The Trashmen were an American rock band formed in Minneapolis in 1962[1] and are best known for their biggest hit, 1963's "Surfin' Bird",[1] which reached No.

The original line-up of the group featured guitarists Tony Andreason and Dal Winslow, bassist Bob Reed, and drummer Steve Wahrer.

Tony, Steve, Dal, and the saxophone player played as The String Kings for a brief time period.

Steve made the decision to call the band "The Trashmen" when a friend of Don's showed them an album by guitarist Tony Caire, alias Kai Ray, titled "The Trashman's Blues."

A song called "Surfin' Bird" was conceptualized by Steve and was instantly liked by their audience at shows.

[7] The song was later covered by the Ramones, the Cramps, Silverchair, The Psychotic Petunias, Pee-wee Herman, Equipe 84, and the thrash metal band Sodom.

It has also been featured in several films, including Full Metal Jacket, Fred Claus, Pink Flamingos, Back to the Beach, and The Big Year.

"Surfin' Bird" was the subject of the episode "I Dream of Jesus" of the television series Family Guy, sending the song to No.

[9] The group made sporadic reunions in the 1970s and 1980s, performing together until Steve Wahrer died of throat cancer in 1989.

Reed's son Robin joined as a touring member in 2009 on drums, filling in for Mark Andreason.

The Trashmen toured Europe in 2008 and in 2010, performing in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.