Junkhouse

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Junkhouse was a noted Canadian alternative rock band of the 1990s.

Formed in 1989 in Hamilton, Ontario, the band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Tom Wilson,^[1] guitarist Dan Achen, bassist Russ Wilson and drummer Ray Farrugia. (Despite their shared surname, Tom and Russ Wilson were not related.)

The band got its first widespread exposure opening for Crash Vegas on that band's tour to support their successful debut album, Red Earth. Crash Vegas member Colin Cripps was one of Junkhouse's early mentors and supporters.

In 1993, the band signed to Sony Records, and released Here Lies Happiness, a collection of their early recordings, early that year. In the fall, they released their official debut, Strays, and promoted the album by touring as an opening act for The Waltons and Soul Asylum. That album was produced by Malcolm Burn, and produced radio hits for the band with "Out of My Head", "Prayin' for the Rain" and "Big Brown Turtle".

In 1995, they released Birthday Boy, which included a duet with Sarah McLachlan on the song "Burned Out Car".

Russ Wilson left the band in 1996, and was replaced by Grant Marshall. Cripps also joined the band in 1996 after Crash Vegas' breakup.

In 1997, the band released their final album, Fuzz. Following that album, the band members went their separate ways. Tom Wilson has released two solo albums, Planet Love in 2001 and Dog Days in 2006, and has collaborated with Stephen Fearing and Colin Linden in the supergroup Blackie and the Rodeo Kings.

Although no longer recording, the band still performs together occasionally, most recently at a tsunami benefit in Hamilton on February 2, 2005.