The Queers

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The Queers
File:The Queers.jpg
The Queers in 2009
Background information
Origin Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States
Genres Punk rock, pop punk[1][2][3]
Years active 1981–1984, 1986–present
Labels Lookout! Records, Asian Man Records, Hopeless Records
Associated acts The Drunken Cholos, The Jabbers, Screeching Weasel, GG Allin
Members Joe Queer
Dangerous Dave
Lurch Nobody

The Queers are an American punk rock band, formed in late 1981 by the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, native Joe King (aka Joe Queer), along with Scott Gildersleeve (aka Tulu), and Jack Hayes (aka Wimpy Rutherford). The band originally broke up in late 1984, but reformed with Joe Queer and a new line-up in 1986. In 1990, the band signed with Shakin' Street Records and released their first album Grow Up. The album earned the band notability within New England, but with the release of their next album 1993's Love Songs for the Retarded, on Lookout! Records, their following grew larger.[4]

In 2006, after releasing six albums on Lookout!, the band rescinded their master rights from the label, citing breach of contract over unpaid royalties. Later that year they signed with Asian Man Records.

The Queers' cover of "Wipe Out" was featured in the 2007 Columbia Pictures and ImageWorks Studios mockumentary film Surf's Up, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and National Geographic Films.[5][6]

Music

The Queers play a Ramones-derived style of pop punk. Much like the Ramones, common lyrical themes are girls, drugs, alcohol and having fun. Musically the band deviates slightly from the driving rhythm guitar sound of the Ramones and augments their songs with harmony vocals and guitar solos. They have been described[by whom?] as "The Ramones meets The Beach Boys".[citation needed] Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel infrequently collaborates on songwriting with Joe Queer. The band is well known for the variety of cover versions they include on their records and during live performances. Bands/artists covered by The Queers include The Beach Boys, Ramones (including a complete re-recording of the Rocket to Russia album), Unnatural Axe, The Nobodys, Angry Samoans, The Mr. T Experience, Skeeter Davis, The Fantastic Baggys, The Who, The Undertones, The Hobos, Tommy James and The Shondells, Helen Love, The Catalogs (from Hawaii, featuring Les Hernandez of The Quintessentials), The Banana Splits and many more.

Radio & podcast appearances

Queer appeared on Ken Reid (comedian)'s TV Guidance Counselor Podcast on September 11, 2015.

Political views

In a 2014 open letter, Joe Steinhardt of Don Giovanni Records called on Asian Man Records and Recess Records to drop The Queers after Joe Queer made public statements in support of Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.[7] Artist Mitch Clem, who had previously done work for the band, publicly broke ties as well. Steinhardt later apologized for the open letter, stating "I remain personally appalled by Joe Queer's defense of Darren Wilson, his use of the term Obongo regarding the president...at the same time, I recognize that a better way to go about this would be more thoughtful discussion directly with the people involved." Joe Queer later called Steinhardt a 'gutless wimp' and asked for a face to face debate to be filmed and put online. Steinhardt has yet to respond.[8]

Band members

Since its formation, the band has gone through a few line-up changes, with Joe Queer as the only constant member. The band currently consists of Joe Queer (Guitar/Vocals), Dangerous Dave (Bass), and Lurch Nobody (Drums).The Queers have had many people filling in on various albums and tours though they were not actual members of the band. The first line-up was Joe Queer, Tulu and Wimpy Rutherford. The mid-1980s line-up was Joe Queer, JJ Rassler, Hugh O'Neill with Kevin Kecy or Evan Shore. The best known line-up is from the 1990s Lookout Records era : Joe Queer, B-Face and Hugh O'Neill. After leaving Lookout Records, B-Face and Hugh O'Neill left and Dangerous Dave joined. He is a member to this day. Chris Fields and Lurch Nobody are also still recording and touring with the band.

Current members
  • Joe King (aka Joe Queer) - guitar, lead vocals (1981–1984, 1986, 1990–present)
  • Dangerous Dave - bass, backing vocals (1998–2002, 2007–present)
  • Chris Fields (aka Chip Fracture/Chris Cougar Concentration Camp) - bass, backing vocals (2013 [touring])
  • Lurch Nobody - drums, backing vocals (2000–2001, 2006–present)
Former part-time and fill in members
  • Tulu (aka Scott Gildersleeve) (bass/drums) (1981–1984) (died March 2015)[9]
  • Wimpy Rutherford (aka Jack Hayes) (drums/lead vocals) (1981–1984)
  • Keith Hages (bass) (1983–1984)
  • Bobby Goodreau (lead vocals) (1986)
  • Kevin Kecy (bass, backing vocals) (1986)
  • Hugh O'Neill (drums, backing vocals) (1986–1993, 1995–1998) (died January 21, 1999)[10]
  • J.J. Rassler (lead guitar, backing vocals) (1987–1988)
  • Evan Shore (bass, backing vocals) (1987–1988)
  • Greg Urbaitis (bass) (1987–1988)
  • Magoo Piranha (bass, backing vocals) (1987–1988)
  • Jeebs Piranha (drums) (1987–1988)
  • Young Sean Rowley (guitar) (1987–1988)
  • B-Face (bass, backing vocals) (1990–1998)
  • Jay (drums) (1993)
  • Harlan (guitar) (1993)
  • Dan Vapid (guitar, backing vocals) (1994, 2002, 2014 Love Songs... tour)
  • Danny Panic (drums) (1994)
  • Metal Murf Cretin (guitar) (1995)
  • Erick Coleman (guitar) (1995–1996)
  • Hunter Oswald (drums) (1995)
  • Kato Cretin (guitar) (1996)
  • Geoff Useless (bass, backing vocals) (1998, 2006–2007)
  • Rick Respectable (drums, backing vocals) (1998)
  • Chris Cougar Concentration Camp (guitars, backing vocals) (1997–1999)
  • Steve Stress (drums) (1998–2000)
  • Isaac Lane (bass) (2001)
  • Matt Drastic (drums) (2002–2003) (2007–2008)
  • Phillip Hill (bass, backing vocals) (2002–2006, 2007)
  • Dusty Watson (drums, backing vocals) (2004)
  • Dave Trevino (drums) (2004–2006)
  • Andrew Griswold (drums) (2005)
  • Ben Vermin (bass) (2006, 2007)
  • Ryan Kwon Doe (drums) (2006)
  • Jeff Dewton (guitar) (2007)
  • Jonathon Mackey (drums) (2010)
  • Adam Woronoff (drums) (2007) (2009–2010)
  • Bear Williams (drums) (2012)
  • Josh Goldman (bass, backing vocals) (2013)

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

  • Love Me 7", 1982, Doheny Records —Pressing of 200 copies
  • Kicked Out of the Webelos 7", 1984, Doheny Records —Pressing of 200 copies
  • A Proud Tradition (reissue of the first two 7") 2x7", 1992, Doheny Records, 2x7", 1993, Selfless Records Reissue
  • Too Dumb To Quit! (featuring Wimpy on guest vocals) - 7", 1993, Doheny Records, 7", 1994, Selfless Records Reissue
  • My Old Man's a Fatso (featuring Wimpy on guest vocals) - 7", 1994, Wound Up Records
  • Look Ma No Flannel (featuring Wimpy on guest vocals) - 7", 1995, Clearview Records
  • Surf Goddess 7"/CD, 1995, Lookout! Records
  • Bubblegum Dreams 7"/CD, 1996, Lookout! Records
  • Everything's OK CD, 1998, Hopeless Records
  • Today CD, 2001, Lookout!

Compilations

Split albums

Live albums

References

  1. ↑ [1][dead link]
  2. ↑ [2] Archived August 24, 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

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