Los Angeles post punk band formed by Vitus Mataré and Kjehl Johansen in 1986, following the demise of The Last and 100 Flowers. Named for the murder weapon used to kill Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky, the band's first release Poison Summer came under the name Danny and the Doorknobs. Trotsky Icepick released seven albums in an eight-year span; the first two on Vitus Mataré's label, Old Scratch Grammophon, five on Greg Ginn's label, SST Records.

Members throughout the years: Kjehl Johansen (guitar/bass/vocals, ex-100 Flowers/Urinals), Vitus Mataré (guitar/flute/piano/organ/keyboards/vocals/producer, formerly 100 Flowers/Urinals producer, ex-Last), John Frank (drums, formally of The Last), Jamie Lennon (keyboards), Jason Kahn (drums, ex-Leaving Trains/Downey Mildew/Universal Congress Of), John Rosewall (bass/guitar/producer, formerly of The Last), John Talley-Jones (vocals/bass/guitar, ex-100 Flowers/Urinals/Radwaste/Vena Cava), Mike Patton (2) (bass, formerly of Middle Class), Skippy Glogovac (drums), Hunter Crowley (drums, ex-Last/Brian Jonestown Massacre).