The Queers

The Queers

The Queers in 2009
Background information
Origin Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States
Genres
Years active
  • 1981–1984
  • 1986–present
Labels
Associated acts
Members
  • Joe Queer
  • Dangerous Dave
  • Lurch Nobody

The Queers are an American punk rock band, formed in 1981 by the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, native Joe King (aka Joe Queer), along with Scott Gildersleeve (aka Tulu), and Jack Hayes (aka Wimpy Rutherford). With the addition of Keith Hages in 1982 the band started playing their first live shows. 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In 2006, after releasing six albums on Lookout!, the band rescinded their master rights from the label, citing breach of contract over unpaid royalties.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 as "The Ramones meets The Beach Boys". 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 and 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, 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. He is a member to this day. Chris Fields and Lurch Nobody are also still recording and touring with the band.

Current members
Former part-time and fill in members

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Compilations

Split albums

Live albums

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Archived August 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Queers". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
  4. ↑ Kembrew McLeod (1999-01-21). "The Queers | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
  5. ↑ Surf’s Up (DVD). Sony Pictures Animation/Columbia Pictures. 2007.
  6. ↑ "Surf's Up (2007)". Soundtrackinfo.com. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
  7. ↑ "JOE QUEER BACKS OFFICER DARREN WILSON, PUNK COMMUNITY CONFUSED". Impose Magazine. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  8. ↑ "Don Giovanni Records owner asks labels to drop The Queers and Screeching Weasel, then apologizes". PunkNews.org. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
  9. ↑ Doc Rock. "January to June 2015". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
  10. ↑ Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1998 - 1999". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2015-03-11.

External links

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