GONE TOO SOON: Turbonegro (1989 – 2010)
Turbonegro are hands down one of my favorite bands of all time. The Norwegian band that coined the genre “death punk” initially considered naming themselves Nazipenis, but thought Turbonegro had a better ring to it, and the potential to sell more records. They combined punk, metal, and glam rock, always finding ways to insert crude humor into their music. While they had a few albums prior to 1996′s Ass Cobra, the band Turbonegro had broken up due to frontman Hank Von Helvete’s heroin addicition back in 1998, following the release of Apocalypse Dudes, the album that is hailed as their masterpiece. Fast forward to 2002 and the lineup was back with a vengence. Scandanavian Leather was filled with amazing songs, including “Fuck The World” and “Sell Your Body (To The Night). I had the pleasure to see Turbonegro live at Webster Hall in NYC and agree with their dedicated and enormous fanbase that it was one of the all-time best shows I have ever attended. Following the release of two decent albums, Party Animals and Retox, the band called it quits in 2010 to pursue other avenues. Hank has tried his hand in acting and recently released an album with his new project, Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult. After 20 years in the business, Turbonegro have left behind a legacy of amazing music that will always remind me of some great times in my life. While I do not foresee a reunion coming, you never know what to expect. I’ll have my denim ready just in case.
