Turbonegro

Turbonegro, known in Norway as Turboneger, is a Norwegian punk rock band from Oslo formed in 1989. The group combines glam rock, hardcore punk and heavy metal, and describes its own style as “deathpunk”.

Formation and early line-up

The band begins with bassist Thomas Seltzer, also known as Happy-Tom, putting together an early group with friends under the name Akutt Innleggelse. That project plays local shows and records the EP Echoes From the Asylum, which includes the songs “CIA/KGB”, “Supertstjerne” and “Lovesong”, all written by Seltzer. Seltzer also runs Straitjacket Records, which releases the EP. He and others then form another group called De Dype before the Turbonegro name is adopted.

The band name comes from a tag seen under a bridge in Finstad, Ski. An early suggestion for the name is Mindburger, while another suggested name, Nazipenis, later becomes the name of the band’s tribute group. The original six-member line-up is Thomas Seltzer on bass, Pål Bøttger Kjærnes on guitar, Rune Grønn on guitar, Vegard Heskestad on guitar, Pål Erik Carlin on vocals and Tor-Kristian Jenssen on drums.

Early recordings and first releases

The first concert takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1989. The band then records Route Zero, which includes the title track and a cover of MC5’s “I Want You Right Now”. The record uses a pink vinyl pressing and artwork taken from the cult horror film Basket Case. The band name is later shortened to TRBNGR. Another release, the EP Turboloid, follows and receives a poor response from reviewers.

Established line-up and “deathpunk” era

The later, better-known line-up consists of Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby on vocals as Hank Von Helvete, Thomas Seltzer on bass, Rune Grønn on guitar, Pål Bøttger Kjærnes on percussion and piano, Knut Schreiner on lead guitar as Euroboy, and Christer Engen on drums as Chris Summers. Their fan club is called the Turbojugend, which begins in St Pauli, Hamburg, Germany, before spreading to chapters around the world.

During this period the band records albums including Hot Cars and Spent Contraceptives, Helta Skelta, Never Is Forever, Ass Cobra, Apocalypse Dudes, Darkness Forever!, Love It to Deathpunk - The Life & Times of Turbonegro, Scandinavian Leather, Party Animals and Retox.

Break-up and later return

After a final tour in 1998, Hank Von Helvete undergoes treatment for heroin dependency. The group disbands, and Von Helvete returns to his home town in Lofoten in northern Norway, where he works at a radio station called Moskenes-radioen and also as a guide at a fishing museum. In 2002 the members meet to discuss regrouping and touring, then record the comeback album Scandinavian Leather and tour extensively worldwide. They follow it with Party Animals in 2005 and Retox in 2007.

In 2010 Hank leaves the band. In 2011 the group brings in Tony Sylvester, formerly of Dukes Of Nothing, as vocalist, and he performs his first Turbonegro show at the Turbojugend World Days in Hamburg. The band then works on a new album with Sylvester.