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Big Boys (band)




  Background group_or_band
  Origin Austin , Texas
  Genre Hardcore Punk <br> Funkcore <br> Punk Rock <br> Skatepunk
  Years Active 1979 &ndash 1984
  Label Moment Productions<br>Wasted Talent<br> Enigma Records
  Associated Acts MDC <br> The Dicks
  Past Members Randy "Biscuit" Turner <br> Tim Kerr <br> Chris Gates <br>Steve Collier<br>Greg Murray<br>Fred Shultz<br> Rey Washam


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.

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 together; Big Boys and The Dicks jointly released a split single and an LP, ''Live At Raul's''.

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 . This is due in no small part to the addition of a Horn Section, The Impromptu Horns, spearheaded by Chris Gates' brother, Nathan. The Impromptu Horns played mainly local shows, and played on some of the funkiest tracks recorded by The Big Boys. (Most of the horn players, who rotated in and out of the section, went to High School with Chris and Nathan.)

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.


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 had performed with The Slurpees , Cargo Cult, and Swine King , the latter band contributing the song "All Broke Down" to Outpunk Records ' compilation, '' Outpunk Dance Party ''. Randy Turner was found dead from Hepatitis C complications in his home on August 18, 2005.

The Big Boys also appeared in the well-reviewed 2006 Sundance film, '' American Hardcore (film) ''. Their song Brickwall appeared on the soundtrack.

Big Boys were innovative in many ways and were influential in the direction music and music scenes would take in their wake.


DISCOGRAPHY



Singles



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)



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)



SEE ALSO



External links