Turbonegro is one of Norway’s internationally best known bands. They started out in 1989 and have been active since then, except for three years between 1999 and 2002. They have also changed personnel during the years, going through several singers, drummers and guitarists. The two founding members who are still there, are Happy Tom and Rune Rebellion. On May 16th they played at Sukkerbiten in Oslo.

A concert with Turbonegro is a spectacular experience. Not only because of the band and their special dress and make up code, but also because of their fans, the Turbojugend. They are an international phenomenon, with chapters all over the world. Typical for a member of Turbojugend is the denim jacket with the name of their chapter on the back, plus a white sailor’s cap, the same kind that Happy Tom uses on stage.

Turbonegro’s music is hard, punkish, towards metal, with influences from bands like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest and KISS. The melodies are catchy with some great riffs. Their lyrics are mostly provocative, like City of Satan, Blow Me (Like the Wind) and I Got Erection, and it works like a charm. To see and hear the crowd sing a long on I Got Erection is something to experience. A Turbonegro show is over the top with lots of homo erotic references, and with singer Tony Sylvester as the master of seremonies.

The concert at Sukkerbiten is the only Norwegian date this summer, but they do a handful of concerts in the USA, Canada and Europe, culminating with the Weltturbojugend-tage in Hamburg late July, where Turbojugend from all the different chapters gather for a Turbonegro festival. The event is sold out already, but there are still tickets for most of their other gigs this summer. If Turbonegro visit your town, go and see them with an open mind, and you will see a musically top notch band with a fun show.

Here is the setlist from the concert in Oslo:

Hot for Nietzsche, We’re a Norwegian Band (Grand Funk), You Give me Worms, All my friends are dead, Are you ready for some darkness?, City of Satan, Blow Me (Like The Wind), Dude Without a Face, I wanna Come, Special Education, Drenched In Blood (D.I.B), Sell your Body To the Night, Wasted Again, Fuck the World, Get it On, Pamparius, Don’t Say Motherfucker, Fuckerfucker. Intros: Song 2, Rebel Rebel, The Way it is, Jump, The Heat is On. Closing songs:  Back To Dungaree High, I Got Erection. Here is Turbonegro’s music on Spotify.

This article is also published at Rock At Night.

All photos are © Per Ole Hagen and must not be used without written permission.