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You may think to be truly punk rock you have to hail from London or New York? But you might be surprised if I told you that Oslo Norway was were it’s actually happening!

Turbonegro has been living the punk rock drama for the past 20 years. When speaking with Happy Tom this weekend I likened them to the Andy Warhol’s of the punk rock scene. He wasn’t especially impressed with my comparison. He said,”That’s terrible, didn’t he get shot”. But my point, and I did have one, was that Warhol really paid attention to popular culture, took the opinion and vices of the day and served it right back to the Richies all the while mocking their moral high ground. In essence Turbonegro has been paying attention to the most ridiculous trends in rock culture and then serving it right back to the world, only suped up, fast, hard, and totally rock.  As Happy Tom says, “We started off as a parody, and ended up a revolution”.

Sitting outside Turbo’s trailer at Coachella I had a lovely conversation with singer Hank Von Helvete and Happy Tom. Speaking of their origins in the very small and very cold city of Oslo. Hank painted a lovely picture of how all they do all day is lay about like centerfold models on Polar Bear rugs sipping wine in their tighty whities. And you know, I could kind of see that being true, they are just twisted enough to live like that, laughing all the while. With a band named to evoke, “a large, well-equipped, armed, black male in a fast car out for vengence” how could you not laugh too. The music they make may be some of the most honest rock n roll out there today. Their last release in 2007, Retox is no exception. Nevermind the sailor suit and the cape, these guys aren’t afraid to express themselves thats for damn sure.

They had been asked to play the Coachella festival 4 times over the past decade but for various reasons they weren’t able to indulge until now. Mostly they were excited to see some of the other bands on the bill, especially Mastodon, who they have a fondness for like proud pappas.

Turbonegro – All My Friends Are Dead

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If you missed Turbonegro in Indio California, then you really missed them. They are heading home for some European festivals and then doing what they do best…returning to the bear skin rug. Alas, punk is not dead!

Words by Barbie Brady, Photos by Fever Dragon

 

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