Find us on Google+ Sam Sinister Official: 2008

Turbo Lovers

Conducted originally via AIM for Artless Nonculture Webzine, September, 2008.


Interview with BJ Lisko of TURBO LOVERS
by Sam Sinister (well, okay, mostly by BJ Lisko...)

SS: So, where do we start?

BJL: Whereever you want man.

Alright, sir. So, I hear tell of a new album in the works. Wanna tell us a little about that?

The new record is called Outstanding, keeping in line with the title of the previous record, Cock of the Walk. If you notice, there's a theme going on here with Turbo Lovers - "I Am The Swagger", "I Want It All", "Rock 'n' Roll Son of a Bitch", "On My Way" - It's all about that swagger and all about having that ego, plain and simple. Some call it cocky, I would call it cocky even, but you have to be that way when it comes to rock 'n' roll anymore. We're not pompous about it, we're approachable and as nice and talkative as anyone, but I do feel that we put on one of the best live shows in the area. I didn't tattoo "I Am The Swagger" on my arm for nothing. It's a mindset, whether we're playing for a ton of people or just a handful, we are committed to putting on the best show possible. No one wants to see a group of nervous guys standing entirely still fumbling through a set list all awkwardly. We are the furthest thing from that on the planet, and basically that little bit of ego is us telling you that ahead of time.

Spike Slawson

Originally conducted via email for Artless Nonculture Webzine, circa 2008.


I recently had the chance to exchange correspondence with a very cool and gracious Spike Slawson (Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Swingin' Utters, Re-Volts, Filthy Thieving Bastards). If you're unfamiliar with any of these name-drops, you've been living under a very nailed-down rock for a very, very long time. Spike's a yinzer, believe it or not, so if you're thinking, Hey! I thought Artless Nonculture was strictly Cleveland to Pittsburgh area bands(?!), fear not. We ain't sellin' out just yet.


What was it like growing up in the Pittsburgh area?

My parents moved me there in the early '70s, so you can probably imagine what it was like (I guess they didn't notice all of the people headed in the other direction). I got beat up a lot.

The Traditionals

Interview with (then) guitarist (now vocalist/guitarist) Dave Harris. Originally conducted via email for Artless Nonculture Webzine, January, 2008.

For those who don't know, give a brief little history of the band. 

We started playing in the late summer of 1997. The original lineup was Dave and Joe Harris, Donovan, Craig and Matt. That lineup produced an unreleased demo, then in 1998 Matt left the band and was replaced by Rick. This line up released the “No Choice” LP on an independent label in Pittsburgh that folded shortly after our release.

We were in dealings with GMM Records and played the Beer Olympics in 1999 and 2000. Rob Faulkner replaced Donovan on vocals in 2001. We played the Holidays in the Sun Festival in 2002, in New Jersey. This lineup released the "Dead Society" LP in 2004 on Impact Records in Germany.