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Turnstile made its Saturday Night Live debut, performing “BIRDS” and a medley of “I CARE” and “DULL.” Consequence reported that the appearance marked the first time a hardcore band had played the show since FEAR performed in 1981; the episode’s promo also referred to a 45-year gap.
Turnstile made its Saturday Night Live debut this weekend, performing “BIRDS” and a medley of “I CARE” and “DULL.” The appearance marked a rare live performance by a hardcore band on the NBC show; a promotional segment cited a 45-year gap since FEAR played SNL in 1981.
The band opened its first set with “BIRDS,” with drummer Daniel Fang beginning the performance with a solo. Turnstile returned later in the episode for a medley of “I CARE” and “DULL.” Consequence described that performance as staged in front of a wall of phones and featuring a prominent light show.
In a promotional segment for the episode, Turnstile joked about not damaging the studio as its hardcore predecessors had. Cast member Ben Marshall referenced the 45 years since a hardcore band had performed on SNL. Consequence reported that, as far as it could determine, Turnstile kept its promise not to trash the studio.
The episode also included a surprise appearance by Taylor Swift, who brought host Dakota Johnson a birthday cake. That was a separate moment from Turnstile’s performances, though it put the singer and band in the same episode, according to the report.
Hardcore Returns to SNL
Turnstile’s booking brought a style of punk associated with fast tempos, forceful vocals and energetic live shows to a national late-night television audience. The performance is notable against SNL’s history with loud punk acts, but it does not establish that the show has changed its approach to booking hardcore or that another such performance is planned.
The appearance also puts Turnstile’s music before viewers who may not follow the hardcore scene. The two performances offered a concise introduction to the band’s current material, while the studio-friendly promo acknowledged the history that made the booking an unusual one. Any broader effect on the band’s audience or on SNL’s future music bookings remains unknown.
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FEAR’s 1981 SNL Appearance
The gap referenced in the episode’s promo traces back to FEAR’s 1981 performance, arranged with the involvement of former cast member John Belushi, who was a fan of the band. The set included slam dancing in the audience, with punk musicians Ian MacKaye and Harley Flanagan among those present, according to Consequence.
Consequence reported that FEAR’s four-song performance caused $20,000 in damage to NBC Studios at Rockefeller Center. The account presents that incident as the source of SNL’s wariness toward hardcore, though the provided material does not include a statement from NBC explaining its booking decisions over the following decades.
Other punk performances also became part of the show’s history. The Replacements were banned after their 1986 appearance, with Paul Westerberg’s onstage profanity cited as a final offense. Elvis Costello was barred after stopping a 1977 performance of “Less than Zero” and switching to “Radio, Radio”; he returned in 1989.
“Marshall said it had been 45 years since a hardcore band had played SNL.”
— Ben Marshall, SNL cast member, in the episode promo
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What the 45-Year Gap Means
The “45 years” description comes from the episode’s promotional framing and Consequence’s report. The material provided does not define whether the claim refers to any hardcore act, a band billed specifically as hardcore, or a particular kind of live performance. SNL and NBC have not been quoted explaining how they classify the genre or why no comparable booking took place during that span.
It is also unclear whether Turnstile’s appearance will lead to more hardcore bookings on the show. The source reports no announcement of future SNL performances by the band or other hardcore artists. The report says the group did not appear to damage the studio, but it does not cite an official NBC assessment of the set.
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Turnstile’s October Tour Dates
After a set at Austin City Limits described by Consequence as muddy, Turnstile’s next listed show was scheduled for October 5 at the Zoo Amphitheatre in Oklahoma City. The supplied tour schedule also lists stops in Lawrence on October 6, St. Louis on October 7 and Austin City Limits Music Festival on October 9, followed by additional dates through November.
Those dates provide the next confirmed developments in the report. No further SNL appearance or related announcement is listed, so the band’s post-episode plans beyond its published tour schedule remain unclear.
rock band stage lighting equipment
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Key Questions
What did Turnstile perform on SNL?
The band performed “BIRDS” and later played a medley of “I CARE” and “DULL.”
Why was the appearance described as ending a 45-year gap?
An SNL promotional segment cited 45 years since a hardcore band had played the show. Consequence links the gap to FEAR’s performance in 1981.
What happened during FEAR’s 1981 performance?
FEAR played a four-song set with slam dancing in the audience. Consequence reported that the performance caused $20,000 in damage to NBC Studios.
Did Turnstile damage the SNL studio?
Turnstile joked in a promo about not repeating the damage associated with its predecessors. Consequence said that, as far as it knew, the band kept that promise; the source did not cite an official studio report.
When was Turnstile’s next listed concert?
The provided schedule listed the band’s next show for October 5 in Oklahoma City, at the Zoo Amphitheatre.
Source: rss
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