Thomas and a couple of friends started another band, now called "De Dype". Butthole Surfers, Sonic Youth, poop, Nietzsche and provocation was what they cared about. Their first concert was in the basement of Chateau Neuf, the Cirkus. They appeared drunk on-stage, none of the guitars were tuned, and they forgot the fuzzpedals, so the guitars sounded like violins. The point was to show the students at the party that they didn't give a fuck about them. The arrangers at last kicked them out.
Then, Turbonegro became a topic.
It wasn't worse than Pål Bøttger Kjærnes (Pål Pot Pamparius) screaming out aloud: "Hey, let's put a new band together! What shall the band name be?" Pål suggests Mindburger. Another suggests Nazipenis (which later ended up as a name of the band's tribute band). But suddenly Pål remembers a tag he had seen under a bridge in Finstad, Ski. Turboneger (Turbonegro in english). Founding member Thomas Seltzer once said, "A turbonegro is a large, well-equipped, armed black male in a fast car, out for vengeance. We are his prophets."
The six original Turbonegros were now: Thomas Seltzer, bass (Happy-Tom), Pål Bøttger Kjærnes, guitarist (Pål Pot Pamparius), Rune Grønn, guitarist (Rune Rebellion), Vegard Heskestad, guitarist, Pål Erik Carlin, vocals and Tor-Kristian Jenssen, drums (TK). Their first concert was in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1989. They smoked pot, drank beer and watched adult movies. The concert became a success for them.
Some months after the success in Denmark, they decided to make a record, "Route Zero", including songs: "Route Zero" and "I Want You Right Now", a cover by MC5. (TK, the drummer, plays a solo on guitar on the MC5-song, and they see that TK is a far better guitarist than the other guitarists). For the cover art, they pick a picture from the cult-horror movie "Basket Case". The vinyl is pink. The band name is shorten to TRBNGR.
Later they made another record, the EP "Turboloid" with no success from the reviews.
Their final band consists of: Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby, vocals (Hank Von Helvete), Thomas Seltzer, bass (Happy-Tom), Rune Grønn, guitar (Rune Rebellion), Pål Bøttger Kjærnes, percussion & piano (Pål Pot Pamparius), Knut Schreiner, lead guitar (Euroboy) and Christer Engen, drums (Chris Summers).
Their fan club is called The Turbojugend. This first 'chapter' of the club began in St Pauli, Hamburg, Germany, with later chapters appearing throughout the world.
Following their "final" tour, in 1998 singer Hank Von Hell (Hank Von Helvete in Norwegian) underwent treatment for heroin dependency. The group disbanded, with Von Helvete returning to his childhood town in Lofoten in northern Norway where he worked at a radio station, Moskenes-radioen, where he soon became their entertainer. He also worked as a guide on a fishing museum.
In 2002 the members met to discuss possibly regrouping and touring. Following practice sessions they recorded their comeback album, "Scandinavian Leather", and followed this with an extensive worldwide tour.
In 2005 they recorded their follow-up album, Party Animals.
In 2007 they released their latest album entitled Retox [11th June 2007].
On July 9th 2010, it was announced in Norwegian newspapers that Hank has left the band. Bassist Happy-Tom says this is the end for Turbonegro as a band.
June 2011 Turbonegro have called upon old friend, legendary Londoner and former Dukes Of Nothing frontman Tony Sylvester to step in as their new vocalist. Sylvester performed his first show as a Turbonegro at the Turbojugend World Days in Hamburg, Germany on July 15th. It has also been stated that Turbonegro is currently working on their new upcoming album with Tony.
Albums:
Turboloid (EP)(1990)
Hot Cars and Spent Contraceptives (1992)
Helta Skelta (1993)
Never Is Forever (1994)
Ass Cobra (1996)
Apocalypse Dudes (1998)
Darkness Forever! (live) (1999)
Love It to Deathpunk - The life & Times of Turbonegro (2001)
Scandinavian Leather (2003)
Party Animals (2005)
Retox (2007)
I Don't Care About You
Turbonegro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Welfare hotel
I spent the night in jail
At the the Wicox hotel!
I don't care about you!
Fuck you!
I don't care about you!
I've seen a man have a heart attack in Manhattan
He just died while we just stood there lookin' at him
Ain't he cute?
I don't care about you!
Ohhhhhhhhh!
I don't care about you!
I see man rollin' drunks
Bodies the streets
Some man was sleepin' in puke
And a man with no legs crawling down 5th street trying to get something to eat!
I don't care about you!
Fuck You!
I don't care about you!
Ohhhhhhhhh!
I don't care about you!
Fuck you!
I don't care about you!
The lyrics to Turbonegro's song "I Don't Care About You" speak to the cynical and apathetic feelings of the singer towards the harsh realities of the world. The first verse talks about Hollywood Boulevard, but instead of glamour and fame, the singer sees a welfare hotel and ends up spending a night in jail at the Wilcox hotel. This paints a picture of a seedy and gritty Hollywood that is often hidden behind the glitz and glamour portrayed in movies and television.
The chorus of the song is the catchy and repeated line "I don't care about you! Fuck you!" which is a blunt statement of the singer's lack of concern for anyone else. The second verse describes a man having a heart attack in Manhattan, but instead of any concern or action being taken to help him, the people around him simply stand and watch as he dies. The lyric "ain't he cute?" is a sarcastic and bitter response to the lack of empathy and compassion in the world.
The final verse touches on the rampant homelessness and destitution in society, with bodies on the street and a man with no legs crawling down Fifth Street just to find something to eat. The chorus is repeated with even more anger and force, emphasizing the singer's complete disinterest in the struggles of others. Overall, the lyrics of "I Don't Care About You" paint a bleak picture of the world and the singer's lack of compassion towards it.
Line by Line Meaning
I see Hollywood boulevard
I observe the main thoroughfare of the movie industry
Welfare hotel
an establishment for those receiving financial assistance from the government
I spent the night in jail
I was incarcerated for a brief period of time
At the the Wicox hotel!
a specific lodging facility where I stayed briefly
I don't care about you!
I have no concern or interest in your well-being
Fuck you!
a vulgar expression of contempt or hostility towards another person
I've seen a man have a heart attack in Manhattan
I witnessed a medical emergency in a particular district of New York City
He just died while we just stood there lookin' at him
the individual perished as we observed passively
Ain't he cute?
a sarcastic, callous remark reflecting a lack of empathy
I see man rollin' drunks
I observe individuals who are inebriated being transported by a separate person or vehicle
Bodies the streets
lifeless human beings on the sidewalks or roadways
Some man was sleepin' in puke
an individual was unconscious or asleep in their own vomit
And a man with no legs crawling down 5th street trying to get something to eat!
a person without use of their lower extremities moving along a specific avenue and seeking nourishment
Ohhhhhhhhh!
vocal expressions of a disinterested, dismissive attitude
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.