Trouble is an American doom metal band from Chicago, 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...
Extract from Wikipedia: “Trouble (band)” (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Concerts
Vinyl
Members
19 people from MusicBrainz
- 1979–1986Jeff Olson — membranophone, original
- 1979–1997Eric Wagner — lead vocals, original
- 1979–Bruce Franklin — electric guitar, original
- 1979–Rick Wartell — electric guitar, original
- 1983–1986Sean McAllister — bass guitar
- 1985–2002Ron Holzner — membranophone
- 1987–1987Daniel Long — keyboard
- 1987–1989Ted Kirkpatrick — membranophone
- 1989–1993Barry Stern — membranophone
- 1993–1996Jeff Olson — membranophone, original
- 1997–2000Kyle Thomas — lead vocals
- 2000–2008Eric Wagner — lead vocals, original
- 2002–2008Jeff Olson — membranophone, original
- 2008–2012Kory Clarke — lead vocals
- 2012–Kyle Thomas — lead vocals
- 2013–Rob Hultz — bass guitar
- —Chuck Robinson — electric guitar
- —Dave Snyder — drums (drum set)
- —Spillage
Discography
20 releases from MusicBrainz · ★ 4 in my collection
Albums (8)
- 1984★Trouble — debut album, later renamed “Psalm 9”
- 1985The Skull
- 1987Run to the Light
- 1990★Trouble — fourth studio album
- 1992★Manic Frustration
- 1995Plastic Green Head
- 2007Simple Mind Condition
- 2013The Distortion Field
EPs (3)
- 1990The Misery Shows
- 1994One for the Road
- 2007Unplugged
Singles (1)
- 1984Assassin / Tales of Brave Ulysses
More: singles, compilations, live & other releases
Lives (5)
- 1983★Live
- 1993R.I.P.
- 2006Live in Stockholm
- 2008Dallas, Texas, Alive!
- 2008Live in L.A.
Compilations (3)
- 1991Psalm 9 / The Skull
- 2022One For The Road / Unplugged
- 2023Revelations of the Insane (Demos & Rarities)

