STILL PUNK AS FUCK!
If you’re expecting a polished, radio-ready rock band, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you crave music that’s raw, unapologetic, and unapologetically fun, Cuyahoga Fails might be exactly what you are looking for.
Formed by a group of seasoned musicians from the Akron-Cuyahoga Falls area, Cuyahoga Fails is a band that thrives on the energy of pure, old-school punk rock, driven with decades of life experience, and a love for making noise on a stage– showing the world they are still as punk as fuck and going strong in their middle ages.
“We’re a group of middle-aged guys who still want to make loud, obnoxious rock music and play it on stages in front of literally tens of people despite a litany of physical complaints that just seems to grow longer with every day,” says one band member with a wry grin.
The origins of Cuyahoga Fails bring together long time music vets from the area with Tommy Horror and the band’s frontman Bob Noxios, who had previously played together in a band called Horror of ’59‘. With Tommy Horror, Tommy Teabagger, and Ric Nimrod—formerly of The Nimrods and The Giggitys—joining to lend his six-string prowess, Cuyahoga Fails started spreading their music to the Akron/Cuyahoga Falls area.
“The name came from one of many dad joke/bad pun ideas that we all could live with,” the band recounts. “It’s relevant to where we grew up, and people seem to find it humorous. That’s good enough for me.”
Musically, the band embraces what they call “old man punk,” a raucous mix of garage punk and hard rock influences. Frances Ulysses Charles King of the Sheckies put it best: “punk-influenced hard rock.” Their songs are informed by a diverse musical diet, from the Ramones and Dead Kennedys to Hawkwind and The Cramps, with each member bringing their own flavor to the mix.
Their new release, titled Still Punk as Fuck, is less a declaration and more a nod to self-deprecating humor. “It came from a meme I saw: ‘Still punk as fuck,’ I think to myself as I reach for my pill organizer. I could relate!”
Cuyahoga Fails’ music is as eclectic as it is honest and straight forward. From Estate Sale Junkie, inspired by their weekly treasure hunts, to the gruesomely romantic Splinter in the Eye, and the socially conscious Broflake and You Know Who, their songs blend humor, nostalgia, and a critique of contemporary absurdities.
“Festival,” lampoons the small-town events of their youth in Cuyahoga Falls, while Mexican Pizza needs no explanation. “Use Your Delusion” and “Goodbye Cruel Girl” touch on more personal themes of escapism and romantic misadventures.
Cuyahoga Fails is all about attitude. “We try to bring big ‘get off my lawn’ energy to everything we do,” they say. And that attitude extends beyond the music—it’s a philosophy of continuing to create, to play, and to live life on your own terms, even if that means embracing the aches and pains of middle age.
Currently, the band is hunting for a new bass player, working on a backlog of songs, and preparing for their next gig at The Grog Shop on March 23rd.
Cuyahoga Fails’ mission is simple: “We hope to inspire ourselves to get off our asses and do something instead of just aging gracefully.” As for whether they’re still punk as fuck? They leave that for others to decide. The band refuses to box themselves in with labels, preferring to let the music—and the attitude—speak for itself.
You can find the Cuyahoga Fails is on social media platforms, Bandcamp, and all major streaming services. And fans can catch their music—and a bit of their irreverent humor—on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Bandcamp here.
Finally, a nod to John “Derf” Backderf for allowing the band to use one of his artworks as their album cover. Beyond that, Cuyahoga Fails leaves fans with a simple, unpretentious message: thanks for listening, thanks for caring, and above all, keep rocking—even if you’re middle-aged and medicated.
The Cuyahoga Fails are a must see live band as they are energetic and fun with an edge that only seasoned old rockers can deliver. Their CD is also a must have as it will rock you start to finish and beyond and definelty lives up to the title–Still Punk as Fuck!
