White Trash (metal band)
Encyclopedia
White Trash was a funk/hard rock/soul band from Queens, New York. They separated themselves from other bands in their genre with their horn section, called the Badass Brass, which gave them a very funky musical sound. They enjoyed some success in the early 90s before disbanding.
Friends Dave Alvin (vocals) and brothers Ethan (guitar) & Aaron Collins (Bass) formed the band in 1985 and first played together at Aaron's bar mitzvah, doing covers of popular heavy metal bands of the time. They used several different drummers until three years later, when Aaron's high school buddy Mike Caldarella joined. They signed to Elektra Records
in 1991 and released their self-titled debut album that same year.
The album was fairly successful, fueled by the video for "Apple Pie," which was in heavy rotation on MTV's
Buzz Bin
. The song reached #39 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, while the album charted at #122 on The Billboard 200. Despite this, they decided to split up because the Collins brothers and Caldarella were not happy with the musical direction the band was headed. While the band was on hiatus, the other single from their album, "The Crawl", was used as the theme song for MTV's The Jon Stewart Show
in 1993.
Alvin continued White Trash with an entirely new lineup in 1994. Craig LeBlang took over guitar duties, Eric Brodin handled the bass, & Dave Barckow sat behind the drum kit. They released Si O Si, Que?, which did not feature as much brass as on their debut album and it did not do as well as their first release. Two singles were released from the album ("Minor Happiness" & "Pig")& a tour with New Jersey band Spare Change, but by the time the album came out the music scene had changed radically due to influence of grunge rock and White Trash was viewed as too old school to be viable in the music industry.
White Trash disbanded until 2007 when the original line up got back together for a reunion show at the Crazy Donkey in Long Island, NY. The reaction was so good that the band reformed and played several more shows. In 2008 Dave Alvin and Aaron Collins decided to write new material and get everyone back in the studio to record a brand new album.
In March 2009 White Trash released 3D Monkeys in Space through Gotham Gold Music and the band is currently touring again.
Friends Dave Alvin (vocals) and brothers Ethan (guitar) & Aaron Collins (Bass) formed the band in 1985 and first played together at Aaron's bar mitzvah, doing covers of popular heavy metal bands of the time. They used several different drummers until three years later, when Aaron's high school buddy Mike Caldarella joined. They signed to Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
in 1991 and released their self-titled debut album that same year.
The album was fairly successful, fueled by the video for "Apple Pie," which was in heavy rotation on MTV's
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Buzz Bin
Buzz Bin
MTV's Buzz Bin was a select group of music videos by up and coming artists and bands that the network deemed "buzz worthy", "cutting edge", or "the next big thing"...
. The song reached #39 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, while the album charted at #122 on The Billboard 200. Despite this, they decided to split up because the Collins brothers and Caldarella were not happy with the musical direction the band was headed. While the band was on hiatus, the other single from their album, "The Crawl", was used as the theme song for MTV's The Jon Stewart Show
The Jon Stewart Show
The Jon Stewart Show was a short-lived talk show hosted by comedian Jon Stewart on MTV. It premiered in 1993 and became the second highest-rated program on the network behind Beavis and Butt-Head....
in 1993.
Alvin continued White Trash with an entirely new lineup in 1994. Craig LeBlang took over guitar duties, Eric Brodin handled the bass, & Dave Barckow sat behind the drum kit. They released Si O Si, Que?, which did not feature as much brass as on their debut album and it did not do as well as their first release. Two singles were released from the album ("Minor Happiness" & "Pig")& a tour with New Jersey band Spare Change, but by the time the album came out the music scene had changed radically due to influence of grunge rock and White Trash was viewed as too old school to be viable in the music industry.
White Trash disbanded until 2007 when the original line up got back together for a reunion show at the Crazy Donkey in Long Island, NY. The reaction was so good that the band reformed and played several more shows. In 2008 Dave Alvin and Aaron Collins decided to write new material and get everyone back in the studio to record a brand new album.
In March 2009 White Trash released 3D Monkeys in Space through Gotham Gold Music and the band is currently touring again.
Line-Ups
- Dave Alvin (vocals)
- Ethan Collins (guitar—1985-1991, 2007–present)
- Aaron Collins (bass—1985-1991, 2007–present)
- Mike Caldarella (drums—1988-1991, 2007–present)
- Craig LeBlang (Guitar—1993 - 1995, 2008-present)
- Eric Brodin (Bass—1993 - 1995)
- Dave Barckow (Drums—1993 - 1995)
Horns
- Brendan Stiles (Trumpet—first two albums)
- Chris Arbisi (Alto Saxophone—debut album & "3D Monkeys in Space")
- Terry Thomas (Tenor & Baritone Saxophone—debut album & "3D Monkeys in Space")
- Ed (Trombone -- "Si O Si Que?")
- Benjamin ClappBenjamin ClappBenjamin Clapp is an American musician from Boise, Idaho. He has performed, composed, and recorded music with numerous artists, most notably Jim Breuer, Jesse Blaze Snider and Baptized By Fire, Tom Marshall and Amfibian, Kronos Quartet, Erik Sanko and Skeleton Key, Dee Snider , David Peel , and...
(Trombone -- "3D Monkeys in Space") - Demian Rich (Trumpet -- "3D Monkeys in Space")
Studio albums
- White Trash, 1991
- Si O Si, Que?, 1994
- 3-D Monkeys in Space, 2009