Turnstile Becomes First Hardcore Band on SNL in 45 Years — SkimNews
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- Turnstile made their SNL debut as the first hardcore band to play the late-night show in 45 years, performing "BIRDS" and an "I CARE/DULL" medley on Studio 8H
- Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance, presenting host Dakota Johnson with a birthday cake; Johnson introduced Swift as her "literal therapist"
- The episode is the second of SNL's 52nd season, which premiered last week with host Jalen Brunson and musical guest Katseye
- Next week's show features Rosalía with host Shane Gillis, and Gracie Abrams is set for the October 31 episode hosted by Inde Navarrette
- Turnstile will continue a North American tour through November, culminating at Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in Los Angeles
- Swift's most recent musical guest run was in 2021, when she performed the ten-minute edit of "All Too Well"; she released "The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore" deluxe on September 25 and received the inaugural MTV VMA Artist Director Honors
- The last hardcore act on SNL was FEAR in 1981, whose performance reportedly caused $20,000 in damages to NBC Studios at Rockefeller Center — though frontman Lee Ving contested the figure in a 2009 interview, claiming it was closer to $500,000
Why it matters: Turnstile's booking as SNL's first hardcore act in 45 years signals the show's push toward genre diversity, and carries the legacy of FEAR's chaotic 1981 set that reportedly left thousands in studio damage. For a band riding a major crossover moment, a national prime-time platform like this amplifies reach just as their tour enters its final stretch through November.
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