Neil Turbin

Neil Turbin
Background information
Birth name Neil Turbin
Born December 24, 1963 (1963-12-24) (age 48)
Origin Brooklyn, New York
Genres heavy metal, thrash metal, speed metal
Instruments Vocals,
Years active 1978-present
Associated acts Anthrax, DeathRiders, Turbin, Kuni, Jack Frost, The Newrace, Amra, Neil Turbin solo, Wrecking Crew, Claude Schnell Band, Kurt James Band
Website DeathRiders Official Website

Neil Turbin (born December 24, 1963) is an American thrash metal vocalist known for being the original lead singer for American band Anthrax and current lead vocalist and songwriter of the heavy metal band DeathRiders.[1] [2]

Contents

DeathRiders

DeathRiders, is named after one of Turbin's songs and was formed in 2001 to support Turbin's solo album "Threatcon Delta". Deathriders toured Monterrey Metalfest, Mexico in 2005. Sweden Rock 2006, Tokyo, Japan, [3] and the US in 2008, Rocktower 2009 Germany, Nightmare on St. Pauli Festival Germany 2009, Headbangers Open Air Germany 2009, Expo Rock Tijuana 2010 as well as performing 8 shows at the world famous Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood in 2010. DeathRiders Stay Screamin 2011 European Tour took them to Metal Bash 2011 in Germany, Highway To Dokkem Open Air Festival 2011 as well as other venues throughout Tilburg, Netherlands, Vienna, Austria and Berlin, Germany.

Neil Turbin Solo

In 2003 Neil Turbin released his first solo album "Threatcon Delta" on American record label "Metal Mayhem Music". The album contained fourteen tracks and included a cover of a Jimi Hendrix song as well as an AC/DC cover. Prominent guest musicians such as Claude Schnell, Jeff Scott Soto, Paul Shortino, Mitch Perry, Andy Walo, Sean McNabb and Paul Monroe and others from bands such as Dio, Rough Cutt, Quiet Riot and M.S.G. appeared on the album.[4]

Anthrax

Turbin was an original member of Anthrax from August 1982[5] until August 1984.[6] The band first contacted him after reading an advertisment that Turbin had posted in Good Times Magazine in June 1982. However Turbin did not end up officially joining with the band until over a month later, after he unknowingly answered an advertisement also in Good Times that had been posted by the band and was connected to Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, when he called the number listed in the ad. [7] At the time Turbin was first contacted by Anthrax he was already in the band AMRA but left after a few months, prompting him to answer the advertisement they had placed in the magazine. He attended the same high school as Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, Bayside High School in New York, and was in a class with Ian in his freshman year. Turbin's first performance with Anthrax was at Great Gildersleeves on September 12, 1982. Turbin's exit from Anthrax came two weeks after the band's first North American 'Anthrax US Attack Tour 1984' ending with a show at Roseland Ballroom on August 3.[7] He recorded four studio demos and one album with them, Anthrax's debut album Fistful of Metal. Turbin wrote the lyrics to all songs on the album (with exception of the cover of Alice Cooper's I'm Eighteen).[2] Turbin also wrote five of the seven songs on the Armed and Dangerous EP, as well as two songs on Spreading the Disease. [8] In 2009 the video game Brutal Legend was released featuring the Anthrax song "Metal Thrashing Mad" in its soundtrack with Turbin's vocals. Today, many of the songs Turbin wrote and recorded with the band have been re-recorded with different vocalists and appear on multiple albums and DVD's including the 2 x platinum certified The Big 4 Live from Sofia, Bulgaria DVD, though Turbin claims he receives no royalties from any of these further recordings.[3]

Other Bands and Side Projects

Prior to joing Anthrax, Turbin was in several other bands, including AMRA (1982), Wrecking Crew(1990-1992) and New Race (1979-1981). Turbin's first professional gig was at now defunct New York club CBGB's with his first band New Race, performing in front of five hundred people.[7] New Race was made up of guitarist Karel Lukas, drummer Kasidis Sangbhundhu and bassist Alex Brignoll with Turbin on vocals. In 1986 Turbin recorded vocals for the album 'Masque' by Kuni.Turbin joined the Claude Schnell band from 1996-1999 as vocalist of Schnell's original band.

Vocal Style and Range

Turbin is a pioneer of the Thrash Metal vocal sound [9] and is known for his high pitched screams in natural voice up to C6. Turbin is the only original 'Big 4' vocalist[10] to sing in this range as demonstrated on the songs "Death From Above", "Deathrider" and "Metal Thrashing Mad" original recordings on "Fistful Of Metal".

Influences

Turbin cites heavy metal and NWOBHM vocalists in bands such as Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Motorhead and Saxon as influences of his vocal style though he was also heavily influenced by the New York punk scene of the 1970's-1980's including bands such as The Clash, The Sex Pistols and MC5. Turbin spent time at the infamous punk club CBGB's and worked at other important punk scene venues Ritz when it first opened and also Max's Kansas City, from 1979-1980. Turbin has also stated that he favors writing with a neo-classical influence.[11]

Discography

DeathRiders

Neil Turbin

Treasure Land

Anthrax

Compilations

Video Games

Guest appearances

References

  1. ^ Xtreme Musician (2002-03-22). "Neil Turbin". Neil Turbin Xtreme Musician Article. http://www.xtrememusician.com/info/artists/profiles/10674.html. Retrieved 2008-05-09. 
  2. ^ a b Metal Storm. Metalstorm.ee. Retrieved on 2011-08-30.
  3. ^ a b "Metal Rules: Neil Turbin (DeathRiders ex-Anthrax) Sets the Record Straight!". http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=779. Retrieved Oct 8, 2011. 
  4. ^ "No Life 'Til Metal- CD Gallery- Neil Turbin". http://www.nolifetilmetal.com/neilturbin.htm. Retrieved Oct 20, 2011. 
  5. ^ "Music Metal: Story of Anthrax". http://undestroyer.blogspot.com/2010/01/story-of-anthrax.html. Retrieved Oct 17, 2011. 
  6. ^ "RockPages Interview: DeathRiders". http://www.rockpages.gr/detailspage.aspx?id=2513&type=1&lang=EN. Retrieved Oct 11, 2011. 
  7. ^ a b c "Big Music Geek: Neil Turbin Interview:". http://bigmusicgeek.com/NeilTurbin1.htm. Retrieved Oct 11, 2011. 
  8. ^ Neil Turbin (1984-02-06). "Metal Thrashing Mad, Armed and Dangerous, Deathrider, Gung Ho". Metal Thrashing Mad, Armed and Dangerous, Deathrider, Gung Ho. Library of Congress. http://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=3&ti=1,3&Search%5FArg=deathrider&Search%5FCode=TALL&CNT=25&PID=4000&SEQ=20080507142233&SID=2. Retrieved 2008-05-07. 
  9. ^ "Maximum Metal: Neil Turbin Interview". http://www.maximummetal.com/interviews/intresults.asp?ID=neilturbin&idBand=610. Retrieved Oct 8, 2011. 
  10. ^ "Classic Rock: Who Should Sing For Anthrax (No.1): The Case For Neil Turbin". http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/who-should-sing-for-anthrax-no-1-the-case-for-neil-turbin/. Retrieved Oct 20, 2011. 
  11. ^ "All Access Magazine: Metal Thrashing Regards - Interview With Neil Turbin". http://www.allaccessmagazine.com/vol6/issue16/neil_turbin.html. Retrieved Oct 23, 2011. 

External links