Queers

The Queers are a 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 ^{Grow Up (album)} . 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 larger.

In 2006, after releasing six albums on Lookout!, the band rescinded their master rights from the label, citing breach of contract over unpaid royalties.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

  The Queers play a Ramones-derived style of pop punk, commonly and appropriately referred to as "Ramones-core" . 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 Nobodys, Angry Samoans, The Mr T Experience, Skeeter Davis, The Fantastic Baggys, The Who, The Undertones, The Hobos, Tommy James and The Shondells, Helen Love, The Catalogs (from Hawaii), Unnatural Axe, and many more.Since its formation, the band has gone through many line-up changes with Joe Queer as the only constant member. The band currently consists of Joe Queer (Guitar/Vocals), Dangerous Dave (Bass), and Lurch Nobody (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) (1990-1995) (deceased)
*Sean Rowley (Guitar) (1990-?)
*Greg Urbatis (Bass) (1990-1993)
*Dave "Death" Roe (Mandolin) (1995-1999)
*B-Face (Christopher Barnard) (Bass/Vocals) (1993-1998)
*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 (Bass/Vocals/Keyboards) (1998-2002, 2007-Present)
*Chris Cougar Concentration Camp (Guitar/Vocals) (1997-1999)
*Steve Stress (Drums) (1998-2000)
*Lurch Nobody (Drums/Vocals) (2000-2001, 2008-present)
*Isaac Lane (Bass) (2001)
*Matt Drastic (Drums) (2002) (2007-2008)
*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) (2009)
The bonus tracks on the "Grow Up" re-issue consist of a short lived version of The Queers that included Joseph (J.D.) Hughes on drums and Kevin Kecy on Bass Guitar. The tracks were found on an old cassette tape by former vocalist Bobby Goodreau. This line-up opened for The Ramones on several dates. Joe King mistakenly gave drum credit to Hugh O'Neil on the re-issue.
Studio albums

*Grow Up ^{Grow Up (album)} 1990, Shakin' Street (UK)> / reissue 1994, Lookout! Records / reissue 2007, Asian Man Records
*Love Songs for the Retarded 1993, Lookout! / reissue 2006, Asian Man Records / reissue 2009, Gonna Puke Records Italy
*Beat Off 1994, Lookout! / reissue 2007, Asian Man Records
*Rocket to Russia ^{Rocket to Russia (Queers album)} 1994, Selfless Records
*Move Back Home 1995, Lookout! / reissue March 2007, Asian Man Records
*Don't Back Down ^{Don't Back Down (Queers album)} 1996, Lookout! / reissue 2007, Asian Man Records
*Punk Rock Confidential ^{Punk Rock Confidential (Queers album)} 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
*Back to the Basement ^{Back to the Basement (Queers album)} 2010, Asian Man Records


EPs

*Love Me 7" 1982
*Webelos 7" 1984
*Too Dumb To Quit! (featuring Wimpy on guest vocals)- 1993,Selfless Records
*Surf Goddess EP 1994, Lookout!
*Bubblegum Dreams 7" 1996, Lookout!
*Everything's OK EP 1998, Hopeless Records
*Today EP 2001, Lookout!
*My Old Man's a Fatso 7" Woundup Records


Compilations

*A Day Late And A Dollar Short 1996, Lookout!
*Later Days And Better Lays 1999, Lookout!
*Killed By Death#3 1989, Redrum


Split albums

*Live At Some Prick's House (split album with the Pink Lincolns) 1994, Just Add Water Records
*Love Aint Punk (split 7" with Sinkhole) 1995, Ringing Ear Records
*Right On Target (split album with 88 Fingers Louie) 2004, Stiffen Records
*Acid Beaters (split album with the Manges) 2003, Stardumb Records
*Split Disc from Japan and USA (split album with the Disgusteens) 2004, Stiffen Records
*Three Way Split (split album with Consider the Meek and the Vickers) 2006, Leek Records
*untitled (split 7" with The Hotlines) 2008, Devil's Jukebox Records
*untitled (split 7" with the Atom Age) 2009, Asian Man Records


Live albums

*Suck This 1998, Clearview Records
*Live In West Hollywood 2001, Hopeless Records
*Weekend at Bernie's ^{Weekend at Bernie's (album)} 2006, Doheny Records
*CBGB OMFUG Masters: Live February 3, 2003 2008
*The Queers Alive In Hollyweird 2009, Punk Rock Social