Wire Train
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Kevin Hunter, Kurt Herr |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Alternative rock music, albums |
Wire Train was an alternative rock group originating from San Francisco that produced six albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
History
The band initially formed in 1982 under the name Renegades, created by San Francisco State University students Kevin Hunter and Kurt Herr. The lineup later solidified with the addition of Federico Gil Solá from Argentina and Anders Rundblad from Sweden. In 1983, they adopted the name Wire Train. Their first album featured Rundblad on bass and vocals, Gil Solá on drums, Hunter handling vocals and guitar, and Herr contributing vocals and guitar. Prior to joining, Rundblad had been involved with Swedish groups Motvind and Gary T'To Band.
In June 1983, Wire Train signed a contract with the local label 415 Records, which arranged national distribution through a partnership with Columbia Records. Their debut record, In a Chamber, was produced by David Kahne at The Automatt studio in San Francisco and released late that year. It gained traction on U.S. college radio charts in 1984. During this period, the band toured as the opening act for Big Country.
Before recording their second album, Between Two Words, Brian MacLeod replaced Gil Solá on drums. Meanwhile, Herr departed during the sessions and was succeeded by Jeff Trott, formerly of the Lifers. The album was produced by Peter Maunu in Vienna and released in 1985. Their third studio effort, Ten Women (1987), recorded in London with Tim Palmer producing, included a guest spot by Dave Sharp of the Alarm. Notably, its single "She Comes On" was banned by the BBC.
Following a European tour in 1987, Wire Train took a two-year break to negotiate their release from Columbia Records. During this hiatus, Trott joined World Party, while MacLeod collaborated with Toy Matinee.
After signing with MCA Records, they issued Wire Train in 1990 and followed up with No Soul No Strain in 1992. The latter album, produced by Bill Bottrell, reached number 43 on the Billboard 200 chart.
In 1993, MCA declined to release their subsequent project titled Snug, describing it as "too weird." This album eventually saw a digital release in April 2009.
Columbia released a compilation CD called Last Perfect Thing... A Retrospective in 1996. Early editions mistakenly contained an uncredited track later removed from subsequent pressings.
Wire Train briefly reunited in 2003 for VH1's Band Reunited (which was never aired) and again in 2009 for a short California tour coinciding with the digital launch of Snug. Kevin Hunter mentioned another collection recorded during the same period as Snug, tentatively named Electric, although no new album has been issued since then.
Band Members
Most recent members
- Kevin Hunter – vocals, guitar (1983–1993, 2003, 2009)
- Anders Rundblad – bass guitar, vocals (1983–1993, 2003, 2009)
- Jeff Trott – guitar, backing vocals (1985–1993, 2003, 2009)
- Brian MacLeod – drums (1985–1992, 2003, 2009)
Former members
- Kurt Herr – vocals, guitar (1983–1985)
- Federico Gil Solá – drums (1983–1985)
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id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
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BarData =
bar:Kevin text:"Kevin Hunter" bar:Kurt text:"Kurt Herr" bar:Jeff text:"Jeff Trott" bar:Anders text:"Anders Rundblad" bar:Federico text:"Federico Gil Solá" bar:Brian text:"Brian MacLeod"
PlotData=
width:11 bar:Kevin from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1994 color:Vocals bar:Kevin from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Vocals bar:Kevin from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Vocals bar:Kurt from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1985 color:Vocals bar:Federico from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1985 color:Drums bar:Anders from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1994 color:Bass bar:Anders from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Bass bar:Anders from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Bass bar:Jeff from:01/01/1985 till:01/01/1994 color:Guitar bar:Jeff from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Guitar bar:Jeff from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Guitar bar:Brian from:01/01/1985 till:01/01/1994 color:Drums bar:Brian from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Drums bar:Brian from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Drums width:3 bar:Kevin from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1994 color:Guitar bar:Kevin from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Guitar bar:Kevin from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Guitar bar:Kurt from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1985 color:Guitar bar:Anders from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1994 color:Vocals bar:Anders from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Vocals bar:Anders from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Vocals
</timeline>
Other endeavors
Following their time with Wire Train, MacLeod, Trott, and Rundblad joined forces with Sheryl Crow, thereby broadening their influence within the mainstream music industry.
After leaving Wire Train, Gil Solá went back to Argentina and became a member of the band Divididos from 1990 to 1995, sustaining his prominence in the South American music scene.
Appearances in popular media
The track "I Will Not Fall" was included on the soundtrack of the 1991 film Point Break. The song "I'll Do You" featured in the 2006 video game Scarface: The World Is Yours, while "Chamber of Hellos" was used in the 2015 "Limbo" episode of the television series Halt and Catch Fire.
Additionally, the Action Design recorded cover versions of "I'll Do You" and "Chamber of Hellos" for the soundtrack of the 2009 movie Endless Bummer.
Studio albums
| Year | Title | US | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | In a Chamber | 150 | 415 / Columbia |
| 1985 | Between Two Words | - | 415 / Columbia |
| 1987 | Ten Women | 181 | 415 / Columbia |
| 1990 | Wire Train | - | MCA |
| 1992 | No Soul No Strain | - | MCA |
| 2009 | Snug | - | Wire Train |
Compilation albums
- In a Chamber / Between Two Words (1995, Oglio Records)
- Last Perfect Thing... A Retrospective (1996, 415/Columbia/Legacy)
- In a Chamber / Between Two Words / Ten Women (2020, BGO Records)
Singles
- "Chamber of Hellos" (1983)
- "I'll Do You" (1984)
- "Last Perfect Thing" (1985)
- "Skills of Summer" (1985)
- "She Comes On" (1987)
- "Diving" (1987)
- "Should She Cry?" (1990)
- "Stone Me" (1992) – US Modern Rock #23