Big Boys (band)

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Big Boys
Background information
Origin Austin, Texas
Genre(s) Hardcore Punk
Funk
Punk Rock
Years active 1979–1984
Label(s) Moment Records
Wasted Talent
Enigma Records
Associated
acts		 MDC
The Dicks

The Big Boys were a pioneering band who are credited with helping introduce the new style of hardcore punk that became popular in the 1980s.

Contents

[edit] History

Based in Austin, Texas the band members were Randy 'Biscuit' Turner on vocals, Tim Kerr on guitar and Chris Gates on bass. Over the years the group played with four drummers in all; Steve Collier, Greg Murray, Fred Shultz and Rey Washam. The hardcore punk style, a development from the earlier punk sound, arose spontaneously in various cities, but in Austin it was represented by MDC, Big Boys and The Dicks. The bands often played with each other, and Big Boys and The Dicks released a split single and an LP, Live At Raul's, together. Big Boys shows were legendary, frequently involving food fights, 'Biscuit' in a tutu, or dress, and invitations to the audience to come up and sing along, which often occurred. At the end of early shows the band was famous for yelling, "OK y'all, go start your own band". The Big Boys are credited as well with the introduction of funk rhythms to hardcore, producing funkcore, an innovation influential on later bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers. They were also one of the first bands involved in the skatepunk scene, appearing in Thrasher skateboarding magazine and in Thrasher's videos, and had their own Big Boys skateboard. After a Bad Brains show in Austin that ended in controversy involving Biscuit (and later inspired the song "Pay to Come Along" by MDC), conflicts began to arise within the band, specifically between Biscuit And Chris. The Big Boys played their last show very unexpectedly. Biscuit and Chris never spoke to each other again.

[edit] Aftermath

Tim Kerr went on to play with many bands, including Poison 13, Bad Mutha Goose, Monkeywrench, Jack O Fire, Lord High Fixers and, in 2004, The Total Sound Group. He has also been involved with the recording of bands. Chris Gates was also with Poison 13, Junkyard and Charter Bulldogs. Chris can currently be heard fronting Big Chris Gates and Gatesville, a southern fried country group based in Austin. Of their drummers, Rey Washam has played consistently with such groups as Jerry's Kids, Scratch Acid, and Ministry. Original drummer Steve Collier switched from drums to guitar and formed Doctors' Mob, who's first album was produced by Chris Gates, and later played in the Sidehackers and the Rite Flyers. Randy Turner has performed with The Slurpees, Cargo Cult, and Swine King, the latter band contributing the song "All Broke Down" to Outpunk Records' Outpunk Dance Party compilation. Big Boys were innovative in many ways and were influential in the direction music and music scenes would take in their wake. Randy Turner was found dead from Hepatitis C complications in his home on August 18, 2005.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

[edit] Albums

  • Live at Raul's Club split LP with The Dicks (1980) on Rat Race (1981)
  • Where's My Towel/Industry Standard on Wasted Talent (1981)
  • Lullabies Help The Brain Grow on Moment Productions (1983)
  • No Matter How Long The Line At The Cafeteria, There's Always A Seat on Enigma (1984)

[edit] Collections

  • Wreck Collection LP on The Unseen Hand (1988) (reissued on CD by Gern Blandsten in 2002).
  • The Skinny Elvis CD on Touch and Go Records (1993)
  • The Fat Elvis CD on Touch and Go Records (1993)
  • Lullabies Help The Brain Grow/No Matter How Long The Line At The Cafeteria, There's Always A Seat double LP on X-Mist Records (2004)

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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