Paramus’ Trixter Ready to Deliver a Treat

When Paramus’ favorite melodic hard-rock sons Trixter regrouped in 2008, guitarist Steve Brown knew a new album would eventually follow. Four years later, the band is putting the finishing touches on “New Audio Machine,” which is scheduled for release in April or May on Frontiers Records.

“After not playing together for 13 years we had to see how it would go when we came back,” guitarist Steve Brown ( Class of 1988) said in a recent interview. “We all got along great and the shows were tremendous. Coming up with new music and making the record was the next logical step.”

“New Audio Machine” will be Trixter’s first album of original material since 1992’s “Hear!” and first studio album since the band’s 1994 covers disc, “Undercovers.” Brown, the band’s creative force, is the principal songwriter on the new record, which also includes writing contributions from former Styx guitarist Glen Burtnik and Skid Row guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo and bassist Rachel Bolan.

The new set is a “tried-and-true” Trixter record that stays faithful to the hook-laden, feel-good party rock that shot the band to stardom in the late 1980s, said Brown, now a Ringwood resident. At the same time, he said the album is a perfect fit in today’s hard rock genre.

“We made a great rock-and-roll record,” Brown said. “When everybody hears the record I think they’re going to be pleasantly surprised, and blown away for that matter.

“[New Audio Machine”] makes sense with what’s going on musically today,” Brown said. “You listen to a lot of bands, Nickelback, Daughtry, Buckcherry, there’s a lot of ‘80s influence. If any radio station played the new Trixter next to a Foo Fighters song it would make perfect sense.

“Even heavier bands are still suckers for ‘80s pop metal and party rock,” he said. That’s what Trixter is all about.”

Indeed, the band’s motto was and still is, “Trixter: Just Having Fun.” T-shirts sporting the slogan were ubiquitous in the 1980s, sported by fans at such Trixter hangouts as and the and now-defunct Twin Oaks diners.

“Paramus Park was one of the places we built the band from,” Brown said.  “We would go there every Saturday to hand out fliers and promote our shows.”

He maintains friendships with many borough residents, including Mayor Richard LaBarbiera, a childhood friend.

"I’ve always know Steve was capable of great things, and it’s a pleasure to see him entertain," said LaBarbiera, who recalled seeing the band receive Gold Record awards at a show at the Meadowlands. "He’s just a guy who lights up a room. It’s an honor to call him a friend."

Brown started Trixter in 1983 as a student at . The band also includes borough natives Pete Loran on vocals (PHS Class of 1984, now living in Arizona) and drummer Mark “Gus” Scott (PHS Class of 1986, current Warwick, NY resident). Trixter’s only non-Paramus native, bassist P.J. Farley, hails from Ridgefield and lives in Wayne.

“In middle school and high school things took off,” said Brown, who started playing guitar at age 8. “We played the all ages circuit around New Jersey, places like the China Club in Hillsdale and Studio 1 in Newark. After a couple of years we were selling out everywhere. Then the record companies and managers started to come out and the next thing you know we had a record out.”

Trixter’s self-titled debut album was released in May 1990 and made an immediate impact. The record debuted at No. 28 on the Billboard charts and sold more than 500,000 copies, achieving Gold status. The video for the song “Give it to Me Good” reigned as the top video on Dial MTV for five weeks, and the band toured the country opening arena shows for a number of famous rockers including the Scorpions and Don Dokken.

“Every dream we ever had came true 100 times over,” Brown said. “And the cool thing about us is we were the type of band that would hang outside the tour bus and sign every autograph. We were no different than most of the people who came to see us play. We never had a big rock star trip about us.”

The band’s momentum came to a sudden halt when the explosion of grunge music in 1991 rendered Trixter’s brand of melodic hard rock unhip. The band’s excellent sophomore effort “Hear!” failed to match the success of the group’s debut.

“We made an awesome record but unfortunately it was bad timing and in the entertainment business timing is everything,” Brown said.

These days, in addition to playing with Trixter, Brown performs as a solo artist and with other local bands. He also writes music at his home studio, Mojo Vegas.

“If Trixter didn’t happen, I guarantee you I would still be a musician,” Brown said. “Whether it’s playing for 20,000 people at a festival or 20 people in a restaurant, I love it all.”

For more information, visit www.trixterrocks.com.

Trixter Discography:

Trixter 1990 (MCA)

Hear!   1992 (MCA)

Undercovers, 1994 (Backstreet)

Alive in Japan 2008 (Mojo Vegas)

Best of Trixter (2009, Mojo Vegas)

New Audio Machine, (Coming April/May 2012, Frontiers)

DVDs

Live at Rock Fest

Live at the Myth

Live at the Cajun Dome