Turbonegro
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Trashy, hedonistic, decadent fun was the focus of Turbonegro, a band that was formed in Oslo, Norway in the '90s but had more in common with '70s and '80s pop-metal, hard rock and glam metal than with the alternative rock that other Scandinavian bands were playing in the '90s. Blending traces of punk with such influences as Alice Cooper, Quiet Riot, Motley Crue and Judas Priest, Turbonegro's late '90s recordings were over-the-top and proud of it. Although all of its members are Norwegian, all of the band's lyrics are in English. Lead vocalist Hank Von Helvete, sings quite convincingly in English, and only the slightest traces of a Scandinavian accent come through. Other Turbonegro members of the late '90s included lead guitarist Euroboy, bassist Happy-Tom, rhythm guitarist Rune Rebellion, keyboardist/percussionist Pal Pot Pamparius, and drummer Chris Summers. In 1997, Turbonegro recorded Apocalypse Dudes, which was released in the U.S. by Man's Ruin in early 1999. However, the group had broken up at the end of 1998; Darkness Forever!, a selection of live performances from the band's final year, was released in early 2001. The breakup, however, was short lived, and Turbonegro were back for tour dates in 2002, followed by the release of Scandanavian Leather in 2003.
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Poison Idea
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Nihilistic Portland, OR hardcore outfit Poison Idea was formed in 1980 by frontman Jerry A., guitarist Tom Roberts, bassist Chris Tense and drummer Dean Johnson. The group debuted three years later with the EP Pick Your King, cramming 13 songs into a 16-minute time frame; the Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes EP followed in 1985, fine-tuning the band's blistering sound and fatalistic worldview. Thanks to their notoriously insatiable diet of drugs, alcohol and junk food, the members of Poison Idea all ballooned past the 300-pound mark by the time of the 1986 full-length Kings of Punk, with Roberts-- who now tipped the scales at an impressive 450 pounds -- rechristening himself Pig Champion in honor of the occasion. Tense and Johnson were dismissed then dismissed from the lineup, although the former returned in time for 1987's War All the Time, recorded with second guitarist Eric "Vegetable" Olsen drummer Steve "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford; Tense was then replaced by bassist Mondo for 1988's Filthkick EP. Both the Darby Crash Rides Again and Ian MacKaye EPs followed a year later, another period of roster tumult which made way for the addition of guitarist Kid Cocksman (soon replaced by Aldine Striknine) and bassist Myrtle Tickner; Poison Idea returned in 1990 with Feel the Darkness, with a series of live releases (the Official Bootleg EP, the Live in Vienna EP and the Dutch Courage LP) preceding 1992's Blank Blackout. A collaboration with Jeff Dahl appeared a year later, concurrent with the covers album Pajama Party; however, in the wake of Pig Champion's subsequent departure Poison Idea disbanded, releasing their June 6, 1993 farewell gig at Portland's La Luna as Pig's Last Stand.
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