Turbonegro
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Turbonegro is a Norwegian band which tries to combine the best of heavy metal, rock and punk music into a non-politically-correct version of punk. Their lyrics often attack political correctness; for example, the cover of the single "Bad Mongo" depicts Adolf Hitler as a mental retard, 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 described as Death punk by some, including, arguably, by the band itself in their lyrics ("gimme deathpunk baby, and I like it", from the song "Get it on"). Being a fun project with common predecessors (Sex Pistols wearing swastikas, etc), Turbonegro have been praised by some as playing the most up-to-date form of punk, and refusing to be categorized being nowhere as clearly expressed as in this anarchic blend of humour, shock and sexuality.
The band's name raises 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, trying to change the attitude of racism and nationalism perceived as prevalent in parts of Scandinavia. Founding member Thomas Seltzer once said, "A turbonegro is a large, well-equipped, armed black male in a fast car, out for vengeance. We are his prophets." [1] (http://pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/t/turbonegro/scandinavian-leather.shtml) Some fans also think that the name comes from the word boner witch means an erected penis. If one removes the first three letters in the name and the last and the "G" the letters you have left spells out the word "boner".
Throughout the world, there is an increasing number of local Turbonegro fan chapters called Turbojugends. Members can be identified by denim jackets with a Turbonegro logo and "Turbojugend [name of city]" stitched to the back.
Turbonegro is featured in an episode of MTV's Viva La Bam where Bam got them to play in his living room, and the song "Prince of the Rodeo" is a frequent background song in Jackass. "Age of Pamparius" is the theme song for MTV's Wild boyz.
Compared to Turbonegro's album sales, their fanclub is vast and so is the number of bands covering them. Oslo punkers "Abnormal" and metal/new wave US teenage college punk band "The liquor spitslickers" are two examples of bands inspired by Turbonegro.
88 Footwear has manufactured a Turbonegro denim skate shoe.
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Current Members
- Hans Erik Husby is Hank Von Helvete aka Herr Tugen aka Hertissen - Vocals
- Thomas Seltzer is Happy-Tom aka Tom of Norway aka Bongo - Bass
- Pål Bøttger is Pål Pot aka Pål Pamparius aka L. Ron Bud - Keyboards and Dancer
- Knut Schreiner is Euroboy - Guitar
- Rune Grønn is Rune Rebellion aka Rune Protrude aka Brune - Guitar
- Christer Engen is Chris Summers - Drums
Discography
- Hot Cars and Spent Contraceptives (1992)
- Never is Forever (1994)
- Ass Cobra (1996)
- Apocalypse Dudes (1998)
- Darkness Forever! (live, 2000)
- Scandinavian Leather (2003)
- Party Animals (april 2005)
Side Projects
- The Vikings - An early-mid 1990's project that features Thomas Seltzer and Knut Schreiner.
- Oslo Motherfuckers - A now defunct project that featured Chris Summers and Thomas Seltzer. Produced one album.
- Euroboys - A project of guitarist Knut Schreiner.
- SCUM - An upcoming project featuring Thomas Seltzer with members of Amen, Emperor, and Mindgrinder.
External links
- Official website (http://www.turbonegro.com/)
- Turbojugend.net, fansite (http://www.turbojugend.net/)
- Pitchfork Media's review of 2003's Scandinavian Leather (also provides some historical background) (http://pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/t/turbonegro/scandinavian-leather.shtml)no:Turboneger