Junkhouse

The Canadian group Junkhouse was formed in 1989 by guitarist and singer Tom Wilson. Other members of the original formation were drummer Ray Farrugia, guitarist Dan Achen, and bassist and vocalist Russ Wilson. After a number of years, keyboardist and guitarist Colin Cripps was brought in to extend the lineup. Around the same time, bassist Grant Marshall arrived on the scene to replace Russ Wilson. Throughout the '90s, Junkhouse recorded several singles and albums. In the late '80s, Tom Wilson was part of a group called the Florida Razors. When things crashed to an end for that band, he moved on, unsure of what he was looking for or of what steps to take next in his life and career. A year later, Wilson found those steps and formed Junkhouse. He also did some solo work, landing a deal with Sony Music. In 1993, his group signed with the same label, and a debut album, Strays, hit the market later that year. A few singles were released from the debut, along with a popular music video to "Out of My Head." Canada's answer to MTV, MuchMusic, helped Junkhouse expand their fan base, and it didn't take long for Strays to go gold for the group. Some of the other tracks on this first full-length outing include "The Waiting," "Big Brown Turtle," "Jesus Sings the Blues," "Weight on Me Mama," and "No Way Out of Love." It took two years for a sophomore album, Birthday Boy, to show up. It was the last one that Russ Wilson would be a part of. By the time Fuzz was released in 1997, Junkhouse had added two new members, Cripps and Marshall. Junkhouse split up in 1998, but the group staged occasional reunion shows, with Wilson back in the lineup. Russ Wilson died on March 12, 2024, at the age of 62.
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