Mistrust (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington , United States |
| Products | Heavy metal music, Album: Spin the World (1986) |
Mistrust was a heavy metal group originating from Seattle, Washington, established in 1984. The ensemble consisted of lead vocalist Jeff L'Heureux, guitarists Owen Wright and Michael Winston, bassist Tim Wolfe, along with drummer Chris Gohde. Their sole album, Spin the World, initially came out in 1986 under C.O.M.A. Records and was later reissued by Heart of Steel Records in 2009.
Origins and Formation (1981–1984)
Prior to Mistrust, Jeff L'Heureux served as the frontman for Culprit, which released the album Guilty as Charged in 1983. Michael Winston and Tim Wolfe were members of Rottweiller, contributing to the 1984 compilation Northwest Metalfest, alongside acts such as Metal Church and Sato—the latter featuring future Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr. Winston and Wolfe departed from Rottweiller to join forces with guitarist Owen Wright, drummer Chris Gohde, and vocalist Kevin Wells in Mistrust’s original lineup. The band’s name was chosen to convey a powerful sense of prevailing skepticism. After Wells exited the group, they briefly collaborated with vocalist Howard Dee Gray, recording a four-track demo before his departure as well. Subsequently, Jeff L'Heureux agreed to perform vocals on their demo but initially refrained from joining as a permanent member due to commitments with Culprit.
Spin the World Era (1985–1988)
In 1985, Mistrust recorded the song "Running for My Life" featuring L'Heureux as a part-time contributor; this track later appeared on the compilation album Pacific Metal Project. Following Culprit’s dissolution, L'Heureux became a full-time member of Mistrust. Their debut album Spin the World was released in 1986 through C.O.M.A. Records, which led to supporting performances for artists such as Alice Cooper, Stryper, and Loudness. Despite these opportunities, the album did not achieve significant commercial success. After Winston’s departure in 1987, Kjartan Kristofferson—formerly of Culprit—briefly stepped in as guitarist. The band continued to perform live but ultimately disbanded by 1988.
Aftermath and Reunion (1988–present)
Following the breakup of Mistrust, Owen Wright and Chris Gohde formed My Sister’s Machine alongside singer-guitarist Nick Pollock—who had ties to an early incarnation of Alice in Chains—and bassist Chris Ivanovich. This group released two albums: Diva and Wallflower, before disbanding in 1994. Subsequently, Wright established Old Lady Litterbug with vocalist Dan Kreuger, bassist Nick Rhinehart, and drummer Thomas Nadeau; they issued the EP KMG-365 in 1998.
In 2009, Mistrust reunited at Seattle’s Feedback Lounge to celebrate the inaugural CD edition of Spin the World issued by Heart of Steel Records. More than ten years later, an expanded version containing three previously unreleased tracks from 1987 was released on both CD and vinyl by N.W. Metalworx in late 2022. That November also saw the release of a four-song demo featuring Howard Dee Gray titled You Can't Run Away from Love on Bandcamp, followed by a CD release in 2023.
Members
- Owen Wright – guitar (1984–1987)
- Tim Wolfe – bass guitar (1984–1987)
- Chris Gohde – drums (1984–1987)
- Michael Winston – guitar (1984–1987)
- Kevin Wells – lead vocals (1984)
- Howard Dee Gray – lead vocals (1985)
- Jeff L'Heureux – lead vocals (1985–1987; deceased 2023)
- Kjartan Kristoffersen – guitar (1987)
Discography
- Studio Albums
- Spin the World (1986)
- Demo Recordings
- You Can't Run Away from Love (2023)
- Additional Contributions
| Year | Track | Compilation | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Running for Life" | Pacific Metal Project | Restless Records |