Don’t You Turn on Me, the second full length album from Poison Boys, was released on CD and digitally through Riot Records, last November, and is now out on limmited edition vinyl too.
The album followedd the release of single ‘Little Speedway Girl’, a tasty little punk rock romp that channels all the good vibes from rock legends like New York Dolls, The Stooges, Kiss and UK punk acts such as The Heartbreakers and The Vibrators. ‘Little Speedway Girl’ gave a strong indication of what to expect from Don’t You Turn On Me.
Don’t You Turn on Me iis a long time coming since their first album Out Of My Head in 2019, and is a general move in the direction of the band’s punk styling and ability to write hard-hitting, late 1970s punk, steeped in rock n roll roots.
It ranges in vibe from more early-mid 70’s sleazier hits, like title track ‘Don’t You Turn On Me,’ ‘Sweet Marie’ or ‘I Was Cryin’’ to blistering punk rippers like ‘Nothing But Darkness’, ‘Day By Day’ and ‘Keep Knocking’ to songs that could have been played by early punk bands such as ‘Little Speedway Girl,’ ‘Living On The Edge Of The Knife’ or ‘She’s Nowhere.’
Classic Johnny Thunders style sleaze is showcased on ‘Dick In The Dirt’ and ‘Take A Chance With Me’, while a less aggressive, more charming side is shown on ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind’.
It was back in early 2014, long-time friends Matt Dudzik and Mike Lippman felt there weren’t enough real rock n’ roll bands left, especially in Chicago. The two quickly put a band and demo together and began playing shows in the Chicago area, steadily gaining a following throughout the summer of 2014.
Tragically, in the fall of that year, Lippman passed away at the age of 23 due to an accidental drug overdose. In honour and continual recognition of their friendship, Dudzik decided to continue the band and the vision the two of them shared for the future of the Poison Boys.
Over the next three years, the band completed its first tour of the East Coast, releasing two 7″ EPs, Headed for Disaster (No Front Teeth Records, 2016) & Bad Mouth (NFT Records, 2017), ending in 2017 with a successful Bad Mouth In The South Southern US tour.
In 2018, the band played a four-show West Coast stint in April dubbed the Lost LA Weekend, a two-week Wasted In The West – West Coast tour in September and released their first music video for the track ‘Bustin’ Out’ from their third 7″ ‘Poppin’ Eyes And Flashing Feet’ (White Zoo Records, 2019).
The following year was hugely successful as the band released their debut full length Out of My Head (Dead Beat Records, 2019), with two music videos ‘Tear Me Apart’ and ‘Been Here All Night’ from the LP, completing a triumphant East Coast/Canada tour in support of it all.
The current line-up of Poison Boys is singer/guitarist Matt Dudzik, guitarist Steve Elfinger, bassist Nico Bones, and drummer Matt Chaney.
You can order Don’t You Turn on Me on vinyl here and other formats here.
