Neil Turbin


Neil Turbin is an American thrash metal vocalist known for being the first full-time vocalist for American band Anthrax. He is the current lead vocalist and songwriter of the heavy metal band DeathRiders, and a member of the hard rock band Bleed the Hunger.

Career history

Anthrax

When Turbin was first contacted by Anthrax he was already in a band called AMRA, but left after a few months, which prompted him to answer Anthrax's advertisement. He attended the same high school as Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, Bayside High School in New York, and was in a class with Ian in his freshman year. Turbin earned the position as the first official band vocalist in August 1982. His first performance with Anthrax was at Great Gildersleeves on September 12, 1982.
He performed and recorded with the band on the original demo recordings and their first studio album, Fistful of Metal. Turbin wrote the lyrics to all songs on that album. He also has writing credits on five of the seven songs on the band's Armed and Dangerous EP, as well as two songs on Spreading the Disease, both of which were recorded by third Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna, who replaced second Anthrax vocalist Matt Fallon.
In 2009 the video game Brütal Legend was released, featuring the Anthrax song "Metal Thrashing Mad" on its soundtrack, with Turbin's vocals. Many of the songs Turbin wrote and recorded with the band have been re-recorded with different vocalists and appear on multiple albums and DVDs, including the double platinum certified The Big 4 Live From Sofia, Bulgaria.
Turbin's exit from Anthrax came two weeks after the band's first North American tour, "Anthrax US Attack Tour 1984", ending with a show at Roseland Ballroom on August 3.

DeathRiders

is named after one of Turbin's songs and was formed in 2001 to support his debut solo album, Threatcon Delta.
Deathriders toured Monterrey Metalfest, Mexico in 2005; Sweden Rock in 2006; Tokyo, Japan, and the US in 2008; Rocktower 2009 Germany; Nightmare on St. Pauli Festival Germany 2009; Headbangers Open Air Germany 2009; and Expo Rock Tijuana 2010. They performed eight shows at the world-famous Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood in 2010. DeathRiders' Stay Screamin 2011 European Tour took them to Metal Bash 2011 in Germany; Highway To Dokk'em Open Air Festival 2011; and other venues throughout Tilburg, Netherlands, Vienna, Austria and Berlin, Germany.
DeathRiders were featured alongside Michael Angelo Batio, Faster Pussycat, and Phil Lewis of LA Guns at Rainbow Bar & Grill's 41st anniversary outdoor party on April 21, 2013. They also performed at NAMM Metal Jam at Whisky a Go-Go in West Hollywood, California on January 23, 2013, which featured many well-known metal artists including current and past members of Queensrÿche, Dio's Disciples, Racer X and Michael Schenker Group.
In 2014 the band toured Europe Headbangers Open Air Brande-Hoernerkirchen, Germany, and the Headbangers Open Air 2014 warm-up show at Lauschbar in Itzehoe, Germany. DeathRiders' Fistful of Metal Alive 2014 European tour included numerous dates in Netherlands including in Dynamo Eindhoven, with an all-Dutch touring lineup.
In 2015 the band performed at NAMM Metal Jam and Neil and Michael's Metal Jam, with Michael Angelo Batio joining the band on guitar at The Slidebar in Fullerton, California.

Bleed the Hunger

Bleed the Hunger was formed by Turbin and DeathRiders recording guitarist Jonas Hornqvist in January 2015. The band is recording their debut album and has released rough mixes of songs on their website. The debut album will be completed and released after DeathRiders' The Metal Beast is released.

Sticky Wicked

Sticky Wicked is a side project band that includes Turbin, Rowan Robertson, Jay Singh and Clackers Kay. The band actively toured in California in 2015.

NAMM Metal Jam

The 2013 NAMM Convention took place in Anaheim, California from January 24–27. NAMM Metal Jam kicked things off the night before, on January 23, at Whisky A-Go Go in West Hollywood. The concert was organized by Turbin with DeathRiders and Shredding the Envelope's Dave Reffett. Turbin's band co-headlined the show along with Michael Angelo Batio, Nitro, Holland and the Metal All-Star Jam, featuring members of Queensrÿche, Rising Force, Lizzy Borden, Lynch Mob, Leatherwolf and Hurricane.

Ultimate Jam Night at Lucky Strike Live

Turbin was included in a regular lineup rotation at Ultimate Jam Night at Lucky Strike Live Hollywood in February, March, April and May 2015. He performed onstage on a regular weekly basis with Billy Sheehan, Monte Pittman, Chuck Wright, Jason Sutter, Jonathan "Sugarfoot" Moffett, Mitch Perry, Ira Black, Debby Holiday, Reinhold Schwarzwald, Howie Simon, Mayuko Okai, Tzusumi Okai, Rowan Robertson, Francesco DiCosmo, Anthony "Tiny" Biuso, Louis Metoyer, Sam Bam Koltun, Sean McNabb, Jeff Duncan, Shawn Duncan, Matt Duncan, Joe Lester, and The Atomic Punks.

Solo work

In 2003 Turbin released his first solo album, Threatcon Delta, on American record label "Metal Mayhem Music". The album contains 14 songs, including a cover of a Jimi Hendrix song and an AC/DC cover. Prominent guest musicians on the album include Claude Schnell, Jeff Scott Soto, and Paul Shortino.

Vocal style and range

Turbin is known for his high-pitched screams in his natural voice up to C6. He is the only early Big 4 vocalist to sing in this range, as demonstrated on the songs "Death From Above", "Deathrider", and "Metal Thrashing Mad" on Fistful Of Metal.

Influences

Turbin cites heavy metal and NWOBHM vocalists from bands such as Judas Priest, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Motörhead, Accept, Riot and Saxon as influences of his vocal style, although he was also heavily influenced by the New York punk scene of the 1970s–1980s including bands such as Generation X, Ramones, Niki Buzz, The Bullets, Vendetta, Mayday, Steve Johnstad, Son, Sun, Wayne County & the Electric Chairs, Neon Leon, Walter Lure & The Heartbreakers, The Clash, The Sex Pistols and MC5.
Turbin spent time at the infamous punk club CBGB's and worked at other important punk scene venues Ritz when it first opened and also Max's Kansas City, from 1979 to 1980. He has stated that he favors writing with a neo-classical, rhythm and blues, and soulful hard rock influence.

Discography

DeathRiders

Neil Turbin and additional mixing by Jared Kvitka and additional engineering by Androo O'Hearn of Shaolin Death Squad

Neil Turbin