The Queers

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Queers


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Origin = Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA
Genre = Pop punk, Punk rock
Years_active = 1982-1984, 1990-Present
Label = Asian Man Records
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Current_members = Joe Queer
Dangerous Dave
Ben Vermin
Matt Drastic
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The Queers are an American pop punk band formed in 1982 by Portsmouth, New Hampshire native Joe King (A.K.A. Joe Queer). Supposedly, the name 'Queers' was used simply to poke fun at what he called the "Art Fag" community in New Hampshire. The band originally broke up in 1984, but reformed with Joe Queer and a new line-up in 1990. That year, the band signed with Shakin' Street Records and released their first album "Grow Up". The album earned the band notoriety within New England, but with the release of their next album 1993's "Love Songs for the Retarded", on Lookout! Records, their following grew to larger proportions. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kxfyxql5ld6e~T1 allmusic ((( The Queers > Biography ))) ] ]

In 2006 after releasing 6 albums on Lookout!, the band rescinded their master rights from the label, citing breach of contract over unpaid royalties.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.

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, handclaps, keyboards and guitar solos. They have been described as "The Ramones meets The Beach Boys". Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel frequently collaborates with Joe Queer to write their songs. The band are well known for the variety of cover versions they include on their records and in live appearances. Bands/artists covered by The Queers include The Beach Boys, The Ramones (including a complete re-recording of the "Rocket to Russia" album), The Mr T Experience, Skeeter Davis, The Fantastic Baggys, The Who, The Undertones, The Hobos, Tommy James and The Shondells, Helen Love and many more.

Members

Since its formation, the band has gone through many line-up changes with Queer as the only constant member. The band currently consists of Joe Queer (Guitar/Vocals), Dangerous Dave (Bass), and Matt Drastic (Drums).

The full list of band members includes:

*Joe Queer (Vocals/Guitar) (1982-1984, 1990-Present)
*Tulu (Bass/Drums) (1982-1984)
*Wimpy (Drums/Vocals) (1982-1984)
*Wade Ashley (1982-1984)
*Keith Hages (Bass) (1984)
*Hugh O'Neill (Drums/Vocals) (1990-1993, 1995) (deceased)
*Sean Rowley (Guitar) (1990-?)
*Greg Urbatis (Bass) (1990-?)
*B-Face (Bass/Vocals) (1993-?)
*Jay (Drums) (1993)
*Dan Vapid (Guitar/Vocals) (1994) (2002)
*Danny Panic (Drums) (1994)
*Erick Coleman (guitar) (1995-1996)
*Metal Murf Cretin (guitar) (1996)
*Hunter Oswald (drums) (1996)
*Geoff Useless (Bass/Vocals) (1998, 2006-2007)
*Rick Respectable (Drums/Vocals) (1998)
*Dangerous Dave (Guitar/Vocals/Keyboards) (1998-2002, 2006-Present)
*Chris Cougar Concentration Camp (Bass/Vocals) (1998-1999)
*Steve Stress (Drums) (1998-?)
*Lurch Nobody (Drums/Vocals) (2000-2001)
*Isaac Lane (Bass) (2001)
*Matt Drastic (Drums) (2002) (2007-Present)
*Dave 'Salsaman' Trevino (Drums) (2003-2006)
*Phillip Hill (Bass/Vocals) (2002-2006)
*Dusty Watson (Drums, Vocals) (2004)
*Andrew Griswold (Drums) (2005)
*Ben Vermin (Bass) (2006, 2007)
*Ryan Kwon Doe (Drums) (2006)
*Jeff Dewton (Guitar) (2007)
*Adam Woronoff (Drums) (2007)

Partial discography

tudio albums

* "Grow Up" - 1990, Shakin' Street (UK) / reissue 1994, Lookout! Records
* "Love Songs for the Retarded" - 1993, Lookout! / reissue 2006, Asian Man Records
* "Beat Off" - 1994, Lookout! / reissue 2007, Asian Man Records
* "Rocket to Russia" - 1994, Selfless Records
* "Move Back Home" - 1995, Lookout! / reissue March 2007, Asian Man Records
* "Don't Back Down" - 1996, Lookout!
* "Punk Rock Confidential" - 1998, Hopeless
* "Beyond The Valley..." - 2000, Hopeless
* "Pleasant Screams"- 2002, Lookout! / reissue July 2007, Asian Man Records
* "Summer Hits No. 1" - 2004 Suburban Home Recordings
* "Munki Brain" - 2007, Asian Man Records
* "TBA" - 2009, Asian Man Records

Eps

* "Love Me 7" - 1982
* "Webelos 7" - 1984
* "Surf Goddess" EP - 1994, Lookout!
* "Bubblegum Dreams 7" - 1996, Lookout!
* "Everything's OK" EP - 1998, Hopeless Records
* "Today" EP - 2001, Lookout!

Compilations

* "A Day Late And A Dollar Short" - 1996, Lookout!
* "Later Days And Better Lays" - 1999, Lookout!

plit albums

* "The Queers/Pink Lincolns Live Spit" (split album with the Pink Lincolns) 1994, Just Add Water Records
* "Acid Beaters"- (split album with the Manges) 2003, Stardumb Records

Live albums

* "Live In West Hollywood" - 2001, Hopeless Records
* "Weekend at Bernie's" - 2006, Doheny Records
* "" - 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.thequeersrock.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.thequeersusaband.com/ Queers Discography Page (also, source of previous lineups)]