Turnstile Artistfacts

2010-
Brendan YatesVocals, keyboards2010–
Daniel FangDrums2010–
"Freaky" Franz LyonsBass2010–
Sean "Coo" CullenGuitar2010-2016
Brady EbertGuitar2010-2022
Pat McCroryGuitar2016-
Meg MillsGuitar2025-
Formed in 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland, Turnstile started as a tight group of friends with a simple goal: to push beyond the boundaries of traditional hardcore. In the band's early days, the lineup was fluid and DIY, teaching themselves instruments as needed. While rooted in hardcore punk, Turnstile quickly carved out their own lane, blending in unexpected influences like funk, shoegaze, and soul to create a sound that felt both rebellious and refreshingly open.
Frontman Brendan Yates grew up in Burtonsville, Maryland, near Baltimore, and was immersed in the region's vibrant hardcore scene from a young age. He played in every school concert band he could, seeking out any opportunity to make music.
Before Turnstile, Yates was the drummer for Trapped Under Ice, another well-known hardcore band from Baltimore. He became Turnstile's vocalist despite not having formal vocal training. This DIY approach is central to the band's ethos.
Turnstile chose their name primarily because they thought it sounded good, rather than for any deep symbolic meaning. "We felt like it was a cool word, so we went with it," Yates told Away From Life. "Naturally I feel like band names turn into their own thing, we thought it sounded cool."
Glow On (2021), their third studio album, was recorded during lockdown and fused hardcore with synth-pop and R&B. It spawned the single "Mystery," which reached #8 on Alternative Airplay chart and earned Turnstile three Grammy nominations.
Turnstile are that rare breed of hardcore band with true crossover appeal, landing spots at major festivals and turning up in mainstream media without losing their edge. Their live shows are a wild blend of mosh and movement, where chaos feels like communion and the crowd becomes part of the music. Known for breaking down genres, Turnstile have managed to bring hardcore to new ears while still paying respect to the scene that shaped them.
Yates wants T. Rex's "Cosmic Dancer" played at his funeral, as he connects deeply to the song's message about dancing through life.
In March 2025, former co-founding guitarist Brady Ebert was arrested and charged with attempted murder after deliberately striking 78-year-old William Yates - the father of Brendan Yates - with his car during an argument outside Yates' home in Montgomery County, Maryland. Ebert had been cut from Turnstile in 2022 due to what the band described as "a consistent pattern of harmful behavior." William Yates sustained a broken leg and underwent surgery.