Turnstile ProfileBaltimore hardcore sensations Turnstile are making their Saturday Night Live debut this weekend (3 October). If a video posted on the long-running comedy series’ socials is any indication, the band will behave themselves on stage.
In the promotional video – a series of awkward clips posted today – SNL cast member Ben Marshall shared that Turnstile will be the first hardcore band to perform on the show since Fear took to the stage in 1981.
This weekend’s host, actress Dakota Johnson, noted that Fear “completely trashed the set” and their time on stage was “a mess.” She then asked the Baltimore outfit, “You’re not planning to do that, right, Turnstile?”
The band then stood in awkward silence. Following prodding from Marshall and Johnson, they hesitantly said, “Yes, Dakota.”
Check out the video for yourself – the third in the carousel below – to see if you believe them.
Fear isn’t the only act to cause controversy on Saturday Night Live.
In 1996, American rock legends Rage Against the Machine hung upside-down American flags from their amplifiers in protest against that episode’s host, billionaire and then-presidential candidate Steve Forbes. They were kicked out of the building after the flags were taken down.
While her music isn’t hardcore, American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers appeared on SNL in early 2021. Her performance was deemed controversial on some corners of the internet after she smashed her electric guitar on stage while performing her song, I Know the End.
So, will Turnstile make the headlines next week? They already have a reputation for surprising audiences: last year, they delivered the first-ever stage dive on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert history while performing their rager, BIRDS.
The Baltimore band toured Australia in January, playing a bunch of headline shows in addition to their appearance at Beyond the Valley. They were joined by special guests, emo revivalists Basement, at all shows.
Turnstile’s most recent album, NEVER ENOUGH, was released in June 2025.
