Trust Company (band)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States |
| Founder | Kevin Palmer, Jason Singleton |
| Headquarters | Montgomery , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Kevin Palmer (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Jason Singleton (drums), James Fukai (lead guitar), Josh Moates (bass guitar) |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Number of employees | 4 (core band members) |
Trust Company—also stylized as TRUSTcompany and TRUST*CO—is a rock group originating from Montgomery, Alabama, United States. Established in 1997 by guitarist and lead singer Kevin Palmer alongside drummer Jason Singleton, the band has achieved global sales exceeding one million albums. Their most recognized track is the 2002 hit "Downfall".
Origins and The Lonely Position of Neutral (1997–2002)
The band initially formed in Montgomery, Alabama in 1997 under the name 41Down, with founding members Kevin Palmer (vocals/guitar) and Jason Singleton (drums). They subsequently expanded by adding bassist Josh Moates and guitarist James Fukai. After cultivating a regional fanbase and issuing demos plus a self-titled album, they secured a contract with major label Geffen Records. To prevent confusion with the Canadian group Sum 41, they adopted the name Trust Company on March 3, 2002.
Their first full-length album, The Lonely Position of Neutral, was released on July 23, 2002. It garnered positive critical and commercial response, propelled by the lead single "Downfall", which received substantial airplay on MTV2 and charted on the Billboard listings. Subsequent singles "Running from Me" and "The Fear" attained moderate chart positions. The album earned gold certification from the RIAA and facilitated tours with prominent acts such as Thirty Seconds to Mars, Papa Roach, Korn, and Disturbed during the 2002 Pop Sux Tour.
True Parallels era and hiatus (2003–2006)
Originally slated to perform at Ozzfest in 2003, Trust Company was withdrawn by their label to prioritize completing their sophomore album, True Parallels, which eventually launched on March 22, 2005, following an 8 to 10-month postponement. Prior to this release, bassist Josh Moates exited and was succeeded by Walker Warren. Despite minimal promotional support from their label, the album debuted at number 32 on the Billboard charts and achieved sales surpassing 200,000 units. The album’s sole single, "Stronger," found moderate success on mainstream rock radio stations. Drummer Jason Singleton mentioned that "The War is Over" was considered for release as a second single.
In August 2005, the band entered a hiatus to explore individual projects. Palmer and Moates created Amity Lane, which released The Sound of Regret on October 31, 2006. Palmer later disclosed that this album was an informal endeavor recorded digitally without professional studio involvement. Concurrently, Singleton contributed drums to various Montgomery-based bands while James Fukai rejoined his previous group Hematovore.
Reformation, Dreaming in Black and White, and subsequent inactivity (2007–present)
On August 11, 2007, original members Palmer, Moates, Singleton, and Fukai announced their reunion with intentions to perform in Montgomery, Alabama and to produce a new album targeted for release in 2008. By March 2008, demo tracks titled "Waking Up" and "Stumbling" were shared via Myspace alongside limited edition CDs containing rare recordings distributed at live shows.
Following this period, Moates departed once more; Eric Salter filled the bassist role but left in 2009, after which Wes Cobb joined as bassist.
In late 2010, Trust Company embarked on a U.S. tour promoting "Heart in My Hands," the lead single from their third studio album Dreaming in Black and White, which was released on March 8, 2011. The single became available on iTunes on October 5, 2010; its accompanying music video debuted December 15 featuring Rachel Bolan of Skid Row. The band supported the album with a tour alongside Drowning Pool.
Since around 2015, Trust Company's social media presence has been minimal except for posts in March 2017 celebrating The Lonely Position of Neutral. On October 16, 2017, their official Twitter account confirmed that work on a new album was underway; this update was reiterated in February 2020 without announcements regarding touring activities.
The founding lineup reunited for a performance at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in 2023.
Musical style
Trust Company is commonly associated with the genres of alternative metal, nu metal, hard rock, and alternative rock.
Members
Current lineup
- Kevin Palmer – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1997–2005, 2007–present)
- James Fukai – lead guitar, backing vocals (1997–2005, 2007–present)
- Jason Singleton – drums, backing vocals (1997–2005, 2007–present)
- Josh Moates – bass guitar (1997–2004, 2007–2008, 2022–present)
Past members
- Walker Warren – bass (2004–2005)
- Eric Salter – bass (2008–2009)
- Wes Cobb – bass and backing vocals (2009–2011)
Discography
- Studio albums
| Album information | Chart rankings | Sales figures | Accolades |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
The Lonely Position of Neutral
|
11 |
|
|
True Parallels
|
32 |
|
|
Dreaming in Black and White
|
175 |
- Compilation album
In 2010, Trust Company released an exclusive compilation containing unreleased demos and rare tracks unavailable on previous albums. This collection was distributed through Myspace alongside merchandise purchases. It features original compositions as well as cover versions such as "Rock the Casbah" and "Time After Time."
- Singles
| Year | Title | Chart rankings | Associated album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 |
US Alternative |
US Mainstream Rock |
UK | |||
| 2002 | "Downfall" | 91 | 6 | 6 | 89 | The Lonely Position of Neutral |
| "Running from Me" | — | 22 | 24 | — | ||
| 2003 | "The Fear" | — | — | — | — | |
| 2005 | "Stronger" | — | 20 | 22 | — | True Parallels |
| 2010 | "Heart in My Hands" | — | — | — | — | Dreaming in Black and White |
A dash ("—") denotes singles that did not enter the charts.