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			{{Short description\|American doom metal band}}
	{{Infobox musical artist 2
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=March 2021}}
	\|Name = Trouble
			{{for multi\|the band's debut album originally released as Trouble\|Psalm 9 (album)\|the band's self-titled fourth album\|Trouble (Trouble album)}}
	\|Img = Trouble band.jpg
			{{Infobox musical artist
	\|Img_capt =
			\| name = Trouble
	\|Background = group_or_band
			\| image = Trouble - Jalometalli 2008 - 02.jpg
	\|Origin = ], ]
			\| caption = Trouble at ] 2008
	\|Instruments =
			\| landscape = Yes
	\|Genre = ]<br>]
			\| background = group_or_band
	\|Years_active = ]–], ]–present
			\| origin = ], U.S.
	\|Label = ] <small>(1983–1989)</small><br>] <small>(1989–1994)</small><br>] <small>(1994–present)</small>
			\| Instruments =
	\|URL =
			\| genre = ]
	\|Current_members =
			\| years_active = 1978–present
	\|Past_members =
			\| label = {{flatlist\|
			* ]
			* ]
			* ]
			* Escapi Music
			* ]}}
			\| spinoffs = ]
			\| website = <!-- {{URL\|http://www.newtrouble.com}} Site is down as of July 28, 2007 -->
			\| current_members = Rick Wartell<br />]<br />Mark Lira<br />Kyle Thomas<br />Rob Hultz
			\| past_members = ]<br />]<br />Kory Clarke<br />Sean McAllister<br />Dennis Lesh<br />Ron Holzner<br />]<br />]<br />Ian Brown<br />Chuck Robinson<br />Shane Pasqualla
	}}		}}

			'''Trouble''' is an American ] band from ], formed in 1978. They are often considered one of the pioneers of doom metal, and have been referred to as one of the genre's "big four" alongside ], ] and ].<ref> ]</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=80887\|title=Petition For Doom 'Big Four' Tour Circulating\|website=Metalunderground.com\|access-date=July 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://idioteq.com/the-big-4-of-doom-metal-tour-in-the-works/\|title="The Big 4 of Doom Metal" tour in the works? » IDIOTEQ.com\|first=Karol\|last=Kamiński\|date=May 11, 2012\|website=Idioteq.com\|access-date=July 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://chaospin.com/best-doom-metal-bands-of-all-time/\|title=The 10 Best Doom Metal Bands of All-Time\|website=chaospin.com\|date=May 28, 2021\|access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref><ref name="houstonpress">{{cite web\|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/eric-wagner-lead-singer-of-doom-metal-legends-trouble-has-died-from-covid-19-11785165\|title=Eric Wagner, Lead Singer Of Doom Metal Legends Trouble, Has Died From Covid-19\|publisher=]\|date=August 24, 2021\|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref> The band created a distinct style, taking influences of the British heavy metal bands ] and ],<ref name="Edling">Leif Edling, Trouble interview, ''Trouble Live In Stockholm'' DVD.</ref> and ] of the 1960s.
	'''Trouble''' is an American ] band noted for their slow (by ] standards), heavy albums such as their ] debut, ''Trouble'' (later ''Psalm 9''), ''The Skull'' (]), and others. Other than their influence on the just-emerging subgenre, they are also known as being one of the better, more prominent Christian metal bands, now or then. Many critics disagreed that they were Christian because use of the word "Fuck" in "Bastards Will Pay" (it should be noted that the band does not consider themselves as a Christian act). Trouble's first record label, ], marketed the band as "White Metal" (in contrast to the rising ] movement), although the band was not particularly fond of that tag.

			Trouble's first two albums, '']'' and '']'', are cited as landmarks of doom metal. To date, they have released eight studio albums. Although never officially disbanded, they went inactive after original singer ] left in 1997. He rejoined in 2000 and left again eight years later; he was first replaced by Kory Clarke and then by current vocalist Kyle Thomas, who had also filled in for Wagner during his initial absence from Trouble. Eric Wagner died in 2021.<ref name="houstonpress"/>
	Their sound is mid-tempo compared to ] bands like ] or ] or even Doom-Death like ], but was some of the slowest metal being written at a time when ] and then ] bands were playing faster and faster; Trouble songs generally move about as fast as a slower ] song, like "Iron Man," "Lord of this World" and "Into the Void," but while the tempo had been done before, the sound is all their own. While most slow songs by ] or ] tend to border on ballads, all of tracks on ''The Skull'' are as heavy as they are slow, with the distinctive fuzzy distortion and melodic, integral (rather than superfluous or ostentatious) guitar solos that are all their own.

			Core members include Wagner, guitarists Rick Wartell and ], and drummer ]. Early lyrics had a spiritual nature; ] initially marketed Trouble as "]" (in contrast to the rising ] movement) in the 1980s.<ref name="Trouble_Interview">{{cite web \|url= http://metal-rules.com/interviews/trouble-jan2004.htm \|title= Interview with Trouble\|access-date=September 6, 2007 \|author= Lahtonen, Luxi\|website=Metal-rules.com}}</ref>
	No band deserves as much credit for keeping the gospel of classic Black Sabbath-derived heavy metal (not to mention bell-bottoms) alive during the '80s as Chicago's Trouble. And while the group's legend never exceeded cult status, their work would serve as inspiration for an entire generation of '90s bands in the thriving underground doom/stoner metal scene.

			== History ==
	Trouble was formed in 1979 by vocalist Eric Wagner, guitarists Bruce Franklin and Rick Wartell, bassist Sean McAllister, and drummer Jeff Olson. Drawing deeply from Black Sabbath for inspiration (with occasional nods to the psychedelic sounds of the late '60s thrown in for good measure), the band forged an uncompromising brand of classic metal all their own, made more unique by their gloomy down-tuned riffs and spiritual, often openly religious lyrics, which quickly earned them the dubious "white metal" tag.
			=== Formation and Metal Blade years (1978–1988) ===
			Trouble was formed in 1978 by Rick Wartell and was joined by guitarist ], vocalist ], bassist Tim Ian Brown (not to be confused with lead singer of English band ]), and drummer ]. Ian Brown was replaced by Sean McAllister in 1983.<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book \|title=] \|date=1999 \|publisher=] \|isbn=0-7535-0257-7 \|editor=] \|edition=First \|pages=456/7}}</ref> Drawing from Black Sabbath for inspiration (with occasional nods to the psychedelic sounds of the late 1960s), the band used gloomy down-tuned riffs and spiritual, often openly Bible-inspired lyrics,<ref name="LarkinHR"/> which led Metal Blade to market the band as "white metal" as opposed to black metal.<ref name="Allmusic"/> "I was brought up ]", vocalist and primary lyric writer Wagner explains in the liner notes of ''Psalm 9'' re-issue (2006), "but you have to remember, back in the early 1980s, all the metal was kind of satanic, and I did not get into that vibe." Wagner has implied that Metal Blade came up with the term in the first place, which the band rejected: "I think it was more like Metal Blade trying to be cute or something, with everything being called black metal, why not call us white metal, which is a bunch of crap."<ref>Popoff, Martin. Interview with Eric Wagner. Liner notes of Psalm 9 re-issue 2006. Escapi Music.</ref>
			]
			]
			The band toured throughout the Midwest during the early 1980s. On February 5, 1983, the band recorded ''Trouble Live in Chicago''. Drummer Jeff Olson mailed the cassette to ] of Metal Blade Records and the band landed their first record deal. Trouble released their eponymous debut (later referred to as '']'') with Metal Blade Records in 1984.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> '']'' followed in 1985,<ref name="LarkinHR"/> and reflected singer Wagner's struggles with substance abuse, as well as growing turmoil within the group. This led to the replacement of bassist McAllister with Ron Holzner.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> Drummer Jeff Olson also departed.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> Reports suggested that Olson had left the band to become a preacher,<ref name="Allmusic"/><ref name="Supershine">{{cite web \|url= http://www.battlehelm.com/interviews/Supershine.html \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110707214835/http://www.battlehelm.com/interviews/Supershine.html \|archive-date= July 7, 2011 \|title= Supershine \|access-date= November 29, 2007 \|author= Siva, Shan}}</ref> but he had actually decided to pursue studies at ] in Boston, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree cum laude in Film Scoring.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.battlehelm.com/interviews/retrograve.htm\|title=Retro Grave Interview\|date=January 7, 2009\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107123347/http://www.battlehelm.com/interviews/retrograve.htm\|access-date=July 22, 2021\|archive-date=January 7, 2009}}</ref> Dennis Lesh was drafted as his replacement for 1987's '']''.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> In comparison to earlier recordings, the critics thought ''Run to the Light'' was "disappointing".<ref name="Allmusic"/> ] played drums during Trouble's ''Run to the Light'' tour. Kirkpatrick later formed the Christian metal band ] in 1990.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.tourniquet.net \|title=Official Tourniquet website (band information page)\|access-date=November 13, 2022}}</ref>

			=== Rise to popularity and hiatus (1989–1996) ===
	The band toured throughout the Midwest during the early '80s before signing with Metal Blade Records and releasing their amazingly mature eponymous debut (later referred to as PSALM 9) in 1984. The equally impressive (and even more depressing) THE SKULL followed in 1985 and reflected singer Wagner's struggles with substance abuse as well as the growing turmoil within the group. This led to the replacement of bassist McAllister with Ron Holzner and the departure of drummer Olson, who, as legend has it, had decided to become a preacher. Dennis Lesch was drafted as his replacement for 1987's RUN TO THE LIGHT.
			A three-year hiatus occurred before the band was snapped up by ]'s Def American Records, for whom they recorded a second self-titled album ('']'') in 1990 with Rubin producing.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> More experimental than previous efforts, the album featured new drummer ], formerly of ]). <ref name="LarkinHR"/>

			The group embarked on a year-long tour before returning to the studio. In 1992, '']'' was released,<ref name="LarkinHR"/> delving into Beatlesque psychedelia and featuring some of Trouble's most aggressive, energetic performances ever. But after the album failed to connect with a wider audience, the band was ultimately dropped by their record company, which was experiencing financial problems.<ref name="LarkinHR"/>
	A three year haitis followed. Luckily, just when it seemed that Trouble's fortunes had run out, the band was snapped up by Rick Rubin's visionary Def American Records for whom they recorded another self-titled album (TROUBLE) in 1990 with Rubin in the producer's chair. More experimental than previous efforts, the album (featuring new drummer Barry Stern) expanded upon the group's tentative psychedelic notions of the past while abandoning none of their thunderous power chords.

			The band issued '']'' through the ] label in 1995,<ref name="LarkinHR"/> with the return of founding drummer Jeff Olson.
	Encouraged by a euphoric response from the media, the revitalized group embarked on a year-long tour, expanded their fan base considerably, and returned to the studio with every intention of making their next album the one that would push them over the edge. Sure enough, 1992's stunning MANIC FRUSTRATION realized all their creative ambitions, delving even deeper into Beatlesque psychedelia and featuring some of Trouble's most aggressive, energetic performances ever. But when the album still failed to connect with a wider audience (due perhaps to the grunge revolution that made metal a bad word in 1992), it seemed that Trouble had apparently missed their last window of opportunity.

			]
	Ultimately dropped by their record company (that by now was experiencing financial problems of their own), the band issued 1995's PLASTIC GREEN HEAD through the Music for Nations label. But despite offering consistently strong songwriting that harkened back to their doom roots, and the return of founding drummer Olson, the album's impact was noticeably dulled by a badly concealed weariness. Vocalist Eric Wagner would quit the band soon after (going on to form Lid).

			=== Reunion and ''Simple Mind Condition'' (1997–2007) ===
	Though Trouble has been on hiatus ever since, rumors of an eventual re-formation persist. from www.allmusic.com / On January 26th of 2002 the event that all Trouble fans worldwide had waited for finally happened. The band took the stage in Chicago to once again pound the planet with their particular brand of doom. Eric, Bruce, Rick, Ron and original Drummer Jeff Olsen took to the stage to perform a short blistering set that announced to the world that they were back! Since then the band has been out and about in the greater Chicagoland area playing local one off gigs and headlinning various metal festivals while working on their upcoming album.
			Even though Trouble had gone on an extended hiatus after Wagner's departure, rumors of an eventual re-formation persisted. From 1997 to 2000, Wagner was replaced by former ] singer Kyle Thomas, who played four public gigs with Trouble.

			On January 26, 2002, Wagner, Franklin, Wartell, Holzner, and Olson performed a short set in Chicago where during their smoking rendition of Black Sabbaths' Children of The Grave with Scott Davidson sitting in on the drums, the P.A. gave out and left the crowd in a stunning uproar. Since that time, the band has played individual gigs throughout the Chicago area and headlined metal festivals in Europe and the U.S. while working on a new album. A concert in Stockholm, Sweden in 2005 produced the live DVD "Trouble – Live in Stockholm" with members ], Rick Wartell, ], ], and Chuck Robinson.
	In February of 2004 Dave Grohl of NIRVANA and FOO FIGHTER fame put together a tribute to his metal roots by assembling a who's who of metal with his PROBOT project. The disc featured various vocalists from Dave's fav metal bands singing on tunes that he recoded the music for. Eric sang on the track My Tortured Soul. Last year bass player Ron left the band and was replaced by Chuck Robinson. This year tragedy befell the Trouble camp when former drummer BARRY STERN passed away.

			In February 2004, ] of ] and the ] released a tribute album that paid homage to his metal roots. Entitled ], the disc featured various vocalists, including Eric Wagner, who sang on the track "My Tortured Soul". In the album's liner notes, Grohl wrote that buying '']'' was like buying '']''.
	==Discography==

	===Studio releases===
			Holzner left the band soon after, to be replaced by Chuck Robinson, who played on the band's newest studio album, '']'', which was released in Europe on April 3, 2007, by Escapi Music. The band toured internationally in support of its release,<ref>{{Cite web \|url= http://www.newtrouble.com/ \|title= Trouble.com \|access-date= November 29, 2007 \|archive-date= August 14, 2003 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030814091753/http://www.newtrouble.com/ \|url-status= dead }}</ref> but were not able to secure a U.S. release date for the album until over two years later. An unplugged album was later released through the band's website and, more recently, Escapi Music.
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			=== New singers and ''The Distortion Field'' (2008–present) ===
			]
			In May 2008, it was announced that Eric Wagner had left the band and had been replaced by Kory Clarke of ].<ref>{{cite web \|url= http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/warrior-soul-s-kory-clarke-is-the-new-trouble-singer/ \|title= Warrior Soul's Kory Clarke is the new Trouble singer \|access-date= September 5, 2016 \|year= 2008 \|website=Blabbermouth.net }}</ref> Jeff Olson also announced his departure from the band in July 2008 to continue with his own band, ].<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/drummer-jeff-oly-olson-quits-trouble/ \|title=Drummer Jeff 'Oly' Olson Quits Trouble \|website=Blabbermouth.net \|date=July 31, 2008 \|access-date=March 8, 2012 }}</ref> Olson's last show with Trouble was, coincidentally, at a rock club called, "The End" in Memphis, Tenn.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.RetroGraveMusic.com \|title=Retro Grave – Welcome to Retro Grave \|website=Retrogravemusic.com \|access-date=March 8, 2012}}</ref> Olson was replaced by Wet Animal's Mark Lira for the band's upcoming U.S. East Coast tour.<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/trouble-recruits-wet-animal-drummer-for-upcoming-tour/ \|title=TROUBLE Recruits WET ANIMAL Drummer For Upcoming Tour \|website=Blabbermouth.net \|date=August 7, 2008 \|access-date=March 8, 2012}}</ref>

			In a September 2008 interview with Rock N Roll Experience, guitarist Rick Wartell mentioned that Trouble had written "eight or nine songs" for their next album, and would begin recording it after touring.<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/trouble-recruits-wet-animal-drummer-for-upcoming-tour/ \|title=TROUBLE Guitarist On New Singer KORY CLARKE And METALLICA's 'Death Magnetic' \|website=Blabbermouth.net \|date=September 18, 2008 \|access-date=March 8, 2012}}</ref> When asked which direction is the new music going in, Wartell replied, "I know people have said this a million times and I know you've heard this a million times, but it's pretty fucking heavy, let's put it that way! The music end of it that Bruce and I are writing is getting heavier and heavier...it's getting heavier, and then we want Kory to incorporate his style into what we are doing, that's basically all that we really want out of this."

			On November 18, 2008, Trouble announced, via their website, that they were in the process of writing songs for an album that would likely be released in the summer of 2009. A live bootleg recording featuring the new line-up was released via the band's website in 2008, then worldwide by Escapi Music about one year later. On March 4, 2009, Trouble revealed on their website that the new album would tentatively be called ''The Dark Riff''. On September 9, 2010, the band announced that they are "getting ready for the studio now. have been making preliminary recordings and working out things to bring the best possible Trouble release."<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/trouble-preparing-to-enter-studio/ \|title=TROUBLE Preparing To Enter Studio \|website=Blabbermouth.net \|date=September 9, 2010 \|access-date=March 8, 2012 }}</ref> Bruce Franklin later said in a 2009 interview that ''The Dark Riff'' would not be the title of the forthcoming album.
			]

			In February 2012, Kory Clarke left Trouble.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/trouble-taps-former-exhorder-singer/ \|title=Trouble Taps Former Exhorder Singer \|website=Blabbermouth.net \|date=February 7, 2012 \|access-date=March 8, 2012}}</ref> Kyle Thomas, who was with the band from 1997 to 2000, took his place. Also in February 2012, two original members of Trouble — vocalist Eric Wagner and drummer Jeff Olson — joined forces with the band's longtime bassist Ron Holzner in a new heavy rock/doom metal act called ]. According to a statement on the band's Facebook page, "The Skull is here to do one thing... rock you with the sounds and spirit of Trouble — past, present, future.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-trouble-bassist-on-the-skull-we-want-to-go-out-and-have-fun-and-play-the-old-songs/ \|title=Former Trouble Bassist On The Skull: 'We Want To Go Out And Have Fun And Play The Old Songs' \|website=Blabbermouth.net \|date=February 12, 2012 \|access-date=July 28, 2014}}</ref> The Skull did a thirty-year celebration tour of Trouble's debut album, ''Psalm 9'', in 2014.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-skull-featuring-former-trouble-members-performs-in-hollywood/ \|title=The Skull Featuring Former Trouble Members Performs In Hollywood \|website=Blabbermouth.net \|date=October 25, 2013 \|access-date=July 28, 2014}}</ref>

			On February 16, 2013, Jeff Olson announced that he would be playing some keyboard intros on the new album.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=186353 \|title=Original Trouble Drummer Jeff 'Oly' Olson To Play Keyboards On Band's Next Album \|website=Blabbermouth.net \|date=February 16, 2013 \|access-date=July 28, 2014}}</ref> In May 2013, it was announced that the new album, ''The Distortion Field'', was scheduled to be released July 16 in North America and July 26 in Europe. This was the first release to feature Kyle Thomas and was produced by Bill Metoyer. Shortly after its release, Rob Hultz of ] and Godspeed joined the band as a bassist.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=190020 \|title=Trouble To Release 'The Distortion Field' In July \|website=Blabbermouth.net \|date=May 16, 2013 \|access-date=July 28, 2014}}</ref>

			In 2014, Wartell announced that Trouble had begun working on new material for the follow-up to ''The Distortion Field''.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/trouble-working-on-new-material/ \|title=Trouble Working On New Material \|website=Blabbermouth.net \|date=August 4, 2014 \|access-date=August 4, 2014}}</ref> No news or progress on the album had been reported until July 2022, when the band entered the studio to start recording it.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/trouble-begins-recording-first-studio-album-in-nearly-a-decade\|title=TROUBLE Begins Recording First Studio Album In Nearly A Decade\|publisher=]\|access-date=August 2, 2022\|date=August 1, 2022}}</ref>

			Original Trouble singer ] died of complications from ] on August 22, 2021 at the age of 62.<ref name="houstonpress"/><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=151018\|title=Original Trouble Vocalist Eric Wagner Passes Away\|website=metalunderground.com\|date=August 23, 2021\|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-trouble-singer-eric-wagner-dies-after-battle-with-covid-pneumonia/\|title=Former TROUBLE Singer ERIC WAGNER Dies After Battle With COVID Pneumonia\|publisher=]\|access-date=August 23, 2021\|date=August 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://metaladdicts.com/eric-wagner-ex-trouble-the-skull-has-died-after-being-hospitalized-with-covid-pneumonia/\|title=ERIC WAGNER (Ex-TROUBLE, THE SKULL) Has Died After Being Hospitalized With post COVID-injection Pneumonia \|website=Metaladdicts.com\|date=August 23, 2021\|access-date=August 24, 2021}}</ref>

			== Music and image ==
			Trouble's music lies with a traditional doom metal style, although their albums since 1990s '']'' showcase a more ] oriented style. Band members have cited influences by the early heavy rock bands of the 1970s such as ], ], ], and Black Sabbath.<ref name="Supershine"/> Trouble have also incorporated elements of ] to their style. Their use of slow tempos was notable at a time when ] and ] bands were increasingly incorporating fast-picking and speed into their songwriting.<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web \|url= {{AllMusic\|class=artist\|id=p5703\|pure_url=yes}} \|title= Trouble \|access-date= November 29, 2007 \|author= Rivadavia, Eduardo \|website=] }}</ref> While most slow songs by metal bands border into the area of ballads, all of the tracks on Trouble's second album '']'' are as heavy as they are slow, with a distinctive fuzzy distortion and melodic, integral (rather than superfluous or ostentatious) guitar solos. The band could best be described as combining the riffs and tempos of Black Sabbath with the twin guitar attack of ].

			Eric Wagner's lyrics deal with different themes, but the early Trouble albums, such as their debut '']'', are known for biblical references. Especially because such themes were relatively uncommon in mainstream metal music of the 1980s, Trouble were then often classified as ]. Other songs deal with social issues; "Bastards Will Pay", for instance, criticizes politicians as hypocritical. From '']'' onwards, more lyrical references have been made to psychedelia, drugs, and hallucinations;<ref name="Supershine"/> "Hello Strawberry Skies" and "Mr. White" stand out as two examples. Corresponding with the increase in psychedelic lyrical themes, Trouble's overall sound has also had a noticeably stronger psychedelic component.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/manic-frustration-mw0000080017\|title=Manic Frustration - Trouble \| Songs, Reviews, Credits\|website=]}}</ref> Unlike other metal acts of the 1980s, Trouble's members dress in ripped jeans, tight T-shirts, wear round sunglasses and have ] and outfit accessories more characteristic of the hippie movement such as bandanas and knee patches.<ref>Edling, Leif. Trouble Interview on Live in Stockholm DVD. 2006.</ref>

			== Reception ==
			Problems with both the ] and ] labels made it impossible for Trouble to achieve large commercial success.<ref name="Allmusic"/> Even though their music videos were aired on ] in both the U.S. and Europe, ''Manic Frustration'' was the only album that sold close to 100,000 copies.<ref name="Lahtonen">{{cite web \|url= http://metal-rules.com/interviews/trouble-jan2004.htm \|title= Trouble \|access-date= November 29, 2007 \|author= Lahtonen, Luxi \|year= 2002 \|website=Metal-Rules.com}}</ref> However, Eduardo Rivadavia of ] wrote that "their preservation efforts nevertheless rescued metal's original blueprint from disuse, and carved it in granite for subsequent exploration by each new generation of doom bands that followed."<ref name="Allmusic"/> It was said that Trouble took up where ] had left off after their split with vocalist ].<ref name="Schlimm"/> ''Psalm 9'' and ''The Skull'' are often cited as the cornerstones of doom metal<ref>Christe 2002, chapter 20</ref> as well influencing other bands of the uprising metal movement during the mid-1980s. A famous story states that ] and ] of ] entered Trouble's stage after a concert, trying to figure out how their amplifiers were set to produce their unique sound.<ref name="Schlimm">{{cite web \|url= http://www.trouble.de/\|title= Trouble \|access-date= November 29, 2007 \|author= Schilmm, Patrick \|year= 2002 \|website= Trouble.de}}</ref>

			Trouble's first two albums were critically acclaimed and are respected in the metal scene.<ref name="Blabbermouth_Psalm_9">{{cite web \|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/cdreviews/psalm/ \|title= Trouble – Psalm 9 \|access-date= September 5, 2016 \|author= Bergman, Keith \|year= 2007 \|website=Blabbermouth.net}}</ref> The following album ''Run to the Light'', however, was said to be "disappointing",<ref name="Allmusic"/> but a different direction was taken during the Def American era, when ] helped the band to develop a new, unique style. The self-titled album gained "magnificent reviews in all the major heavy metal rags"<ref name="Allmusic"/> and the ] ''Manic Frustration'' was a "critically lauded, cult-raved heavy metal masterpiece".<ref name="Allmusic"/> The 1995's ''Plastic Green Head'' received good reviews and "the album's songs also exuded a palpable sense of wary acceptance."<ref name="Allmusic"/> However, Trouble was never thought of as a completely unique group; some critiques dismissed the band as a "poor man's Black Sabbath".<ref>{{cite web \|url= http://www.noise.fi/levyarvostelut/index.php?id=5698 \|title= Trouble – Psalm 9 \|access-date= November 29, 2007 \|author= Gao \|date= May 18, 2006 \|website=Noise.fi \|language= fi }}</ref> Nevertheless, Trouble's influence on the metal movement is unquestioned,<ref name="Blabbermouth_Psalm_9"/> with groups such as ],<ref>{{cite web \|author=Campagna \|first=Tom \|date=January 23, 2018 \|title=Interview: Mike Dean of Corrosion of Conformity \|url=https://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-mike-dean/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125151422/https://www.invisibleoranges.com/interview-mike-dean/ \|archive-date=January 25, 2018 \|access-date=August 27, 2021 \|website=]}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web \|url= http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=130910 \|title= PHA\|access-date= January 23, 2018 \|author= Cowan, Darren \|date= January 18, 2017 \|website=www.metalunderground.com/}}</ref> ],<ref name="Kerrang!">{{cite web \|url= https://www.kerrang.com/features/trouble-eric-wagner-doom-metal-finest-voices/ \|title= Kerrang! \|access-date= August 26, 2021 \|author= Ruskell, Nick \|year= 2021 \|website=Kerrang.com}}</ref> ],<ref name="Blabbermouth">{{cite web \|url= https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/cathedral-frontman-lee-dorrian-pays-tribute-to-troubles-eric-wagner/\|title= Lee Dorrian \|access-date= August 27, 2021 \|year= 2021 \|website= blabbermouth.com}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=810134885676366&set=a.773724142650774\|title=Trouble\|publisher=Facebook\|date=November 15, 2014 \|access-date=August 27, 2021}}</ref> ],<ref name="Kerrang!"/> ],<ref name="Kerrang!"/> ],<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.earache.com/WickedWorld/interview/confessor/confessor.html\|title=Confessor\|publisher=earache \|author= Tobin, Dan \|date= October 16, 2006 \|website=earache.com/\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016003716/http://www.earache.com/WickedWorld/interview/confessor/confessor.html\|archive-date=October 16, 2006}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2014/05/14/inside-the-shredder-s-studio-11-eric-cutler-of-autopsy/\|title= Eric Cutler Interview\|publisher=decibel magazine \|author= Norton, Justin \|date= May 14, 2014 \|website=decibelmagazine.com/}}</ref> ],<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2019/02/21/five-heavy-albums-that-changed-my-life-with-leif-edling-of-candlemass/\|title= Leif Edling Interview\|publisher=decibel magazine \|author= Pratt, Greg \|date= February 21, 2019 \|website=decibelmagazine.com/}}</ref> and ]<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://uglybass.wordpress.com/2016/09/27/jo-bench-bolt-thrower-collected-interview-snippets/\|title= Jo Bench Interview\|publisher=uglybass \|website=uglybass.wordpress.com/\|date= September 27, 2016}}</ref> citing them as an influence.

			== Members ==

			{{col-begin}}
			{{col-2}}
			'''Current'''
			* Rick Wartell – guitars (1981–present)
			* ] – guitars (1981–present)
			* Mark Lira – drums (2009–present)
			* Kyle Thomas – vocals (1997–2000, 2012–present)
			* Rob Hultz – bass (2013–present)

			{{col-2}}
			'''Former'''
			* ] – vocals (1981–1997, 2000–2008; died 2021)
			* Ian Brown – bass (1981–1983)
			* ] – drums (1981–1986, 1993–2008)
			* Sean McAllister – bass (1983–1986)
			* Ron Holzner – bass (1986–2002)
			* Dennis Lesh – drums (1986–1987)
			* ] – drums (1987–1989; died 2022)
			* ] – drums (1989–1993; died 2005)
			* Chuck Robinson – bass (2002–2009)
			* Kory Clarke – vocals (2008–2012)
			* Shane Pasqualla – bass (2009–2013)
			{{col-end}}

			=== Timeline ===
			{{#tag:timeline\|
			ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18
			PlotArea = left:90 bottom:80 top:10 right:10
			Alignbars = justify
			DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
			Period = from:01/01/1981 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}
			TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
			Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
			ScaleMajor = increment:4 start:1981
			ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1981

			Colors =
			id:Vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals
			id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitars
			id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
			id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
			id:Lines value:black legend:Studio_album

			LineData =
			at:10/03/1984 color:black layer:back
			at:18/03/1985 color:black layer:back
			at:15/07/1987 color:black layer:back
			at:10/08/1990 color:black layer:back
			at:16/06/1992 color:black layer:back
			at:10/07/1995 color:black layer:back
			at:12/05/2007 color:black layer:back
			at:16/07/2013 color:black layer:back

			BarData =
			bar:Wagner text:"Eric Wagner"
			bar:Thomas text:"Kyle Thomas"
			bar:Clarke text:"Kory Clarke"
			bar:Wartell text:"Rick Wartell"
			bar:Franklin text:"Bruce Franklin"
			bar:Brown text:"Ian Brown"
			bar:McAllister text:"Sean McAllister"
			bar:Holzner text:"Ron Holzner"
			bar:Robinson text:"Chuck Robinson"
			bar:Pasqualla text:"Shane Pasqualla"
			bar:Hultz text:"Rob Hultz"
			bar:Olson text:"Jeff Olson"
			bar:Lesh text:"Dennis Lesh"
			bar:Kirkpatrick text:"Ted Kirkpatrick"
			bar:Stern text:"Barry Stern"
			bar:Lira text:"Mark Lira"

			PlotData=
			width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
			bar:Wagner from:start till:01/03/1997 color:Vocals
			bar:Thomas from:01/03/1997 till:01/07/2000 color:Vocals
			bar:Wagner from:01/07/2000 till:01/02/2008 color:Vocals
			bar:Clarke from:01/02/2008 till:01/04/2012 color:Vocals
			bar:Thomas from:01/04/2012 till:end color:Vocals
			bar:Wartell from:start till:end color:Guitar
			bar:Franklin from:start till:end color:Guitar
			bar:Brown from:start till:01/02/1983 color:Bass
			bar:McAllister from:01/02/1983 till:01/07/1986 color:Bass
			bar:Holzner from:01/07/1986 till:01/08/2002 color:Bass
			bar:Robinson from:01/08/2002 till:01/10/2009 color:Bass
			bar:Pasqualla from:01/10/2009 till:01/10/2013 color:Bass
			bar:Hultz from:01/10/2013 till:end color:Bass
			bar:Olson from:start till:01/07/1986 color:Drums
			bar:Lesh from:01/07/1986 till:01/11/1987 color:Drums
			bar:Kirkpatrick from:01/11/1987 till:01/05/1989 color:Drums
			bar:Stern from:01/05/1989 till:01/08/1993 color:Drums
			bar:Olson from:01/08/1993 till:01/02/2008 color:Drums
			bar:Lira from:01/02/2008 till:end color:Drums
			}}

			== Discography ==
			=== Studio albums ===
			{\| class="wikitable"
	\|-		\|-
	\|'''~~Album Cover~~'''		\| '''Title'''
	\|'''Year of ~~Release~~'''		\| '''Year of release'''
	\|'''~~Title~~'''		\| '''Label'''
	\|'''Label'''
	\|-		\|-
			\| '']'' (formerly 'Trouble')
	\|]
	\|]		\| 1984
			\| ]
	\|'']'' (formerly 'Trouble')
	\|]
	\|-		\|-
	\|]		\| '']''
	\|]		\| 1985
	\|'']''		\| ]
	\|]
	\|-		\|-
	\|]		\| '']''
	\|]		\| 1987
			\| ]
	\|'']''
	\|]
	\|-		\|-
	\|]		\| '']''
	\|]		\| 1990
			\| ]
	\|'']''
	\|]
	\|-		\|-
	\|]		\| '']''
	\|]		\| 1992
	\|'']''		\| ]
	\|]
	\|-		\|-
	\|]		\| '']''
	\|]		\| 1995
			\| ]
	\|'']''
	\|]
	\|-		\|-
			\| '']''
	\|]
			\| 2007
	\|]
			\| Escapi Music Group\|Escapi Music
	\|'']''
			\|-
	\|]
			\| ''The Distortion Field''
			\| 2013
			\| FRW Records
	\|}		\|}

	===~~Compilation~~ ~~and live~~ releases===		=== Live releases ===
			* ''Trouble Live'' (1983, a live cassette sold by the band before being signed to ], available on CDR through the band's website)
	* '']'' (1994, demo of '']'')
			* ''Trouble Live Dallas Bootleg'' (1990, a live concert originally broadcast by radio during the band's tour for the self-titled album on ], available on CDR through the band's website)
	* '']'' (2005, compilation)
			* ''Live in L.A.'' (2008)
			* ''Live in Palatine 1989'' (2010)
			* ''Live in Schaumberg 1993'' (2010)
			* ''Live 1983'' (2011)
			* ''Black Shapes of Doom'' (2011)

			=== EPs ===
			* ''Knocking on Heavy's Door'' (1992; split with ], ], Megalomaniax)
			* ''Unplugged'' (2007)

			=== Demos ===
			* ''1980 Demo'' (1980)
			* ''1982 Demo'' (1982)
			* ''1983 Demo'' (1983)
			* ''Live'' (1983)
			* ''1985 Demo'' (1985)
			* ''One for the Road'' (1994)

	===DVDs===		=== DVDs ===
	* '']'' (~~2006~~)		* ''Live in Stockholm'' (2005)
			* ''Trouble Videos'' (2007)

	==~~External~~ ~~links~~==		== References ==
			{{Reflist}}
	*
	* {{Metallum\|id=393 Trouble}}

			== External links ==
	]
			{{Commonscat}}
	]
			*{{allmusic}}
	]
			*{{discogs artist}}
	]
			* {{musicbrainz artist\|id=2bfd6269-90a6-405e-8ce2-db6ad23a489c\|name=Trouble}}

	]		{{Trouble}}

			{{Authority control}}

			{{DEFAULTSORT:Trouble}}
	{{US-metal-band-stub}}
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 20:12, 7 December 2024

American doom metal band

For the band's debut album originally released as Trouble, see Psalm 9 (album). For the band's self-titled fourth album, see Trouble (Trouble album).

Trouble
Trouble at Jalometalli 2008
Background information
Origin	Aurora, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Doom metal
Years active	1978–present
Labels	Metal Blade Def American Century Media Escapi Music Hammerheart
Spinoffs	The Skull

Members	Rick Wartell Bruce Franklin Mark Lira Kyle Thomas Rob Hultz

Past members	Eric Wagner Jeff Olson Kory Clarke Sean McAllister Dennis Lesh Ron Holzner Barry Stern Ted Kirkpatrick Ian Brown Chuck Robinson Shane Pasqualla

Trouble is an American doom metal band from Aurora, Illinois, formed in 1978. They are often considered one of the pioneers of doom metal, and have been referred to as one of the genre's "big four" alongside Candlemass, Pentagram and Saint Vitus. The band created a distinct style, taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1960s.

Trouble's first two albums, Psalm 9 and The Skull, are cited as landmarks of doom metal. To date, they have released eight studio albums. Although never officially disbanded, they went inactive after original singer Eric Wagner left in 1997. He rejoined in 2000 and left again eight years later; he was first replaced by Kory Clarke and then by current vocalist Kyle Thomas, who had also filled in for Wagner during his initial absence from Trouble. Eric Wagner died in 2021.

Core members include Wagner, guitarists Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin, and drummer Jeff Olson. Early lyrics had a spiritual nature; Metal Blade Records initially marketed Trouble as "white metal" (in contrast to the rising black metal movement) in the 1980s.

History

Formation and Metal Blade years (1978–1988)

Trouble was formed in 1978 by Rick Wartell and was joined by guitarist Bruce Franklin, vocalist Eric Wagner, bassist Tim Ian Brown (not to be confused with lead singer of English band The Stone Roses), and drummer Jeff Olson. Ian Brown was replaced by Sean McAllister in 1983. Drawing from Black Sabbath for inspiration (with occasional nods to the psychedelic sounds of the late 1960s), the band used gloomy down-tuned riffs and spiritual, often openly Bible-inspired lyrics, which led Metal Blade to market the band as "white metal" as opposed to black metal. "I was brought up Catholic", vocalist and primary lyric writer Wagner explains in the liner notes of Psalm 9 re-issue (2006), "but you have to remember, back in the early 1980s, all the metal was kind of satanic, and I did not get into that vibe." Wagner has implied that Metal Blade came up with the term in the first place, which the band rejected: "I think it was more like Metal Blade trying to be cute or something, with everything being called black metal, why not call us white metal, which is a bunch of crap."

The band toured throughout the Midwest during the early 1980s. On February 5, 1983, the band recorded Trouble Live in Chicago. Drummer Jeff Olson mailed the cassette to Brian Slagel of Metal Blade Records and the band landed their first record deal. Trouble released their eponymous debut (later referred to as Psalm 9) with Metal Blade Records in 1984. The Skull followed in 1985, and reflected singer Wagner's struggles with substance abuse, as well as growing turmoil within the group. This led to the replacement of bassist McAllister with Ron Holzner. Drummer Jeff Olson also departed. Reports suggested that Olson had left the band to become a preacher, but he had actually decided to pursue studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree cum laude in Film Scoring. Dennis Lesh was drafted as his replacement for 1987's Run to the Light. In comparison to earlier recordings, the critics thought Run to the Light was "disappointing". Ted Kirkpatrick played drums during Trouble's Run to the Light tour. Kirkpatrick later formed the Christian metal band Tourniquet in 1990.

Rise to popularity and hiatus (1989–1996)

A three-year hiatus occurred before the band was snapped up by Rick Rubin's Def American Records, for whom they recorded a second self-titled album (Trouble) in 1990 with Rubin producing. More experimental than previous efforts, the album featured new drummer Barry Stern, formerly of Zoetrope).

The group embarked on a year-long tour before returning to the studio. In 1992, Manic Frustration was released, delving into Beatlesque psychedelia and featuring some of Trouble's most aggressive, energetic performances ever. But after the album failed to connect with a wider audience, the band was ultimately dropped by their record company, which was experiencing financial problems.

The band issued Plastic Green Head through the Music for Nations label in 1995, with the return of founding drummer Jeff Olson.

Reunion and Simple Mind Condition (1997–2007)

Even though Trouble had gone on an extended hiatus after Wagner's departure, rumors of an eventual re-formation persisted. From 1997 to 2000, Wagner was replaced by former Exhorder singer Kyle Thomas, who played four public gigs with Trouble.

On January 26, 2002, Wagner, Franklin, Wartell, Holzner, and Olson performed a short set in Chicago where during their smoking rendition of Black Sabbaths' Children of The Grave with Scott Davidson sitting in on the drums, the P.A. gave out and left the crowd in a stunning uproar. Since that time, the band has played individual gigs throughout the Chicago area and headlined metal festivals in Europe and the U.S. while working on a new album. A concert in Stockholm, Sweden in 2005 produced the live DVD "Trouble – Live in Stockholm" with members Eric Wagner, Rick Wartell, Bruce Franklin, Jeff Olson, and Chuck Robinson.

In February 2004, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and the Foo Fighters released a tribute album that paid homage to his metal roots. Entitled Probot, the disc featured various vocalists, including Eric Wagner, who sang on the track "My Tortured Soul". In the album's liner notes, Grohl wrote that buying Psalm 9 was like buying Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Holzner left the band soon after, to be replaced by Chuck Robinson, who played on the band's newest studio album, Simple Mind Condition, which was released in Europe on April 3, 2007, by Escapi Music. The band toured internationally in support of its release, but were not able to secure a U.S. release date for the album until over two years later. An unplugged album was later released through the band's website and, more recently, Escapi Music.

New singers and The Distortion Field (2008–present)

In May 2008, it was announced that Eric Wagner had left the band and had been replaced by Kory Clarke of Warrior Soul. Jeff Olson also announced his departure from the band in July 2008 to continue with his own band, Retro Grave. Olson's last show with Trouble was, coincidentally, at a rock club called, "The End" in Memphis, Tenn. Olson was replaced by Wet Animal's Mark Lira for the band's upcoming U.S. East Coast tour.

In a September 2008 interview with Rock N Roll Experience, guitarist Rick Wartell mentioned that Trouble had written "eight or nine songs" for their next album, and would begin recording it after touring. When asked which direction is the new music going in, Wartell replied, "I know people have said this a million times and I know you've heard this a million times, but it's pretty fucking heavy, let's put it that way! The music end of it that Bruce and I are writing is getting heavier and heavier...it's getting heavier, and then we want Kory to incorporate his style into what we are doing, that's basically all that we really want out of this."

On November 18, 2008, Trouble announced, via their website, that they were in the process of writing songs for an album that would likely be released in the summer of 2009. A live bootleg recording featuring the new line-up was released via the band's website in 2008, then worldwide by Escapi Music about one year later. On March 4, 2009, Trouble revealed on their website that the new album would tentatively be called The Dark Riff. On September 9, 2010, the band announced that they are "getting ready for the studio now. have been making preliminary recordings and working out things to bring the best possible Trouble release." Bruce Franklin later said in a 2009 interview that The Dark Riff would not be the title of the forthcoming album.

In February 2012, Kory Clarke left Trouble. Kyle Thomas, who was with the band from 1997 to 2000, took his place. Also in February 2012, two original members of Trouble — vocalist Eric Wagner and drummer Jeff Olson — joined forces with the band's longtime bassist Ron Holzner in a new heavy rock/doom metal act called The Skull. According to a statement on the band's Facebook page, "The Skull is here to do one thing... rock you with the sounds and spirit of Trouble — past, present, future. The Skull did a thirty-year celebration tour of Trouble's debut album, Psalm 9, in 2014.

On February 16, 2013, Jeff Olson announced that he would be playing some keyboard intros on the new album. In May 2013, it was announced that the new album, The Distortion Field, was scheduled to be released July 16 in North America and July 26 in Europe. This was the first release to feature Kyle Thomas and was produced by Bill Metoyer. Shortly after its release, Rob Hultz of Solace and Godspeed joined the band as a bassist.

In 2014, Wartell announced that Trouble had begun working on new material for the follow-up to The Distortion Field. No news or progress on the album had been reported until July 2022, when the band entered the studio to start recording it.

Original Trouble singer Eric Wagner died of complications from COVID-19 on August 22, 2021 at the age of 62.

Music and image

Trouble's music lies with a traditional doom metal style, although their albums since 1990s Trouble showcase a more stoner metal oriented style. Band members have cited influences by the early heavy rock bands of the 1970s such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Budgie, and Black Sabbath. Trouble have also incorporated elements of psychedelic rock to their style. Their use of slow tempos was notable at a time when NWOBHM and thrash metal bands were increasingly incorporating fast-picking and speed into their songwriting. While most slow songs by metal bands border into the area of ballads, all of the tracks on Trouble's second album The Skull are as heavy as they are slow, with a distinctive fuzzy distortion and melodic, integral (rather than superfluous or ostentatious) guitar solos. The band could best be described as combining the riffs and tempos of Black Sabbath with the twin guitar attack of Judas Priest.

Eric Wagner's lyrics deal with different themes, but the early Trouble albums, such as their debut Psalm 9, are known for biblical references. Especially because such themes were relatively uncommon in mainstream metal music of the 1980s, Trouble were then often classified as Christian metal. Other songs deal with social issues; "Bastards Will Pay", for instance, criticizes politicians as hypocritical. From Manic Frustration onwards, more lyrical references have been made to psychedelia, drugs, and hallucinations; "Hello Strawberry Skies" and "Mr. White" stand out as two examples. Corresponding with the increase in psychedelic lyrical themes, Trouble's overall sound has also had a noticeably stronger psychedelic component. Unlike other metal acts of the 1980s, Trouble's members dress in ripped jeans, tight T-shirts, wear round sunglasses and have fringes and outfit accessories more characteristic of the hippie movement such as bandanas and knee patches.

Reception

Problems with both the Metal Blade and Def American labels made it impossible for Trouble to achieve large commercial success. Even though their music videos were aired on MTV in both the U.S. and Europe, Manic Frustration was the only album that sold close to 100,000 copies. However, Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic wrote that "their preservation efforts nevertheless rescued metal's original blueprint from disuse, and carved it in granite for subsequent exploration by each new generation of doom bands that followed." It was said that Trouble took up where Black Sabbath had left off after their split with vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. Psalm 9 and The Skull are often cited as the cornerstones of doom metal as well influencing other bands of the uprising metal movement during the mid-1980s. A famous story states that James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica entered Trouble's stage after a concert, trying to figure out how their amplifiers were set to produce their unique sound.

Trouble's first two albums were critically acclaimed and are respected in the metal scene. The following album Run to the Light, however, was said to be "disappointing", but a different direction was taken during the Def American era, when Rick Rubin helped the band to develop a new, unique style. The self-titled album gained "magnificent reviews in all the major heavy metal rags" and the psychedelic Manic Frustration was a "critically lauded, cult-raved heavy metal masterpiece". The 1995's Plastic Green Head received good reviews and "the album's songs also exuded a palpable sense of wary acceptance." However, Trouble was never thought of as a completely unique group; some critiques dismissed the band as a "poor man's Black Sabbath". Nevertheless, Trouble's influence on the metal movement is unquestioned, with groups such as Corrosion of Conformity, Down, Electric Wizard, Cathedral, Crowbar, Orange Goblin, At the Gates, Confessor, Autopsy, Candlemass, and Bolt Thrower citing them as an influence.

Members

Current

Rick Wartell – guitars (1981–present)
Bruce Franklin – guitars (1981–present)
Mark Lira – drums (2009–present)
Kyle Thomas – vocals (1997–2000, 2012–present)
Rob Hultz – bass (2013–present)

Former

Eric Wagner – vocals (1981–1997, 2000–2008; died 2021)
Ian Brown – bass (1981–1983)
Jeff "Oly" Olson – drums (1981–1986, 1993–2008)
Sean McAllister – bass (1983–1986)
Ron Holzner – bass (1986–2002)
Dennis Lesh – drums (1986–1987)
Ted Kirkpatrick – drums (1987–1989; died 2022)
Barry Stern – drums (1989–1993; died 2005)
Chuck Robinson – bass (2002–2009)
Kory Clarke – vocals (2008–2012)
Shane Pasqualla – bass (2009–2013)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Year of release	Label
Psalm 9 (formerly 'Trouble')	1984	Metal Blade
The Skull	1985	Metal Blade
Run to the Light	1987	Metal Blade
Trouble	1990	Def American
Manic Frustration	1992	Def American
Plastic Green Head	1995	Century Media
Simple Mind Condition	2007	Escapi Music
The Distortion Field	2013	FRW Records

Live releases

Trouble Live (1983, a live cassette sold by the band before being signed to Metal Blade Records, available on CDR through the band's website)
Trouble Live Dallas Bootleg (1990, a live concert originally broadcast by radio during the band's tour for the self-titled album on Def American, available on CDR through the band's website)
Live in L.A. (2008)
Live in Palatine 1989 (2010)
Live in Schaumberg 1993 (2010)
Live 1983 (2011)
Black Shapes of Doom (2011)

EPs

Knocking on Heavy's Door (1992; split with Massacra, Tanner, Megalomaniax)
Unplugged (2007)

Demos

1980 Demo (1980)
1982 Demo (1982)
1983 Demo (1983)
Live (1983)
1985 Demo (1985)
One for the Road (1994)

DVDs

Live in Stockholm (2005)
Trouble Videos (2007)

References

Doom Metal AllMusic
"Petition For Doom 'Big Four' Tour Circulating". Metalunderground.com. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
Kamiński, Karol (May 11, 2012). ""The Big 4 of Doom Metal" tour in the works? » IDIOTEQ.com". Idioteq.com. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
"The 10 Best Doom Metal Bands of All-Time". chaospin.com. May 28, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
^ "Eric Wagner, Lead Singer Of Doom Metal Legends Trouble, Has Died From Covid-19". Houston Press. August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
Leif Edling, Trouble interview, Trouble Live In Stockholm DVD.
Lahtonen, Luxi. "Interview with Trouble". Metal-rules.com. Retrieved September 6, 2007.
^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 456/7. ISBN 0-7535-0257-7.
^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Trouble". AllMusic. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
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External links

Trouble at AllMusic
Trouble discography at Discogs
Trouble discography at MusicBrainz

v t e Trouble
Rick Wartell Bruce Franklin Mark Lira Kyle Thomas Rob Hultz Eric Wagner Kory Clarke Sean McAllister Dennis Lesh Ron Holzner Barry Stern Jeff Olson Ian Brown Chuck Robinson Shane Pasqualla
Studio albums	Psalm 9 The Skull Run to the Light Trouble Manic Frustration Plastic Green Head Simple Mind Condition The Distortion Field
Related articles	Doom metal Rick Rubin Probot The Skull

Trouble

Rick Wartell
Bruce Franklin
Mark Lira
Kyle Thomas
Rob Hultz

Eric Wagner
Kory Clarke
Sean McAllister
Dennis Lesh
Ron Holzner
Barry Stern
Jeff Olson
Ian Brown
Chuck Robinson
Shane Pasqualla

Studio albums

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