Boris the Sprinkler is a punk rock band that formed in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1992.
Boris the Sprinkler | |
|---|---|
 Rev. Nørb, frontman of Boris the Sprinkler | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Genres | Punk rock |
| Years active | 1992–2003, 2009–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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History edit
Boris the Sprinkler was founded in Green Bay in 1992 by Reverend Nørb (vocals) and Paul #1 (guitar).[1] Nørb and Paul (born Paul Schroder) initially played with Eric Lee (bass) and Ronny Johnny Kispert (drums); later members included Eric James (bass), Ric 6 (bass), and Paul 2 (drums).[2] Nørb, who was born Norb Rozek,[3] had previously written for the music magazines Sick Teen and Maximum Rocknroll.[1] Nørb's lyrics and the band's style were self-consciously irreverent, tongue-in-cheek, and referential to other aspects of pop culture, influenced by punk rock groups such as The Dickies, The Rezillos, and The Ramones.[1] The group often dressed in flamboyant styles such as "zebra-print tights and gold lamé body suits".[4]
Boris the Sprinkler released eight full-length albums over the period 1994-2000, including 1994's 8 Testicled Pogo Machine (which included a vocal cameo by Wesley Willis on its first track),[5] 1998's End of the Century[6] (which covered the Ramones album of the same name in its entirety),[7] and two albums for Go-Kart Records, 1999's Suck[8] and 2000's Gay.[9] The group also released numerous EPs and singles, among them 1995's Mutant Pop release "Drugs and Masturbation"[10] and 1996's "Kill the Ramones".[11]
In 2013, Nørb published The Annotated Boris: Deconstructing the Lyrical Majesty of Boris the Sprinkler, a "line-by-line analysis" of songs he wrote for Boris the Sprinkler.[3]
The band released a new album, Vespa to Venus, on Beer City Records on September 13, 2019. The release reunited the 1997 Mega Anal lineup of Paul #1, Paul #2, Ric Six, and Reverend Nørb.
Discography edit
Albums edit
- 8-Testicled Pogo Machine (Bulge Records, 1994)
- Saucer to Saturn (Bulge Records, 1995)
- End of the Century (Clearview Records, 1996)
- Mega Anal (Bulge Records, 1997)
- Suck (Go-Kart Records, 1999)
- Group Sex (Bulge Records, 2000)
- Gay (Go-Kart, 2000)
- Vespa To Venus (Beer City, 2019)
Live albums edit
- The Frozen Tundra of... Boris the Sprinkler (Bulge Records, 1998)
- Live Cincinnati 1999 (Mutant Pop Records, 2000)
EPs edit
- V.M.Live Presents Boris the Sprinkler 11/1/96 (VML Records)
- Gratuitous 1998 Summer Tour 10" (Clearview Records)
- Banana Pad Riot! / Split with The Vindictives, Young Fresh Fellows & Mr. T Experience (Skullduggery Records)
- 8" flexi-disc with Less Than Jake, Sonic Dolls and Mulligan Stu (Rhetoric Records)
Singles edit
- 4Money (split with Quencher) (Lombardi Records)
- She's Got a Lighter / It's My Style (Trouser Cough Records)
- (Do You Wanna) Grilled Cheese? / Bad Guy Reaction (Bulge Records)
- Male Model / Superball Eyes / Ejector Seat (Bulge Records)
- Beth / I Turned Into a Martian (split with The Droids) (Power Ground Records)
- Drugs & Masturbation / Yeah Yeah / Yeah Yeah No (Mutant Pop Records)
- Ready Steady Go (split w/ Scooby Don't) (Just Add Water Records)
- True Grit / Poodle Party / Do the Mimi (split with the Meatmen) (Bulge Records)
- Hey Ed! / Attitude (split w/ Moral Crux) (They Still Make Records)
- Sheena's Got a Microwave / Chipmunks Are Go! / Chemistry Set (split with the Sonic Dolls) (Bulge Records)
- 113th Man / Son of Musical Interlude / Penalty Box / Can't Controllit (SuperSonicRefrigeRecords)
- Kill the Ramones / Kill the Sex Pistols (Junk Records)
- Little Yellow Box / Why Don't We Do It in the Dumpster / Get Off the Phone (Bulge Records)
- New Wave Records / Yellow Pills / Hi, We're the Replacements (Mutant Pop Records)
- Nikki The Sprinkler / Borisites (split with the Parasites) (Just Add Water Records)
- (I've Been Hittin' On A) Russian Robot / Do The Go / Got The Time (Lookout Records)
- Sick Sick Sick / Ultimatum / Busy Signals (split with the Dead Vampires) (Dirtnap Records)
Members edit
- Rev. Nørb – vocals, keytar, guitar, harmonica
- Paul No. 1 – guitar, vocals
- Erik No. 1 – bass, guitar
- Ronny Johnny Kispert – drums
- Eric No. 2 – bass, vocals, recording engineer
- Paul No. 2 – drums
- Ric Six – bass
- Tim 00 – bass
- LP – guitar
Footnotes edit
- ^ a b c Cover Story: Boris the Sprinkler. Maximum Ink, July 1999.
- ^ Brian Cogan, Encyclopedia of Punk Music and Culture. Greenwood, 2006, p. 26. Google Books link
- ^ a b The Quirky Invention of Boris the Sprinkler. Shepherd Express, July 28, 2013.
- ^ 12 O'Clock Track: Boris the Sprinkler, "Kill the Ramones". Chicago Reader, December 17, 2012.
- ^ Review of 8 Testicled Pogo Machine, Sobriquet Magazine, December 22, 2008.
- ^ Review of End of the Century, Allmusic
- ^ Interview with Boris the Sprinkler, Ink 19, August 1999.
- ^ Suck Review, Allmusic
- ^ Gay Review, Allmusic
- ^ Review of Drugs and Masturbation, Allmusic
- ^ Kill the Ramones review, Allmusic
Further reading edit
- Rev. Nørb [Norb Rozek], The Annotated Boris: Deconstructing the Lyrical Majesty of Boris the Sprinkler (and Other Tales as the Need Arises). n.c. [Green Bay, WI]: Bulge Records, 2012.