The Toasters

Biography

The Toasters are one of the original American third wave of ska bands. Founded in New York City in 1981, the band has released nine studio albums, primarily through Moon Ska Records.

History

Englishman Robert Hingley relocated to New York City in 1980, where he managed that city's Forbidden Planet comic book store location. Hingley formed the Toasters in 1981 after seeing the Beat perform at the Roseland Ballroom.
The group's first live show was supporting Bad Brains at A7 in 1981. One of the original second-wave ska bands, the early Toasters lineup included other employees of the Forbidden Planet store.
The group self-released their first single, "Beat Up", in 1983. They recorded their Joe Jackson-produced debut EP, Recriminations×Recriminations2013 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Recriminations3:15A2Razor Cut3:30B1Run Rudy Run4:11B2Radiation Skank2:06, in 1985. After failing to find a label to release it, Hingley formed his own label Moon Ska Records.
The group collaborated further with Jackson on later albums and in live shows. Jackson had known Hingley since 1978, and appeared on some Toasters albums under the pseudonym Stanley Turpentine. Then later the group expanded with the addition of a brass section. Their first full-length album, Skaboom!×Skaboom!June 1987 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracksA1Talk Is Cheap3:53A2Pool Shark3:50A3Weekend In L.A.4:25A4Shocker!4:33A5Toast on the Coast2:14B1Manipulator3:32B2Mr. Trouble3:27B3ABC's2:57B4East Side Beat3:48B5Now or Never3:22B6So Long, Buck1:13, was released in 1987.

Many members

Hingley has been the only constant member in the band. While the band's lineup has seen many changes, regular contributors included Coolie Ranx (vocals), Matt Malles (bass), Dave Barry (keyboards), Johnnathan McCain (drums), "Rocksteady" Freddie Reiter (saxophone), Brian Sledge (trumpet), and both Rick "Chunk" Faulkner and Erick "E-Man" Storckman on trombone.
Veteran Jamaican saxophonist Lester Sterling has made several guest appearances, and Deejay Andrew "Jack Ruby Jr." Lindo, son of Jamaican producer Jack Ruby, was also a long-time member.
Reiter joined the Toasters after playing in the New York Citizens, who had supported the Toasters on tour. Trombonist Buford O'Sullivan joined around 2000 after leaving The Scofflaws. Faulkner and Reiter went on to form the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble. The band now consists of a revolving cast of musicians, with Hingley as the central and only consistent member.

After Moon Ska Records

In 2004 Moon Ska Records collapsed, and Hingley has been based in Valencia, Spain. He started the Megalith label, which has since been the band's home. The Toasters still perform around the world, and in 2007 they celebrated their 25th anniversary with a new studio album, One More Bullet×One More Bullet2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1What a Gwan3:512Night Train to Moscow2:243Where’s the Freedom?2:374Life in a Bubble3:235Run Rudy Run Redux4:396You’re Gonna Pay2:587Bits and Pieces1:528When Will I Be Loved2:449One More Bullet3:3010Step Up (instrumental)2:4411El Chopo3:5912Blues Bros. Outro1:34. In 2011 they undertook a 30th anniversary world tour.

Musical style

The Toasters blend ska with pop music, rap, R&B, and calypso. Their mixed-race lineup has seen them break through with both black and white audiences in the US.

Other appearances

The Toasters experienced a small degree of commercial success in the late 1990s due to the popularity of third wave ska in North America. Their song "Two-Tone Army" is the theme song for the Nickelodeon show KaBlam!. The song is performed by the 'Moon Ska Stompers' - members of the Toasters and friends.
The Toasters song "Skaternity" was used for the end credits of KaBlam! during most of season 1, while "Everything You Said Has Been A Lie" was used for the end credits during seasons 2-4. Their song "Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down×Don't Let the Bastards Grind You DownOctober 1997 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down2:512Fire in My Soul3:543I'm Running Right Through the World3:504Underground Town3:295Gimme Some Lovin'2:346Devil and a .453:377Daddy Cry3:178Today's a Good Day3:169Jackie Chan3:5910Rude, Rude Baby2:2911Everything You Said Has Been a Lie2:3312Spooky Graveyard4:0213Big Red4:0714Bye, Bye Baby4:4015Weekend in L.A.4:1616Woyay3:1117Rhythm and Pain1:54" appeared in the pilot episode of the animated series Mission Hill.
The Toasters have recorded background music for many TV commercials, including for America Online and Coca-Cola. Members of the Toasters performed on King Django's 1998 album Roots and Culture.

Shows

In 1998 the Toasters were part of the 'Ska Against Racism' tour, along with the Blue Meanies, Five Iron Frenzy, and Less Than Jake.

Compilations

1990: T-Time
1995: Ska Killers
1996: History Book
1998: History Book 1987-1998
2000: The Best Of...
2003: In Retrospect
2007: Ska is Dead

Live albums

1990: Frankenska
1993: Live In LA
1998: Live In London
2003: en Caracas

EPs

Recriminations (1985), Moon Ska
The East-Side Beat EP (1987), Moon Ska
Live In Sao Paulo Brazil (2002), Grover

Singles

"Beat Up": "The Beat"/"Brixton Beat" (1984), Moon Ska
"Don't Say Forever" (1990), Pork Pie
"Chuck Berry"/"Maxwell Smart" (1995), Moon Ska
"Dub 56×Dub 5623 August 1994 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 19 tracks1Direction2:432Freedom4:063Mona3:054Dancin'3:285Dub 562:456Sweet Cherie3:527Tunisia2:368Little Hidden Secrets2:499Marlboro Man2:5010Ain't Nuthin'3:1211Razor Cut3:1412Midnight Hour2:3113Weekend in L.A. (live)4:1214History Book (live)3:4215Decision at Midnight (live)3:5216Mona (live)3:0517Thrill Me Up (live)3:5918Shebeen (live)4:1319East Side Beat (live)5:38" (1995), Stubborn
"Dog Eat Dog×Dog Eat Dog2000 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Dog Eat Dog4:212Social Security3:013Why Oh Why4:084Barney3:28" (2000), Grover
"You're Gonna Pay!" (2006), Megalith
"House Of Soul" (2013), Megalith
"Ska Jerk" (2018), Tighten Up
Split singles

"Talk Is Cheap" (1987), Moon Ska - split with Beat Brigade
"The Stage" (1997), Island - promo only, split with Fishbone

Members

Robert "Bucket" Hingley: vocals, guitar
Tim Karns: bass
Larry Ace: drums
Nathan Koch: saxophone
Gilbert Covarrubias: trombone

Past members

Josemi Martínez: drums
Alex Bochetto: drums
Jon Degen: saxophone
Logan La Barbera: trombone
Carlos "Charlos" Menezes: saxophone & trombone
Robbie "Fancy" LaFalce: Drums [ex. Miasmics]
Steve "the Basement" Russo: drums
Chappman "Choppah" Sowash: trombone
Thaddeus Merritt: bass
Jesse Hayes: drums
Arjen "Rotterdam Ska-Jazz Foundation" Bijleveld: trombone
Neil "Lonestar" Johnson: saxophone
Jason "Jah-Son" Nwagbaraocha - bass, vocals
Dan "Duckie" Garrido - drums
Jeff Richey - saxophone (alto and baritone)
Mike "Philly" Armstrong - tenor saxophone
Greg Robinson - trombone
Lionel Bernard - vocals
Adam "Prince Beaver" Birch - trombone, trumpet
Tim Champeau - trumpet
John "Skoidat Sr." Chapman - saxophone
Mark Darini - bass
Sean Dinsmore - vocals
Brian Emrich - bass
Gary Eye - percussion (original member)
Rick "Chunk" Faulkner - trombone
Paul "Spondoulix" Gephardt - alto saxophone
Donald "The Kid" Guillaume - drums
Gregory D Grinnell - trumpet (1985–1988), bass (1988–1990)
Ann Hellandsjo - trombone
Steve Hex - keyboards (founding member)
Scott Jarvis - drums (founding member)
Dan Jesselsohn - bass
Neil Johnson - saxophones
Danny Johnson - drums
Tim Karns - bass
Ivan Katz - drums
Matt Malles - bass
Johnnathan "JMac" McCain - drums
Kashu (Cashew) Miles - vocals
Andrew "Jack Ruby Jr." Lindo - vocals
Fred "Rock Steady Freddie" Reiter - saxophone
Ron Ragona - guitar, vocals
Marcel Reginato - alto saxophone
Nilda Richards - trombone
Mo Roberts - drums
Vicky Rose - bass, vocals (founding member)
Jim Seely - trumpet
Brian Sledge - trumpet, vocals
Erick E. "E-Man" Storckman - trombone
Obi-Ajula "Coolie Ranx" Ugbomah - vocals
Big Steve Carroll - vocals
Dave Waldo - keyboards, vocals
Pablo D. "The Professor" Wright - vocals
Chris Rhodes - trombone
Ozzy "The Wiz" Cardona - trumpet (1988-1990)
Larry "Ace" Snell - drums
Anthony Vito - drums
Lluís Martínez: Drums
Dave Barry: Keyboards
Ade McSpade- guitar.
Teddy McSpade- guitar.
Woody Bond- drums.
Peter Burkis- great guy.