Playlist Ref. [show.track]: 1.1 ; 3.8 ; #15
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The Trashmen were Tony Andreason (lead guitar, b. 1943),
Dan Winslow (guitar/vocals, b. 1942), Bob Reed (bass, b. 1942) and Steve Wahrer
(drums/vocals, b. 1942).
Hailing from Minneapolis the band evolved from Jim Thaxter & The Travelers,
recording a single ("Sally Jo"/"Cyclone") in 1960 under that name.
Unfairly depicted as a novelty act (Agreed, the band were highly professional, - Ed.), The Trashmen were a top-notch rock & roll combo,
enormously popular on the teen-club circuit, playing primarily surf music in Minnesota.
Steve Wahrer combined two songs by the Rivingtons ("The Bird's the Word"
and "Pa Pa Ooh Mow Mow"), added freakish vocal effects and a pounding rhythm to
the mix, and, by early 1964, the group was in the Top Ten nationwide with
"Surfin' Bird."
Though the group continued to release great follow-up singles and an excellent
album, their moment in the sun had come and gone; they disbanded by
late 1967/early 1968.
They re-formed in the mid-'80s and continued to play locally until Wahrer's
death due to throat cancer at the age of 47 in 1989.
The remaining three members still play sporadically today.
Links ...
Brief history of the group
Sincere fan page (beware: automatic sound, long download)
Complete Trashmen discography
