Turbonegro

• Genre: Hard Rock
• Hometown: Oslo

About

Bigger in death than in life, Turbonegro fulfilled their calling as Europe's reining kings of death punk. Beginning in the late 1980s as a nondescript yet aggressive hardcore band, these boys of darkness slowly moved into a Spinal Tap-like version of hard rock/punk, even as their music retained a killer edge. They had a sharp mind for theatrics and realized that a few good gimmicks -- coupled with ever-tighter, faster, louder rock 'n' roll -- could make them one of the biggest, most over-the-top bands their native Scandinavia (and the whole world) had ever seen. Turbonegro paraded themselves as a gay band (even though no one in the band was actually gay) and ripped through stunningly thunderous songs as if Thor himself were pulling the strings. Their heart-stopping intensity, along with guitar prodigy Euroboy's hot licks and their keen sense of wit, helped craft the Turbonegro legend, and their songs moved from solid punk into a tongue-in-cheek arena rock sound complete with storming sing-alongs and garish fireworks. Turbonegro's live shows topped even their music, and often ended with singer Hank Von Helvete performing his "Ass Rocket" routine (use your imagination). Going down in a ball of flames at the apex of their career guaranteed that, true to their word, Turbonegro's darkness shall live forever.

- Mark Murrmann