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Junkyard (band)

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Junkyard
Junkyard performing in Spain in 2008
Junkyard performing in Spain in 2008
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresHard rock,[1] sleaze rock,[2] glam metal[3]
Years active1987–1992, 2000–present
LabelsAcetate, Geffen
MembersDavid Roach
Jimmy James
Patrick Muzingo
Todd Muscat
Tim Mosher
Past membersClay Anthony
Max Gottlieb
Johnny Hell
Brian Baker
Chris Gates
Websitejunkyardblooze.com

Junkyard is an American hard rock band formed in 1987 in Los Angeles, with members previously in Minor Threat, Big Boys, Decry and Dag Nasty.[1] The band drew comparisons with Guns N' Roses (which, like Junkyard, signed with Geffen Records).[4]

In 2017, the band released its latest album, High Water.

History

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Origins

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The original lineup of the band included several members who were not a part of the group by the time they began recording. Max Gottlieb was the original guitarist and songwriter, and the original drummer was Johnny Hell and skateboarder Tony Alva was also briefly in the band.[5] After these two left the group, the lineup stabilized around lead singer David Roach, guitarist Chris Gates, bassist Clay Anthony and drummer Patrick Muzingo. Brian Baker (guitar; ex-Dag Nasty/Minor Threat),[6] joined the band just prior to the recording of the first album.[7] Although the band was heavily influenced by Southern rock, Baker had told Sounds, "I hate the concept. I like that music, but I'm not into the rebel flag or the throwing up in your pickup truck."[8]

The band was signed by Geffen Records in January 1988,[9] with a self-titled Tom Werman-produced debut album issued in 1989, described by AllMusic as incorporating "elements of Southern rock, boogie-woogie, and AC/DCism into one compact sound."[6] The album featured the singles "Hollywood" and "Simple Man". This album was followed two years later by Sixes, Sevens & Nines, produced by Ed Stasium and featuring contributions from Steve Earle.[7][10] Anthony left the band shortly before the release of the second album amid drug problems,[11] to be replaced by Todd Muscat (brother of Faster Pussycat guitarist Brent Muscat).[7] The band was dropped by Geffen in 1992, with a third album recorded but not released, and disbanded shortly afterwards.[7] The unreleased third album was subsequently issued as XXX and The Joker.

Post-breakup/reformation

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Junkyard in 2009

Roach founded Borracho with members of Promise and Dogs D'Amour, while Gates formed 99 lbs.[9] Muzingo formed Catfish and later Battery Club.[9] Baker, who had already become a veteran of the punk rock scene prior to joining Junkyard, went on to join Bad Religion.

A live Junkyard album, Shut Up – We're Trying to Practice!, was issued in 2000, and Baker, Roach, Muzingo and Muscat reformed the band, with Tim Mosher (guitar/vocals) added to the lineup. A tour of Japan followed, with Dogs D'Amour guitarist Jo Dog added to the lineup for these dates.[9] The new lineup recorded the 2003 mini-album Tried and True, comprising a mixture of old and new songs.[7]

Since 2000, the band has toured Europe[12] twice, co-headlined the Serie Z festival (in the south of Spain) with acts that were very complimentary of the way the band should have been marketed (other bands on the festival were The Hellacopters, The Quireboys, The Wildhearts, Radio Birdman, Georgia Satellites, Michelle Gun Elephant, Nine Pound Hammer and Reverend Horton Heat),[13] and have played a handful of shows domestically in Austin, Tulsa, and Los Angeles to name a few.

In 2008, the band released an album of previously unreleased material, originally recorded for a 1987 demo that helped get them signed to Geffen. The album is titled Put It on Ten and Pull the Knobs Off![14]

On July 10, 2015, Junkyard released two new songs,[15] "Faded" b/w The River", on Unison Music Group, with a CD single and 7" vinyl following in late August.

On April 21, 2017,[16] the band released its first studio album in almost 20 years, High Water, on Acetate Records.

On November 22, 2019, Junkyard released a studio album recorded in 1992, Old Habits Die Hard.[16]

On September 10, 2021, Junkyard released another new single, "Lifer" b/w "Last of a Dying Breed".

Side projects

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Outside of Junkyard, members of the band remain actively involved in individual projects: Gates with his[17] solo outfit "Chris Gates and Gatesville", based out of Austin (Gates on Gatesville: "Once it got to be time to put a band together, fate and a bunch of mutual friends sent guitar wiz Tony Redman my way. Our first meeting was where Gatesville really began. The more we play together, the more we push each other and the music to see just what we can wring out of'er. The band went through a couple of line-up changes until we found Scott Womack on bass and Paul Soliz on drums. Once this line-up came together the band and the music took on a life of its own."); Baker with Bad Religion and Mosher with his outfit,[18] The Light Brigade.

Members

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Current

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  • David Roach – lead vocals (1987–1992, 2000–present)
  • Patrick Muzingo – drums (1987–1992, 2000–present)
  • Todd Muscat – bass (1991–1992, 2000–present)
  • Tim Mosher – guitar (2000–present)
  • Jimmy James – guitar (2017–present)

Former

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  • Max Gottlieb – lead guitar (1987)
  • Clay Anthony – bass (1987–1991) (died 2020)
  • Johnny Hell – drums (1987)
  • Chris Gates – guitar (1987–2009)
  • Brian Baker – lead guitar (1989–1992, 2006–2017)

Discography

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Albums

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Year Album US Billboard 200 Label
1989 Junkyard 105 Geffen
1991 Sixes, Sevens & Nines - Geffen
1998 Joker - Self-released
1998 XXX - Self-released
2017 High Water 24 (Billboard Hard Rock Album Sales thru May 13, 2017) Acetate Records

Other releases

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  • 2000: Shut Up – We're Trying to Practice! (live album)
  • 2003: Tried and True (EP)
  • 2008: Put It on Ten and Pull the Knobs Off! (compilation of previously unreleased material)

Singles

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Year Single Chart positions
US Hot 100 US Main Rock UK
1989 "Blooze" - - -
1989 "Hollywood" - - -
1989 "Simple Man" - 47 -
1991 "All the Time in the World" - 24 -
1991 "Misery Loves Company" - - -
1991 "Slippin' Away" - - -
1991 "Nowhere to Go But Down" - - -
2015 "Faded" - - -

References

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  1. ^ a b "Junkyard Biography", AllMusic
  2. ^ "KING SAVAGE Sign With Rock It Up Records / City Of Lights Records; New Track Streaming". BraveWords. June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  3. ^ McPadden, Mike. "The Hair Metal 100: Ranking the '80s Greatest Glam Bands, Part 2". VH1 News. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  4. ^ Washburn, Jim (1990) "At Least Junkyard Has Its Rehash Name Right", Los Angeles Times, January 8, 1990
  5. ^ "Former JUNKYARD Bassist CLAY ANTHONY Dies In Car Crash". Bravewords.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Franck, John "Junkyard – Junkyard Review", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation
  7. ^ a b c d e Larkin, Colin (2006) The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4
  8. ^ Andersen, Mark & Jenkins, Mark (2003) Dance of days: two decades of punk in the nation's capital, Akashic Books, ISBN 978-1-888451-44-3, p.289
  9. ^ a b c d Junkyard at MusicMight
  10. ^ Franck, John "Junkyard – Sixes, Sevens & Nines Review", AllMusic, Macrovision Corporation
  11. ^ Albert, John (2000) "Hardball: The really bad news Griffith Park Pirates", LA Weekly, October 19, 2000
  12. ^ "Junkyard Concert Setlists". Setlist.fm. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  13. ^ "Junkyard Setlist at Serie Z Festival 2003". Setlist.fm. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  14. ^ "Sleaze Roxx: Junkyard Releases CD of Early Recordings". Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  15. ^ "JUNKYARD Reveal Artwork, Release Date For New Single "Faded"". Bravewords.com. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  16. ^ a b "JUNKYARD – Acetate Records". Acetate.com. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  17. ^ "Chris Gates - Bio". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  18. ^ "The Light Brigade". Facebook.com. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
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