Aggressive Chubbies

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Troy and Colin of the Aggressive Chubbies live at Wesley, 1987

Contents

History

The Aggressive Chubbies were a wildly fun punk band from Fayette and West Union, Iowa from 1985-1988. They were formed by Troy Youngblut, who was exiled to Iowa in the mid-'80s to live with his grandparents from his home in Modesto California. Instead of Iowa "reforming" young Troy, he managed to turn on legions of kids in Fayette and West Union to the sound of punk rock. A naturally talented guitarist with a flair for unrelentingly fun hardcore riffs and progressions, Troy shaped the Chubbies into one of the most popular and admired hardcore bands in Iowa. Though they did not tour extensively, they left a huge impression everywhere they played. They broke up when Troy moved back to Modesto, CA permanently in the summer of 1988.

Their sound was heavily influenced by the California punk that Troy had grown up listening to: The Germs, Fang, T.S.O.L., Scream, Social Distortion, Bad Posture, etc. Troy was also a huge fan of the Misfits and Sex Pistols.

Band Members

Troy of the Aggressive Chubbies playing in the pit, 1987

Discography

Better Off Dead
Self Released Cassette
1987

Live Shows / Tours

Graphics / Flyers

Aggressive Chubbies Setlist
Colorful Flyer
Rochester, MN
1987
Graffiti Flyer
Rochester,MN
1987

Lore

  • A "chubby" is slang for a hard-on. Something that was inspirational or impressive in some way could be said to give one a chubby. Something expecially awesome (eg. seeing the Misfits live) could be said to give one a superlative "death chubby".
  • The Aggressive Chubbies lived in a more rural part of Iowa where music stores were scarce. They bought much of their equipment at a music store in Oelwein Iowa that primarily carried the Peavey brand. Thus, most of their guitars, bass, and amps were Peavey.
  • Say it with hushed reverence... "Isotomber", pronounced 'eye-tho-tome-bur'. I never really understood the full power of this word, but when invoked the results were always kick-ass. It was often used before or after the blessed word 'booger-schnager'... which again is a complete mystery.
    • I think "I-tho-toe-bah" was a riff on Isotoner gloves.
      • Wasn't there a 'M' sound in there? And of course it was a rip on Isotoners, but what did it mean???
        • It was the magic word to get the traffic light to change.....you had to do it while you waved your fingers around tho or it wouldn't work
  • An alternative name to 'Aggressive Chubbies' was reportedly the 'BBMs' which was supposed to stand for Bloody Bowel Movements, but that may have been a bit harsh...or it could be complete hogwash, you decide.

Anecdotes / Memories

  • On a Greyhound bus from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Salt Lake City, Utah, in the summer of 1988, Troy of the Aggressive Chubbies sang Social Distortion's "Mommy's LIttle Monster" in its entirety in a Thurston Howell III accent. We were sitting behind the driver and nearly got thrown off the bus.
  • Best 'Chubbies' show memory #1... in the orchestra rehearsal room at Luther College (Decorah). The Chubbies and Crock of Dookey played. The vaunted Luther music hall was thoroughly trashed and a friend in maintenance had a lot of floor cleaner work to do in order to remove all the boot marks from the pit area.
  • Best 'Chubbies' show memory #2... Their last show in Cedar Falls (Wesley Center). After a seemingly endless set, Troy fired his guitar through the kick drum. Detroyed the drum head (obvious), I think it bent the kick pedal, I know it cut Eric's leg, and the guitar was pretty well hosed to. I remember walking out with the band to Eric's van and coming back 15 minutes later, the amp was still on so the feedback was still going. Mmm... tasty feedback.

Links

Bird-on-Fire Recording Studio

Talk:Aggressive_Chubbies

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