Big Boys singer Randy "Biscuit" Turner, dead at 56
www.soundonsound.org
The Big Boys were one of the best hardcore bands in history, destroying all the rules and making music that could be fast, angry, fun, happy, slow, sad, or dancey often within the same song and in a matter of minutes. Randy Turner had a voice that was unparalleled in the world of hardcore, ranging from a fapid fire yelp, raspy scream, or his soulful James Brown-esque howling, and would often take the stage in outrageous outfits not limited to dresses and clown suits, and never failed to leave the stage without first shouting to the audience "Now y'all go start your own band," which many did and soon after their home state of Texas was littered with bands such as MDC, DRI, and the Butthole Surfers, who wrote much of their first record, "Psychic...Powerless...Another Man's Sac" in the Big Boys practice space. The Big Boys' entire discography is still in print and available on three discs- The Skinny Elvis, which spans the early years, The Fat Elvis, which showcases the later, and Wreck Collection, a odds-and-sods collection of outtakes, unreleased songs and demos. I reccomend starting with The Fat Elvis, especially to those who think hardcore is nothing more than wearing girls' pants and a snazzy haircut. You have much to learn, and though Biscuit is no longer here to teach you, his lullabies will still help your brain grow.
The Big Boys were one of the best hardcore bands in history, destroying all the rules and making music that could be fast, angry, fun, happy, slow, sad, or dancey often within the same song and in a matter of minutes. Randy Turner had a voice that was unparalleled in the world of hardcore, ranging from a fapid fire yelp, raspy scream, or his soulful James Brown-esque howling, and would often take the stage in outrageous outfits not limited to dresses and clown suits, and never failed to leave the stage without first shouting to the audience "Now y'all go start your own band," which many did and soon after their home state of Texas was littered with bands such as MDC, DRI, and the Butthole Surfers, who wrote much of their first record, "Psychic...Powerless...Another Man's Sac" in the Big Boys practice space. The Big Boys' entire discography is still in print and available on three discs- The Skinny Elvis, which spans the early years, The Fat Elvis, which showcases the later, and Wreck Collection, a odds-and-sods collection of outtakes, unreleased songs and demos. I reccomend starting with The Fat Elvis, especially to those who think hardcore is nothing more than wearing girls' pants and a snazzy haircut. You have much to learn, and though Biscuit is no longer here to teach you, his lullabies will still help your brain grow.