Biography
Four Ohio State University alumni who each earned English degrees, the New Bomb Turks earned acclaim as vanguards of the punk rock upheaval from mohawked, hardcore devotees across the scene. Far from pop-punk territory, their output delivered raw velocity and aggression, drawing clear lineage from the Pagans, Dead Boys, and comparable predecessors. The group took its name from the character portrayed by Robert Wuhl in the early-’80s B film The Hollywood Nights, the same production that introduced Tony Danza and Michelle Pfeiffer to the screen. Their seminal first album, Destroy Oh Boy!, arrived in 1993 and collected widespread critical praise. They followed it almost immediately with the Drunk on Cock EP, whose artwork carried an outrageously provocative image, then delivered another strong release the following year titled Information Highway Revisited. That effort revealed a more refined approach and a reduced reliance on straightforward punk elements, again earning the band widespread admiration from reviewers. The Pissing Out the Poison: Singles and Other Swill closed out their association with Crypt Records after Epitaph, then an emerging mid-sized label, extended an invitation to join its roster. Scared Straight and At Rope’s End surfaced in rapid succession thereafter, though both sets began to betray the fatigue the group had accumulated through constant touring and studio commitments. Several intervening EPs bridged the gap until their final Epitaph album, Nightmare Scenario, reached stores in 1999. The band and label parted on cordial terms, after which the Turks embarked on additional live dates before returning to the recording process. They completed The Night Before the Day the Earth Stood Still independently, and Gearhead ultimately issued the album in fall 2002.
Albums
