“Most rock bands start as a riot but end up as a parody. We started up as a parody but ended up as a revolution”, says bassist Thomas Seltzer A.K.A. Happy-Tom from Norwegian band, Turbonegro.
Turbonegro photo Richard Eriksen
With their self-acclaimed own genre, death-punk – a fusion of dark punk rock, combined with hardcore and metal – Turbonegro are set to return to Australia for the first time in nearly a decade.
Turbonegro formed in the late ’80s, split up in 1998 and then got back together in 2002 after agreeing to perform for a Norwegian festival. What was to be a one-off performance resulted in their reunion.
However, in 2010, their long-serving and long-troubled singer, Hank Von Helvete left the band. Turbonegro swiftly signed up Tony Sylvester A.K.A. The Duke Of Nothing of London-based hardcore band, The Lords Of Nothing, and new drummer Tommy ‘Manboy’ Akerholdt. Knut ‘Euroboy’ Schreiner (lead guitar) and Rune ‘Rune Rebellion’ Grønn (rhythm guitar) complete the lineup.
With a sizeable cult following known as Turbojugend (Turbo Youth), and with more than 2300 chapters worldwide, Turbojugends from all over the globe meet up in Hamburg, Germany once a year for a two-day event, to celebrate the band as well as punk rock in general.
Catch them if you can:
6 December Sydney Hi-Fi
7 December Melbourne Hi-Fi
8 December Meredith Music Festival
Turbonegro’s 9th album, ‘Sexual Harassment’ out now.
