom Hofer - bass
- Sylvia JuncosaSylvia JuncosaSylvia Juncosa is an American punk and metal guitarist, singer, songwriter and keyboardist from Los Angeles. Noted primarily for her guitar work, during the 1980s she was among relatively few women with established aggressive rock guitar credibility...
- keyboards - Hillary Laddin - drums
Later members
- Mike Barnett - guitar
- Eric Stringer - bass
- Bobby Belltower - guitar
- Lenny Montoya - drums
- Whitey Sims - bass
- Chaz Ramirez - bass
- Dennis Carlin - drums
- Melanie Vammen - keyboards
- Jimmy Green - bass
- Jack RabidThe Big TakeoverThe Big Takeover is a bi-annual music magazine published out of New York City since 1980 by critic Jack Rabid.-Overview:The Big T usually appears in June and December, with most recent issues coming in around 200 pages. The review section, featuring Jack’s Top 40 for the issue, is regularly 60-80...
- drums - Allen Clark - drums
- Sam Merrick - guitar
- John Anglim - drums
Discography
- Well Down Blue Highway (Bemisbrain/Enigma RecordsEnigma RecordsEnigma Records was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. It was initially a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/distributor, which it split-off from in 1985 to become its own company...
, 1984) - Kill Tunes (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1986) - Fuck (SST, 1987)
- Transportational D. Vices (SST, 1988)
- Sleeping Underwater Survivors (SST, 1991)
- Loser Illusion Pt. 0 EP (SST, 1991)
- The Lump in My Forehead (SST, 1993)
- The Big Jinx (SST, 1994)
- Drowned and Dragged EP (SST, 1995)
- Smoke Follows Beauty (SST, 1997)
- Favorite Mood Swings compilation (SST, 1998)
- Emotional Legs (Steel Cage, 2001)
- Amplified Pillows (Steel Cage Records)