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The Trashmen are a rock band formed in MinneapolisMinnesota, in 1962.[1] The group's original lineup was Tony Andreason on lead guitar and vocals, Dal Winslow on guitar and vocals, Steve Wahrer on drums and vocals, and Bob Reed on bass guitar. The group played surf rock which included elements fromgarage rock.

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 [hide*1 "Surfin' Bird"

"Surfin' Bird"[edit][]

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 twoR&B hits by The Rivingtons, "The Bird's the Word" and "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow". The earliest pressings of the single credit the Trashmen as composers, but following a threat from The Rivingtons' legal counsel, that group was subsequently credited as composers.[2] The early single was credited solely to the drummer (and singer) – Steve Wahrer. The song was later re-recorded by artists including the RamonesThe CrampsSilverchair, The Psychotic Petunias, Pee-Wee HermanEquipe 84, and the thrash metal band Sodom. It has been used in filmmaking and television productions including, most notably, Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal JacketVince Vaughn's "Fred Claus"; John WatersPink FlamingosLyndall HobbsBack to the Beach (where Pee-Wee Herman sang it); and the soundtrack to the video game Battlefield Vietnam.

More recently, the song was the subject of the Family Guy episode "I Dream of Jesus", launching the song to No. 8 on the iTunes Top 10 Rock songs chart and No. 50 on the UK Singles Chart in 2009. Additionally, in 2010 a Facebook campaign was launched to get the song to No. 1 in the UK over Christmas; 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 19 December, at No. 3.

Later history[edit][]

The Trashmen went on to have other hit singles on the charts. In 1964, "Bird Dance Beat" reached No. 30 on the Billboard in the United States,[3] as well as becoming a top 10 hit in Canada, and a hit inBrazil.[citation needed] Five other Trashmen singles charted, and overall the group released fourteen singles. A four CD box set of their work was released on Sundazed.[4]

The group disbanded in 1967 but reunited in the 1980s, playing together until the death of Steve Wahrer, who died of cancer in 1989.[5] 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 Marc Andreason.

In 1999, The Trashmen played at The Las Vegas Grind and have played select gigs including Chicago (July 2007), Spain (September 2007), Chicago (November 2007), Wisconsin, and Cleveland (March 2008). They toured Europe 2009 with gigs in Germany, the NetherlandsFranceSpainBelgiumItaly, and Austria. Following up again in 2010, they added NorwaySweden and Finland to the mix.

As of 2013, they continue to tour extensively in Europe and they also play selected dates and festivals in the United States. The band recently recorded four tracks at Custom Recording Studios in Golden Valley, Minnesota with longtime fan and acclaimed guitarist Deke Dickerson for the Major Label record label, releasing a 7" 45 EP titled "I'm A Trashman" in March of 2013.

Discography[edit][]

Albums[edit][]

Year Album Label Reissue US 200
1963 Surfin' Bird Garrett Sundazed (1995) 48[6]
1965 Bird Dance Beat Garrett Soma (1996±)
1989 Comic Book Collector NPR
1990 Live Bird '65–'67 Sundazed
1992 Tube City!: The Best of the Trashmen Sundazed
1994 The Great Lost Trashmen Album Sundazed
1998 Bird Call!: The Twin City Stomp of the Trashmen Sundazed (4-CD box set)
2009 Teen Trot: Live At Ellsworth, WI, August 22, 1965 Sundazed

Singles[edit][]

Year Single B-side Peak positions Album
US UK
1963 "Surfin' Bird" "King of the Surf" 4 3 Surfin' Bird
1964 "Bird Dance Beat" "A-Bone" 30 "Bird Dance Beat"
1964 "Bad News" "On the Move" 124 "Bird 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"
2013 "I'm A Trashman" "Torture"/"Bop A Lena"/"Brewski" I'm A Trashman 45 EP
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