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Still Having Fun,
Still Not Giving a Shit
omehow, punk-rock icons The Queers
have sidestepped playing in Athens
throughout their entire career. "I always
wondered why we didn't," says Joe Queer
(whose Christian name is Joe King), the
band's founder, guitarist and lead vocalist.
Fortunately for Athenian punk fans, King will
soon wonder no more.
Formed in 1981 in New Hampshire, The
Queers gained notoriety during the 1990s punk
boom that gave rise to bands like Green Day
and The Offspring. King names the Ramones,
Black Flag and The Beach Boys—three drasti
cally different bands—as his primary influ
ences. Presumably, the inspiration from this
diverse set of bands contributes to The Queers'
ability to marry a characteristically crude punk
sound with a natural pop sensibility.
That's not to say that the band always
seamlessly combines pop and punk. "I was
really into the poppy punk thing for a few
years around Don't Back Down (1996) and
Punk Rock Confidential (1998)," says King.
"So, for the last one (Back to the Basement,
2010), we wanted to go back to the early style
of sound we had."
The Queers were more than happy to return
to a sound that was "more up the Black Flag
alley," as King says, but the reaction from fans
was not all positive. Some were disappointed
that the band took a break fiom "poppy shit,"
but King shrugs off the disapproval. "I don't
care," he says. "We do what we want to do
and try not to pay attention to shit people say
about us. Next album we might go back to the
poppy songs—I'm not sure. I have a bunch
of stuff ready that's more like Black Flag, so I
don't know what the fuck we'll do."
The band has been touring steadily
and internationally since they signed with
Lookout! Records in the early '90s, and
according to King, they don't plan on slowing
down anytime soon. "We just have so much
fun still on tour and have so many friends
around the world; we don't feel right unless
we see them once a year," he says. "It's great
to go to Italy or South America or Japan and
feel at home and have a lot of friends."
Since becoming a punk-rock mainstay, The
Queers have shared stages with several nota
ble punk-rock acts, including the Ramones.
King didn't merely get to tour alongside the
band that gets first billing on his list of influ
ences—he and Queers bassist Dangerous Dave
once "toured with Marky [Ramone] as part of
his band in Europe and China." King modestly
describes that honorary endeavor as "pretty
fun stuff." Before Ramones vocalist Joey
Ramone died in 2001, King also had the honor
of being asked by the singer himself to help
with songs on his solo album. Again, King
offers concise commentary on that momentous
collaboration, saying merely that he "never
forgot that."
It must have been comparably humbling
for Athens punk-rock locals Karbomb when
King produced their latest studio album, Nose
Before Toes, slated for a Sept. 22 release. King
calls Karbomb a "great fucking band," adding
that it was "kind of fun to work with a band
that can play their instruments."
Rumors abound about the "Queers" moni
ker, many suggesting that the name was origi
nally intended to make some sort of social
statement. According to King, however, the
reasoning is much simpler than that: "We just
wanted a name people would remember. To be
honest, we didn't really think we'd be together
this long. But it's worked out for us."
Queers songs may largely consist of silly
and irreverent subject matter, but they none
theless provide comfort and reassurance
to a large audience. "One girl was stuck in
her house with her family when those huge
wildfires were raging out of control," King
recalls. "They were too late to get out, and
they thought they were certainly going to die.
The girl went in her room and just listened to
The Queers nonstop and she said it got her
through that horrible experience. Thank God
they all made it, but she said our music made
her feel things would be OK. Kind of cool."
King has never intended to inspire or
inform people through his songs, but he's
certainly glad that he has. All-in-all, it seems
that The Queers just want to play their music
(which, according to King, is "played a lot
harder these days"), keep traveling and con
tinue to write.
"I always hated bands who got onstage
and started telling the fans which hand to
wipe their ass with and who to vote for," he
says. "Kind of conceited to look down on your
audience like that." King's closing, sarcasm-
soaked words serve as the counterweight to
his demonstrated modesty: "I'm a genius. You
can quote me on that."
Kevin Craig
( A
WHO: The Queers, The Independents,
Karbomb, Los Meesfits
WHERE: Caledonia Lounge
WHEN: Monday, Aug. 22,8 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $10 (all ages!)
V J
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