Wire Train

{{Short description|American rock band}} {{More citations needed|date=December 2010}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Wire Train | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | origin = San Francisco, California, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Alternative rock|new wave|post-punk}} | years_active = {{hlist|1983–1992|2003|2009}} | label = {{hlist|415|Columbia|MCA}} | current_members = | past_members = Kevin Hunter Kurt Herr Anders Rundblad Federico Gil Solá Brian MacLeod Jeff Trott }}

'''Wire Train''' was a San Francisco-based alternative rock band, who released six albums in the 1980s and 1990s.

==History== The band was formed in 1982 as the Renegades by two students from San Francisco State University, Kevin Hunter and Kurt Herr. Their rhythm section eventually stabilized with fellow students Federico Gil Solá (from Argentina) and Anders Rundblad (from Sweden). When they had to change their name, the band became Wire Train in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.earcandymag.com/rrcase-wiretrain.htm|title=Rock 'n Roll Case Study: Wire Train|website=Earcandymag.com|date=March 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/03/wire-train-chamber-of-hellos.html|title=Wire Train - Chamber Of Hellos|website=Pastemagazine.com|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916022008/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/03/wire-train-chamber-of-hellos.html |archive-date=16 September 2016}}</ref> The band's first album features Anders Rundblad (bass guitar, vocals), Federico Gil Solá (drums), Kevin Hunter (vocals, guitar), and Kurt Herr (vocals, guitar). Rundblad had previously played with the Swedish bands Motvind and Gary T'To Band.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.discogs.com/artists/415149|title=Anders Rundblad|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=20 May 2019}}</ref>

In June 1983, Wire Train signed to the local 415 Records label, also home to acts like Translator, Red Rockers and Romeo Void, all of which found themselves with national distribution when 415 entered into a deal with Columbia Records.<ref name=biog>{{cite web|url=http://www.wiretrain.co.uk/wtbiog.htm|title=Wire Train Biography|website=Wiretrain.co.uk|url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729055108/http://www.wiretrain.co.uk/wtbiog.htm |archive-date=29 July 2012}}</ref>

Wire Train's debut, ''In a Chamber,'' produced by David Kahne at The Automatt in San Francisco, was released late in 1983. It achieved success on the U.S. college charts during 1984, and the band toured as openers for Big Country.

Brian MacLeod replaced Gil Solá prior to their second album, ''Between Two Words,'' and Herr left during its recording, replaced by Jeff Trott (ex-the Lifers). The album, produced in Vienna by Peter Maunu, was released in 1985. The band's third album, ''Ten Women'', was recorded by Tim Palmer at Utopia studios in London and released in 1987. Ten Women featured a guest appearance by the Alarm guitarist Dave Sharp on "Breakwater Days" and had its first single "She Comes On" banned by the BBC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Wire-Train-Ten-Women/release/446773|title=Wire Train - ''Ten Women''|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=20 May 2019}}</ref>

After a 1987 European tour, the band went on a two-year hiatus, extricating themselves from their contract with Columbia. Trott played with World Party.<ref>{{cite web |title=Solo Page |url=http://wiretrain.co.uk/solo-page/ |website=Wire Train |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712075800/http://wiretrain.co.uk/solo-page/ |archivedate=July 12, 2014 |url-status=}}</ref> and McLeod with Toy Matinee.

''Wire Train'' (1990) and ''No Soul No Strain'' (1992) were issued by MCA Records. The latter, produced by Bill Bottrell, was their fourth album to chart, peaking at No. 43 on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name=biog />

In 1993, MCA rejected their next effort, ''Snug,'' as "too weird".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wiretrain.co.uk/wtvaults.htm|title=Wire Train - Unreleased Material|website=Wiretrain.co.uk|url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729060203/http://www.wiretrain.co.uk/wtvaults.htm |archive-date=29 July 2012}}</ref> It was released digitally in April 2009.

In 1996, Columbia released a compilation CD, ''Last Perfect Thing... A Retrospective''. The first pressings mistakenly included an uncredited "Half a Lifetime", substituted on later pressings with the correct track, "Last Perfect Thing".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wiretrain.co.uk/wtdiscog.htm|title=Wire Train Discography|website=Wiretrain.co.uk|url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729060427/http://www.wiretrain.co.uk/wtdiscog.htm |archive-date=29 July 2012}}</ref>

In 2003, the band reunited for an episode of VH1's Band Reunited, but it was never aired.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sendra |first1=Tim |title=Wire Train Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/wire-train-mn0000954785/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref>

In 2009, Hunter, MacLeod, Trott and Rundblad reunited again for a three-gig tour in California, in part, to commemorate the digital release of ''Snug.'' According to Hunter another collection of songs was recorded concurrently with ''Snug'' under the working title of ''Electric''. No new album has been released at this time.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Matsumoto|first1=Jon|title=Wire Train reunites|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2009/09/01/wire-train-reunites/|website=The Mercury News |date=1 September 2009 |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref>

==Band members==

'''Most recent members'''

* Kevin Hunter – vocals, guitar (1983–1993, 2003, 2009) * Anders Rundblad – bass guitar, vocals (1983–1993, 2003, 2009) * Jeff Trott – guitar, backing vocals (1985–1993, 2003, 2009) * Brian MacLeod – drums (1985–1992, 2003, 2009)

'''Former members''' * Kurt Herr – vocals, guitar (1983–1985) * Federico Gil Solá – drums (1983–1985)

'''Timeline''' <timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:100 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1983 till:30/06/2010 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors = id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums

Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:3 start:1983 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1983

BarData = bar:Kevin text:"Kevin Hunter" bar:Kurt text:"Kurt Herr" bar:Jeff text:"Jeff Trott" bar:Anders text:"Anders Rundblad" bar:Federico text:"Federico Gil Solá" bar:Brian text:"Brian MacLeod"

PlotData= width:11 bar:Kevin from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1994 color:Vocals bar:Kevin from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Vocals bar:Kevin from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Vocals bar:Kurt from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1985 color:Vocals bar:Federico from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1985 color:Drums bar:Anders from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1994 color:Bass bar:Anders from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Bass bar:Anders from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Bass bar:Jeff from:01/01/1985 till:01/01/1994 color:Guitar bar:Jeff from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Guitar bar:Jeff from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Guitar bar:Brian from:01/01/1985 till:01/01/1994 color:Drums bar:Brian from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Drums bar:Brian from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Drums width:3 bar:Kevin from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1994 color:Guitar bar:Kevin from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Guitar bar:Kevin from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Guitar bar:Kurt from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1985 color:Guitar bar:Anders from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1994 color:Vocals bar:Anders from:01/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Vocals bar:Anders from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2010 color:Vocals

</timeline>

==Other projects== McLeod, Trott and Rundblad all later played with Sheryl Crow.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Sheryl-Crow-Sheryl-Crow-Signature-Tour-Edition/release/3684810|title=Sheryl Crow - Sheryl Crow - Signature Tour Edition|website=Discogs.com|accessdate=20 May 2019}}</ref>

After leaving Wire Train, Gil Solá returned to his native Argentina, where he was a member of Divididos from 1990 to 1995.

==In popular culture== "I Will Not Fall" appeared on the soundtrack for the film ''Point Break'' (1991), "I'll Do You" appeared in the game ''Scarface: The World Is Yours'' (2006) and "Chamber of Hellos" appeared in the episode "Limbo" (2015) of ''Halt and Catch Fire''.

The band the Action Design covered two Wire Train songs ("I'll Do You" and "Chamber of Hellos") for the soundtrack to ''Endless Bummer'' (2009).

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- style="background-color:#67fd9a;" ! Year ! Title !US ! Label |- | 1984 | style="text-align:left;" | ''In a Chamber'' | 150 | 415 / Columbia |- | 1985 | style="text-align:left;" | ''Between Two Words'' | - | 415 / Columbia |- | 1987 | style="text-align:left;" | ''Ten Women'' | 181 | 415 / Columbia |- | 1990 | style="text-align:left;" | ''Wire Train'' | - | MCA |- | 1992 | style="text-align:left;" | ''No Soul No Strain'' | - | MCA |- | 2009 | style="text-align:left;" | ''Snug'' | - | Wire Train |}

===Compilation albums=== * ''In a Chamber / Between Two Words'' (1995, Oglio Records) * ''Last Perfect Thing... A Retrospective'' (1996, 415/Columbia/Legacy) * ''In a Chamber / Between Two Words / Ten Women'' (2020, BGO Records)

===Singles=== * "Chamber of Hellos" (1983) * "I'll Do You" (1984) * "Last Perfect Thing" (1985) * "Skills of Summer" (1985) * "She Comes On" (1987) * "Diving" (1987) * "Should She Cry?" (1990) * "Stone Me" (1992) - US Modern Rock #23

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.facebook.com/groups/21626826939 Wire Train on Facebook] * {{IMDb name|nm3169433}} {{Wire Train}} {{Authority control}}

Category:American new wave musical groups Category:American post-punk music groups Category:Musical groups established in 1983 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1992 Category:Musical groups from San Francisco Category:415 Records artists Category:Columbia Records artists Category:MCA Records artists