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.
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.
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]
^"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.
^"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.
^"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.
^"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.
^"White Reaper perform "Might Be Right" and "Real Long Time" on Kimmel: Watch". Consequence of Sound. 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
^He, Richard S. (2021-09-10). "Every Metallica Blacklist cover ranked from worst to best". Loudersound.com. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
^Narsinghani, Krish (27 October 2022). "WHITE REAPER – "ASKING FOR A RIDE"". The360mag.com. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
^"White Reaper is the Band Featured in that New Taco Bell Ad". rockcellarmagazine.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
^"White Reaper – "Make Me Wanna Die" Video". Stereogum. 12 November 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
^"White Reaper – "I Don't Think She Cares"". Stereogum. 11 May 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
^"White Reaper – "Pills"". Stereogum. 22 June 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
^"White Reaper – "Last 4th Of July" Video". Stereogum. 2 July 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
^DeVille, Chris (26 January 2017). "White Reaper – "Judy French"". Stereogum. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
^Rettig, James (27 February 2017). "White Reaper – "The World's Best American Band"". Stereogum. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
^Trewn, Pranav (March 23, 2017). "White Reaper – "The Stack"". Stereogum. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
^Quinlan, Keely (May 29, 2019). "White Reaper – "Might Be Right" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
^Todd, Harry (July 24, 2019). "White Reaper Share New Song, the Classic Rock Revival "Real Long Time"". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
^ ab"White Reaper – Chart History: Rock & Alternative Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
^"White Reaper announce new album You Deserve Love, share "1F": Stream". Consequence of Sound. August 27, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
^"Alternative Airplay". Billboard.com. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
External linksedit
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