THE QUEERS

The Queers are punk rock band formed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1982. Their sound is heavily influenced by the Ramones and '60s bubblegum pop and their songs often feature humorous and juvenile lyrics. The original line up consisted of Joe King (Vocals/Guitar), Tulu (Vocals/Bass), and Wimpy Rutherford (Drums). The band released one 7" EP with this line up. In 1984, the band released a second 7", this time with Tulu on drums, Wimpy singing, and Keith Hages playing bass. The band split shortly afterwards but Joe would occasionally use the name throughout the '80s, playing with various line-ups (King's most frequent collaborators were JJ Rassler (guitar) and Hugh O'Neill (drums)) for sporadic shows in Boston and New Hampshire, although there were no recordings created at this time, and by the end of the decade the band had pretty much become inactive.

In 1990, King and O'Neill decided to get the band going again and recorded the band's first LP, "Grow Up". Around the same time, The Queers became acquainted with Screeching Weasel, beginning a long-term association between the two bands. After the "Grow Up" LP, King and O'Neill met Chris Barnard, aka B-Face, who would join as the group's bassist and this would constitute the "classic" Queers line-up (although O'Neill would be in and out of the band and the band would generally tour with a second guitarist). The group signed with Lookout! Records in 1993 for the album "Love Songs For The Retarded" (produced by Ben Weasel) and stayed through 1996's "Don't Back Down". After that, the classic line-up split for good, with B-Face quitting due to growing tension between him and Joe and O'Neill being diagnosed with brain cancer (he would pass away in January 1999).