There’s a chance ultra-revered Beach Boys songwriter Brian Wilson has heard The Queers’ song entitled “Brian Wilson.”
Chances are Wilson would dig the track. It’s a burst of paisley-’60s catchiness, which would come as a surprise to music fans who only know The Queers from their three-chord punk songs and attention-grabbing name.
“We just played in Vegas and Billy Hinsche (long-time Beach Boys keyboardist) came and played onstage with us,” says Queers frontman Joe Quuer, aka Joe King, via e-mail. “He said he’d play (the song) for Brian and let me know what he thought.”
The Queers have more than a handful of pop songs in their canon. Tunes like “I Can’t Stay Mad At You” and “I Think She’s Starting to Like Me” float on hologram-like background vocals and peppermint-crisp organ and piano. King and company are in the midst of tour in which they’re playing only material with this vibe. The trek has been fittingly dubbed “The Pop Tour.” “I just always wanted to do some of those songs,” King says. “(There wasn’t) really an epiphany, but yeah it was time.”
The background vocals are so integral to songs like “I Can’t Stay Mad at You.” What’s been challenging and cool about working those out in rehearsal and performing them?
Nothing really. We’re all good musicians and have no problem pulling off those vocals.
I read about a recent Queers/The Atom Age split 7 inch, and there was also a Drunken Cholos/Rich White Males split. What do you dig about the split configuration?
I don’t care for splits really.
What do you think of the vinyl revival over the past two or three years? What format do you buy records in?
Yeah I like it a lot. Always loved vinyl, it´s special. CDs are so impersonal. I usually buy both.
Any new bands/artists you like, ranging from underground to famous?
Eh, not really.
What are some of your favorite studios you’ve recorded in and how did what you love about them influence how you built Monster Zero Studios?
I really liked Big Sound in Portland Maine as well as Q Division and Fort Apache in Boston. Those influenced me.
What’s an attribute you didn’t want Monster Zero Studios to have?
Some little dumb (expletive) staring at a computer screen saying, “Hey look at this squiggle on the screen.” It’s such a vibe killer. I’m pro analog because of the work flow. I hate digital. As soon as I see a (expletive) computer screen on it’s like breaking out the bag of cocaine—the BS starts.
Why did you pick “Rocket to Russia” to cover in full, instead of any other Ramones record?
They picked it for us. Never liked the idea. You can’t improve on the Ramones’ albums; they’re all perfect.
Who is your favorite Ramone and why?
They were always nice to us through the years. Joey was the one I knew the best, but Marky has been a great pal of ours. Dave and I played with him in his band over here in Europe a few years ago. We opened for him in Brazil too which was huge. Marky’s great.
Read some of your past interviews to prepare and people always ask about the band name. But I was wondering what were some other names you decided against before selecting the Queers?
The Scotty Thorson Trio was one. Scotty Thorson was Liberace’s gay lover. The Jews That Discovered Spain was another—that’s from a line in an Angry Samoans song.
The Queers play Ground Zero in Spartanburg at 8 p.m. Nov. 27 (with The Leftovers, Skye Foundation and The Emotron). Tickets are $10. For more information on the show, call 864-948-1661.
And for more on The Queers, go to www.thequeersrock.com.
