John Kimbrough Candice Belanoff Zach Danziger Orestes Morfin Joey Waronker
Walt Mink were an American alternative rockpower trio from St. Paul, Minnesota. They were formed in 1989 by guitarist-singer-songwriter John Kimbrough, drummer Joey Waronker, and bassist Candice Belanoff. The band released four studio albums over the course of their eight-year career.[1]
John Kimbrough (son of actor Charles Kimbrough) and Joey Waronker (son of music executive Lenny Waronker) had briefly attended high school together in Massachusetts and reconvened at Macalester College, a small liberal arts school in St. Paul, Minnesota. Looking for a bass player to fill out a trio, they were introduced to Candice Belanoff, another Macalester student, who had only been playing for a few months, and Walt Mink was formed in February 1989, named after a beloved psychology professor.
The band started out by playing at college house parties on the weekends, and in December 1989, a fellow student offered to record them for a 7" single he was releasing on his own independent label, Skene! Records. With that, the band made their first trip into the studio, recording versions of the songs "Fragile" and "Croton-Harmon (local)", both of which would later appear in newer versions on the albums Miss Happiness and Bareback Ride.
In March 1990, the trio began recording what was to become Listen Little Man!, an album-length cassette demo, recorded on a four-track machine in the basement of the house John and Joey were living in at the time. Distributed to friends and sold on consignment in local record stores, the tape gained modest notoriety and furthered the name of the band in the Twin Cities.
By the end of the spring, the members of Walt Mink pledged to pursue the goal of getting more club gigs in Minneapolis after going their separate ways over the summer. When they returned to the Twin Cities in September, they found a large house in the uptown section of Minneapolis that had been owned at one time by a music production company and had been renovated in order to accommodate loud rock bands, complete with a large, soundproofed rehearsal room. It was here that they began recording their second full-length demo cassette, The Poll Riders Win Again!!!, in February 1991.
After opening for Babes in Toyland in December 1990, Babes drummer Lori Barbero became a fan and tipped off a friend who worked at the New Music Seminar in New York City. This led to a spot at the seminar for the band, and in June 1991 they traveled to New York for their first out-of-state show. It was here they were introduced to Matt Quigley, a former member of the band Skunk (and later of Vaganza, with whom both Waronker and Kimbrough played at different times), who became a fan and, armed with copies of the band's demos, quickly alerted friends to their existence. One of those friends was Janet Billig, the label manager of the New York independent record labelCaroline Records, who liked the tapes and contacted the band about playing another New York show.
Walt Mink continued to play in Minneapolis throughout the summer of 1991, garnering much local press and building a respectable fan base. In October, they returned to New York to play at the CMJ music conference, and it was here that Billig finally saw them live. After the show, she offered to sign them to Caroline Records.
Caroline Records, 1992–93
The band began recording their first album at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin in March 1992. Released in June 1992, Miss Happiness provided the impetus for a hefty amount of touring, both in the United States and the United Kingdom, in support of The Lemonheads, Firehose, Pavement, Mudhoney and others. It was also in the spring of this year that the band made their first video. Directed by Kevin Kerslake, the video for "Chowdertown" aired on MTV's 120 Minutes on July 9, 1992.
After touring their way out to L.A., recording of the second record began there in February 1993. Bareback Ride was released in June of that year and paved the way for continued touring, both as headliners and as support for bands such as Hole, Urge Overkill, Paul Westerberg and Cracker, among others. It was also in the spring of '93 that the band made their second video, for the song "Fragile." Directed by Miguel Arteta, the video was rejected by MTV but received airplay on a variety of other video programs.
While touring to support the new record, the band began to address the question of where to go after their two-record contract with Caroline Records was fulfilled. Billig had since left the label to manage bands at Gold Mountain Records, a company whose clients included Nirvana and Beastie Boys, and as Walt Mink's new manager, she began the process of shopping them to major labels. By mid-summer of 1993, the band had decided that Columbia Records seemed to be the most enthusiastic, and so while on tour in Memphis, Tennessee, the three members signed a six-record contract under a statue of the great blues songwriter W.C. Handy.
Touring continued throughout that summer and into the fall, pausing only briefly to shoot the band's third video, for the song "Shine". Directed by Sofia Coppola, and shot by Spike Jonze, the video was filmed at the Coppola vineyard in Rutherford, California, in and around the family swimming pool.
Loss and label troubles, 1993–96
In October 1993, Waronker moved back to his hometown of Los Angeles. Soon John and Candice relocated to their hometown as well, arriving in New York City in February 1994. While John worked on writing songs, Joey began playing in L.A. with the as-yet-unknown singer Beck. By the late spring of that year, with the success of the album Mellow Gold keeping him busy as Beck's drummer, Joey left Walt Mink.
The summer of 1994 was devoted to finding a new drummer for the band. John and Candice finally found one in the person of Orestes Morfin, formerly of the band Bitch Magnet. They quickly began rehearsing in preparation for a small fall tour, to be followed by the recording of their Columbia debut.
On the last night of that tour the band arrived home to find that the plug had been pulled on their record, and they promptly asked to be released from their contract. The label obliged, and the band worked to find another record deal. Billig, who had left their management company that fall to become an executive at Atlantic Records, expressed interest, and in February of '95 the band signed a one-record deal with Atlantic.
Recording of what was now to be their Atlantic debut began in April of that year at Dreamland Studios in Woodstock, New York, with John Agnello producing. The process continued through that spring and into the summer, and after mixing once in Chicago it was determined that the record needed to be mixed again, which it later was.
El Producto was released in January 1996, and from the beginning there were ominous signs. On the first day of their first tour supporting the record, the band discovered that their A&R person had just been fired. In spite of an uplifting piece about the band in Billboard that day, in which it cheerfully asserted that after so many disappointments it seemed that Walt Mink was finally going to get a chance to be heard, the mood of the moment was one of deep uncertainty.
The spring of '96 was to be the last significant period of touring for Walt Mink. February through May were spent both headlining and opening for bands like Tripping Daisy and Tracy Bonham. In June, Atlantic dropped the band, part of a great "purge" which saw the label drop nearly half its artist roster.
Deep Elm and the beginning of the end, 1997–present
By early 1997, several independent labels had expressed interest in the record, but it was finally Deep Elm who John and Candice decided was the right fit. The record, Colossus, was released in June of that year, but the two remaining members had given up on the idea of finding a replacement drummer for touring, planning instead to occasionally perform as an acoustic duo. The band's fourth and last video, for the song "Brave Beyond the Call", was filmed during this period. Directed by Adam Rothlein, the video was shown briefly on MTV.
At this point, the group met Will Tanous, a friend who had wanted Colossus on his label, and who also worked for the HBO live music show Reverb. Drummer Zach Danziger first appeared with Walt Mink on the June 20, 1997, broadcast of Reverb. Armed with a new drummer, the reinvigorated members of Walt Mink contemplated a tour supporting Colossus.
Walt Mink's star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue
Meanwhile, the band's business infrastructure was eroding badly; within a matter of weeks in mid-1997, the group, who had been dropped by their management the previous year, was dropped by their booking agent and accountant, and with no money coming in there was virtually no way to pay for a tour. John Szuch, the label head of Deep Elm, got them a new booking agent and gave them a small amount of tour support, but his label's modest financial resources were no match for the demands of a band on an extensive tour.
The band undertook a final two-week tour through the upper Midwest and parts of New England, but after playing to virtually empty venues, it was decided that it was time to end the band. The band played a final concert at the Mercury Lounge in New York on November 1, 1997, which was recorded and later released as Goodnite.
Since 1997 the band has occasionally reunited to play one-off shows. John Kimbrough went on to play with New York power-pop band Valley Lodge; while pursuing a career as a composer for film and television. He moved into music production with Tenacious D's third album, Rize of the Fenix.
The band has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue,[2] recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.[3] Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.[4]
The Ataris are an American punk rock band from Anderson, Indiana. Formed in 1996, they released five studio albums between 1997 and 2007. Their best-selling album is So Long, Astoria (2003), which was certified gold. Their high-charting single is their cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" from So Long, Astoria. The only constant member throughout their history has been singer/songwriter/guitarist Kristopher "Kris" Roe.
The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene in the mid-1980s. Led by vocalists/guitarists/songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson, their country rock sound was influential on many bands who played the Twin Cities circuit during the 1980s and 1990s, such as Uncle Tupelo, the Gear Daddies and the Honeydogs. They have released eleven studio albums, with and without Olson, including five on the American Recordings label. After going on hiatus from 2005 to 2009, the 1995 lineup of the band reunited and released the album Mockingbird Time in September 2011; Olson left the band for the second time after the tour to promote the album. After another hiatus in 2013, the 1997 lineup led by Louris reunited to play shows in 2014 to support the reissue of three albums originally released between 1997 and 2003. Since then, the band has continued to tour and record, releasing the albums Live at The Belly Up in 2015; Paging Mr. Proust, co-produced by Peter Buck, in 2016; Back Roads and Abandoned Motels in 2018; and XOXO in 2020.
That Dog is a Los Angeles-based rock band that formed in 1992 and dissolved in 1997, reuniting in 2011. The band originally consisted of Anna Waronker on lead vocals and guitar, Rachel Haden on bass guitar and vocals, her sister Petra Haden on violin and vocals, and Tony Maxwell on drums.
Jon Joseph Waronker is an American drummer and music producer. He has performed with acts including Beck, R.E.M. and Roger Waters, and is a member of the experimental rock bands Atoms for Peace and Ultraísta.
Vaganza was a theatrical art-rock-pop duo consisting of multi-instrumentalists David Longworth Wallingford and Quigley.
White Tiger was a short-lived glam metal band from United States, founded by former Kiss band member Mark St. John, which split up in 1988. The group also included former Black Sabbath member David Donato, as well as bassist Michael Norton and drummer Brian James Fox. They recorded only two albums.
Ima Robot is an American band based in Los Angeles, California, United States, that formed in the late 1990s. They have released several albums, EPs, and singles, most notably Ima Robot in 2003, Search and Destroy and Monument to the Masses in 2006, and Another Man's Treasure in 2010. The band's song, "Greenback Boogie", a B-side to Another Man's Treasure, is the main theme song of the USA Network legal drama series Suits.
The Appleseed Cast is an American rock band from Lawrence, Kansas. The band was founded in the early days of emo by singer-guitarist Christopher Crisci and drummer Louie Ruiz. The Appleseed Cast has steadily evolved over the release of eight full-length albums with Crisci serving as the main songwriter. The band has a frequently rotating lineup, with Crisci being the only consistent member since their conception. Currently the band's lineup includes Christopher Crisci, Ben Kimball, Nick Fredrickson and Sean Bergman.
The Bronx is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally formed in 2002. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Matt Caughthran, guitarists Joby J. Ford and Ken Horne, bass guitarist Brad Magers, and drummer Joey Castillo. The band has released six studio albums, as well as three additional albums of mariachi music under the moniker of Mariachi El Bronx.
Armored Saint is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1982. Since 1990, the band has consisted of John Bush on lead vocals, Joey Vera on bass, Jeff Duncan on guitar and the Sandoval brothers on drums and guitar, respectively. Of the current lineup, Bush and Vera are the two constant members. To date, the band has released eight studio albums, one EP, two live albums and one compilation album.
Love/Hate is an American hard rock/glam metal band based in Los Angeles. It is currently composed of four members. Vocalist Jizzy Pearl, guitarist Stevie Pearce, bass player Christian Kimmett, and drummer Charles Evans.
El Producto is the third album by the American alternative rock band Walt Mink, released in 1996. On release, it received a 10/10 rating from Pitchfork Media.
Other Lives is an American indie rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States.
Valley Lodge is an American power pop band from New York City.
Miss Happiness is the debut studio album by the American alternative rock band Walt Mink, released in 1992. It contains a cover of Nick Drake's "Pink Moon". The band supported the album with a North American tour.
Bareback Ride is the second album by the American alternative rock band Walt Mink, released in 1993. Sales and acclaim for the album fell short of the band's first album, Miss Happiness, which was released the previous year.
Janet Billig Rich is an artist manager, music supervisor, producer, and Tony Award-nominated Broadway theater producer.
Colossus is the fourth and final studio album by the American alternative rock band Walt Mink, released in 1997.
Goodnite is a 1998 live album by the American alternative rock band Walt Mink. It is a recording of their farewell show, at the Mercury Lounge in New York City, on November 1, 1997. It is their only release to feature their third drummer, Zach Danziger. His predecessor, Orestes Morfin, guests on one track, "Shine". The opening track, "Fourth Wave", does not appear on any of the band's studio albums. The final song of the show, "A Tree in Orange", was not included on the album.
The Poll Riders Win Again!!! is the second cassette demo tape by the American alternative rock band Walt Mink, released in 1991. As with their first demo tape, many of these songs would be re-recorded over the course of the band's career.
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.
