The Toasters

The Toasters
The Toasters playing at LabaDaba Festival, August 2013
Background information
Origin	New York City, New York, United States
Genres	Ska 2-Tone
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Megalith, Moon Ska Records, Moon Ska World
Associated acts	New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, The Klingons, The Pilfers
Website	thetoasters.band
Members	Robert "Bucket" Hingley Tom White Rob LaFalce Jon Degen Gilbert Covarrubias Thaddeus Merritt

The Toasters are one of the original American second wave of ska bands. Founded in New York City in 1981, the band has released nine studio albums, primarily through Moon Ska Records.

Englishman Robert "Bucket" Hingley relocated to New York City in 1980, where he managed that city's Forbidden Planet comic book store location, and formed The Toasters in 1981 after seeing The Beat perform at the Roseland Ballroom. The group's first live show was supporting Bad Brains at A7 in 1981. One of the original third-wave ska bands, the early lineup of the band included other employees of the store. The group self-released their first single, Beat Up, in 1983. They recorded their Joe Jackson-produced debut EP, Recriminations, in 1985 and after failing to find a label to release it, Hingley formed his own Moon Ska Records label. The group collaborated further with Jackson, whom Hingley had known since 1978 and who appeared under the pseudonym Stanley Turpentine, on later albums and in live shows. The group expanded with the addition of a brass section, and their first full-length album, Skaboom!, was released in 1987.

Hingley has been the only constant member in the band. While the band's lineup has seen many changes, regular contributors included Coolie Ranx (vocals), Matt Malles (bass), Dave Barry (keyboards), Johnnathan McCain (drums), Freddie Reiter (saxophone), Brian Sledge (trumpet), and Rick "Chunk" Faulkner and Erick "E-Man" Storckman (both trombone). Veteran Jamaican saxophonist Lester Sterling also made several guest appearances. Deejay Andrew "Jack Ruby Jr." Lindo, son of Jamaican producer Jack Ruby was also a long-time member. Reiter joined after playing in The New York Citizens, who had supported The Toasters on tour. Trombonist Buford O'Sullivan joined around 2000 after leaving The Scofflaws. Faulkner and Reiter went on to form the New York Ska Jazz Ensemble.