Trainwreck with Kyle Gass

Last updated

Trainwreck with Kyle Gass
Photograph of the band Trainwreck.jpg
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Hard rock, southern rock, heavy metal, comedy rock
Years active2002–2010, 2018–present
Labels Epic, Jojo Entertainment, Space Horse
MembersDarryl Donald (JR Reed)
Klip Calhoun (Kyle Gass)
John Bartholomew Shredman (John Konesky)
Boy Johnny (John Spiker)
Website kylegass.com/trainwreck

Trainwreck with Kyle Gass is an American southern and comedy rock band formed in Los Angeles, in 2002. It was founded by Tenacious D guitarist Kyle Gass and actor and singer JR Reed.

Contents

The band originally started out as a three-piece, with Reed on vocals, Gass on guitar, and Kevin Weisman on drums. The band adopted pseudonym names for its band members: Reed was "Darryl Lee Donald", Gass was "Klip Calhoun", and Weisman was "Kenny Bob Thornton". Gass and Reed began to search for backing musicians, as they felt Trainwreck's musical style was "too close to Tenacious D". The band met electric guitarist John Konesky and bassist John Spiker in Ohio through a mutual friend, with them relocating to Los Angeles to form Trainwreck as "John Bartholomew Shredman" and "Boy Johnny" respectively. Nate Rothacker replaced Weisman as the drummer in the mid-2000s, going under the pseudonym "Dallas St. Bernard".

The band released one studio album, one live album, one EP and two singles before splitting up in 2010. The band would reform in 2018 and announce a reunion tour, as well as work on a second studio album, releasing some singles in 2022.

History

Beginnings

Gass started the rock band Tenacious D along with Jack Black in 1994. Black became very popular in the turn of the new millennium with many film and TV roles which led to Black having less time to spend playing gigs with Gass – so Gass created Trainwreck to keep him musically active when Black was busy. [1] In December 2001, Tenacious D played a concert with Weezer and Jimmy Eat World in Value City Arena, where Kyle Gass befriended Erin Robinson, who described herself as a "huge D fan". [2] In 2002, Trainwreck was formed, but just as an occasional band with JR Reed on vocals, Kevin Weisman on drums and Gass as guitar. The group played their first concert at Highland Grounds in Los Angeles on August 2, 2002. In 2003, Gass asked Erin Robinson to recruit electric backing musicians for the "Trainwreck side project" so she found bassist John Spiker and electric guitarist John Konesky. [2] At this point, Gass, Reed and Weisman also added Chris D'Arienzo as keyboard in addition. [3] The band released their first single '2 Tracks' sometime in 2003 and their live album, Trainwreck Live, was released by Epic Records in 2004 exclusive to their ShopBootlegs.com. Trainwreck made their first TV appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2004 and featured on Current TV's 2005 Halloween special performing "TV Theme" as the musical guest.

The EP (2006–2007)

The band self-released their first 5-song EP, The EP, in 2006. Two songs from the EP ("Caveman" and "I Wanna Know") were used on the official soundtrack for Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny , and were later released on More Rocktastic Music From The Film . Gass wears a Trainwreck T-shirt during the vast majority of the film, as well as appearing in it on posters. For the concert tour to support the movie and soundtrack, Konesky and Spiker were recruited to play guitar for the shows based on their work with Trainwreck. Rothacker worked as a band assistant. Because The Pick of Destiny Tour featured all the members of Trainwreck, Trainwreck played shows in the cities they were in on their days off. This is notable because the band performed at the Scala in England, the Annandale Hotel in Australia and the Mod Club Theater in Canada which were the band's first international dates. In late 2006, Black expressed wishes for 2007 to take a break from the entertainment industry, this meant for Trainwreck to tour during 2007, especially in the summer, to keep Gass musically active.

The Wreckoning (2008–2010)

In September 2008, Trainwreck released their first music video "Tim Blankenship" directed by Nick Simon. The actual song itself would later feature on their 2009 debut album.

The band released their debut 15-track album on December 2, 2009 at The Roxy in Los Angeles. There was also a music video created in support for the album – "Brodeo". The band also released a music video for "Baby, Let's Rock" off of Trainwreck's 2003 "2 Tracks" single. The band went on a tour to support the new album throughout March and May in various cities of the United States. In June during Tenacious D's Bonnaroo Music Festival slot, Rothacker played for Tenacious D for the first time as he replaced Brooks Wackerman due to him being on tour with Bad Religion. Later on, in September, they began touring again after a short absence. The band played their last show on September 25, 2010 at the Beat Kitchen in Chicago. This show was in the middle of their Transcontinental Railroad tour – the Chicago show was their tenth show into the tour, and due to "unforeseen circumstances" the band cancelled the remainder of their tour. [4] After five months of in-activity, in March 2011, they announced their closure on their Facebook page as Gass, Konesky and Rothacker formed Kyle Gass Band.

Reunion (2018–present)

The band reunited at a Wynchester show (which features Konesky) at the Maui Sugar Mill Saloon on February 2, 2018, making a short on-stage appearance. This was due to both Gass and Reed being in attendance at the show, also Spiker performing with Wynchester as a guest. The drumming position in the band was filled with Wynchester's Matt Lesser, instead of Nate Rothacker. A couple of days after this, the band announced a show on their Facebook page at DiPiazza's in Long Beach, California for February 24, opening for Kyle Gass Band. This show being a full-band reunion with Rothacker on drums. In April, the band posted a photo of themselves in a recording studio on their Facebook and Instagram pages. [5] The band also announced a September tour – playing nine dates throughout California. A few dates after the announcement of the tour, the band revealed they were working on a second studio album.

In July 2020, the band made a virtual appearance for Rootstock Music Festival, and in August 2020, the band made an appearance for Stand Up For America. [6]

In early 2022, the band released a lyric video for a new song "Commin' in Hot" as well as an audio recording of another new song, "Can't, Got the Lady". [7] A series of West Coast tour dates were announced as well, however only a handful were played in the end due to COVID-19 issues. The band also cancelled what would have been their first European tour due to COVID-19 complications. [8]

In the summer of 2022, the band celebrated their 20th anniversary with a countdown on their social media.[ citation needed ]

Band members

Former members

Touring musicians

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Extended plays

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenacious D</span> American comedy rock duo

Tenacious D is an American comedy rock duo formed in Los Angeles in 1994 by the actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass. Their music showcases Black's theatrical vocal delivery and Gass' acoustic guitar playing. Critics have described their fusion of vulgar absurdist comedy with rock music as "mock rock". Their songs discuss the duo's purported musical and sexual prowess, their friendship and cannabis usage, in a style critics have compared with the storyteller-style lyrics of rock opera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Gass</span> American musician (born 1960)

Kyle Richard Gass is an American musician, singer and actor, best known for being a founding member of Tenacious D, a Grammy-winning comedy band. He is also a member of Trainwreck and the Kyle Gass Band.

<i>Tenacious D</i> (album) 2001 studio album by Tenacious D

Tenacious D is the debut studio album by American comedy rock duo Tenacious D, released on September 25, 2001, by Epic Records. The album's polished production was a departure from the band's acoustic origins, due in part to the production of the Dust Brothers. "Wonderboy" was the first single released from the album, followed by "Tribute". Both singles had music videos filmed for them, with the Liam Lynch-directed "Tribute" video achieving cult status. While Tenacious D did not achieve chart success after its release, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) by the end of 2005. Despite only peaking at number 38 in the UK, it had sold 426,000 copies countrywide by 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tribute (song)</span> 2002 single by Tenacious D

"Tribute" is a song by American comedy rock duo Tenacious D, and the second single from their self-titled debut album (2001). It was released on February 11, 2002, in the United States and on June 24, 2002, in Australia. The song is a tribute to what Kyle Gass and Jack Black refer to as "The Greatest Song in the World".

<i>Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny</i> 2006 film by Liam Lynch

Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny is a 2006 American musical fantasy comedy film about comedy rock duo Tenacious D. Written, produced by and starring Tenacious D members Jack Black and Kyle Gass, it is directed and co-written by musician and puppeteer Liam Lynch. Despite being about an actual band, the film is a fictitious story about the band's origins, and their journey to find a magical pick belonging to Satan that allows its users to become rock legends.

<i>The Pick of Destiny</i> 2006 studio album by Tenacious D

The Pick of Destiny is the second studio album and the soundtrack for the feature film of the same name by American comedy rock band Tenacious D. The album was released on November 14, 2006, through Epic Records, and debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">POD (song)</span> 2006 single by Tenacious D

"POD" is a song by American rock band Tenacious D, featured on their 2006 second album The Pick of Destiny. Written by Jack Black and Kyle Gass, the song was released as the lead single from the album on October 30, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JR Reed (actor)</span> American actor

JR Reed is an American character actor and singer, originally from Corvallis, Oregon. He is best known for his roles as "Lee" with American rock band Tenacious D, mainly in their television series and in their 2006 film The Pick of Destiny, as well as featuring at live concerts. He would also form the band Trainwreck with Kyle Gass in 2002 alongside Tenacious D guitarist Kyle Gass, performing as the lead singer. Trainwreck broke up in 2010, though reformed in 2018. Outside of these appearances, Reed mainly features in sporadic television, web-series and film appearances, as well as in commercial work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pick of Destiny Tour (2006–2007)</span> 2006–07 concert tour by Tenacious D

The Pick of Destiny Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Tenacious D. The tour was in support of the band's 2006 film, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny and its accompanying soundtrack The Pick of Destiny, released as the band's second studio album. The tour visited North America, Europe and Australia, beginning on November 11, 2006 and ending on February 21, 2007, featuring 32 shows in total. Footage from the shows at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle on February 16 and 17, 2007 were released on The Complete Master Works 2 DVD and Blu-ray in November 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Konesky</span> American guitarist, record producer

John S. Konesky is an American guitarist and record producer, best known for his role as the lead electric guitar player for Tenacious D.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Shane McDonald</span> American musician

Steven Shane McDonald is an American rock musician, best known as the bass guitarist in the Los Angeles alternative rock/power pop band Redd Kross. He is a founding member of the hardcore punk band OFF! – serving as a member from 2009 to 2021 – as well as bassist for Melvins since 2015. McDonald has appeared in numerous film projects with his older brother Jeff McDonald, including the 1984 film Desperate Teenage Lovedolls and its sequel Lovedolls Superstar; and the 1990 film Spirit of '76.

<i>The Complete Master Works 2</i> 2008 video album by Tenacious D

The Complete Master Works 2 is a video album by American comedy rock band Tenacious D. Released on November 4, 2008, it features footage from the band's performances at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington on February 16 and 17, 2007, during The Pick of Destiny Tour. The release also features numerous bonus videos and D Tour: A Tenacious Documentary. It is the successor to the band's previous collection The Complete Master Works.

Big Talk is an American rock band formed by The Killers' drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr. and longtime friend Taylor Milne in 2011. As of 2015, John Spiker, John Konesky and Brooks Wackerman are also members of the band. The band have released an eponymous debut album Big Talk (2011), with follow-up Straight In No Kissin' released in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Gass Band</span> American rock band

Kyle Gass Band (KGB) is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2011. The band is fronted by Tenacious D lead guitarist Kyle Gass and vocalist and guitarist Mike Bray. The backing band consists of electric guitarist John Konesky, bassist Jason Keene, and drummer Tim Spier. The band have released two studio albums, Kyle Gass Band (2013) and Thundering Herd (2016).

<i>Jazz</i> (Tenacious D EP) 2012 EP by Tenacious D

Jazz is the second extended play by American comedy rock band Tenacious D. Released in 2012, the EP consists of a single eleven-minute jazz composition with vocals. The EP was released as a digital download and a limited edition vinyl record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rize of the Fenix Tour</span> 2012 concert tour by Tenacious D

The Rize of the Fenix Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Tenacious D. The tour was in support of the band's 2012 album Rize of the Fenix, with the tour visiting North America and Europe. The tour began on May 23, 2012 and ended on October 24, 2012, featuring 45 shows in total. The full show performed at Rock am Ring and highlights from the performance at Rock im Park were broadcast live on German TV. Highlights from the Download Festival performance were broadcast in the UK on the Sky Arts channel. These broadcasts have since been uploaded to the Internet unofficially by YouTube users. This was the band's second major concert tour, following The Pick of Destiny Tour, which toured from late 2006 to early 2007.

<i>Tenacious D Live</i> 2015 live album by Tenacious D

Tenacious D Live is the first live album by American rock band Tenacious D. Produced by John Spiker, it was released as a worldwide vinyl on November 27, 2015 by Columbia Records and was released on digital platforms on January 15, 2016. The release features recordings from the band's 2012 Rize of the Fenix tour and their 2013 European tour. It features songs from their debut album, their Rize of the Fenix album, and their The Pick of Destiny album.

<i>Post-Apocalypto</i> 2018 studio album by Tenacious D

Post-Apocalypto is the fourth studio album by American rock band Tenacious D. Produced by bassist John Spiker, it was released in North America on November 2, 2018, by Columbia Records. The album features songs and audio snippets from the band’s animated web series Tenacious D in Post-Apocalypto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Post-Apocalypto Tour</span> 2018–20 concert tour by Tenacious D

The Post-Apocalypto Tour was a concert tour by American comedy rock band Tenacious D. The tour was in support of the band's YouTube animatic series Tenacious D in Post-Apocalypto and its accompanying soundtrack album Post-Apocalypto, which were released in November 2018. The tour began on November 3, 2018 and ended on February 26, 2020. This tour surpassed the band's 2012 Rize of the Fenix Tour as the longest Tenacious D tour in October 2019 with over 1.8 million people.

The Spicy Meatball Tour was a concert tour by American comedy rock band Tenacious D The tour began on May 6, 2023 and ended on July 14, 2024 with the band playing in the United States, Europe and Australia. Whilst the tour was not supporting the release of a new studio album, it was supporting the song and music video, "Video Games", released in May 2023.

References

  1. ↑ Tranchell, T.J. (June 28, 2006). "Waking Up with Kyle Gass". Reverb. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  2. 1 2 Beck, Aaron (February 8, 2007). "Destiny lands Ohioans jobs with Tenacious D" . The Columbus Dispatch . ISSN   1074-097X . Retrieved March 1, 2024– via Proquest.
  3. ↑ Michael Libby (October 20, 2004). "'Tenacious' musician starts his own Trainwreck". Lifestyle. Archived from the original on October 25, 2007. Retrieved December 30, 2006.
  4. ↑ Hollywood Anonymous. "Episode 48 - JR Reed and Trainwreck". All Things Comedy. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Trainwreck". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Stand Up 4 America". www.facebook.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  7. ↑ Trainwreck - Can't, I Got the Lady (ft. Kyle Gass of Tenacious D) [Official Audio] , retrieved August 7, 2022
  8. ↑ "Trainwreck with Kyle Gass - We're sad to announce we have to cancel our UK/EU run this spring. Refunds should be honored at point of purchase. We're very sorry and hope to see you soon. | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  9. ↑ Rock, Boulder, Mountain, November 28, 2006, retrieved December 26, 2021
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.