The Toasters are one of the original American third wave of ska bands. Founded in New York City in 1981, the band has released nine studio albums, primarily through
Moon Ska Records
Moon Ska Records was one of the most influential ska record labels of the 1980s and 1990s.
The label operated from 1983 until 2000, and during those seventeen years, only released ska and ska-influenced music. Originally named ''Moon Records'', a ...
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
in 1980, where he managed that city's
Forbidden Planet
''Forbidden Planet'' is a 1956 American science fiction action film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, produced by Nicholas Nayfack and directed by Fred M. Wilcox (director), Fred M. Wilcox from a script by Cyril Hume that was based on a film story by ...
comic book store location. Hingley formed the Toasters in 1981 after seeing the Beat perform at the
Roseland Ballroom
The Roseland Ballroom was a multipurpose hall, in a converted ice skating rink, with a colorful ballroom dancing pedigree, in New York City's Theater District, New York, theater district, on 52nd Street (Manhattan), West 52nd Street in Manhattan ...
.
The group's first live show was supporting
Bad Brains
Bad Brains are an American punk rock band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1976. They are widely regarded as pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members have objected to the use of this term to describe their music. They are also an ade ...
at A7 in 1981. One of the original second-wave ska bands, the early Toasters lineup included other employees of the Forbidden Planet store.
The group self-released their first single, "Beat Up", in 1983. They recorded their Joe Jackson-produced debut EP, ''Recriminations'', in 1985. After failing to find a label to release it, Hingley formed his own label Moon Ska Records.
The group collaborated further with Jackson on later albums and in live shows. Jackson had known Hingley since 1978, and appeared on some Toasters albums under the pseudonym Stanley Turpentine. Then later the group expanded with the addition of a brass section. Their first full-length album, ''Skaboom!'', was released in 1987.
Many members
Hingley has been the only constant member in the band. While the band's lineup has seen many changes, regular contributors included Coolie Ranx (vocals), Matt Malles (bass), Dave Barry (keyboards), Johnnathan McCain (drums), Freddie Reiter (saxophone), Brian Sledge (trumpet), and both Rick "Chunk" Faulkner and Erick "E-Man" Storckman on trombone.
Veteran Jamaican saxophonist
Lester Sterling
Lester "Ska" Sterling OD (31 January 1936 – 16 May 2023), also known as Mr. Versatile, was a Jamaican trumpet and saxophone player.
Early life
Sterling was born on 31 January 1936.Jack Ruby, was also a long-time member.Nickson (February 1998).Nickson (July 1998).
Reiter joined the Toasters after playing in the New York Citizens, who had supported the Toasters on tour. Trombonist Buford O'Sullivan joined around 2000 after leaving
The Scofflaws
The Scofflaws are a Huntington, Long Island, New York-based third wave ska band that debuted in 1988. Known for their rambunctious live shows, technically proficient horn solos and tight arrangements, the Scofflaws were one of the top third w ...
. Faulkner and Reiter went on to form the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble. The band now consists of a revolving cast of musicians, with Hingley as the central and only consistent member.
After Moon Ska Records
In 2004 Moon Ska Records collapsed, and Hingley has been based in
Valencia
Valencia ( , ), formally València (), is the capital of the Province of Valencia, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia (r ...
, Spain. He started the
Megalith
A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. More than 35,000 megalithic structures have been identified across Europe, ranging geographically f ...
label, which has since been the band's home. The Toasters still perform around the world, and in 2007 they celebrated their 25th anniversary with a new studio album, ''One More Bullet''. In 2011 they undertook a 30th anniversary world tour.
Musical style
The Toasters blend ska with pop music, rap, R&B, and calypso.Nickson (March 1998). Their mixed-race lineup has seen them break through with both black and white audiences in the US.
Other appearances
The Toasters experienced a small degree of commercial success in the late 1990s due to the popularity of third wave ska in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
. Their song "Two-Tone Army" is the theme song for the
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (nicknamed Nick) is an American pay television channel and the flagship property of the Nickelodeon Group, a sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on April 1, 1979, as the first ca ...
show '' KaBlam!''. The song is performed by the 'Moon Ska Stompers' - members of the Toasters and friends.
The Toasters song "Skaternity" was used for the end credits of ''KaBlam!'' during most of season 1, while "Everything You Said Has Been A Lie" was used for the end credits during seasons 2-4. Their song "Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down" appeared in the pilot episode of the animated series '' Mission Hill''.
The Toasters have recorded background music for many TV commercials, including for
America Online
AOL (formerly a company known as AOL Inc. and originally known as America Online) is an American web portal and online service provider based in New York City, and a brand marketed by Yahoo! Inc. (2017–present), Yahoo! Inc.
The service tra ...
and
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a cola soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. In 2013, Coke products were sold in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with consumers drinking more than 1.8 billion company beverage servings ...
. Members of the Toasters performed on King Django's 1998 album ''Roots and Culture''.
Shows
In 1998 the Toasters were part of the 'Ska Against Racism' tour, along with the Blue Meanies,
Five Iron Frenzy
Five Iron Frenzy is an American band which formed in Denver, Colorado, in 1995. Best known for playing ska punk music characterized by an offbeat sense of humor and prominent Christian themes, Five Iron Frenzy was one of the pioneering figure ...
, and
Less Than Jake
Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida, formed in 1992. The band consists of Chris DeMakes (guitars, vocals), Roger Lima (bass, vocals), Buddy Schaub (trombone), Peter "JR" Wasilewski (saxophone) and Matt Yonker ...
.
Discography
Albums
Studio albums
Compilations
*
1990
Important events of 1990 include the Reunification of Germany and the unification of Yemen, the formal beginning of the Human Genome Project (finished in 2003), the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the separation of Namibia from South ...
: ''T-Time''
*
1995
1995 was designated as:
* United Nations Year for Tolerance
* World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War
This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...
: ''Ska Killers''
*
1996
1996 was designated as:
* International Year for the Eradication of Poverty
Events January
* January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...
: ''History Book''
*
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
: ''History Book 1987-1998''
*
2000
2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year.
Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...
: ''The Best Of...''
*
2003
2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater.
In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War.
Demographic ...
: ''In Retrospect''
*
2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
: ''Ska is Dead''
Live albums
*
1990
Important events of 1990 include the Reunification of Germany and the unification of Yemen, the formal beginning of the Human Genome Project (finished in 2003), the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the separation of Namibia from South ...
: ''Frankenska''
*
1993
The United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations designated 1993 as:
* International Year for the World's Indigenous People
The year 1993 in the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands had only 364 days, since its ...
: ''Live In LA''
*
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
: ''Live In London''
*
2003
2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater.
In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War.
Demographic ...
: ''en Caracas''
EPs
*''Recriminations'' (1985), Moon Ska
*''The East-Side Beat EP'' (1987), Moon Ska
*''Live In Sao Paulo Brazil'' (2002), Grover
Singles
*"Beat Up": "The Beat"/"Brixton Beat" (1984), Moon Ska
*"Don't Say Forever" (1990), Pork Pie
*"Chuck Berry"/"Maxwell Smart" (1995), Moon Ska
*"Dub 56" (1995), Stubborn
*"Dog Eat Dog" (2000), Grover
*"You're Gonna Pay!" (2006), Megalith
*"House Of Soul" (2013), Megalith
*"Ska Jerk" (2018), Tighten Up
;Split singles:
*"Talk Is Cheap" (1987), Moon Ska - split with Beat Brigade
*"The Stage" (1997),
Island
An island or isle is a piece of land, distinct from a continent, completely surrounded by water. There are continental islands, which were formed by being split from a continent by plate tectonics, and oceanic islands, which have never been ...
- promo only, split with
Fishbone
Fishbone is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1979, the band plays a fusion of ska, punk, funk, metal, reggae, and soul. AllMusic has described the group as "one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative ...
Members
* Robert "Bucket" Hingley: vocals, guitar
* Tim Karns: bass
* Larry Ace: drums
* Nathan Koch: saxophone
* Gilbert Covarrubias: trombone
Coolie Ranx
Coolie Ranx (born Obiajula Ugbomah; 9 March 1965) is a British-American actor and singer best known for his membership in the third wave ska bands the Toasters and Pilfers. He is a long-time resident of New York City.
Biography
Ranx was born in ...
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*Nickson, Chris (February 1998) NYC Ska Mob , ''
CMJ New Music Monthly
CMJ Holdings Corp. is a music events, online media company and a distributor of up and coming music CDs, originally founded in 1978, which ran a website, hosted an annual festival in New York City, and published two magazines, ''CMJ New Music ...
CMJ New Music Monthly
CMJ Holdings Corp. is a music events, online media company and a distributor of up and coming music CDs, originally founded in 1978, which ran a website, hosted an annual festival in New York City, and published two magazines, ''CMJ New Music ...
'' p. 46. Retrieved September 7, 2013
*Nickson, Chris (July 1998) Ska Against Racism , ''
CMJ New Music Monthly
CMJ Holdings Corp. is a music events, online media company and a distributor of up and coming music CDs, originally founded in 1978, which ran a website, hosted an annual festival in New York City, and published two magazines, ''CMJ New Music ...
'' pp. 28–29, 77. Retrieved September 7, 2013
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Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American 501(c)(3) organization, non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Brewster Kahle that runs a digital library website, archive.org. It provides free access to collections of digitized media including web ...