Gruntruck
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Founder | Ben McMillan, Norman Scott |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Gruntruck was a grunge band originating from Seattle, Washington in 1989, founded by vocalist Ben McMillan and drummer Norman Scott, both of whom had previously been members of the early Seattle group Skin Yard. Norman Scott also had a brief tenure with Soundgarden and collaborated with Chris Cornell in the project Bass Truck. The classic lineup was completed by lead guitarist Tommy Niemeyer, formerly of the crossover thrash band The Accüsed, and bassist Tim Paul, who had played with the Portland hardcore punk band Final Warning.
Musically, Gruntruck embraced a heavier metal influence within the grunge genre. In 2017, the publication Metal Injection placed them fourth on their ranking of "10 Heaviest Grunge Bands."
History
During their time touring with Skin Yard, Ben McMillan and Norman Scott composed a song that sparked the idea of forming a new group. They merged elements from Bass Truck's style with fresh compositions and brought Tim Paul on board as bassist. The name Gruntruck was selected by Ben while browsing records.
Their first album, Inside Yours (1990), was recorded for Seattle’s Empty Records and produced by Jack Endino and Gary King of Skin Yard. This album was simultaneously released in Germany through Musical Tragedies. The music video for "Not a Lot to Save" achieved rotation on MTV.
In 1991, after serving as the opening act for Pearl Jam during the filming of "Even Flow," Gruntruck secured a multi-album contract with Roadrunner Records, who re-released Inside Yours that same year.
The band’s sophomore effort, Push, again produced by Endino and King, came out in 1992 under Roadrunner Records and was also licensed in Japan via Appolon Records. The song "Tribe" was included on the soundtrack for the film PCU and received airplay on MTV programs such as Headbangers Ball.
Gruntruck toured extensively across the United States and Canada alongside Alice in Chains in late 1992, followed by a European tour with Pantera in early 1993. Following these tours, Tim Paul departed and was succeeded by Alex Sibbald from The Accüsed.
The "Crazy Love" video garnered substantial MTV exposure and earned favorable commentary on the show Beavis and Butt-Head. After an intense U.S. tour schedule, drummer Norman Scott left the band, with Josh Sinder—also from The Accüsed—taking over drum duties.
By 1996, despite reaching their peak popularity, Gruntruck encountered financial difficulties related to their contract with Roadrunner. When PolyGram offered $1 million to buy out their contract, Roadrunner declined. Advised legally, Gruntruck filed for bankruptcy to free themselves from the contract; Roadrunner responded with litigation aiming to prevent this move. This dispute became a significant legal case influencing music industry contract law. Ultimately, the court ruled in favor of Gruntruck; however, the prolonged legal battle imposed financial hardships on the band.
That same year, the lineup consisting of Ben McMillan, Tommy Niemeyer, Alex Sibbald, and Josh Sinder released a three-track EP titled Shot via Betty Records, once more working with producers Endino and King. Efforts to revitalize their career included a prominent showcase in Los Angeles attended by major label A&R representatives; nevertheless, Ben’s unconventional stage presence confused executives, resulting in no new record deal.
In 1997, the original members reunited locally to develop new material while also engaging in side project Mona Diesel. These sessions formed the foundation for their third album. Over a two-year period, they recorded their self-titled third album across five studios in Seattle with producers Jack Endino and Martin Feveyear (known for work with Mudhoney and Screaming Trees).
As they prepared for its release, Gruntruck increased live performances but paused activities in 2003 to support Ben McMillan’s recovery from health challenges.
Ben McMillan passed away at age 46 due to complications related to diabetes on January 26, 2008.
The finished third album remained unreleased until 2016 when Jack Endino presented it to Found Recordings’ Scott Blum. This collection—often referred to as 'Phoenix'—which included tracks from the Mona Diesel era, was officially released on October 13, 2017. Surviving original members reunited for limited concerts celebrating McMillan’s legacy.
Members
- Ben McMillan – lead vocals, guitar (1989–2003, deceased)
- Tom Niemeyer – guitar (1989–2003, 2017)
- Tim Paul – bass guitar (1989–1993, 1997–2003, 2017)
- Norman Scott – drums (1989–1993, 1997–2003, 2017)
- Alex Sibbald – bass guitar (1993–1996)
- Josh Sinder – drums (1993–1996)
Studio albums
- 1990: Inside Yours (empty Records/Roadrunner Records)
- 1992: Push (Roadrunner Records)
- 2017: Gruntruck (The Phoenix Record) (Found Recordings)
Singles & EPs
- 1992: "Tribe" (Roadrunner Records)
- 1992: "Above Me" (Roadrunner Records)
- 1992: "Crazy Love" (Roadrunner Records)
- 1996: Shot EP (Betty Records)
- 2017: "Bar Fly" (Found Recordings)
Compilations
- 1991: Another Damned Seattle Compilation (Dashboard Hula Girl Records)
- 2005: The All-Star Sessions (Roadrunner Records) – featuring Tommy Niemeyer as a member of Gruntruck