A couple of years back a good friend asked me whether or not the Trashcans had been immortalised in print.
At the time I had no idea, but after a wee bit of research, I found they’d been mentioned in various books over the years – short stories, novels and the like. You can see the results in this previous post.
‘How To Disappear Completely’ by Troy Nethercott is another book where the Trashcans are given an honorary mention in a short story called ‘A Day In the Life of Martin Wilson’.
Martin writes screenplays in Los Angeles and the story revolves around how his life is affected by those around him, but in particular by the death of his friend, John. Both shared a passion of cult bands like Violent Femmes, Housemartins, Milo Binder and The Trashcan Sinatras.
So there ye go – immortal once again.
2007
…Kate Bush, is the fifth in a series where musicians and writers tell of their experiences on first hearing a particular band or artist. Other artists included in the series so far include Cocteau Twins, The Smiths, Joy Division/New Order and David Bowie.
Contributors to the Kate Bush edition include John Grant (The Czars), Ryan King (My Latest Novel), Simon Phipps (Engineers) and the Trashcans’ Paul Livingston.
The series is available for your Kindle/iPad via Amazon.
Here’s Paul’s contribution…
Paul Livingston plays guitar and writes songs in The Trashcan Sinatras, and has done for the past twenty-five years. He is Scottish, but lives with his wife and cats in Los Angeles.
She was always there, in the background of my youth, was Kate. Swooning on the moor on Top of the Pops, spinning on the Kenny Everett Show, talking Cockney on Razzamatazz. A gypsy woman with a high voice and big mouth, right? But I didn’t appreciate the beauty of what I was seeing and hearing at the time, because it wasn’t heavy metal (I was nine). It just wasn’t on my radar.
Well, all that changed, thanks to my Uncle John, Everyone has an Uncle like him, don’t they? Always obsessing over some new musical treasure, trying to get the we’uns into it. In his room after school, all red shiny wallpaper and bright flashing lights on the record player, I first heard The Dreaming. I was floored. What on earth is that?
Every song blew my mind. It was just so bizarre to me. “Why’d she do that? And how did she know it would work?”
I remember being a wee bit frightened. It was all so… witchy!
It was on a cassette, so had no lyrics, but the words I could hear filled my head with possibilities. Then there’s that “EYAWWW!” craziness at the end!
I treasured that tape, and from that moment on, I have loved Kate Bush. But she never topped this album, in my opinion. How could she?
September 2012
Filed under: Press | Tags: Press, Rolling Stone Magazine, Trashcan Sinatras
When this edition of Rolling Stone Magazine landed behind my door, I thought, “I’ve seen this before.”
Sure enough, I was right – I’d already posted it.
Here’s the same article from the US edition…
2 May 1991 Rolling Stone Magazine Issue 603 (US)
But then again, maybe no.
A decidedly unhappy looking TCS during a Cake era photo shoot.
1990 Go! Discs
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Filed under: Related | Tags: Noel Hudson, The Band Name Book, Trashcan Sinatras
Ever wondered how your favourite band got their name?
Well pop-pickers, look no further. ‘The Band Name Book’ has all the answers. From And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead through to ZZ Top, this book is a fascinating read and explains where the best-named bands got their names.
It does of course include yours and my favourite band, the Trashcan Sinatras. I remember when Paul told me he was going to join them. I thought ‘strange name’, but anything was better than The Shock Club or Hectic Circus (right Paul?).
Anyhow, the photograph below explains how the band came up with their name, but you knew that anyway didn’t you?
2008 The Boston Mills Press
Five Hungry Joes - A pictorial archive of the Trashcan Sinatras. Legendary Scottish Band 