The Queers

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The Queers
File:Picture 005.jpg
The Queers in 2005 playing in Oslo, Norway
Background information
OriginPortsmouth, New Hampshire, USA
Years active1982-1984, 1990-Present
MembersJoe Queer
Dangerous Dave
Ben Vermin
Matt Drastic

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.

In 2006 after releasing 6 albums on Lookout!, the band rescinded their master rights from the label, citing breach of contract over unpaid royalties.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 style of pop punk. Much like the Ramones, common lyrical themes were girls, drugs, and having fun. Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel frequently collaborates with the band to write their songs.

Along with Ben Weasel, Joe King has criticized the re-emergence of the street punk scene and what he sees as the glorification of violence and class warfare by certain bands. Songs like, "Little Rich Working Class Oi Boy" take aim at the working class pretensions and bellicose attitudes of some members of the Oi! scene. In a 2005 post to The Queers official website, King criticizes the effect of Boston punk band, the Dropkick Murphys. Writes King, "With all this stupid fucking Irish/Dropkick BS these days the whole punk scene (what's left of it) is full of assholes that just wanna fight."

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 (Guitar), Ben Vermin (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)
  • 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)
  • 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-?)
  • Steve Stress (Drums) (1998-?)
  • Lurch Nobody (Drums/Vocals) (2000-2001)
  • Isaac Lane (Bass) (2001)
  • Matt Drastic (Drums) (2002)
  • Dave 'Salsaman' Trevino (Drums) (2003-2006)
  • Phillip Hill (Bass/Vocals) (2003-2006)
  • Dusty Watson (Drums, Vocals) (2004)
  • Ben Vermin (Bass) (2006,2007-Present)
  • Ryan Kwon Doe (Drums) (2006)
  • Adam Woronoff (Drums) (2007)

Partial discography

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