Pure Rubbish

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Pure Rubbish

Publicity Photo 2001
Origin Houston, Texas
Country United States
Years active 1995-2003
Genres Hard Rock
Labels Divine Recordings
One Hit Records
Past members Derek Dunivan
Evan Dunivan
Willie Dunivan
Mike McWilliams
Jarrett Gardner
Allan Nelson
Morgan Thompson
Robin Geiger

Pure Rubbish were a rock band from Houston, Texas from late 1995 to April 2003. The band's moniker was lifted from Mick Jagger's published opinion about the 60's rock band Herman's Hermits. Pure Rubbish had 3 records released between 1998 - 2001. The band also recorded a debut album produced by Mike Clink entitled Glamorous Youth (2001) that never saw an official release.

The band played countless shows and played on 5 US tours and 1 UK tour and were included on the Ozzfest 2001 tour in addition to opening shows for the likes of AC/DC, Motörhead, Nashville Pussy, the Supersuckers, and the Dictators.

Pure Rubbish appeared in many publications such as Rolling Stone, Spin, Billboard, Guitar World, Metal Edge, Kerrang!, etc. along with being seen on MTV, VH1, and on the 2002 MTV Movie Awardsbacking Kelly Osbourne.

Contents

[edit] Early Years (1995 - 2000)

Pure Rubbish began in 1995 when brothers Derek (guitar) and Evan (drums) Dunivan were only 11 and 9 years old. The young Dunivan brothers were self taught musicans and learned to play their intruments by listening to records. They recruited their dad Willie Dunivan on lead vocals in late 1995. Willie Dunivan, at 34, was already a veteran musician of the local Houston music scene with his own band Personality Crisis as well as a stint with the former Dead Boys guitarist Cheetah Chrome in the short lived Cheetah Chrome Project. Willie Dunivan's earliest bands included the 80's rock bands Apeshit and Hip Cat's Alley and he also played drums for the Houston 90's punk band Stinkerbell. A charismatic frontman and great songwriter, Willie Dunivan was responsible for launching Pure Rubbish into reality. Musically, the Dunivan brothers were exposed to a wide range of influences. Their main influences were 60's & 70's rock, 70's glam, and 70's punk rock, but also absorbed the music of 50's rock n roll, blues, r & b, and 50's & 60's country. These influences were culled from years of sifting through Willie's huge music collection. The band's sound was self labeled "trash rock" and "glam punk" and was a combination of all their musical influeces.

The band's first show on 12/9/1995 was a KISS tribute concert with Personality Crisis bassist Robin Geiger completing the lineup. Geiger played a few more shows with the band into 1996 lending his help until the band could find a full time bassist. After seeing Pure Rubbish at the Westheimer Street Festival Morgan "Donor" Thompson at 14 years old was recruited to fill the bass position in summer 1996. Later that year Derek broke his arm and the band went on a temporarily hiatus.

Following the hiatus, the band made up for the lost time by gigging heavily around Texas in 1997 opening for many national acts. A friendship with the members of Nashville Pussy resulted in Pure Rubbish opening for the band the following year on a summer east coast tour. (Derek and Evan could only tour in the summer due to still being in school) While in New York City, the band met with A&R executive Tom Zutaut (who signed Guns N' Roses) which was the first time the band had any sort of major label interest. The band also released their first independent record Heavy Trash Day 7" EP / Tape in 1998 on Willie's own One Hit Records imprint. Morgan Thompson left the band later in 1998 and was replaced by Mike McWilliams on bass and Allan "Al G." Nelson on guitar. Both Mike and Al G. were from the recently transplanted Houston to Austin punk band Teen Cool. At this point Pure Rubbish had generated a minor buzz around the east coast and did another east coast tour in June and July of 1999. The band booked a recording session with producer Daniel Rey (Ramones, Misfits) in New York City while in town. The tour went well but a few months afterwards Al G. parted ways with the band. Later that year, the Daniel Rey recording session was released as the "Tejas Waste" CD EP, the band's second independent record also released on One Hit Records.

In early 2000, Pure Rubbish attended that year's South By Southwest festival and met (current Motörhead and future Pure Rubbish manager) Todd Singerman at one of the festival's shows that included both Motörhead and Nashville Pussy on the bill. March of 2000 saw Jarrett "JT Trash" Gardner added to the band on guitar for the departed Al G. The meeting with Todd Singerman resulted in a June midwest tour with Pure Rubbish opening for the bands Motörhead, Nashville Pussy, and the Supersuckers. The tour was the highest profile appearance for the band at that point.

Pure Rubbish headed out on thir first west coast tour in July and Augest. On the first date of the tour in Los Angeles, Todd Singerman brought A&R coordintor Scott Givens (of Ozzy Osbourne's fledging Divine Recordings) out to see the band. On the strength of that show Pure Rubbish was courted by Divine. The rest of the tour was a success with Lemmy from Motörhead. Around this time Willie Dunivan passed the lead vocal duties to his son Derek who at 15 assumed the frontman role for the band.

Upon returning to Houston after the tour and on the request of Scott Givens and Lemmy, Sharon Osbourne flew down to see the band play a showcase gig in October. Willie sang for the first half of the set followed by the new lineup of Derek - lead vocals / lead guitar, Evan -drums, Mike - bass / backing vocals, and Jarrett - rhythm guitar / backing vocals making their first live appearance without Willie. This show marked the first time Derek had sung lead vocals live. The showcase gig was well received and after negotiations, Pure Rubbish officially signed to Divine Recordings in November of 2000.

[edit] Later Years (2001 - 2003)

In December of 2000, Pure Rubbish entered Digital Recordings in Houston to record their debut album, Glamorous Youth (produced by Mike Clink who also produced Guns N' Roses album Appetite For Destruction). They later went to Los Angeles, California to finish the album at Rumbo Recorders studio from January through March of 2001. After the album was completed the band headed back to Houston briefly, only to head back to L.A. to play some promotional showcase gigs. May 2001 saw the band play Ozzfest UK at Milton Keynes, England and three shows in London supporting Motörhead and the Backyard Babies.

Pure Rubbish toured that summer from June through Augest on the Second Stage of Ozzfest 2001 headlined by Black Sabbath. The tour helped expose the band to new fans along with having segments aired on MTV’s You Hear It First program and VH1’s The Rock Show, but was also a challenge as Pure Rubbish’s brand of rock n’ roll was out of step with the other bands. The band did win over many new fans that found their sound refreshing and called back to an era when hard rock was dangerous and real. In the middle of the tour Pure Rubbish flew over to Paris, France to play a high profile gig as opening bill on the AC/DC “Stiff Upper Lip Tour”. The show was a huge success and the band came back to the States reenergized to finish the rest of the Ozzfest 2001 tour. were 4 songs taken from the Glamorous Youth sessions and released as the S/T EP in August 2001 with different mixes of the songs. Shortly after Ozzfest that summer, the band’s debut full-length album Glamorous Youth was slated for release but was delayed because the label thought the production was too dated.

In 2002, the band continued to play shows while working on new material for a planned (at that time untitled) new album to be recorded consisting of some of the songs recorded for Glamorous Youth along with the band’s newly written songs. They were frustrated over the Mike Clink produced Glamorous Youth album being shelved, but were anxious to record their new songs and start touring again. Again, the release date for the new album was pushed back to summer / fall 2002. Roadrunner Records was to fund the recording of the new album and the producer chosen was Ed Stasium (Ramones, Misfits). Roadrunner thought they could give the songs and album a more modern day production job, which they felt would ensure the album better success. In June of 2002 the band (on Sharon Osbourne’s behalf) journeyed to L.A. staying for a month and appeared as Kelly Osbourne’s backing band on the 2002 MTV Movie Awards and the yearly Wango Tango concert. After backing Kelly, Pure Rubbish went into EMI Studios to record demos for Roadrunner Records. However, only demos of newer songs the band had been working on from mid 2001 - mid 2002 were recorded. A feature article in "Rolling Stone" magazine surfaced that July, which chronicled Pure Rubbish’s tour escapades through the eyes of the youngest band to ever play on Ozzfest.

Upon returning to Houston in July, the band dropped most of the old Glamorous Youth songs and even the newer demos they had recorded for Roadrunner in favor of music that was quite different from the songs the band had been playing only months before. Pure Rubbish’s sound was changing drastically and the band pitched many of the self - produced demos to Roadrunner. Needless to say, Roadrunner (as well as the band’s managers) were confused over the band’s sudden new change in musical direction. Roadrunner wanted the band to keep their original hard rock style and conflicts arose regarding which songs to record for a debut (to the public) full length Pure Rubbish album. Roadrunner would sign the band only in they agreed to continue with their original sound. The band we’re unwilling to meet Roadrunner’s terms and this disagreement led to the demise of the Roadrunner deal. Pure Rubbish continued from mid 2002 into the early months of 2003 but internal musical differences eventually split the band into two different camps concerning what they wanted to do musically. Derek and Evan wanted to create an original sound drawing from (their now key influences) the Beatles, David Bowie, and Radiohead, while Mike and Jarrett wanted to continue playing no frills rock n’ roll.

Pure Rubbish officially split up in April 2003 with Derek and Evan continuing to pursue their musical aspirations in their band Pennyroyal, and Mike and Jarrett forming the Urgencies in summer 2003 with Al G. and Shawn.

(Al G., Mike, and Shawn had all previously played together in their teen years in the Houston punk band, Teen Cool between 1994-2002. Before playing in Pure Rubbish, Jarrett previously played in his Houston punk bands, the Baysides and the Forgotten Boys between 1998 - 2000)

After the breakup of Pure Rubbish in April 2003, Derek Dunivan and his dad Willie Dunivan both toured the country with New York Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain in July of 2003. Derek was recruited on bass and Willie was recruited on additional vocals.

In recent news, Derek Dunivan has been featured in the book "Uncommon Sound" (2006) written by John Engel specifically about left handed guitar players.

[edit] Members

Pure Rubbish #1: (1995 - 1996)

  • Wille Dunivan: Lead Vocals
  • Derek Dunivan: Lead Guitar
  • Evan Dunivan: Drums
  • Robin Geiger: Bass

Pure Rubbish #2: (1996 - 1998)

  • Willie Dunivan: Lead Vocals
  • Derek Dunivan: Lead Guitar
  • Evan Dunivan: Drums
  • Morgan “Donor” Thompson: Bass

Pure Rubbish #3: (1998 - 1999)

  • Willie Dunivan: Lead Vocals
  • Derek Dunivan: Lead Guitar
  • Evan Dunivan: Drums
  • Mike McWilliams: Bass
  • Allan “Al-G.” Nelson: Guitar

Pure Rubbish #4: (1999 - 2000)

  • Wille Dunivan: Vocals
  • Derek Dunivan: Lead Guitar
  • Evan Dunivan: Drums
  • Mike McWilliams: Bass
  • Jarrett “JT Trash” Gardner: Rhythm Guitar

Pure Rubbish #5: (2000 - 2003)

  • Derek Dunivan: Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar
  • Evan Dunivan: Drums
  • Mike McWilliams: Bass, Vocals
  • Jarrett “JT Trash” Gardner: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

  • Heavy Trash Day EP 7" / Tape (One Hit Records, 1998, OHR-002, 1000 Copies Pressed)

(Produced by Pure Rubbish. Recorded at Studio 11, Houston, TX, 1998.)

Songs

  • Maximum Boy
  • You're Mental
  • Thunder's Roar
  • Born To Lose (Thunders)

Personnel

  • Willie Dunivan: Lead Vocals
  • Derek Dunivan: Lead Guitar
  • Evan Dunivan: Drums
  • Morgan “Donor” Thompson: Bass


  • Tejas Waste EP CD (One Hit Records, 1999, OHR-003, 1000 Copies Pressed)

(Produced by Daniel Rey. Recorded at Baby Monster Studios, NYC, July 1999.)

Songs

  • Johnny Attitude
  • Annoying Customer
  • Parts Unknown
  • You're Mental
  • Maximum Boy
  • Whole Lotta Rosie (Young, Young, Scott)

Personnel

  • Willie Dunivan: Lead Vocals
  • Derek Dunivan: Lead Guitar
  • Evan Dunivan: Drums
  • Mike McWilliams: Bass
  • Allan “Al-G.” Nelson: Guitar
  • S/T EP CD (Divine / Priority Records, 2001, DPRO-81547)

(Produced by Mike Clink. Mixed by John Travis.)

(Includes alternate mixes different from the versions on the album “Glamorous Youth”.)

Songs

  • Kiss of Death
  • Electric Heart
  • Parts Unknown
  • Let There Be Rock (Young, Young, Scott)

Personnel

  • Derek Dunivan: Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar
  • Evan Dunivan: Drums
  • Mike McWilliams: Bass, Vocals
  • Jarrett “JT Trash” Gardner: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

[edit] Albums

  • Glamorous Youth Full Length Album CD (Divine / Priority Records, 2001, 50166-2)

(Produced by Mike Clink. Mastered by Dave Collins. Recorded at Digital Services Recording Studio, Houston, TX, and Rumbo Recorders, Canoga Park, CA, December 2000 - March 2001.)

Songs

  • Kiss Of Death
  • Second Hand
  • Parts Unknown
  • Johnny Attitude
  • You’re Mental
  • Jetsetter
  • Hey Mr. Taylor
  • Let There Be Rock (Young, Young, Scott)
  • Don’t Close Your Heart (On Me)
  • Electric Heart
  • Those Days Are Gone
  • Kings Of Sleaze

Bonus Tracks

Glamorous Youth Outtakes

  • Nothin’ Goes Right
  • Rock N’ Roll Forever
  • Johnny Attitude (with piano)
  • Nothin’ Goes Right (with piano)

Studio Recordings (2001 - 2002)

  • Cant Take No More (Early Version)
  • Give It Away
  • (My My) She’s Blind
  • Can’t Take No More
  • Comfortable Distance
  • Burn My Brain
  • Sense Of Good Intentions
  • Kiss Of Death (Live at Ozzfest 2001)
  • Lie, Cheat, And Steal (Live in Houston, TX 11/30/2001)
  • Radio Interview (2002)

Personnel

  • Derek Dunivan: Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar
  • Evan Dunivan: Drums
  • Mike McWilliams: Bass, Vocals
  • Jarrett “JT Trash” Gardner: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

[edit] Compilations

  • "You're Mental" on A Fistful Of Rock 'N' Roll Volume 5 CD (Tee Pee Records, 2000, TP-025)
  • "Kiss Of Death" (Live) on Ozzfest 2001 The Second Millennium CD (Divine / Priority Records, 2001, EK - 85950)
  • "Electric Heart" on Mad Mike Jones Presents Mototrax 1 CD (Divine / Sanctuary Records, 2002, 84558)

[edit] Influences

Pure Rubbish influences included the rock bands Hanoi Rocks, Guns N' Roses, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders, Ramones, Dogs D'Amour, AC/DC, Dead Boys, Stiv Bators, KISS, The Clash, T. Rex, the Beatles, Cheap Trick, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, Prince, Thin Lizzy, Wildhearts, Mötley Crüe, Queen, Joneses, Hangmen, Led Zeppelin, D Generation, Generation X, Jimi Hendrix, Ted Nugent, UFO, among others.

[edit] Related Bands

Penny Royal

Biography (2003 - Current)

Derek and Evan Dunivan formed a new band called Penny Royal in summer 2003. The current lineup is Derek - guitar / piano / lead vocals / songwriting, Evan - drums, Omar - guitar / piano, Chase - guitar / backing vocals, Cookie - bass. They recently have started to play shows in Texas. The music is quite different than the sleaze rock of Pure Rubbish. Penny Royal’s songs are influenced more by the music of The Beatles, David Bowie, and Radiohead, among others. They have labored for 3 years arriving at an original and exciting sound and will be releasing a self produced 8 song CD EP in Spring 2007.


Personality Crisis

Biography (1992 - 1995)

Willie Dunivan's trash rock band before Pure Rubbish. Willie Dunivan also played with Cheetah Chrome in the short lived "Cheetah Chrome Project" in 1994 and toured with New York Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain in 2003.

Discography

  • Texas Trash Full Length Album CD (One Hit Records, 1994, OHR-001, 1000 Copies Pressed)

(Produced by Willie Dunivan. Recorded at Deep Dot Studios and Rock Romano’s Studio, Houston, TX, 1993 - 1994)

Songs

  • Debutante Dolly
  • Lester Blues
  • Lone Star Loretta
  • Parts Unknown
  • Trouble Again
  • Holly Baby
  • Shot Down
  • I Don't Wanna Know
  • Those Days Are Gone
  • Long Way To Go
  • Take Us Down
  • One Track Mind (Lure, Nolan)


  • Hooked On Sonics EP Tape (One Hit Records, 1995, OHR-No Number, 500 Copies Pressed)

(Produced by Willie Dunivan. Recorded at Deep Dot Studios, Houston, TX, 1995.)

Songs

  • Get On Down To It
  • Had Enough
  • Annoying Customer
  • Life In The Gutter
  • I Don't Think You Care
  • Talk My Trash


Trashcan Punch

Biography (2002 - 2003)

Willie Dunivan's band after Pure Rubbish, previously known as The Saloonatics.

Discography

  • Hello I'm Wasted EP CD (Basement Boy Records, 2003, BBR-351, 1000 Copies Pressed)

(Produced by “The Glammer Twins” and Trashcan Punch. Recorded at “Bubbleland” Studio, Los Angeles, CA, July 16 – 17, 2002.)

Songs

  • Maximum Boy
  • You Won't Shut Up
  • Shot Down
  • Hometown Hero
  • She Says (Francois)


The Urgencies

Biography (2003 - Current)

Mike McWilliams and Jarrett Gardner started up a new band called The Urgencies in summer 2003. The Urgencies original lineup of Al G. - guitar / vocals, Jarrett - guitar / vocals, Mike - bass / vocals, and Shawn – drums / vocals played over 50 shows in Texas and abroad, and released a debut album Desolation Chic in the summer of 2005. They supported this album by touring the west coast in October 2005.

The original lineup eventually disbanded in June 2006 due to the increasing strains of trying to hold down a working band with Mike and Jarrett living in Houston and Al G. and Shawn living in Austin.

The Urgencies Mach II with Al G. and a new lineup comprised of members of his old band The Materialistics are currently working on a new album that will be released on Full Breach Kicks early 2007.

Discography

  • Desolation Chic Full Length Album CD (Bubble Empire Recordings, 2005, BUC-001, 1000 Copies Pressed)

(Produced by Chris “Frenchie” Smith and The Urgencies. Recorded at Bubble Studios, Austin, TX, November 2004.)

Songs

  • Strange Girl’s Weird Boy
  • Eulogy
  • Gotta Have It
  • Sound Of The Heat
  • Shut Up And Smile
  • Night Is Over
  • A Million Miles Away (Peter Case / J. Alkes / C. Fradkin)
  • Don’t Treat Me Bad
  • State Of Confusion
  • Ten Minute Smile
  • Bring It To Me
  • Is What I Is


  • State Of Confusion on The Kamikaze Broadcast Volume 2 Compilation CD (No Front Teeth / Caustic Rock, 2006)


The Modern Kicks

Biography (2006 - Current)

Mike McWilliams' new band The Modern Kicks are currently working on a release for 2007.


Sister Devastation

Biography (2006 - Current)

Jarrett Gardner's new band Sister Devastation is currently working on a debut album to be produced by Derek Dunivan for release in 2007.


The Materialistics

Biography (2002 - 2003)

AlG's band before the Urgencies and after his first band Teen Cool.

Discography

  • Tomorrow Is Fat & Old EP CD (Super Secret Records, 2003, SSR-004, 1000 Copies Pressed)

(Produced by Tyler Van Aken and The Materialistics. Recorded at Bubble Studios, Austin, TX, 2002.)

Songs

  • 4th Class
  • My Damage
  • Nothin’ Wrong With You
  • Suicide City (Dahl)
  • (No More) Tryin’ Too Loose
  • Suss You Out
  • What Heart’s Reveal


Teen Cool

Biography (1994 - 2002)

Al G. and Mike's first punk band.

Discography

  • Rock N' Roll Bitch Split with Room 41 Single 7" (Mortville Records, 1997, Mort - , 1000 Copies Pressed)

(Produced by Teen Cool. Recorded at Joe Danger's Recording Studio, Houston, TX, 1997.)

Songs

  • Rock 'N' Roll Bitch
  • Fag For A Friend


  • Skips Skool Single 7" (Mortville Records, 1999, Mort - , 1000 Copies pressed)

(Produced by Chris “Frenchie” Smith. Recorded at Bubble Studios, Austin, TX, 1999.)

  • Songs
  • Wear Black
  • Fuck Skool
  • That's Why


  • Adolessons EP CD (Pelado Records, 2000, PR#38, 1000 Copies Pressed)

(Produced by Chris “Frenchie” Smith. Recorded at Bubble Studios, Austin, TX, March 5 – 6, 1999.)

Songs

  • Pass Out
  • Sucker
  • I'll Win
  • Rock And Roll Bitch
  • I Shit Love
  • Been Had


  • Crash N' Burn Kids Split with Guncrazy Single 7" (Cut Throat Records, 2002, Cutt-002, 1000 Copies Pressed)

(Produced by Chris "Frenchie" Smith. Recorded at Bubble Studios, Austin, TX, 2002.)

Songs

  • Crash N' Burn Kids
  • Dilemma Doll


  • 3 Minute Heroes Compilation CD (Pelado, 2001)
  • All That’s Left After The Puking Compilation CD (Android Corporation, 2001)

[edit] External links

[edit] Sources

  • Houston Press (1997). "Young Punks". Retrieved August 16, 2006.
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