Happy Tom Has Those Serial Killer Cards And Some GG Allin Albums, Too!
- Hanky
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
::TURBONEGRO LOVE CONAN!
Hot on the heels of the release of the Age of Conan videogame, Funcom has announced the release of the Age of Conan soundtrack.
Published by Grappa Music and composed by Knut Avenstroup Haugen, the 2 CD release will feature a wealth of music as heard throughout the game.
In addition to Haugen's score, the album will also feature a brand new Conan inspired song from Scandinavian hard rock outfit Turbonegro.
The first CD of the collection focuses on the in-game orchestral music. The tracks included on this portion were selected and produced by Haugen. Featured on the tracks Several are Helene Bøksle and a large choir including members of the Norwegian State Opera Choir and other prominent musicians and singers.
"It has been a great honor to create the score for Age of Conan. To provide musical content for a universe that is so vast, so varied and so rich has been a huge undertaking, but an experience that never ceased to be immensely enjoyable," said Knut Avenstroup Haugen
In addition to the in-game music the album also comes with a special bonus CD, which includes eight more orchestral songs from the game plus three songs Turbonegro. Amongst these will be "Destroy All Monsters", a brand new song inspired by legendary feats of Conan. This is the first new material recorded by Turbonegro featuring their new drummer Tomas Dahl.
"It's just perfect that Age of Conan is supported with a song from Turbonegro – the two hardest rocking pieces of entertainment to ever come out of Norway," said Hank Von Helvete, lead singer of Turbonegro. "As a huge Conan fan, I am proud to be part of this statement against modern life boredom and common life impotency. Heads must and shall roll."
You can already purchase CD 1 of the soundtrack on itunes, while CD 2 will become available during June. The physical version of the soundtrack CD will become available across Europe in June, and is expected to be released in North America shortly after.
Update: When questioned, Rock Band distributor Electronic Arts provided Shacknews with a response that neither confirms nor denies claims of a Rock Band sequel and Turbonegro's involvement.
"We have not currently announced any future titles, nor have we announced any plans for Turbonegro to be featured in the world of Rock Band at this time," the company stated.
Original Story: A sequel to Harmonix's multi-instrument music title Rock Band in the works and will feature at least one track from Scandinavian punk rockers Turbonegro, according to an announcement from Age of Conan developer Funcom. Yes, you read that right.
While Funcom has no involvement whatsoever in the Rock Band series, it recently revealed that three Turbonegro songs appear in the first official Age of Conan soundtrack release. Listing the band's work in the press release, Funcom noted several television appearances "as well as the game Rock Band II."
Rock Band II has not yet been announced by series developer Harmonix, studio owner MTV Games or distributor Electronic Arts. Though Funcom's credibility in this field may be questionable, an eventual Rock Band sequel is undoubtedly on the way.
Bad Religion is also believed to be involved with the project, as guitarist and songwriter Brett Gurewitz wrote on his twitter that the band was "putting the finishing touches on 'Sorrow' for Rock Band 2."
Musical groups have a long history of revealing involvement with products before they are officially announced, but they are not always entirely accurate. Earlier this year, Def Leppard suggested it would be featured in Guitar Hero 4, though the tracks later turned out to be downloadable content for Guitar Hero 3.
A record label also claimed that At the Drive-In would appear in Guitar Hero 4, but caused confusion as the included information was grossly inaccurate.
Turbonegro has yet to appear in Rock Band in any form. The band is not known to be part of the game's upcoming downloadable content lineup, though downloadable tracks are generally announced five days in advance of their release.
Speaking of downloadable content, developer Harmonix has previously said that it hopes to make future Rock Band games compatible with any DLC released thus far.
As Rock Band II has not been formally revealed, a release date and platforms are unknown. However, many speculate the title will focus on music creation, a la the upcoming Guitar Hero 4, and is likely to hit the same systems as the original: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 and Wii.
"In March I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease, which is a 'lucky' version of lymphoma cancer Since then I've been undergoing chemotherapy every 14th day.
That has kept me out of business for a while now, not being able to tour, but things have gone a lot better than feared. Last week they found out that my cure has so far been successful and my chances
are as good as it gets."
"I expected the treatment to be a bit hellish, but it's actually not that bad. Ironically, I was the first one I knew of to be 'googling for wigs,' as we're
singing in 'Hell Toupee'. But fortunately for a rocking cat like meself, I haven't lost my hair (yet). It also looks like I won't be allowed into the handicapped
area, rolling in on a wheelchair, at this summer's stadium concerts in Oslo. Seriously, the treatment doesn't wear me out. I'm basically able to carry on as normal,
just staying at home and taking it a little easy."
"The last two months I've rediscovered my record collection, been through three seasons of 'The Wire', getting to spend more valuable time with Marie (10 months)
and probably been playing more guitar than I have in last ten years. I was very happy to do a couple of shows in Norway earlier this month. As I wrote earlier,
it sucked to cancel the tours, especially the Coachella festival in Palm Springs, which we've wanted to play for years. Now I'm all set to play the festivals
this summer and deliver the goods."
"Not long ago, Tom and me sat down to write some new shit. (Now we finally have the chance to take use of the old turbo working album title 'Tumours' with certain
credibility). One of the new songs, entitled 'Destroy All Monsters', was recorded this weekend."
"It is with great further regret that we will now have to cancel our trip to the U.S. in April to play the west coast shows, most regrettably the Coachella festival."
"A huge apology to the U.S. fans and to the promoters. I'm sure that all will understand that this decision wasn't taken lightly, but it is the right decision for Euroboy. He is in good shape, all considered, but his treatment makes it impossible for him be away for long periods of time and certainly not to be taking long haul flights."
"We are keeping the European shows from May 2nd forward in place, as this schedule works within the boundaries of his treatment. "
"It's a delicate situation we find ourselves in. Our first priority is Euroboy's health; we'll look at everything else when we know that he is well."
"It is with great further regret that we will now have to cancel our trip to the U.S. in April to play the west coast shows, most regrettably the Coachella festival."
"A huge apology to the U.S. fans and to the promoters. I'm sure that all will understand that this decision wasn't taken lightly, but it is the right decision for Euroboy. He is in good shape, all considered, but his treatment makes it impossible for him be away for long periods of time and certainly not to be taking long haul flights."
"We are keeping the European shows from May 2nd forward in place, as this schedule works within the boundaries of his treatment. "
"It's a delicate situation we find ourselves in. Our first priority is Euroboy's health; we'll look at everything else when we know that he is well."
TURBONEGRO guitarist Knut "Euroboy" Schreiner — whose "serious illness" has forced the cancellation of the band's European tour — has issued the following statement:
"I just wanted to say a few words about how sorry I am about the whole situation."
"First of all, I'm doing alright now, staying at home with my family and feeling OK, but I'll be going through treatment in the near future. I was really looking forward to going on this tour and kicking ass night after night in true, classic TURBONEGRO style, together with two other great bands. I'm sure we'd all have had a real cool tilme. Now my life has suddendly almost turned upside down and I won't be able to tour or perform for a while. I can still play guitar, of course, so I'll work on some new 'hot licks' and maybe write a couple of new songs (some top-of-the-mountain emotional power ballads that is; no, just kidding!). "
"Recently there's been changes in the lineup for the first time in 10 years. I don't want you to see what's going on now as another step in that direction. My heart is still pounding for the mighty TURBONEGRO and it's fantastic Jugend very much too. "
"In the last month we'd been rehearsing and doing some one-off shows in Norway and Switzerland, where we blasted through some new songs and and some old ones that we haven't played for ages. "
"I hope to be back on stage and deliver again later in the year."
"I think the band in 2008 fucking rocks. I miss Rune and Chris, of course, but we're all still good friends; they visited me and showed great support yesterday. But I have to say it's very, very nice to have my old mate and super drummer Tomas Dahl as part of the engine. I know you're gonna like it too, next time we come by to rip your dorf."
"So, I hope to see you all again soon and have a rad rock 'n' roll night together.
"Thanks for your kind words on the message boards, I really appreciate it. I love you."
In an interview with the Norwegian daily VG today, Grønn, who continues as the band’s manager, describes Summers' departure as a gradual transition: Christer has been on sick leave for a few months due to an ankle injury. The band has played sixty concerts with his stand-in Tomas Dahl, and it is partially in respect to Dahl as de facto drummer that Summers now leaves the band officially.
The extreme-sports-friendly Volcom Entertainment label
has chosen vinyl purists as its next target of endearment. Starting next year, the label will launch a subscription-based series of six split
seven-inches per year, released every other month.
The name of the series is the Volcom Ent. Vinyl Club (VEVC), and the first seven-inch, featuring Turbonegro and Year Long Disaster, will
ship in February. The other 10 contributors to the 2008 series are RTX, Dark Meat, Earthless, Birds of Avalon, Monotonix, Red Fang, Totimoshi,
Tweak Bird, Valient Thorr, and Witch (featuring J Mascis on drums).
As a bonus, subscribers will get three free seven-inches, one each from Riverboat Gamblers, Totimoshi, and Year Long Disaster, plus a
Volcom Entertainment slipmat.
Despotz Records has released some interesting Turbonegro Tribute compilations. The klicktrack web site describes it this way:
"The Los Suaves Negroes compilation series is for everyone who likes their sex, drugs and rock n roll packaged together with some violence and kitsch in a soft lounge-environment. The tribute album will consist
of bossa & lounge tribute compilations to Turbonegro. We honor their great works of art by taking it from the dirty alleys into the cocktail lounges and the designed apartments. This is for all of you out there who
likes the work of Nouvelle Vague with their bossa versions of old punk and new wave classics, two cute girls singing "falling down the stairs, to drunk to fuck". That's the feeling we want to capture and highlight."
Out of the 18 artists featured on the latest comp there's not one I've heard of except for New Moscow (solo project by David Fransson from Division of Laura Lee). I'm not sure what all that means if anything at all. But
one this thing is for sure, the Los Suaves Negroes series will make a fine addition to any negro fans collection.
Need a hi-octane Turbonegro banner for that Myspace page you've been workin' so hard-on? Well look no further young one 'cause Myznap.com
has got you covered. Just start clickin'!
The rumors are true. Turbonegro's original rhythm guitarist Rune 'Rebellion' Grønn has left the band.
Rune says he "... played his last show on Saturday and that the band will do the upcoming Euro-tour in November/December
as a 5 piece. Pål Pot (is) stepping up on rhythm guitar." As for the reason for his departure Rebellion
says, "Between touring, Turbo management and day job at Universal, there's not enough time for me to even get wasted anymore.
Let alone spend time with my wife and daughter."
The split was dramaless as everyone understood and respected his decision. Grønn maybe absent from the negro line-up but says,
"I will be involved in the Turbo organization in the future."
We wish him the best of luck in all his endeavors because, fuck let's face it... Rune Rules!!!
There's some that say Rune's exit will not change Turbonegro's sound, but I couldn't disagree more.
Let's think about this. You have three guitarist on stage: 1 rhythm, 1 part time rhythm (Pål splits his time between the keys and the git) and 1 lead.
These three vital elements generate of wall of sound that in part has earned them the title of 'the best live band in the world'. This wall is 75% rhythm guitars.
THe fuck it ain't! Now, subtract the mechanized strumming of one Rune Rebellion and what do you have? Exactly.
I'll properly break this down in an upcoming article on why I'm right and they're wrong!
A couple of the guys over at Apeshit.org have performed a 'quickie' with Sir Thomas The Happy One and posted the results
of this romp for the rest of us to enjoy. It's good to see the boss of all bosses still reigns supreme on the interview scene!
Boasting a massive 1,000,000 readers daily Norway's leading online newspaper VG-Nett has a
really great poll going on. Well I should say poll(s) as there is a couple of catagories by which votes can be cast: 'Best Turbonegro Album' & 'Best Turbonegro Song'.
In addition to this there is also
a link to show 'your support to Turbonegro'.
Jump on this link and do what the Turbojugend do best: www.vgb.no!
On November five of year two thousand seven Scandinavian Leather Recordings will unleash the newly 'expanded & remastered'
backlog of Norway's favorite sons: Turbonegro!
Now I know what you're thinking 'just another repackaging of stuff you already have', right? Well dig this.
Each of the five records are being put out with rare or alt. bonus tracks ensuring that collectors and noobs alike will be
overjoyed come d-day.
And if you happen to be said noob Tommy Seltzer recaps:
On Apocalypse Dudes:
Apocalypse Dudes, man. Fucken APOCALYPSE DUDES, man. That's all I can say.
On Ass Cobra:
Without doubt one of the meanest punk rock albums ever released, at least pegged so by Steve Albini, this dude with glasses.
Post-teen nihilism at it's scariest, but in a sexy way. Our first denim record, and how!
On Never Is Forever:
We recorded this basically as a big FUCK YOU to the lo-fi aesthetics that ruled the planet in 1993/94. We tried to make a
2.000 dollar record sound like a million bucks, and succeeded, as always. Through the haze of beer bottle-doubling-as-ashtray
fumes and amyl nitrate it comes your way on a unicorn, beautifully.
On Hot Cars And Spent Contraceptives:
Sounds like Slayer performed by a bunch of very irritable and not very talented hash smokers. Which was what it was, basically.
A climaxing fountain on the town square of the world's most negative city.
For complete track listings and details learn Norwegian then hit this!
recap from metalunderground.com
::TURBONEGRO BLASTS BACK!
Canadian Tim Perlich from NOW Magazine yucks it up with the overweight lover on all kinds of shit.
Including the soon-to-be released biography 'The Saga Of The Denim People' (Gyldendal Norsk Forlag) and reveals once and for all who the real MO is in the band.
"Due to a recurring ankle injury Chris Summers will not be performing with the band on the ongoing
US tour, He has been advised by specialists in Norway that he needs total rest to remedy the damage
that has been done. Stepping in on the drums for this run will be long time friend THomas Dahl".
- turbonegro.com
thanx to Michael T.
::BACK TO BASICS!
Canadian web site Straight.com has published a great interview with The Duke. Check it out here!
The trailer for the movie 'The New Town Killers'
is up on everybody's favorite video site Youtube.com. The film was shot by one time punk rock kingpin Richard Jobson (The Skids).
And in the film we witness the boys from nowhere doing what they do best at a gig in Edinburgh from August 25.
After what seems like an eternity TJUSA has returned! Expect a whole slew of updates and additions.
Darkness Everyday,
suburbandeathprince
::AC/DC VS TURBONEGRO!
The good folks over at Crawdaddy have a pretty interesting and indeed cool article titled 'AC/DC vs. Turbonegro'.
A well written piece penned by a one Jennn Fusion that herself appears to be new to the negro machine she draws some obvious and no so obvious
caparisons between the two giants.
The all new Turbonegro.com is up and running and the Turbonegro shopping mall has new url. Along with the usual content one would expect
from a rock-n-roll home page there's some cool shit like news updates from the band, fancy sponsorship, press and media pages, gang-load of contacts, merch area
(although I'm not sure what's up with the American link offering only one t-shirt.) and more! Overall good times.
PETE DOHERTY has been slammed by a reformed drug addict rocker EUROBOY, who has accuses the troubled singer of "disrespecting rock'n'roll".
The Norwegian singer managed to kick his addictions and insists Doherty should grow up and learn to behave.
The Turbonegro frontman(sic) says, "Do you know who I hate? Pete Doherty. He's an asshole. Getting wasted and getting stoned,
trashing things, not showing up to gigs, not doing his job properly."
"Do you know what Pete Doherty does? He disrespects rock 'n' roll. I hate people who disrespect rock 'n' roll!"
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (07/07/07) through Ticketmaster.com for the
following Turbonegro gigs here in the USA:
House Of Blues
San Diego, California
October 5, 2007
Henry Fonda Theatre
Hollywood, California
October 7, 2007 Tickets(scroll down to the bottom).
Showbox
Seattle, Washington
October 10, 2007 Tickets.
Now, put that in your pipe and smoke it!!!
::NEW VIDEO INTERVIEW!
Metalhammer caught up with Hanky and one semi-nude Happy Tom at this year's Download Festival for what they term 'Festival Fashion'.
The results are why Turbonegro are the cardinals of cool. From fashion to the 'Freedom Suit' its all tapped here in this video interview.
- There's an especially telling comment made by Thomas.
Perhaps obvious to some, but not to all. Good times.
Turboneger recently played Norway's yearly Top 20 Summer Tour (which is like Britain's Top Of The Pops) from
which you can check out at least two numbers they performed, 'Do You Do You Dig Destruction' and 'Get It On'.
Our heroes sound better than ever especially Hanky!
