The Trend

The Trend is a band that was formed in 1979, consisting of several local young men. The lineup consisted of Matt Collier as lead vocals, John T. McMullan as songwriter, rhythm guitar, and backing vocals, Dennis Fuller played bass guitar, and Brian Mitchell on drums.

The Trend's first performance was at the MOD (March of Dimes) assembly at the Kennett High School. They called themselves "The Knack, Jr." and played "My Sharona" and "Good Girls Don't."

"Not long after that performance, we decided to to try to be a real power pop band instead of a one time talent show act," McMullan said.

"In addition to being influenced by The Knack, we were into bands like The Plimsouls, The Beat, 20/20, Shoes, and The Records," McMullan said.

"I came up with the name 'The Trend' one day while reading the lyrics of 'Penny Lane' on the inner sleeve of The Beatles compilation album 'Beatles 67-70," he said.

"In the last verse of that, there is a line that I always heard as "We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim," so I was suprised to read the word trend instead of trim on the lyric sheet," McMullan said.

"So, I thought The Trend would be a great name for a power pop band," he added.

In 1981, The Trend cut a single at what was then known as Kennett Sound Studio. The two songs were "Lucky Day" and the still popular "She's Hi-Fi," both written by McMullan. The single came out just as Collier, Mitchell, and McMullan were headed to college at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Fuller decided to attend school at Murray State, in Kentucky, leaving the band in the process.

"Columbia was the perfect place for The Trend to develop," McMullan said. "Both sides of the single received airplay in Columbia, primarily on KCOU, acollege FM station that had a rabid underground following," he added. "The station's following translated into familiarity of our name with the new wave/power pop/punk crowd."

The Trend recruited Bill Joslyn, a Mizzou student from Lebanon, Mo., to replace Fuller, and decided to add Mike Astrachan on lead guitar.

"After playing a little while, the newer version of The Trend made the LP, THE TREND IS IN! in the summer of 1982," McMullan said.

"Joslyn moved to Kennett and we rehearsed every day at Astrachan's house in the play room," McMullan said.

"We worked up 12 of my original tunes and Gary Wilcoxson and myself produced the album at the Kennett Sound Studio," McMullan said.

"Keith Mitchell, Brian's father, underwrote the project, and Mike's father promoted it, while Joslyn did the artwork," he added.

For one week, The Trend was listed as a "Top Pick" in Billboard Magazine. "We were lucky enough to receive airplay from stations from North Carolina to Michigan, overseas, as well as KCOU in Columbia," McMullan said.

"We played clubs, opening for underground bands that we idolized. It was great, but it didn't last," he added.

Just recently The Trend was added to The Yellow Pills CD, including their songs "She's Hi-Fi" and "I Feel Like A Dictionary" in a compilation of power pop from 1979-82. When Entertainment Weekly reviewed the CD, The Trend was one of three bands mentioned as having contributed strong efforts.

"To be mentioned as having made a significant contribution to the power pop scene during those years is exactly what I personally hoped for back when we started the band," McMullan said.

Now members of The Trend, have made their own lives taking on careers that leave them little time to regroup and play.

The Trend did get together in St. Louis where they were reunited to sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame," at a Cardinals game in 2001.

Because of the success of the Yellow Pills CD, and specifically the attention that "She's Hi-Fi" received, The Trend is going to be included in another power-pop compilation later this summer called INTERNATIONAL POP OVERTHROW #7, where a live version of "She's Hi-Fi" will be featured.

"This particular version was recorded in Columbia on October 26, 1984, at what I think was our last really great gig," McMullan said.

"The tape was unlabeled and in a tub of tapes in my attic. I recently found it and took it to Memphis to be remixed a couple of weeks ago," he added.

Since the band's demise, Joslyn moved to Hollywood, where he lived briefly with Brad Pitt. They drove limos for dancers, just to make ends meet. Then Joslyn got a job with Rhino Records and he got his own loft. Not long after that, Brad Pitt's acting career started taking off. Joslyn is currently a brewmaster for Schafly Brewing Company in St. Louis.

Matt Collier is head of marketing at Livers Bronzeworks in Kansas City, Kan.

Mike Astrachan owns Astrachan Communications and resides in Kansas City, Mo.

Dennis Fuller is the morning radio personality at Sports/Talk WMC-79 in Memphis, Tenn.

Brian Mitchell is a pharmacist in Kennett and John T. McMullan is an attorney, practicing primarily criminal law in Kennett.