Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

The Queers

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Genres
  
Punk rockpop punk

Years active
  
1981–19841986–present

The Queers httpsimagesvicecomnoiseycontentimagescont

Associated acts
  
The Drunken CholosThe JabbersScreeching WeaselGG Allin

Origin
  
Portsmouth, United Kingdom (1981)

Members
  
Joe Queer, Dan Vapid, Wimpy Rutherford, B-Face, Lurch Nobody, Scott Gildersleeve, Hugh O'Neill

Record labels
  
Lookout Records, Asian Man Records, Hopeless Records

Albums
  
Love Songs for the Retar, Beat Off, Don't Back Down, Move Back Home, Grow Up

Profiles

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The queers grow up 1990 full album


The Queers are an American punk rock band, formed in 1981 by the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, native Joe King (a.k.a. Joe Queer), along with Scott Gildersleeve (a.k.a. Tulu), and Jack Hayes (a.k.a. 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.

Contents

In 2006, after releasing six albums on Lookout!, the band rescinded their master rights from the label, citing breach of contract over unpaid royalties.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

The queers move back home 1995 full album


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.

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. 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.

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. The Queers continue to actively tour and a new record is in the works.

Current members
  • Joe King (a.k.a. Joe Queer) - guitar, lead vocals (1981–1984, 1986, 1990–present)
  • Alex Martin (a.k.a Hoglog) - Drums (2011–present)
  • Chris May - Bass (2017–present)
    • Former part-time and fill in members
  • Tulu (a.k.a. Scott Gildersleeve) (bass/drums) (1981–1984) (died March 2015)
  • 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 21, 1999)
  • J.J. Rassler (lead guitar, backing vocals) (1987–1988)
  • Danny McCormack (guitar) (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)
  • Dangerous Dave - bass, backing vocals (1998–2002, 2007–2015)
  • 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)
  • Lurch Nobody - drums, backing vocals (2000–2001, 2006–2011)
  • Josh Goldman (bass, backing vocals) (2013)

    • Studio albums

  • Grow Up 1990, Shakin' Street (UK) / reissue 1994, Lookout! Records / reissue 2007, Asian Man Records
  • Love Songs for the Retarded 1993, Lookout! / reissue 2006, Asian Man Records / reissue 2009, Gonna Puke Records Italy
  • Rocket to Russia 1994, Selfless Records
  • Beat Off 1994, Lookout! / reissue 2007, Asian Man Records
  • Move Back Home 1995, Lookout! / reissue March 2007, Asian Man Records
  • Don't Back Down 1996, Lookout! / reissue 2007, Asian Man Records
  • Punk Rock Confidential 1998, Hopeless
  • Beyond The Valley... 2000, Hopeless
  • Pleasant Screams 2002, Lookout! / reissue July 2007, Asian Man Records
  • Munki Brain 2007, Asian Man Records
  • Back to the Basement 2010, Asian Man Records

    • 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

  • Killed by Death No. 3 1989, Redrum
  • A Day Late and a Dollar Short 1996, Lookout!
  • Later Days and Better Lays 1999, Lookout!
  • Summer Hits No. 1 2004 Suburban Home Recordings
  • Ten Years of Blood, Sweat, and Tears 2007, Asian Man Records

    • Split albums

  • Live At Some Prick's House (split album with the Pink Lincolns) 1994, Just Add Water Records
  • Love Aint Punk (split 7" with Sinkhole) 1995, Ringing Ear Records
  • Right On Target (split album with 88 Fingers Louie) 2004, Stiffen Records
  • Acid Beaters (split album with the Manges) 2003, Stardumb Records
  • Split Disc from Japan and USA (split album with the Disgusteens) 2004, Stiffen Records
  • Three Way Split (split album with Consider the Meek and the Vickers) 2006, Leek Records
  • untitled (split 7" with The Hotlines) 2008, Devil's Jukebox Records
  • untitled (split 7" with the Atom Age) 2009, Asian Man Records
  • Alive (split 7" with Killtime) 2011, Gonna Puke Records

    • Live albums

  • Shout at the Queers 1994, Selfless Records
  • Suck This 1995, Clearview Records
  • Live in West Hollywood 2001, Hopeless Records
  • Weekend at Bernie's 2006, Doheny Records
  • CBGB OMFUG Masters: Live February 3, 2003 2008
  • The Queers Alive in Hollyweird 2009, Punk Rock Social
  • Olé Maestro (Live @ Madrid, Nov 2009) 2013, Media David

    • Songs

    Punk Rock GirlsDon't Back Down · 1996
    Granola-HeadLove Songs for the Retarded · 1993
    Ursula Finally Has TitsLove Songs for the Retarded · 1993

    References

    The Queers Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA