Boris the Sprinkler
Encyclopedia
Boris the Sprinkler was a pop-punk band that formed in Green Bay
, Wisconsin
in 1992, known for their zaniness and abnormality. Their aesthetic seemed to borrow from Devo
and The Dickies
. They display a sci-fi bizarro style reminiscent of Buckaroo Banzai
.
' "Group Sex
", the duty was handed over to "an automated robot monologue service based in the Naboo System
", whereas "Saucer to Saturn" contains no introductory monologue whatsoever.
Norb was also known for appearing on stage in elaborate kitsch
y costumes, including plenty of neon spandex, the occasional Wolverine
or M&M
costume, and, most famous of all, his signature Antler Helmet, a motorcycle helmet adorned with deer antlers screwed into the sides and the words "GEEK" and "PUNK" appearing on either side in mail box letters.
Apart from Boris the Sprinkler, Reverend Norb is a former editor/writer of the Sick Teen zine, former columnist for Maximumrocknroll and current columnist for Razorcake
, as well as frontman for the Bob Dylan
tribute band Nob Dylan and His Nobsoletes.
While most of Boris the Sprinkler's catalog was released on Norb's own Bulge Records, they have had releases on plenty of other labels, including Go Kart, Lookout
, Dirtnap
, Mutant Pop
, Rocco, They Still Make Records, One Percent, Shredder, and others.
The band's name came from Rev. Nørb listening to The Who
song "Boris the Spider
", whilst looking outside his window and seeing a sprinkler. Combining the song title with the said event. (The good Reverend has said so on numerous occasions in interviews.)
Boris the Sprinkler reformed to play Insubordination Fest
in Baltimore, MD June 26 and 27, 2009. The line-up consisted of Rev. Nørb, Ric Six, Paul #2 and Paul #1.
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in 1992, known for their zaniness and abnormality. Their aesthetic seemed to borrow from Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
and The Dickies
The Dickies
The Dickies are an American punk rock group formed in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, U.S. in 1977.-History:The Dickies were among the first punk rock bands to emerge from Los Angeles...
. They display a sci-fi bizarro style reminiscent of Buckaroo Banzai
Buckaroo Banzai
Buckaroo Banzai is the lead character, played by Peter Weller, of the eponymous 1984 cult film, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. A renaissance man, the character is a top neurosurgeon, particle physicist, race car driver, rock star and comic book hero, and probably the...
.
Band history
Fronted by Rev. Nørb, live Boris performances featured interactions with the audience reminiscent of improvisational stand-up comedy, as breaks between songs were filled with Norb joking about obscure pop culture minutae. This dialogue peppers Boris' records as well. All but two of their full length LPs (as well as many of their 7"s) contain spoken introductions by Norb: In the case of their cover album of the Circle JerksCircle Jerks
The Circle Jerks are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California. It was formed by Black Flag's original singer, Keith Morris, and future Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the L.A. scene in the late 1970s.The band...
' "Group Sex
Group Sex
-Personnel:* Keith Morris - lead vocals* Greg Hetson - guitar* Roger Rogerson - bass* Lucky Lehrer - drumsProduction* Cary Markoff - producer* Cliff Zellman - engineer* Mackie Osborne - artwork* Diane Zincavage - cover design, cover art...
", the duty was handed over to "an automated robot monologue service based in the Naboo System
Naboo
Naboo is a fictitious planet in the fictional Star Wars universe with a mostly green terrain and which is the homeworld of two societies: the Gungans who dwell in underwater cities and the humans who live in colonies on the surface...
", whereas "Saucer to Saturn" contains no introductory monologue whatsoever.
Norb was also known for appearing on stage in elaborate kitsch
Kitsch
Kitsch is a form of art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognized value. The concept is associated with the deliberate use of elements that may be thought of as cultural icons while making cheap mass-produced objects that...
y costumes, including plenty of neon spandex, the occasional Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
or M&M
M&M's
M&M's are dragée-like "colorful button-shaped candies" produced by Mars, Incorporated...
costume, and, most famous of all, his signature Antler Helmet, a motorcycle helmet adorned with deer antlers screwed into the sides and the words "GEEK" and "PUNK" appearing on either side in mail box letters.
Apart from Boris the Sprinkler, Reverend Norb is a former editor/writer of the Sick Teen zine, former columnist for Maximumrocknroll and current columnist for Razorcake
Razorcake
Razorcake is a 501 non-profit organization that publishes the Razorcake fanzine, a DIY punk rock fanzine published bi-monthly out of Los Angeles, California...
, as well as frontman for the Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
tribute band Nob Dylan and His Nobsoletes.
While most of Boris the Sprinkler's catalog was released on Norb's own Bulge Records, they have had releases on plenty of other labels, including Go Kart, Lookout
Lookout! Records
-History:Larry Livermore and David Hayes formed the label in 1987. From the start, Lookout released punk rock records, but over time expanded its scope to include various types of pop rock, reggae fusion, acoustic rock, pop punk, and indie rock...
, Dirtnap
Dirtnap Records
-External links:*...
, Mutant Pop
Mutant Pop Records
Mutant Pop Records was an independent record label founded in Corvallis, Oregon in 1995 by Tim "Timbo" Davenport , also known by the "punk name" T. Chandler. The label released approximately 15 full-length albums in compact disc format, and more than 85 releases as 7" vinyl EPs or commercial CD-R...
, Rocco, They Still Make Records, One Percent, Shredder, and others.
The band's name came from Rev. Nørb listening to The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
song "Boris the Spider
Boris the Spider
"Boris the Spider" is a song written by The Who's bassist, John Entwistle. It appears as the second track of their 1966 album, A Quick One. This song is claimed to be John's first composition. The song was a live staple...
", whilst looking outside his window and seeing a sprinkler. Combining the song title with the said event. (The good Reverend has said so on numerous occasions in interviews.)
Boris the Sprinkler reformed to play Insubordination Fest
Insubordination Fest
Insubordination Fest is an annual message board nerd festival held in Baltimore, Maryland. The festival started in 2006 as a 10th anniversary showcase for Insubordination Records, and since then has been held every summer. In the past the festival has been headlined by bands such as Less Than...
in Baltimore, MD June 26 and 27, 2009. The line-up consisted of Rev. Nørb, Ric Six, Paul #2 and Paul #1.
Albums
- 8-Testicled Pogo Machine8-Testicled Pogo Machine8-Testicled Pogo Machine is Boris The Sprinkler's 1994 debut album. The album features an introduction by Wesley Willis modeled on the famous remarks opening the MC5 album Kick Out the Jams. Lyrically, the album touches upon topics such as fast food, comic books, classic punk rock, and kitschy...
(Bulge Records, 1994) - Saucer to SaturnSaucer to Saturn-Track listing:# "No I Don't Care About You, Yeah" - 2:58# "Worm" - 1:52# "I Wanna Get to Third Base With You" - 2:35# "Sidewalk, Sidewalk, Yeah Yeah Yeah" - 1:23# " Grilled Cheese" - 2:28# " I Dig Her" - 1:49...
(Bulge Records, 1995) - Mega Anal (Bulge Records, 1997)
- End Of The CenturyEnd of the Century (Boris the Sprinkler album)End Of The Century is a 1998 album by Boris The Sprinkler covering the fifth album by The Ramones in its entirety. It was recorded for under $500 in bassist Eric #2's basement studio, a cost of less than one-half of one percent of the recording cost of the original album.-Track listing:All songs...
(Clearview Records, 1998) - The Frozen Tundra Of...Boris The Sprinkler (Bulge Records, 1998)
- Suck (Go-Kart Records, 1999)
- Group Sex (Bulge Records, 2000)
- Gay (Go-Kart, 2000)
EPs
- 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
- 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
- Rev. Nørb - Vocals, Keytar, Guitar, harmonica, belches, beeps, buzzes
- Paul #1 - Guitar, Vocals
- Erik #1 - Bass, Guitar
- Ronny Johnny Eggroll - Drums, Food
- Eric #2 - Bass, Vocals, Recording Engineer
- Paul #2 - Drums, Pabst
- Ric Six - Bass, Actual Musicianship
- Tim 00 - Bass, Actual Musicianship
- LP - Guitar, Nuts