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White Reaper

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White Reaper
White Reaper in May 2018
White Reaper in May 2018
Background information
OriginLouisville, Kentucky, U.S.
GenresHard rock, garage rock, garage punk, power pop, glam rock
Years active2012 (2012)–present
LabelsElektra, Polyvinyl
Members
  • Tony Esposito
  • Ryan Hater
  • Hunter Thompson
Past members
  • Nick Wilkerson
  • Sam Wilkerson
Websitewhitereaperusa.com

White Reaper is an American garage punk band based in Louisville, Kentucky. The band includes Tony Esposito (guitar/vocals), Ryan Hater, Hunter Thompson, Nick Wilkerson, and Sam Wilkerson. The band has released two EPs and four full-length albums, their first album in 2015 White Reaper Does It Again,[1][2][3][4] and The World's Best American Band in 2017. White Reaper released their third studio album You Deserve Love on October 18, 2019, their major label debut. Their fourth studio album, Asking for a Ride, was released on January 27, 2023.

History

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Early years (2012–2014)

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White Reaper was formed by Tony Esposito and Nick Wilkerson while they were in high school. When they were 17 years old, they saw an entirely white Grim Reaper prop in a Halloween Express, becoming known as White Reaper thereafter.[5] The duo then recorded two demos, DEMO 2012 and WHITE AURA in 2012. A 7-inch featuring the songs "The Cut" and "Conspirator" was released in 2013 on Earthbound Records.[6] Wilkerson's twin brother Sam Wilkerson then joined the band as the bassist. Elementary school friend of Esposito and keyboardist Ryan Hater would also join the band.

Polyvinyl Records (2014–2018)

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White Reaper playing Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in August 2019

After signing to Polyvinyl Records in early 2014, their label debut EP White Reaper was released.[7] The band followed it with a tour with Young Widows.[8] In 2015, White Reaper's first studio album White Reaper Does It Again was released on Polyvinyl Records and they opened for bands such as Twin Peaks and Together Pangea. Guitarist Hunter Thompson joined the band in 2016.[9] Their second album The World's Best American Band was released in 2017. In 2018, White Reaper played at South by Southwest[10] and toured as an opening act for Weezer and Billy Idol.[11][12]

Elektra years (2019–present)

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In 2019, White Reaper would sign with Elektra Records. Three singles were released from their upcoming albums in Summer of 2019. The song "Might Be Right" became the band's highest-charting single, peaking at number six on the US Hot Rock Songs chart and atop the US Alternative Songs chart. White Reaper would play at the music festival Riot Fest and with The Killers. In October 2019, You Deserve Love was released, their major label debut. White Reaper appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in December 2019, playing "Might Be Right" and "Real Long Time".[13] White Reaper contributed a cover of the Metallica song "Sad But True" to the charity tribute album The Metallica Blacklist, released in September 2021.[14]

White Reaper released their fourth studio album, Asking for a Ride, January 27, 2023 on Elektra Records.[15] Later that year, a song from the album, "Getting Into Trouble w/ The Boss", was featured in an ad for Taco Bell's $5 Cravings Box, titled 'Family Reunion'.[16]

In June 2024, Nick Wilkerson and Sam Wilkerson announced on Instagram their departure from the band.[17][18]

Band members

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Current
  • Tony Esposito – guitar, vocals
  • Ryan Hater – keyboard
  • Hunter Thompson – guitar, vocals
Former
  • Nick Wilkerson – drums, percussion (2012–2024)
  • Sam Wilkerson – bass (2012–2024)

Discography

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Bassist Sam Wilkerson performing in Berkeley, California in October 2019

Studio albums

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Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Heat
[19] 		US Indie
[20]
White Reaper Does It Again — —
The World's Best American Band
  • Released: April 7, 2017
  • Label: Polyvinyl
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP, cassette
 7 34
You Deserve Love
  • Released: October 18, 2019
  • Label: Elektra
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP
 11 —
Asking for a Ride
  • Released: January 27, 2023
  • Label: Elektra
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP, cassette
 — —
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released

EPs

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Title Details
Demo 2012
  • Released: September 17, 2012[21]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: digital download
White Aura
White Reaper

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
AAA
[26] 		US
Alt.
[27] 		US
Main.
[28] 		US Rock
[29] 		CAN
Rock
[30]
"Make Me Wanna Die"[31] 2015 — — — — — White Reaper Does It Again
“I Don’t Think She Cares”[32] — — — — —
“Pills”[33] — — — — —
“Last 4th of July”[34] — — — — —
"Judy French"[35] 2017 — — — — — The World's Best American Band
"The World's Best American Band"[36] — — — — —
"The Stack"[37] — — — — —
"Might Be Right"[38] 2019 4 1 39 6 6 You Deserve Love
"Real Long Time"[39] 19 19 — —[A] 27
"1F"[41] — — — — —
"Pages"[42] 2022 1 4 — —[B] 3 Asking for a Ride
"Fog Machine" 2023 — — 33 — —
"Shimmy" (feat. Spiritual Cramp) 2024 — — — — — Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

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  1. ^ "Real Long Time" did not enter the Rock Songs chart, but peaked at number 30 on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[40]
  2. ^ "Pages" did not enter the Rock Songs chart, but peaked at number six on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart.[40]

References

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  1. ^ Heller, Jason. "White Reaper: White Reaper Does It Again". Pitchfork. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  2. ^ Roffman, Michael (15 July 2015). "White Reaper – White Reaper Does It Again". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  3. ^ Mosurock, Doug. "Review: White Reaper, 'White Reaper Does It Again'". NPR Music. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  4. ^ Hayden, Mack. "White Reaper: White Reaper Does It Again Review". Paste. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  5. ^ "White Reaper Is the World's Best American Band | Quick 6". YouTube. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  6. ^ "White Reaper – Conspirator / The Cut 7" / Earthbound Records". 2013-08-13. Archived from the original on 2013-08-13. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  7. ^ "Polyvinyl Records". Polyvinylrecords.com. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  8. ^ "White Reaper | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  9. ^ "white reaper on Instagram: "This is Hunter. His last name is Thompson and he was born on the 4th of July. He's the newest member of White Reaper and you will treat him…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  10. ^ "white reaper on Instagram: "full sxsw schedule 🌴😇 what shows y'all coming to ??"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  11. ^ "white reaper on Instagram: "bringing our live show to cream city for this @weezer gig one night only Milwaukee, come thru #cheeseheadsunite 🍦🧀🍦"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  12. ^ "white reaper's Instagram profile post: "👀 gigging w the OG @billyidol a wr favorite since the womb. is this real? did we die? alright guys guess it's been fun"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  13. ^ "White Reaper perform "Might Be Right" and "Real Long Time" on Kimmel: Watch". Consequence of Sound. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  14. ^ He, Richard S. (2021-09-10). "Every Metallica Blacklist cover ranked from worst to best". Loudersound.com. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  15. ^ Narsinghani, Krish (27 October 2022). "WHITE REAPER – "ASKING FOR A RIDE"". The360mag.com. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  16. ^ "White Reaper is the Band Featured in that New Taco Bell Ad". rockcellarmagazine.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  17. ^ "White Reaper Rhythm Section Leaves Band". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  18. ^ "White Reaper's Rhythm Section Has Quit The Band". Stereogum. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  19. ^ "White Reaper – Chart History: Heatseekers". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  20. ^ "White Reaper – Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  21. ^ "DEMO 2012, by WHITE REAPER". Earthlite.bandcamp.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  22. ^ "WHITE AURA | WHITE REAPER". 2013-05-01. Archived from the original on 2013-05-01. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  23. ^ "White Reaper – White Aura". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  24. ^ "White Reaper, by WHITE REAPER". Earthlite.bandcamp.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  25. ^ "White Reaper: White Reaper EP". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  26. ^ "White Reaper – Chart History: Triple A Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  27. ^ "White Reaper – Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  28. ^ "White Reaper – Chart History: Mainstream Rock". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  29. ^ "White Reaper – Chart History: Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  30. ^ "White Reaper – Chart History: Canada Rock". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  31. ^ "White Reaper – "Make Me Wanna Die" Video". Stereogum. 12 November 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  32. ^ "White Reaper – "I Don't Think She Cares"". Stereogum. 11 May 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  33. ^ "White Reaper – "Pills"". Stereogum. 22 June 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  34. ^ "White Reaper – "Last 4th Of July" Video". Stereogum. 2 July 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  35. ^ DeVille, Chris (26 January 2017). "White Reaper – "Judy French"". Stereogum. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  36. ^ Rettig, James (27 February 2017). "White Reaper – "The World's Best American Band"". Stereogum. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  37. ^ Trewn, Pranav (March 23, 2017). "White Reaper – "The Stack"". Stereogum. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  38. ^ Quinlan, Keely (May 29, 2019). "White Reaper – "Might Be Right" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  39. ^ Todd, Harry (July 24, 2019). "White Reaper Share New Song, the Classic Rock Revival "Real Long Time"". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  40. ^ a b "White Reaper – Chart History: Rock & Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  41. ^ "White Reaper announce new album You Deserve Love, share "1F": Stream". Consequence of Sound. August 27, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  42. ^ "Alternative Airplay". Billboard.com. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
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