The Queers

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The Queers
Lookout!
  • Asian Man
  • Hopeless
    • Members
    • Joe Queer
    • Ginger Fanculo
    • Hoglog Rehab

    The Queers are an American

    Lookout! Records, their following grew.[3]

    In 2006, after releasing six albums on Lookout! Records, the band rescinded their master rights from the label, citing breach of contract over unpaid royalties.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'

    National Geographic Films.[4][5]

    History

    The Queers were formed in 1981 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.[6] The original line-up consisted of guitarist/vocalist Joe Queer, bassist Tulu, and drummer Wimpy Rutherford.[7] Tulu introduced Queer and Rutherford to The Ramones in 1976 but it would be another five years before they formed The Queers shortly after Joe returned to New Hampshire having spent a summer in Manhattan Beach, California. While Queer was on the west coast he saw many of the original Los Angeles punk rock bands including The Zeros, The Germs, Black Flag, The Dickies, Fear, and Angry Samoans.[8] All three had previously played in earlier punk bands before forming The Queers including The Objects and The Falling Spikes, and Tulu released a solo single in 1981. Tulu stated that their band moniker had nothing to do with homosexuality, and meant queer as in someone strange or an outsider.[7]

    The 1981–1982 original line-up rehearsed in Tulu’s basement but never publicly performed. Their earliest songs were cover songs by The Dave Clark Five, The Monkees, and The Ramones. Sometime in 1982 Queer, Tulu, and Wimpy found themselves hanging out listening to punk rock records that Joe had purchased while living in Manhattan Beach, California and had brought back home to New Hampshire. One of the punk rock records the trio put on the turntable was the Blood Sausage EP by The Meatmen. After listening to the record they all were collectively of the opinion that they could "do much better" and commenced to write original songs. Tulu then wrote The Queers' first classic, “We’d Have A Riot Doing Heroin”, right on the spot “in about two minutes” and the band was truly born. Those earliest original songs were subsequently recorded on The Queers' debut record. After releasing the Love Me EP, the group disbanded for a few months while Tulu temporarily moved to New York City, New York in late 1982. While the band was on temporary hiatus, Joe and Wimpy got together and over the course of a few hours in one day wrote enough new songs for a new record. A phone call was made to Tulu to inform him that they had written a great new batch of songs, discussed re-forming the band, and recording another EP. After a fortnight, Joe and Wimpy drove to New York City, located Tulu, and drove back to New Hampshire with newfound enthusiasm and confidence. In 1983 the new line-up found Queer remaining on guitar while Rutherford switched from drums to lead vocals (at the insistence of Tulu and Joe) and Tulu from bass to drums,[7] while their friend Keith Hages joined on bass.[9] This line-up recorded the Kicked Out of the Webelos EP and performed approximately six live shows (The Masonic Temple, a local pool party, and an outdoor open field gig; all three shows were located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The new line-up also played Geno’s Rock club in Portland, Maine along with two further shows), and broke up for a second time in 1984. Shortly after the breakup the Webelos EP was released and Tulu then went to college in Arizona while Queer and Wimpy continued to reside in New Hampshire.[8] While never releasing a proper album at the time, the 1996 compilation A Day Late and a Dollar Short compiled the Love Me EP (1982), the Kicked Out of the Webelos EP (1984), a studio session dating from 1993 recording original songs that were written in 1983 but not recorded in the band’s original era, demo tracks in 1991, and an East Orange, New Jersey live performance in 1994 on independent community radio station WFMU.[10]

    In 1986, King formed a new version of the band with

    Lookout! Records owner Larry Livermore to sign The Queers, who released their second album, Love Songs for the Retarded, on Lookout! in 1993.[10] To promote the album the band went on tours with Screeching Weasel and Rancid.[11]

    By now the band had developed problems with drug and alcohol use.[12] Larry Livermore, who was in the studio with the band for Love Songs for the Retarded, recalled that while Joe King was able to stop drinking, heroin remained an issue for both King and Hugh O'Neill. The other members staged an intervention for O'Neill, who was forced to take a leave of absence from the band to deal with his addiction.[13]

    Jay Adelberg filled in on drums, performing on the live album Shout at the Queers; their 1994 cover version of the Ramones' 1977 album Rocket to Russia (released as part of Selfless Records' Ramones covers album series); and "Blabbermouth", their contribution to the 1994 Ben Weasel-curated compilation album Punk USA.[14][15][16]

    Dan Vapid

    The recording for the band's next album, 1994's

    brain cancer, dying on January 20, 1999.[21][22]

    Musical style and influences

    The Queers play a

    Tommy James and The Shondells, Helen Love
    , The Catalogs (from Hawaii, featuring Les Hernandez of The Quintessentials), The Banana Splits and many more.

    tribute album titled God Save The Queers was released, which featured covers by bands including Dwarves, Screeching Weasel, Teengenerate, New Bomb Turks, The Jolts, Hard-Ons, Toys That Kill, Parasites, Toothless George, and The Unlovables.[26]

    Controversy

    Joe Queer has been publicly outspoken against Nazism and white supremacy over the years as expressed in various interviews and in the song "You're Tripping" from the 1993 Lookout Records release Love Songs for the Retarded. The lyrics state "I hate white power... Can't you see, this ain't Nazi Germany".

    In a 2014 open letter, Joe Steinhardt of

    Darren Wilson.[27] 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 challenged him to a face to face debate to be filmed and put online. Steinhardt has yet to respond.[28]

    In an interview with Noisey, after their February 2016 show was cancelled due to a call for a petition to boycott the show from a local collective, Babely Shades, Joe Queer voiced his opinion when asked if he "supports racist, misogynistic or homophobic values?" he replied "Of course not. What normal minded person does? My closest pals here in Atlanta are Chris and Chester, two gay black guys. I was actually working a part time job. I was one of two white people on the whole job. If I was so racist, I wouldn't have worked there or be living in Atlanta! The whole city is predominantly black." He also voiced his opinion of the activist group

    All lives matter."[29]

    In a 2017 interview, Joe Queer stated "I get called a Nazi and racist because of our name, and then because I had an opinion about the Ferguson thing," he says. "I'm liberal as hell, and I was taken aback by how quickly people attacked me. To this day, I'll get snide comments. I was jumped by Nazis as a gay person, even though I'm not gay. I fought Nazis, so to be called a Nazi is lame by this alt-left." In the same interview he states that humor is a way to social change, we shouldn't take ourselves so seriously and that many people are looking for a reason to be offended. "In the old days of punk rock, all these bands were laughing at themselves, and they got their point across through humor," King says. "The Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, the Dickies, the Angry Samoans, Flipper, X — they were funny, but they had a message. They were laughing at themselves. I don't think the new liberals are really offended. I think they're just looking for a reason to say they're offended. They completely take everything out of context. It's so insincere, this faux outrage."[30]

    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), Ginger Fanculo (bass), and Hoglog Rehab (drums). The first line-up was Joe Queer, Tulu, Keith Hages 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. The Queers continue to actively tour and a new record is in the works. In 1999, former drummer Hugh O'Neill died of brain cancer at the age of 41.

    Current members
    • Joe King (a.k.a. Joe Queer) – guitar, lead vocals (1981–1984, 1986, 1990–present)
    • Alex Martin (a.k.a. Hoglog Rehab) – Drums (2011–present)
    • Ginger Fanculo – Guitar/Bass (touring) (2018–present)
    Former part-time and fill in members
    • Tulu (a.k.a. Scott Gildersleeve) (bass/drums) (1981–1984) (died March 2015)[31]
    • Wimpy Rutherford (a.k.a. Jack Hayes) (drums/lead vocals) (1981–1984)
    • Keith Hages (bass, backing vocals) (1982–1984)
    • Bobby Gaudreau (lead vocals) (1986)
    • Kevin Kecy (bass, backing vocals) (1986)
    • Hugh O'Neill (drums, backing vocals) (1986–1993, 1995–1998) (died January 20, 1999)[32]
    • Joseph Hughes (drums) (1986–1988)
    • J.J. Rassler (lead guitar, backing vocals) (1987–1988)
    • Danny McCormack (guitar) (1987–1988)
    • Evan Shore (bass, backing vocals) (1987–1988)
    • Greg Urbaitis (bass) (1988–1990)
    • Geoff Armstrong (Bass) (2018)
    • Magoo Piranha (bass, backing vocals) (1987–1988)
    • Jeebs Piranha (drums) (1987–1988)
    • Young Sean Rowley (guitar) (1988–1990)
    • B-Face (bass, backing vocals) (1990–1998)
    • Jay (drums) (1993)
    • Harlan Miller (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 Palmer
      (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)
    • Dangerous Dave (bass, backing vocals) (1998–2002, 2007–2015)
    • Isaac Lane (bass) (2001)
    • Phillip Hill (bass, backing vocals) (2002–2006, 2007)
    • Dusty Watson (drums, backing vocals) (2004, 2009)
    • 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)
    • Lurch Nobody (drums, backing vocals) (2000–2001, 2006–2011)
    • Josh Goldman (bass, backing vocals) (2013, 2015)
    • Wyatt Peterson (bass, backing vocals) (2015)
    • Chris May (a.k.a. Cheeto Bandito, a.k.a. Cheeto Mayhem) (bass, backing vocals) (2017–2022)
    • Mick Francis (bass, backing vocals) (2022)
    • Robbie Rotten (bass, backing vocals) (2022–2023)

    Discography

    Main article: The Queers discography

    Studio albums

    References

    1. ^ "27 Years of the Queers: An Interview with the Queers' Guitarist/Vocalist Joe King". mog.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010.
    2. ^ "Queers". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
    3. ^ Kembrew McLeod (1999-01-21). "The Queers | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
    4. ^ Surf's Up (DVD). Sony Pictures Animation/Columbia Pictures. 2007.
    5. ^ "Surf's Up (2007)". Soundtrackinfo.com. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
    6. ^ Stephens, Erin. "Punk rock hits Vinyl Feb. 21". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    7. ^ a b c "Uncensored Interview excerpts from Tulu & Wimpy of the Queers". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    8. ^ a b c d "That One Time On Tour: Joe Queer (The Queers) on Apple Podcasts". Podcasts.apple.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    9. ^ Chandler, Anna. "Agent Orange returns with The Queers, Guttermouth, and The Atom Age". Connectsavannah.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    10. ^ a b "The Queers | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    11. ^ a b "From your boy". Portsmothnh.com. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    12. ^
      ISBN 978-1-62106-612-5
      .
    13. ISBN 978-0-9891963-4-5
      .
    14. ^ Shout at the Queers (LP liner notes). Garland, Texas: Selfless Records. 1994. SFLS 28.
    15. ^ Rocket to Russia (CD liner notes). Los Angeles: Liberation Records. 2001. L-37838.
    16. ^
      Lookout! Records
      . 1994. LK 77CD.
    17. ^ DaRonco, Mike. "Review: Suck This". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
    18. Lookout! Records
      . 1995. LK 108CD.
    19. ^ "Move Back Home – The Queers | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    20. ^ "Don't Back Down – The Queers | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    21. ^ "B-Face | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    22. ^ MTV News Staff. "Queers' O'Neill Dead From Cancer". MTtv.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
    23. ^ Livermore, pp. 191–196.
    24. ^ ""People thought I was crazy. I was doing things that were ambitious": Tom DeLonge on UFOs and the return of Angels & Airwaves".
    25. ^ "#218 Mike Herrera (Musician/Podcaster) | Life in the Stocks". 2 June 2021.
    26. ^ "Various Artists - God Save the Queers Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
    27. ^ "JOE QUEER BACKS OFFICER DARREN WILSON, PUNK COMMUNITY CONFUSED". Impose Magazine. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
    28. ^ "Don Giovanni Records owner asks labels to drop The Queers and Screeching Weasel, then apologizes". PunkNews.org. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
    29. ^ Elliot, Griffin (February 2, 2016). "The Queers Are Fighting to Play in Ottawa and We Found Out Why". Vice.com. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
    30. ^ Callwood, Brett (July 6, 2017). "The Queers' Joe Queer Once Fought Nazis. Now He's Being Called One". Westword.com. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
    31. ^ Doc Rock. "January to June 2015". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
    32. ^ Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1998 – 1999". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2015-03-11.

    External links

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