Thirty years after first forming in Paramus, N.J., rock band Trixter is still touring and making fresh, new music with all four of its original members. In fact, the band — guitarist Steve Brown, bassist P.J. Farley, lead singer Pete Loran and drummer Mark Gus Scott — recently released the brand new album “Human Era.”
To refresh music fans’ minds, Trixter was part of the ’80s hair metal scene. However, the band came a little late to the party, releasing its self-titled debut album in May 1990. The record was a success, peaking at No. 28 on Billboard’s Top 200 album chart and spawning three huge MTV hits: “Give It to Me Good,” “One in a Million” and “Surrender.” Trixter’s second effort, 1992’s “Hear,” contained gems like “Road of a Thousand Dreams” and “Rockin’ Horse.” After a record label split, the band independently released a covers album in 1994, “Undercovers,” which featured eight tunes, including Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” and Supertramp’s “Take the Long Way Home.” Then the foursome parted ways… until reuniting in 2008. After four years of touring together once again, Trixter was ready to head back into the studio to create new music. Frontiers Records released “New Audio Machine” in 2012 and, this past June, “Human Era.”
And when you’re not playing in Trixter — or Def Leppard — you are performing with one of the top ’80s tribute bands in the world, Rubix Kube.
It’s a phenomenon! A tremendous ’80s band! My role is kind of part-time; whenever I’m around, I always jump at the opportunity to jam with the might Kube. The cool thing is, in all my years of doing this, I was never in a band like that. I never wore Spandex pants in my life — that was a first. It’s so much fun. Everywhere the band plays around the world, people just go nuts. It’s an all-encompassing ’80s [tribute band] — Michael Jackson, Madonna, Hall & Oates, Poison, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and so much other stuff. Whatever it is ’80s, Rubix Kube can do.
Rubix Kube often gets special guests to perform their biggest hits live with them — who have been your favorites?
They’ve all been great! Dee Snider [of Twisted Sister] did a couple of shows with us a couple of years ago, and that was so much fun. He came out and did “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “I Wanna Rock.” Night Ranger came out a couple of years ago to do a private party with us — they’re one of my favorite bands. A couple of months ago, we got to play with Rick Springfield. That was incredible, and Rick was tremendous. Rick’s become a real friend to the band.
So many projects, when do you sleep?
I sleep on airplanes! I’m very good at that. I’m a good napper, good at getting 20 minutes here and 20 minutes there. I try to eat good and not party too much. Everything’s all good!
For more on Trixter, visit the band’s official website, follow them on Twitter and like them on Facebook.
