Turbonegro (Turboneger in Norway) is a Norwegian
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band, active from 1989 to 1998 and from 2002 to the present. The band combines
glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s and was performed by musicians who wore outrageous costumes, makeup, and hairstyles, particularly platform shoes and glitter. Glam artists drew on diver ...
,
punk rock, and
hard rock
Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...
into a self-described "deathpunk" musical style.
History
Early years (1989–1994)
Turbonegro formed in
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...
during the winter of 1988–1989. The initial lineup consisted of
Thomas Seltzer (a.k.a. Happy-Tom), Vegard Heskestad, Pål Bøttger Kjærnes, Rune Grønn, Pål Erik Carlin and Tor-Kristian "TK" Jenssen. Seltzer and Heskestad had formerly performed in a band called "De Dype" – a noisy and
subversive
Subversion () refers to a process by which the values and principles of a system in place are contradicted or reversed in an attempt to transform the established social order and its structures of power, authority, hierarchy, and social norms. Sub ...
ensemble inspired by American rock band
Butthole Surfers
Butthole Surfers are an American rock band formed in San Antonio, Texas, by singer Gibby Haynes and guitarist Paul Leary in 1981. The band has had numerous personnel changes, but its core lineup of Haynes, Leary, and drummer King Coffey has been ...
. Early Turbonegro continued their conceptional styles.
Turbonegro played their first show in March 1989 at
Ungdomshuset
Ungdomshuset (literally "the Youth House") was the popular name of the building formally named Folkets Hus ("House of the People") located on Jagtvej 69 in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, which functioned as an underground scene venue for music and rende ...
in
Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...
, Denmark. In April, they played their hometown of Oslo for the first time. In the following weeks, they recorded their debut single ''
Route Zero
Turbonegro (Turboneger in Norway) is a Norwegian Rock music, rock band, active from 1989 to 1998 and from 2002 to the present. The band combines glam rock, punk rock, and hard rock into a self-described "deathpunk" musical style.
History
Earl ...
'' and additional songs for their ''Turboloid'' 12"
EP. Both records were released by Thomas Seltzer's label, Straitjacket Records, which he started in 1983 to release the EP of his first band ''Akutt Innleggelse''. The first session was recorded at Nesodden Musikkverksted by Christian Calmeyer. Seltzer played
bass and
drums
A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
on ''Route Zero''. An initial pressing of 50 copies came with an exclusive
demo
Demo, usually short for demonstration, may refer to:
Music and film
*Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than release
* ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 recording by the band Behind Crimson Eyes
* ''Demo'' (Deafhea ...
tape called ''Computech,'' featuring a cover of
The Stooges
The Stooges, originally billed as the Psychedelic Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, was an American rock band formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967 by singer Iggy Pop, guitarist Ron Asheton, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave ...
' song ''1970''.
The early pre-deathpunk Turbonegro sound featured fairly tormented and distorted
noise rock
Noise rock (sometimes called noise punk) is a noise music, noise-oriented style of experimental rock that spun off from punk rock in the 1980s. Drawing on movements such as minimal music, minimalism, industrial music, and New York hardcore, a ...
(contemporary reviews compared the band's sound to
Halo of Flies
Halo of Flies was an American noise rock band from Minneapolis. Named after an Alice Cooper song, Halo of Flies was formed in 1986 by Tom Hazelmyer, John Anglim and Tim Mac. Over the next five years they released a series of seven inch singles ...
or early
Mudhoney
Mudhoney is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1988, following the demise of Green River. Its members are singer and rhythm guitarist Mark Arm, lead guitarist Steve Turner, bassist Guy Maddison and drummer Dan Peters. Orig ...
). ''Turboloid'' was the second and last release by the original lineup. Drummer Carlos Carrasco left to play guitar for Anal Babes.
In 1990, ''Route Zero'' was reissued by
Sympathy for the Record Industry
Sympathy for the Record Industry (also known as Sympathy Records or Sympathy 4 the R.I.) is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by Long Gone John. The first Sympathy release was the Lazy Cowgirls' ''Radio Cowgirl'' LP ...
with two additional songs from the ''Turboloid'' EP. In September of that year, Turbonegro left for a three-week tour of the United States. Hours after their arrival in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
, Grønn was beaten by local denizens and, as a result, hospitalized. The band continued touring without him, but the
tour
Tour or Tours may refer to:
Travel
* Tourism, travel for pleasure
* Tour of duty, a period of time spent in military service
* Campus tour, a journey through a college or university's campus
* Guided tour, a journey through a location, directed ...
was unsuccessful. Three weeks after the tour began, the band returned to Oslo.
In the winter of 1990, Seltzer reformed Turbonegro with Kjærnes and Grønn. Norwegian punk veteran Harald Fossberg, who had gained fame in the late 1970s with Norwegian punk pioneers Hærverk, was recruited as the new singer.
Bengt "Bingo" Calmeyer soon joined the band on bass guitar. In the summer of 1991, the new lineup released the ''
Vaya Con Satan'' 7" in the U.S., followed by their 1992 debut album of ''
Hot Cars and Spent Contraceptives
''Hot Cars & Spent Contraceptives'' is the first full-length album by Norwegian band Turbonegro. It was released in March 1992 through Big Ball Records. Only 1,000 copies were released originally in Norway. A different version with five extra tr ...
'' on Big Ball Records. Both the single and the CD introduced the world to deathpunk, Turbonegro's self-acclaimed genre.
The musical pre-settings were anticipating later ''Ass Cobra'' era – dark death-driven punk rock with occasional excursions into
hardcore
Hardcore, hard core or hard-core may refer to:
Arts and media Film
* ''Hardcore'' (1977 film), a British comedy film
* ''Hardcore'' (1979 film), an American crime drama film starring George C Scott
* ''Hardcore'' (2001 film), a British documen ...
and
metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
, as well as a tendency to disruptive and sarcastic lyrics. Swedish broadcasting
DJ Lars Aldman once described their sound as, "Radio Birdman meets Venom in an institution for sexually abused retards," and Danish ''Moshable'' magazine wrote, "One great big hunk of an album that simply barfs up the best in Scandinavian punk rock - and then slam it into overdrive. So fucking punk that it will tear you a new asshole - and then some!"
In December 1992, Turbonegro began a ruinous tour outside Norway. With money left from a grant, they went for one gig confirmed in
Ålborg
Aalborg (, , ) is Denmark's fourth largest town (behind Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Odense) with a population of 119,862 (1 July 2022) in the town proper and an urban population of 143,598 (1 July 2022). As of 1 July 2022, the Municipality of Aal ...
, Denmark, then headed south to
Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
, timezone1 = Central (CET)
, utc_offset1 = +1
, timezone1_DST = Central (CEST)
, utc_offset1_DST = +2
, postal ...
, Germany, where they became stranded in an unsuccessful search for an opportunity to play. After five days, the band ran out of money, but then they were able to make contacts with Gravy Train Agency, who organized several tours for Turbonegro outside
Scandinavia
Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion#Europe, subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, ...
in later years, as well as people from
Crypt Records
Crypt Records is an independent record label founded by American-born Tim Warren in 1983. The label has been headquartered variously in Hamburg, Germany and in several locations in the United States. Crypt is perhaps best known for issuing the ten- ...
.
In late March 1993, Fossberg played his last show with Turbonegro at
Sentrum Scene in Oslo. He quit due to health reasons and was replaced by
Hans Erik Husby (a.k.a. Hank von Helvete), who would become their best known vocalist. With the new singer, the band was renamed Stierkampf (German for "
bullfight
Bullfighting is a physical contest that involves a bullfighter attempting to subdue, immobilize, or kill a bull, usually according to a set of rules, guidelines, or cultural expectations.
There are several variations, including some forms wh ...
"). They opened up for
Poison Idea
Poison Idea was an American punk rock band formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1980.
History
Formation, 1980s, and 1990s
Poison Idea was formed in 1980 by vocalist Jerry A. (aka Jerry Lang). The initial lineup consisted of Jerry A., Chris Te ...
in Oslo and Denmark, as well as the
Ramones
The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock group. Despite achieving a limited commercial appeal in the United ...
in August 1993 at the Oslo Rock Festival.
The band's only professional release as Stierkampf was the ''
Grunge Whore
Turbonegro (Turboneger in Norway) is a Norwegian rock band, active from 1989 to 1998 and from 2002 to the present. The band combines glam rock, punk rock, and hard rock into a self-described "deathpunk" musical style.
History
Early years (1 ...
'' EP on Sympathy for the Record Industry. All songs on this release would resurface on their next album, with the exception of "Six Pack". Their second album "
Never Is Forever
''Never Is Forever'' is the second full-length album by the Norwegian rock band Turbonegro, released in 1994 via Dog Job Records. It was a limited and CD-only release to only 1,000 copies (some accounts suggest 1,200). Bitzcore Records re-relea ...
" (1994) was recorded by Christian Calmeyer at Nesodden Musikkverksted, and was self-released (limited to 1,200 copies) with a friend at Oslo Musikk Distribusjon. In their own words, this second album was "a tribute to
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult ( ; sometimes abbreviated BÖC or BOC) is an American Rock music, rock band formed on Long Island in Stony Brook, New York, in 1967, and best known for the singles "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", "Burnin' for You", and "Godzilla ( ...
", an attempt to dissociate from the
lo-fi
Lo-fi (also typeset as lofi or low-fi; short for low fidelity) is a music or production quality in which elements usually regarded as imperfections in the context of a recording or performance are present, sometimes as a deliberate choice. The ...
aesthetics of the
garage
A garage is a covered structure built for the purpose of parking, storing, protecting, maintaining, and/or repairing vehicles. Specific applications include:
*Garage (residential), a building or part of a building for storing one or more vehicle ...
. "When the rest of the punk oriented world tried hard to be lo-fi and 'real', Turbonegro as usual went the opposite way, creating a miniature suburban deathpunk opera. Seldom have pop culture, darkness and desperation blended so well." The release of this album followed their first full European Tour, which was nicknamed "Nihil Jung" and had 17 shows in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
By the winter of 1994–1995, the band had reclaimed the name Turbonegro, but had a new look referred to as the "
Al Jolson
Al Jolson (born Eizer Yoelson; June 9, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Lithuanian-American Jews, Jewish singer, comedian, actor, and vaudevillian. He was one of the United States' most famous and highest-paid stars of the 1920s, and was self-bi ...
schtick
A shtick ( yi, שטיק) is a comic theme or gimmick. The word entered the English language from the Yiddish ''shtik'' (שטיק), in turn derived from German ''Stück'' and Polish ''sztuka'' (both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *''stukkiją'') ...
", though it did not last long. Happy-Tom summed it up with an anecdote, "So there we were backstage with our black faces and wigs and little hats, smoking pot with our all-time heroes the
Bad Brains
Bad Brains are an American rock band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1976. Originally a jazz fusion band under the name Mind Power, they are widely regarded as pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members have objected to the use of this ...
, and the absurdity just didn't cross our minds. I mean, those guys didn't mention it, they were probably just embarrassed on our behalf."
New look and new sound, rise to success (1995–1997)
The gag was long gone by May 1995 when they debuted the
denim
Denim is a sturdy cotton warp-faced textile in which the weft passes under two or more warp threads. This twill weaving produces a diagonal ribbing that distinguishes it from cotton duck. While a denim predecessor known as dungaree has been pr ...
and
moustache
A moustache (; en-US, mustache, ) is a strip of facial hair grown above the upper lip. Moustaches have been worn in various styles throughout history.
Etymology
The word "moustache" is French, and is derived from the Italian ''mustaccio'' ...
look. Happy-Tom said, "We feel that denim out-rocks leather at all levels. Leather is for empty, little people. Denim is for us big guys! And the kids love it!" With a new look came a new sound. Calmeyer, their engineer at the time, said, "We decided to make things more raw, trying to convey the power of the live performance, if not the sound."
The first recordings of the new and improved Turbonegro were the ''Denim Demon'' and ''
Bad Mongo
''Ass Cobra'' is the third full-length studio album by Norwegian punk rock band Turbonegro. It was first released in May 1996 on Boomba Records in Germany and in 1997 on Sympathy for the Record Industry in the United States. It was re-released ...
'' singles in the spring of 1995. That summer, Turbonegro left for their second attempt at a U.S. tour, "Namblin in the 90's". They played only 11 shows. In the words of Happy-Tom, "at least we didn't get the shit kicked out of us like we did the last time we were in the USA". In the fall of 1995, Bingo and Pål left the band, putting Turbonegro on hold. Pål wanted to travel, while Bingo didn't like the new musical direction ("less Slayer, more rock'n'roll.") Happy-Tom, at the same time, was suffering from
stress injuries to his arms after the U.S. tour. Therefore, agreements were made to put the band on hold for a while.
In that same year, Anthony Martin started his new label, Boomba Records, in order to release Turbonegro's third album ''
Ass Cobra
''Ass Cobra'' is the third full-length studio album by Norwegian punk rock band Turbonegro. It was first released in May 1996 on Boomba Records in Germany and in 1997 on Sympathy for the Record Industry in the United States. It was re-released ...
''. It did not come out until the spring of 1996 and, by September, they were touring Europe again with a new lineup. Anders Gerner from Angst was added as the new drummer, so Happy-Tom returned to playing bass. Pål was replaced by
Knut Schreiner
Knut Schreiner (born 18 December 1974 in Bergen, Norway), is a Norwegian singer, musician and producer currently residing in Oslo. Also known by his stage name Euroboy, he has been part of important Norwegian bands like Kåre and The Cavemen know ...
, with whom Happy-Tom had played in The Vikings. Knut (a.k.a. Euroboy) was added to the band to help reshape their sound. The ''
Prince of the Rodeo
''Apocalypse Dudes'' is the fourth album by the Norwegian band Turbonegro. It is the first studio album with Euroboy as the lead guitarist and the last before the band disbanded in December 1998. Released in early 1998 in Norway and Germany, th ...
'' 7" was Euroboy's recording debut with Turbonegro.
Also at this time, Pamparius returned from traveling in Thailand to open his famous "Pamparius" pizza parlor outside Oslo in
Kolbotn
Kolbotn is an urban area in Norway's Nordre Follo county. Kolbotn is in the centre of the traditional district, Oppegård. The population is about 6,000. Kolbotn has several elementary schools, four middle schools and a high school. Town is loca ...
. He decided to rejoin the band as the
keyboard
Keyboard may refer to:
Text input
* Keyboard, part of a typewriter
* Computer keyboard
** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping
** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware
Music
* Musi ...
player and dancer. His return would be the final touch in the latest incarnation of the band. The new look, sound and album irritated and fascinated the European
underground
Underground most commonly refers to:
* Subterranea (geography), the regions beneath the surface of the Earth
Underground may also refer to:
Places
* The Underground (Boston), a music club in the Allston neighborhood of Boston
* The Underground ...
. People were starting to pay attention to Turbonegro.
In December and January, Turbonegro continued touring with 14 more dates in Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Denmark. The insignia of their stage performance – the bulging denim, Hanky's routine to stick in his rectum a lit
Roman candle, Happy-Tom's sailor hat, Euroboy's lithesome and sultry guitar choreography, and Hanky's attempts at addressing the audience in their broken native tongue – became Turbonegro's trademarks.
In spring 1997, Turbonegro had another lineup change. Christer Engen (a.k.a.
Chris Summers, from
BigBang
Big Bang (; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean boy band formed by YG Entertainment. The group consists of four members: G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, and Daesung. Originally a five-piece band, Seungri retired from the entertainment industry ...
) took over on drums, and they were ready to tour Europe again. This time, they opened up with a modified version of a
Grand Funk song, "We are a Norwegian Band".
Hank wore
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier, February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer whose career spans over five decades. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusions, including pyrotechnics, guillot ...
-like make-up and lit Roman candles in his ass (referred to as "assrockets"). Their final album was ''Apocalypse Dudes''. Musically, they made a move into mid-1970s punk and
glam territory in the spirit of
proto-punk
Proto-punk (or protopunk) is rock music played mostly by garage bands from the 1960s to mid-1970s that foreshadowed the punk rock movement. The phrase is a retrospective label; the musicians involved were generally not originally associated wit ...
pioneers á la
The Dictators
The Dictators are an American punk rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Critic John Dougan said that they were "one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth."
Origins
The band was formed in 1972 by Andy "Ad ...
, The Ramones or late Iggy & The Stooges, plus a bit of
New York Dolls
New York Dolls were an American rock band formed in New York City in 1971. Along with the Velvet Underground and the Stooges, they were one of the first bands of the early punk rock scenes. Although the band never achieved much commercial succe ...
travesty thrown in. As Euroboy explained, "When I came into the band, that added a ’70s rock-n-roll feel that wasn't there before...Turbonegro was just as dirty, but they were certainly more punk rock-driven than (before). We brought the Rolling Stones into the Ramones."
It was time to take the new and improved Turbonegro back across the
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...
with the "Summer of Head" U.S. tour. They were more warmly received this time, but still played only a few shows that were plagued with problems. Nonetheless, after years of stumbling through lineup changes, name changes and various shticks, they finally found themselves.
Apocalypse trilogy part one, popularity boom and disbanding (1998)
In the autumn of 1997, their next album ''
Apocalypse Dudes
''Apocalypse Dudes'' is the fourth album by the Norwegian band Turbonegro. It is the first studio album with Euroboy as the lead guitarist and the last before the band disbanded in December 1998. Released in early 1998 in Norway and Germany, th ...
'' – the first part of the so-called Apocalypse trilogy – was recorded at Endless Sound studios in Oslo with producer Pål Klaastad. When Happy-Tom was asked if their new sound and album had anything to do with Euroboy's entry into the band, he replied, "Yep, he's a genius, and so is our new drummer Chris Summers, The Prince of Drummers. We released the punk album of the millennium with 'Ass Cobra,' and didn't want to make an 'Ass Cobra' part two, plus we spent two years writing new stuff, so as to make sure that every song is a hit, so we ended up making the rock album of the next millennium."
The album was released in March 1998 by Boomba Records. However, it was released in Norway exclusively by
Virgin
Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...
. It is regarded among many fans and critics as their best and most successful album. Moshable magazine wrote, "''Apocalypse Dudes'' is the perfect mix of classic 70's US punk / rock'n'roll like Dictators,
Heartbreakers & Ramones... every tune on this release is fucking brilliant".
Jello Biafra
Eric Reed Boucher (born June 17, 1958), known professionally as Jello Biafra, is an American singer, spoken word artist and politician. He is the former lead singer and songwriter for the San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys.
Initially ac ...
said, "The new Turbonegro record is possibly the most important European record ever."
Turbonegro supported the album by playing 24 sold-out shows throughout Europe. By fall, they returned for another 16 European dates on the "Darkness Forever" tour, which was for a long time their last, and ultimately the end of Turbonegro. According to Happy-Tom, "Turbonegro broke up in the waiting room of a psychiatric emergency ward in
Milan
Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...
, Italy." Hank's mental indisposition became a serious problem and, as a result, the remainder of the tour was cancelled. They bid their farewell on 18 December 1998, at Mars in their hometown of Oslo. The last song they performed onstage before they broke up was the final encore "I Am in Love with the Destructive Girls".
On hiatus (1999–2002)
On the threshold of what was expected to be a major breakthrough for the band, Turbonegro withdrew from the music business and appeared unlikely to ever return. While there were several reasons, Hank von Helvete's
drug addiction
Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use of ...
made it impossible for him to continue. Leaving the band to undergo treatment for
heroin
Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a potent opioid mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Medical grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt. Various white and brow ...
dependency, as well as his struggle with depression, von Helvete returned to his childhood town in northern Norway. There, he worked at a Local
radio station
Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...
and as a guide at a Fishing Village Museum. Another reason for Turbonegro's hiatus was that the band was stuck in an oppressive record deal with Boomba. The band saw very little money from the arrangement, and cancelling their tour with
Nashville Pussy
Nashville Pussy is an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. Initially called Hell's Half-Acre, the band's name comes from Ted Nugent's introduction to "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang" on the '' Double Live Gonzo'' album.
Following the initial ...
after playing only half the dates added to their financial problems.
In 1999, Bitzcore Records out of Hamburg bought the contracts from Boomba and began to reissue Turbonegro's entire back-catalogue of albums. The year 1999 also saw the release of a posthumous live album entitled ''
Darkness Forever!'' It released selections from two of the band's shows in Hamburg and Oslo, documenting Turbonegro's larger-than-life stage antics. Their appreciation among contemporary artists from diverse musical genres as rock, pop, punk and even
black metal
Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...
was displayed on ''
Alpha Motherfuckers
''Alpha Motherfuckers – A Tribute to Turbonegro'' is a tribute album by various artists, originally released on 9 June 2001 (18 June 2001 in the US). It is compiled of covers of the Norwegian band Turbonegro.
The artists on this record range f ...
'', a
tribute album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records coll ...
to Turbonegro that was compiled over a span of two years and released by Bitzcore in May 2001. The lineup included, among others,
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age (commonly abbreviated QOTSA) is an American rock band formed in 1996 in Palm Desert, California. The band was founded by vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme, who has been the only constant member throughout multiple line- ...
,
Nashville Pussy
Nashville Pussy is an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. Initially called Hell's Half-Acre, the band's name comes from Ted Nugent's introduction to "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang" on the '' Double Live Gonzo'' album.
Following the initial ...
,
Therapy?
Therapy? are a Northern Irish rock band from Larne, formed in 1989 by guitarist-vocalist Andy Cairns and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing. Therapy? recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar. To complete the lineup, the band r ...
,
HIM,
Bela B.
Dirk Albert Felsenheimer (born 14 December 1962),''Die Ärzte. Ein überdimensionales Meerschwein frisst die Erde auf'', p. 80 better known under his stage name Bela B (formerly Bela B.), is a German musician, songwriter, actor and author, b ...
& Denim Girl (a.k.a. German
technopop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s a ...
star
Blümchen
Jasmin Wagner (; born 20 April 1980), better known as Blümchen (), is a German pop and dance music singer and actress. Although she releases her English albums under the name Blossom, her German stage name actually translates to "floret" or ...
).
During these four years, the band members would rarely speak; however, the momentum from their previous albums (especially ''Ass Cobra'' and ''Apocalypse Dudes'') continued to grow as more and more music fans turned to their music. Unbeknownst to the band, Turbonegro was becoming a
cult phenomenon. Fan clubs were established all over the world (see
Turbojugend
Turbojugend, sometimes shortened to TJ, is the international fan club of the Norwegian deathpunk band Turbonegro. A Turbojugend member can be recognised by their specially-made denim jackets with the Turbonegro logo and "Turbojugend ame of chapt ...
).
The immense following and the tribute album revealed a huge interest that, by audience numbers, hadn't existed before they had quit. When Turbonegro was approached by the organizers of the Norwegian
Quart Festival
The Quart Festival was an annual popular music festival that took place in Kristiansand, Norway in the beginning of July, from 1991 to 2008. It was the most visited music festival in Norway.
It was first named ''Qvadradurmusivalen'' in 1991, but ...
about possible participation in 2002, Turbonegro agreed to the reunion. What was initially meant to be a one-off event to provide an opportunity to the many new fans to witness a Turbonegro performance, finally resulted in the band's reunion. The festival shows received tremendous response.
Reforming: new albums, new tours and greater fame (2003–2009)
![Turbonegro London 30 Nov 2005](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Turbonegro_London_30_Nov_2005.jpg)
Shortly after the Bizarre Festival, the band announced that they signed a record deal for two new albums with
Burning Heart Records, an independent record company from Sweden with a long tradition in the punk & hardcore sector. Burning Heart also licensed Turbonegro's most successful albums ''Ass Cobra'' and ''Apocalypse Dudes'' from Bitzcore and reissued them as
digipak
Optical disc packaging is the packaging that accompanies CDs, DVDs, and other formats of optical discs. Most packaging is rigid or semi-rigid and designed to protect the media from scratches and other types of exposure damage.
Jewel case
A ...
CDs with additional video footage from the recent Res-erection show at Quart. Turbonegro appeared in an episode of
Viva La Bam
''Viva La Bam'' is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show is a spin-off from MTV's '' Jackass'', in which Margera and most of the main cast appeared. Each episode had a specific theme, ...
during Season 1. The band plays their concert at Bam's West Chester home. Their single, "All My Friends Are Dead", was also used in some episodes of the show.
Turbonegro played 22 U.S. dates in the spring of 2003, culminating in two U.S. shows at
The Troubadour in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, the first of which sold out in under an hour.
The band released its highly anticipated album, the second installment of the Apocalypse trilogy, ''
Scandinavian Leather
''Scandinavian Leather'' is an album by the Norwegian band Turbonegro that followed the band's reunion in 2002 and was released in April 2003 on Burning Heart Records in Sweden, on Bitzcore Records in Germany, on JVC/ Victor Records in Japan, and ...
'' in 2003, complete with artwork of a skull
Ouroboros
The ouroboros or uroboros () is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. The ouroboros entered Western tradition via ancient Egyptian iconography and the Greek magical tradition. It was adopted as a symbol in Gnost ...
from legendary ''
Revolver
A revolver (also called a wheel gun) is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six roun ...
''-designer
Klaus Voormann
Klaus Otto Wilhelm Voormann (born 29 April 1938) is a German artist, musician, and record producer.
Voormann was the bassist for Manfred Mann from 1966 to 1969, and performed as a session musician on a host of recordings, including "You're So V ...
. A U.S. tour with Queens of the Stone Age proved that the American
Turbojugend
Turbojugend, sometimes shortened to TJ, is the international fan club of the Norwegian deathpunk band Turbonegro. A Turbojugend member can be recognised by their specially-made denim jackets with the Turbonegro logo and "Turbojugend ame of chapt ...
contingent had grown completely out of control, and almost 150 shows later, Turbonegro finished the ''Scandinavian Leather'' campaign by selling out the
House of Blues
House of Blues is an American chain of live music concert halls and restaurants. It was founded by Isaac Tigrett, the co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, co-star of the 1980 film ''The Blues Brothers''. The first location opened at ...
in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
two days in a row in December 2004.
While ''Scandinavian Leather'' was recorded at their own Crystal Canyon Studio in Oslo, Turbonegro decided to bring in
Steven Shane McDonald
Steven Shane "Steve" McDonald (born May 24, 1967) is an American rock musician, best known as the bass guitarist in the Los Angeles alternative rock/power pop band Redd Kross. He is a founding member of the hardcore punk band Off! – serving a ...
as co-producer for ''
Party Animals''. This follow-up to 2003s ''Scandinavian Leather'' and the last installment in the Apocalypse trilogy was released throughout Europe on 9 May (in Norway 2 May). It continued the 1970s and 1980s glam metal and hard rock-influenced party-oriented deathpunk sound that was first introduced on ''Apocalypse Dudes''. ''Party Animals'' was followed by intense touring throughout Europe and, in October, they visited the U.S. A collection of
remix
A remix (or reorchestration) is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, video, poem, or photograph can all be remixes. The o ...
es and rarities appeared in 2005 as ''
Small Feces
''Small Feces'' is a two-part compilation album by the Norwegian rock band Turbonegro, released in 2005 on Bitzcore Records. It features 42 songs and documents the first steps from the beginning in 1989 until the ''Ass Cobra'' times ca. 1997. It ...
''.
Turbonegro went on tour again in 2006 to mostly European locations. In summarizing the band, Happy-Tom said, "Most rock 'n' roll bands start as a riot but end up as a parody. We started up as a parody but ended up as a revolution."
![Turbonegro2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Turbonegro2.jpg)
On 8 March 2007, the new single "
Do You Do You Dig Destruction" was released in Norway. The single was from the album, ''
Retox'', released on 13 June 2007.
On 10 July 2007, Turbonegro was one of the warmup bands, alongside ''HIM'', at
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...
's headlining concert at
Valle Hovin Stadium in Oslo, Norway.
The band toured Europe in late summer in 2007, including an appearance at
Download Festival
Download Festival is a British-created rock festival created by Terrance Gough, held annually at the Donington Park motorsport circuit in Leicestershire, England (since 2003); in Paris, France (since 2016); at Parramatta Park, Sydney (since 201 ...
and 10 intimate gigs in the United Kingdom.
The Turbonegro official site was completely redesigned for the new album release, and the new site debuted on 11 June 2007.
On 27 October 2007,
Rune Rebellion
Turbonegro (Turboneger in Norway) is a Norwegian rock band, active from 1989 to 1998 and from 2002 to the present. The band combines glam rock, punk rock, and hard rock into a self-described "deathpunk" musical style.
History
Early years ( ...
played his last live show with Turbonegro in
Stavanger
Stavanger (, , American English, US usually , ) is a city and municipalities of Norway, municipality in Norway. It is the fourth largest city and third largest metropolitan area in Norway (through conurbation with neighboring Sandnes) and the a ...
, Norway, and subsequently left the band. He said, "The decision was made this summer, realizing I hadn't had time off at all from work or touring for three years." Despite his departure from the position of
rhythm guitar
In music performances, rhythm guitar is a technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guitar ...
, he was still closely collaborating with the band by running their label, Scandinavian Leather Recordings and managing their itinerary.
On 3 March 2008, it was announced that Chris Summers had been asked to leave the band. He had already been gone from the band for six months due to a broken foot. On the band's website, they announced that, "
ue topersonal problems and a focus on other projects, we have been forced to ask drummer Chris Summers to resign from Turbonegro." Chris' replacement was announced to be Vikings drummer Thomas Dahl, who had been filling in for Chris since he broke his foot.
In early 2008, guitarist Euroboy also announced that he and
Happy-Tom
Thomas Seltzer (born 27 July 1969 in Hamar, Norway) is a musician in the band Turbonegro, a television talk show host and documentary creator, and an author.
Personal life
Seltzer was born to an American father and a Norwegian mother. Althou ...
were working on a new album tentatively titled ''Tumours''.
They continued their Retox album tour throughout 2008 and 2009, and on 7 August 2008, Turbonegro celebrated the 10-year anniversary of ''Apocalypse Dudes'' by performing the entire album at the Øya Festival in Oslo, Norway.
After finishing their Retox world tour, the band announced through the
Turbojugend
Turbojugend, sometimes shortened to TJ, is the international fan club of the Norwegian deathpunk band Turbonegro. A Turbojugend member can be recognised by their specially-made denim jackets with the Turbonegro logo and "Turbojugend ame of chapt ...
-Forum that they were going on hiatus for an unknown amount of time.
Hank von Helvete's departure and replacement (2010–2011)
On 9 July 2010, Norwegian newspapers announced that Hank had left the band. Subsequently, in early December 2010, news broke that a new band featuring Hank von Helvete on vocals had been formed, called
Doctor Midnight & the Mercy Cult
Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult (DMTMC) was a supergroup formed in 2009. The band made its live debut in Helsinki, Finland, on 11 May 2011 at club DOM followed by shows in Oslo, Stockholm and Örebro.
DMTMC's debut single, "(Don't) Waste It ...
, with an album to be released in 2011.
[Dr. Midnight Prescribes Evil Sounds for 2011](_blank)
Fearnet.com
Euroboy stated in an interview with "Lydverket" that Turbonegro would appear with Tony Sylvester as the replacement for Hank von Helvete for the first time in Hamburg on 15 July. Former member Rune Rebellion also rejoined the band as rhythm guitarist, while Rune's replacement and former keyboardist Pål Pot went on to become a part-time member, due to family and working commitments.
Release of new album and tour (2012–present)
![Turbonegro getaway](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Turbonegro_getaway.jpg)
In May 2012, social networks announced that a new Turbonegro album was about to be released. The new album would be titled ''Sexual Harassment,'' and would be released on 13 June 2012, on the Universal Music label for Norway, Sweden and Finland, and
Volcom Entertainment
Volcom Entertainment, officially founded in 1995, in Big Bear, California, and currently based in Costa Mesa, California, Costa Mesa, CA is the brainchild of Volcom founder Richard Woolcott and theLINE's singer/guitarist Ryan Immegart. Ryan being ...
for the rest of the world. This announcement was followed by the release of the album's first single "You Give Me Worms" on 4 May. The Album is produced by Matt Sweeney.
In an interview with the Swedish Newspaper
Värmlands Folkblad
''Värmlands Folkblad'' ("Värmland's People's Paper") is a Swedish language daily newspaper released in Värmland, Sweden.
History and profile
''Värmlands Folkblad'' was established in 1918. The paper has a social democratic political leaning. ...
in April 2015, Tony Sylvester says that the band is currently working on new material, but that he can not say when and how the music becomes available.
A later update revealed the album, titled "Rock N' Roll Machine", would be released in February 2018.
Musical style
Turbonegro's lyrics often attack
political correctness
''Political correctness'' (adjectivally: ''politically correct''; commonly abbreviated ''PC'') is a term used to describe language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in socie ...
. For example, the cover of the single "Bad Mongo" depicts
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
as mentally retarded, and in the song "Hobbit Motherfuckers", they complain that there is "not enough suffering" and "not enough natural selection". Their genre of punk has been self-described as deathpunk. The band has stated that their music superseded existing genres, so they dubbed it "deathpunk" as a way to avoid being pigeonholed into musical groupings they felt they were above. Lyrics referencing the genre choice include "gimme deathpunk baby, and I like it" from the song "Get It On". Sharing characteristics with certain musical predecessors, (
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for ...
wearing swastikas, etc.), Turbonegro has been praised by some as playing the most up-to-date form of punk with an anarchic blend of humour, shock and sexuality.
In the ''Turbonegro – The Movie'' DVD extras, Happy-Tom says that, early on, festival-goers expected Turbonegro to be
gothic metal
Gothic metal (or goth metal) is a fusion genre combining the aggression of heavy metal with the dark atmospheres of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy met ...
or black metal in the vein of other Norwegian bands. They are notorious for their on-stage
gimmicks. An early version of the band wore
blackface
Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used predominantly by non-Black people to portray a caricature of a Black person.
In the United States, the practice became common during the 19th century and contributed to the spread of racial stereo ...
and wigs onstage in an effort to challenge those watching their shows. On ''The Reserection'' DVD, the band states that early on they were often driven away from shows they were to play because they were not edgy enough or did not fit the look that the crowd wanted. As a result, the onstage schticks started to become as much of the Turbonegro experience as the music. Following several tours in blackface, the band started an oddball theme of tight denim pants, nautically themed stage props and homosexual innuendo, stylistically similar to the characters of
Tom of Finland
Touko Valio Laaksonen (8 May 1920 – 7 November 1991), pseudonym Tom of Finland, was a Finnish artist who made stylized highly masculinized homoerotic art, and influenced late 20th-century gay culture. He has been called the "most influential ...
. A tongue-in-cheek joke, the homosexual/
transvestite
Transvestism is the practice of dressing in a manner traditionally associated with the opposite sex. In some cultures, transvestism is practiced for religious, traditional, or ceremonial reasons. The term is considered outdated in Western c ...
stage presence found its way into the band's music, including songs such as "Prince of the Rodeo" and "Rendezvous with Anus" which are both thinly veiled references to
anal intercourse
Anal sex or anal intercourse is generally the insertion and thrusting of the erect penis into a person's anus, or anus and rectum, for sexual pleasure.Sepages 270–271for anal sex information, anpage 118for information about the clitoris. Ot ...
.
Levi's
Levi Strauss & Co. () is an American clothing company known worldwide for its Levi's () brand of denim jeans. It was founded in May 1853 when German-Jewish immigrant Levi Strauss moved from Buttenheim, Bavaria, to San Francisco, California, to o ...
jeans
endorsements soon followed, and the trucker-cut jacket soon became standard fare among fans.
The band's first break-out album, ''Ass Cobra'' (1996), was widely acclaimed.
Jello Biafra
Eric Reed Boucher (born June 17, 1958), known professionally as Jello Biafra, is an American singer, spoken word artist and politician. He is the former lead singer and songwriter for the San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys.
Initially ac ...
would later comment that it was one of the best punk albums of the 1990s. Following ''Ass Cobra,'' was Turbonegro's most critically acclaimed release ''Apocalypse Dudes'' (1998). ''Apocalypse Dudes'' introduced a combination of 1970s
arena rock
Arena rock (also known as AOR, melodic rock, stadium rock, anthem rock, pomp rock, corporate rock and dad rock; ; ) is a style of rock music that originated in the mid-1970s. As hard rock bands and those playing a softer yet strident kind of po ...
, irreverent lyrics, and punk stylings, which brought the band a level of notoriety that they had not achieved at any other point in their career.
Among the band's main influences are
Black Flag,
the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...
,
KISS
A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, ...
,
Venom
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
,
Radio Birdman
Radio Birdman is an Australian punk rock band formed by Deniz Tek and Rob Younger in Sydney in 1974. The group influenced the work of many successful, mainstream bands, and are now considered instrumental in Australia's musical growth.
Hist ...
,
AC/DC
AC/DC (stylised as ACϟDC) are an Australian Rock music, rock band formed in Sydney in 1973 by Scottish-born brothers Malcolm Young, Malcolm and Angus Young. Their music has been variously described as hard rock, blues rock, and Heavy metal ...
,
Iggy Pop & James Williamson,
Circle Jerks,
David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
,
Ramones
The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock group. Despite achieving a limited commercial appeal in the United ...
, the Lewd,
Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979. They were the first Finnish band to chart in the UK and they were also popular in Japan. The band broke up in June 1985 after drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley died in a drunk driving accide ...
,
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier, February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer whose career spans over five decades. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusions, including pyrotechnics, guillot ...
,
Negazione
Negazione was a hardcore punk band based in Turin, Italy during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Formed in 1983, they were one of the most important bands of the hardcore punk scene in Italy at the time. They were one of the early bands of the Itali ...
,
the Dictators
The Dictators are an American punk rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Critic John Dougan said that they were "one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth."
Origins
The band was formed in 1972 by Andy "Ad ...
and
the Stooges
The Stooges, originally billed as the Psychedelic Stooges, also known as Iggy and the Stooges, was an American rock band formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967 by singer Iggy Pop, guitarist Ron Asheton, drummer Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave ...
.
Band name
![Turbonegro, Southside Festival 2005](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Turbonegro%2C_Southside_Festival_2005.jpg)
Initially, the band had two running ideas for band names: ''Nazipenis'' and ''Turbonegro''. They were advised that a band named Nazipenis would never sell records, so they chose Turbonegro as a more consumer-friendly choice. The band's name raised some eyebrows and, for that reason, their first releases were sometimes branded "TRBNGR", perhaps to preclude backlash against what some consider to be a racist name. However, the band's stated motivations are anti-racist, an attempt to change the attitude of
racism
Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism ...
and
nationalism
Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the State (polity), state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a in-group and out-group, group of peo ...
perceived as prevalent in parts of
Scandinavia
Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion#Europe, subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, ...
.
According to lead guitarist Euroboy, the band name also has a peculiar origin. "I think Pål saw it spray-painted on a brick wall in a tube-station in a suburb of Oslo back in the day. It's actually two Latin words. It means 'fast' and 'black,' and we thought that was a cool name for a band. Because our music is very fast and very dark. And also, it's a name for a color. In the car industry, it's the name for the paint, for the darkest paint. If you want to paint your car black, the most black colour of all is Turbonegro."
Turbojugend
A feature of Turbonegro's
fan base is the ''
Turbojugend
Turbojugend, sometimes shortened to TJ, is the international fan club of the Norwegian deathpunk band Turbonegro. A Turbojugend member can be recognised by their specially-made denim jackets with the Turbonegro logo and "Turbojugend ame of chapt ...
'' (Turbo Youth), the band's
fan club. In explaining Turbojugend's beginnings, Euroboy said, "We thought about how
Kiss
A kiss is the touch or pressing of one's lips against another person or an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sexual attraction, ...
had the
Kiss Army
The KISS Army is the official fan club for the American rock band Kiss (band), Kiss, as well as the unofficial name used to refer to Kiss fans in general. It was started unofficially in 1975 by Bill Starkey and Jay Evans.
The membership form di ...
so we thought that Turbonegro should have our own Navy. It started as a joke in Happy-Tom’s apartment. We put his address on the album sleeves and it was all just for laughs. The Jugend blossomed into something way bigger than we ever expected."
The first Turbojugend chapter started in
St Pauli,
Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
, timezone1 = Central (CET)
, utc_offset1 = +1
, timezone1_DST = Central (CEST)
, utc_offset1_DST = +2
, postal ...
, Germany, with later chapters appearing throughout the world, St. Pauli being the unofficial capital. Chapter members identify themselves by wearing specially made denim jackets with the Turbonegro logo and "Turbojugend
ame of chapter stitched on the back.
The logo of Turbojugend Oslo can be found on almost every album Turbonegro has ever released.
Welt-Turbojugend-Tage
Once a year, Turbojugends from all over the world meet in St. Pauli, Germany, to celebrate Turbonegro, themselves, and punk rock in general during a two-day event, called "Welt-Turbojugend-Tage" (in English: "World Turboyouth Days"), with concerts and meetings in different clubs. Welt-Turbojugend-Tage 7, in July 2011, featured the comeback of Turbonegro. The eighth annual event was held in July 2012, and another was scheduled for August 2013.
Band members
Current members
*
Thomas Seltzer (a.k.a. "Happy-Tom", also "Tom of Norway", "Bongo" and "Bongo Neger") - bass (1989–1990, 1996–present), drums (1990–1996, 1997, 2010-2011)
*
Knut Schreiner
Knut Schreiner (born 18 December 1974 in Bergen, Norway), is a Norwegian singer, musician and producer currently residing in Oslo. Also known by his stage name Euroboy, he has been part of important Norwegian bands like Kåre and The Cavemen know ...
(a.k.a. "Euroboy") - guitar (1996–present)
*
Rune Grønn (a.k.a. "Rune Rebellion", also "Rune Protude", "Loonie", "Thee Oi Boy!", "Brune" and "Brune Neger") - guitar (1989–2007, 2011–present)
* Tommy Akerholdt (a.k.a. "Tommy Manboy") - drums (2011–present)
* Anthony Madsen-Sylvester (a.k.a. "The Duke of Nothing", also "Ceasar Proud") - vocals (2011–present)
* Haakon-Marius Pettersen (a.k.a. "Crown Prince Haakon-Marius") - keyboards (2015–present)
Former members
* Pål Erik Carlin - vocals (1989–1990)
* Vegard Heskestad - guitar (1989–1990)
* Tor Kristian Jenssen (a.k.a. "TK") - drums (1989)
* Carlos Carrasco - drums (1989–1990)
* Harald Fossberg (a.k.a. "Harry Neger", also "Hare Neger" and "Harold Neger") - vocals (1990–1993)
* Ole Martin Martinsen - bass (1990–1991)
* Bengt Calmeyer (a.k.a. "Bingo", also "Bingo Neger", "Bingo El Bailar" and "Panky") - bass (1991–1996)
*
Hans Erik Dyvik Husby (a.k.a. "Hank von Helvete", also "Hank Herzog von Helvete", "Hank from Hell", "Hertugen", "Herr Tugen", "Hertis", "Hanky El Magnifico", "Frank Hank" and "Hanky") - vocals (1993–2010; died 2021)
Rockstjärnan Hank von Hell död
* Anders Gerner (a.k.a. "André Grandeur") - drums (1996)
* Christer Engen (a.k.a. "Chris Summers", also "The Rolex of Drummers" and "The Prince of Drummers") - drums (1997–2008)
* Tomas Dahl (a.k.a. "Caddy" and "T.D.") - drums (2008–2010)
* Pål Bøttger Kjærnes (a.k.a. "Pål Pot Pamparius", also "L. Ron Bud", "Bod El Stud", "Toonie", "Herr Würst Neger" and "Max Neger") - guitar/keyboards/percussion (1989–1995, 1996–2010, part-time 2011–2012)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
Live albums
* '' Darkness Forever!'' (1999)
Compilations
* '' Love It to Deathpunk'' (Australian Best-of Compilation, 2001)
* ''Small Feces
''Small Feces'' is a two-part compilation album by the Norwegian rock band Turbonegro, released in 2005 on Bitzcore Records. It features 42 songs and documents the first steps from the beginning in 1989 until the ''Ass Cobra'' times ca. 1997. It ...
'' (boxed set of rarities, 2005)
* ''This Ain't No Fucking Melodic Punk 7"'' (Probe Records, 1995)
* ''Der FC St. Pauli ist schuld daß ich so bin'' (Bitzcore Records (Indigo Records), 1998)
Tribute albums
* '' Alpha Motherfuckers: A Tribute to Turbonegro'' (2001)
* ''Los Suaves Negroes: A Lounge and Bossa Tribute to Turbonegro'' (2007)
* ''Omega Motherfuckers: A Tribute to Turbonegro'' (2013)
Splits
* ''Stinky Fingers'' 10" vinyl (1995) – split EP with Flying Crap
* ''Flabby Sagging Flesh'' 7" vinyl (1995) – split SP with Anal Babes
EPs
* ''Turboloid'' 12" vinyl EP (1990)
* ''(He's a) Grunge Whore'' 10" vinyl EP (1993)
Singles
* "Computech" cassette tape (1989)
* "Computech + Route Zero" cassette tape & 7" vinyl (1989)
* "Route Zero" 7" vinyl (1989)
* "Vaya Con Satan" 7" vinyl (1991)
* "Denim Demon" 7" vinyl (1995)
* "Bad Mongo" 7" vinyl (1995)
* "I Got Erection" 7" vinyl (1995)
* "Prince of the Rodeo" 7" vinyl (1996)
* "Suffragette City" 7" vinyl (1997)
* "Get It On" 7" vinyl (1998)
* " Fuck the World (F.T.W.)" 7" vinyl & CD (2003)
* "Locked Down" 7" vinyl & CD (2003)
* "Sell Your Body (to the Night)" 7" vinyl & CD (2003)
* "High on the Crime" (2005)
* "City of Satan" CD (2005)
* "Do You Do You Dig Destruction" mobile-only download & CD (2007)
* "Boys from Nowhere" European Tour 6-track EP (2007)
* "You Give Me Worms" 7" vinyl (2012)
* "Hot for Nietzsche" (2015)
* "Special Education" (2016)
Books
*''Give me Friction, Baby'' – a book about Turbonegro and the Turbojugend, published on 1 April 2007.
*''TRBNGR – Sagaen om denimfolket'' – written by Håkon Moslet, almost a complete band biography from the early days, about the fans, the people, the drugs, and the friendship behind Turbonegro. (2007)
Side projects
* The Vikings – an early-mid-1990s project that features Thomas Seltzer, Knut Schreiner and Tomas Dahl.
* Oslo Motherfuckers – a now defunct project that featured Christer Engen and Thomas Seltzer, produced one album.
* Euroboys
Euroboys is a Norwegian band. They were formed in 1990 under the name Kåre and the Cavemen, but changed their name to Euroboys in 1997 for releases outside of Norway. In 2000 they changed their name to Euroboys for all releases including insi ...
– a project of guitarist Knut Schreiner.
* Mirror Lakes – new band with guitarist Knut Schreiner and members of Euroboys, Serena Maneesh, I Was a King, Heroes&Zeros and Hello Goodbye.
* SCUM – project featuring Thomas Seltzer with members of Amen
Amen ( he, אָמֵן, ; grc, ἀμήν, ; syc, ܐܡܝܢ, ; ar, آمين, ) is an Abrahamic declaration of affirmation which is first found in the Hebrew Bible, and subsequently found in the New Testament. It is used in Jewish, Christian, and ...
, Emperor
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...
, and Mindgrinder.
* Black Diamond Brigade – a one-off collaboration between Knut "Euroboy" Schreiner, Billy Gould (Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1979. Before settling on the current name in July 1983, the band performed under the names Sharp Young Men and later Faith No Man. Bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist/r ...
), Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven (Satyricon
The ''Satyricon'', ''Satyricon'' ''liber'' (''The Book of Satyrlike Adventures''), or ''Satyrica'', is a Latin work of fiction believed to have been written by Gaius Petronius, though the manuscript tradition identifies the author as Titus Petro ...
), Torgny Amdam (Amulet
An amulet, also known as a good luck charm or phylactery, is an object believed to confer protection upon its possessor. The word "amulet" comes from the Latin word amuletum, which Pliny's ''Natural History'' describes as "an object that protects ...
) and Tarjei Strom (Ralph Myerz
Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band is a Norwegian electronica/ hip-hop group/producer.
Career
The band was formed in 1997. They released a 7" and a 12" on Telle Records.
In 2002, they were signed by the U.S. label Emperor Norton Records and ...
).
*Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult
Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult (DMTMC) was a supergroup formed in 2009. The band made its live debut in Helsinki, Finland, on 11 May 2011 at club DOM followed by shows in Oslo, Stockholm and Örebro.
DMTMC's debut single, "(Don't) Waste It ...
- the new band featuring Hank Von Helvete on vocals.
References
* Biography from Heffington, Mike
Turbojugend USA
and Lucassen, Martin
Official Turbonegro archive
.
Pitchfork Media's review of 2003's Scandinavian Leather (also provides some historical background)
Notes
External links
*
*
*
*
{{Authority control
Norwegian rock music groups
Sympathy for the Record Industry artists
Kerrang! Awards winners
Spellemannprisen winners
Musical groups disestablished in 2010
Burning Heart Records artists
MTV Europe Music Award winners