White Trash

White Trash

White Trash is a rock band from Bristol, UK. The group first plays together in 1984 at a bar mitzvah, performing Judas Priest covers, and later becomes known as a live act in New York City. The band’s line-up changes repeatedly over time, with frontman Dave Alvin remaining the central figure across different versions of the group.

Style and live approach

The band moves from straight hard rock towards progressive funk, and its live performances often include theatrical elements. Alvin is known for stage behaviour that includes smashing televisions, throwing money into the crowd, handing out White Castle hamburgers, and destroying stuffed animals. As the sound develops, the group expands from backup singers to a horn section, and The Bad Ass Brass — Chris Arbisi, Terry Thomas and Brendan Stiles — become part of its live identity.

Recordings and releases

White Trash signs to Elektra Records and releases its self-titled debut album in 1991. The album is produced by George Drakoulias and engineered by Brendan O’Brien. It is driven by the single “Apple Pie”, which gains heavy MTV Buzz Bin rotation, reaches number 39 on Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and helps the album reach number 122 on The Billboard 200. Another single, “The Crawl”, later serves as the theme for MTV’s The Jon Stewart Show and also appears on Headbanger’s Ball.

After the original line-up splits because of musical differences, Dave Alvin continues White Trash with a new group in 1992, featuring Craig LeBlang on guitar, Eric Brodin on bass and Dave Barckow on drums. This line-up releases Si O Si, Que? in 1993, produced by Daniel Ray and engineered by Mark Dearnly and Bryce Goggins. The album yields the singles “Minor Happiness” and “Pig”, and “Minor Happiness” also has a video.

Later activity

The original band reforms in 2007, prompting the release of 3D Monkeys in Space. White Trash continues with a changing line-up and releases its fourth studio album, Suburban Purgatory, in 2015. The group also plans further projects and a collection of lost tracks.