Coming Out of Their Shells 20th Anniversary

[Guitar_Raph]

This season marks the 20th anniversary of when TMNT dropped the weapons & picked up musical instruments as Comin Out of Their Shells turns 20!

Anyone attend the shows or saw them on tv? Any special memories?

I first saw them on Larry King & grew my interest in seeing TMNT playing as a band.

[Berserker]

Despite being only 8 years old, I was too embarrassed to ask my parents to take me to this. Even then, I thought it was terribly cheesy.
________
STRAWBERRY COUGH (http://trichomes.org/marijuana-strains/deep-chunk-x-strawberry-cough/deep-chunk-x-strawberry-cough)

[gobo]

I went. Got a program too. Lookin' to sell though.

[Venom]

I wasn't able to go due to it being sold out in my area. I had to get the cassette tape a couple of years later. I got the feeling the concert was more about the spectacle of the show than the songs. :shifty:

[Berserker]

I got the feeling the concert was more about the spectacle of the show than the songs. :shifty:

Of course it was. The songs are just fluff; it was like Sesame Street Live or any other bajillion live children's shows. The whole point for kids was the escapism of seeing real life cartoon characters in action. Unfortunately for the show, it was practically too goofy to be convincing, even for little kids.

I'm sure this has been posted before, but the Nostalgia Critic did a special on the show and how dumb it seems when you look back on it as an adult: http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/8124-cntmnt

Now, don't think I'm bashing it. Coming Out of Their Shells is definitely a curiosity for hardcore turtles fans and a part of what made Turtle Mania so wacky and over the top. A piece of pop culture history.

[Fugitoid Jones]

I remember seeing them as a kid on Regis and Kathie Lee, and I was hoping they were promoting a new movie, but was dissapointed when I found out it was a concert. Even back then, as the hardcore TMNT tyke I was/am, I really didn't care much for them doing music and doing a concert, I wanted to see them kicking ass!

Has anyone watched the video of this show lately? I did a few weeks ago, and it would've been kinda fun to see live as a kid, but whenever Splinter or April were singing songs, I just know that as a kid, I would've just been like "What's this crap? A ballad by a rat and newsreporter? Where are the Turtles!"

[gobo]

The music was the best part.

[plastroncafe]

I went. Even "snuck" down to the front row during the show.
Still have the tape somewhere in my apartment, I really should get around to ripping that to mp3 at some point.

Wow was that show god awful, and yet I loved EVERY single second.

[Raph's Girl]

I would have loved to have gone to one of the shows but alas I was in Germany at the time. I heard that they DID eventually go to Europe but it was AFTER I had moved to the states....figures.

I saw them on oprah tho. All the kids in the neighborhood came to my place to watch it. And some friends of mine who were members of the fan club at the time had the concert (Behind the Shells I think) video itself. Splinter's song "Skipping Stones" is definatly a fave of mine.

About maybe 8 years ago I found a tape cassett of the Coots tour at a dollar store. I still play it on occasion but I have my fave TMNT songs on my Mp3 player now. *lol*

[Rise1184]

Wow, 20 already? This was my very first concert.. I believe I was 6.. Such an AMAZING experience!! I still have it on VHS!! :)

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Did they perform the "Ninja Rap" live?

[Voidoid]

Haha yeah the show was terrible but I play "pizza power" everyday religiously, that song is the only good thing that came out of coming out of their shells.

[gobo]

I came to the conclusion the other day that there Coming Out Of Their Shells & Gettin' Down In Your Town have nothing to do with Turtle Tunes & We Wish You A Turtle Christmas except for the subject matter (TMNT) & genre (musical). As far as I've noticed, they shared no crew members at all. Anyone care to confirm or deny this?

[sagelwwa]

I have the VHS and audio tape, but my best memory of this is all the Pizza Hut promotional stuff. Pizza Hut was like Turtle heaven for awhile there!!

[KittenBunny]

I went. Got a program too. Lookin' to sell though.

Hello! I'd be interested in buying the program... do you have some pix you can post of it? whats its condition like? PM me if you want :)

I love the 'coming out of our shells' turtle's with their funky get up, its classic!

xx kb

[Spitfire]

Even as a kid I thought this idea was retarded. My parents bought me the cassette tape and I listened to it like 2 or 3 times before never touching it again. Someone bought me a Making Of VHS too but I never saw the full show. That tape alone was enough to keep me from wanting to go.

[oldmanwinters]

I've never seen the official program, but I do have some scans of the official tour guide!
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/ComingOutShells_a.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/ComingOutShells_b.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/ComingOutShells_c.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/ComingOutShells_crop.jpg

I wonder who thought this idea up? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle... Rock Stars?

[gobo]

Hello! I'd be interested in buying the program... do you have some pix you can post of it? whats its condition like? PM me if you want :)

I love the 'coming out of our shells' turtle's with their funky get up, its classic!

xx kb
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o98/jlowens80/IMG_1610.jpg?t=1288315512
Let me assure you that it isn't the same as the Pizza Hut tour guide thing. It's taller, thicker and includes tons of technical details/credits regarding the show. There probably aren't many in circulation since they were horribly expensive (somewhere from $10-15 [back in 1990, that was a fortune!]).
Even as a kid I thought this idea was retarded.
Not gonna lie to ya, it was fairly pathetic. The music was pretty sweet, but the lyrics were corny (not the amusing kind either) and the stage show was embarassingly lame w/ suits that would make H.R. Puffnstuff die of embarassment. But, being one of those kids who usually tuned out lyrics anyway, I had no problem rockin' out to the tape every chance I got.
I wonder who thought this idea up? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle... Rock Stars?
I believe Bob Bejan orchestrated this stage show.

[Spitfire]

Not gonna lie to ya, it was fairly pathetic. The music was pretty sweet, but the lyrics were corny (not the amusing kind either) and the stage show was embarassingly lame w/ suits that would make H.R. Puffnstuff die of embarassment. But, being one of those kids who usually tuned out lyrics anyway, I had no problem rockin' out to the tape every chance I got.

I grew up listening to Megadeth, Slayer, Iron Maiden, and a bunch of other metal bands so the lameness of it was even more apparent. My Dad was also in a metal band so I was around musicians all the time.

That's cool you were that into it though. When I was a kid I went to the Power Rangers live thing. I got all into that. Had a laser sword fight in the parking lot with my friend afterward. If I remember we had to scream to defeat the big bad guy.

[Ninjinister]

Did they perform the "Ninja Rap" live?

Considering the fact that Ninja Rap wouldn't exist until the following year, I'm going with "no".

[TheCanadiandrome]

I've never seen the official program, but I do have some scans of the official tour guide!
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/ComingOutShells_a.jpg
I wonder who thought this idea up? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle... Rock Stars?

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o98/jlowens80/IMG_1610.jpg?t=1288315512
Let me assure you that it isn't the same as the Pizza Hut tour guide thing. It's taller, thicker and includes tons of technical details/credits regarding the show. There probably aren't many in circulation since they were horribly expensive (somewhere from $10-15 [back in 1990, that was a fortune!]).


man i'd so love to get either or both of these! i went to the concert when it came to my area, and loved it! but i never got either of these

[KittenBunny]

I went. Got a program too. Lookin' to sell though.

How about you PM me some details? like cost you're after and condition?

I love anything to do with the cheesiness that was coming out of our shells, let alone any of the other wonderful turtle band/singing gimmicks, I always loved the crazy suit designs of the turtles, almost as much as I loved the suit designs from Disney land back in the day... i think it was Disney land? where they did a musical number on stage for the kids and gave them a 'autograph' that was a stamp of some sort?? I saw it on you tube, unfort I was in the wrong country and the wrong age to have gone and seen it...

sometimes it truly sucks living on a big Island out in the ocean thats isolated from all the other countries even if its a beautiful place... we dont get the same massive cultural wave that other countries do when pop media phenomena like the TMNT hit...

KB xx

[Gyt Kaliba]

Heh, I was cleaning my room yesterday and found this in my room actually.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg142/Gyt_Kaliba/IMG000081.jpg

A casette of the songs! :P

I remember my mom finding it for me at a yard sale a few years back, and I had no idea what this thing was. Listening to it, I was like '...Wha?'

[TheCanadiandrome]

cool! that cassette is one item on my wishlist!

[Gyt Kaliba]

I'm not really sure what to do with the thing now that I've found it lol...I don't have anything that even plays a cassette anyway, and I don't particularly want the thing that much. :/

[愛]

I have a sealed casette tape of Coming Out of Their Shells if anyone is interested in doing business. :)

[Rikirk]

I remember this album. Its lying around somewhere amidst all my junk. Of course it was shlocky,...but what do you expect from 1989 or so.
There were 2 songs I still love from that and still play on my MP3.
Remember No Treaties and Count on Us. Love those.
Eh... its a great bit of nostalgia. And if you keep those items in good condition, they may be worth something in the future.

[TheCanadiandrome]

I'm not really sure what to do with the thing now that I've found it lol...I don't have anything that even plays a cassette anyway, and I don't particularly want the thing that much. :/

how much would u part with it?

[Gyt Kaliba]

how much would u part with it?

Not sure, I'd have to think about it, though I've never sold anything online before. Drop me a PM if you're still interested.

In the interest of you getting the best possible deal, I would also talk to Ai there about his/her copy, since it's even sealed. Mine however, is not and has a 25 cents sticker from that yard sale on it, that I'm not sure if it will come off without leaving a mark. That's on the case, not the cassette, though mind you.

[Abnormal Freak]

Ha. My brother just this morning gave me his old tape of this album. Coolest crappy gift I've ever received. :)

No cassette player, though.

I gotta say, I love the theme song, ha. Probably because of its use in Turtles in Time. The arcade version even had the lyrics!

[TheCanadiandrome]

Not sure, I'd have to think about it, though I've never sold anything online before. Drop me a PM if you're still interested.

In the interest of you getting the best possible deal, I would also talk to Ai there about his/her copy, since it's even sealed. Mine however, is not and has a 25 cents sticker from that yard sale on it, that I'm not sure if it will come off without leaving a mark. That's on the case, not the cassette, though mind you.

i will think about it and get back to either one of you

[XERO]

I actually enjoyed the music. It was cheesy, but catchy as hell.

[Hero]

It did'nt hit the UK, but thanks to online means I got to see this and the Christmas special they did in 2008.

Was there ever a follow up tour?

===HERO

[gobo]

It did'nt hit the UK, but thanks to online means I got to see this and the Christmas special they did in 2008.
I'm really thinking the live-action musical eps, Turtle Tunes & We Wish You A Turtle Christmas, were an entirely different production. They seem to share no crew members or anything.
Was there ever a follow up tour?
Yeah. It was called Gettin' Down In Your Town. Casey was in this one. It also supposedly had a soundtrack tape w/ four songs on it (Pizza Power and three new), but I've never found it. I'm starting to wonder if it ever existed or they included a mail-in offer that they just ended up abandoning. :ohwell:

[TheCanadiandrome]

Yeah. It was called Gettin' Down In Your Town. Casey was in this one. It also supposedly had a soundtrack tape w/ four songs on it (Pizza Power and three new), but I've never found it. I'm starting to wonder if it ever existed or they included a mail-in offer that they just ended up abandoning. ohwell:

well i have seen the VHS for it on Amazon but not a soundtrack

[Donnie]

Errr...I didn't go, but I grew up with the VHS tape...and...is it bad that I still like those songs?

April you know we're with youuuu

[Fugitoid Jones]

The April in COOTS was really hot. Watch the tape again, you'll see.

[Halfshell]

Anyone planning on selling the concert book?

[Powder]

Way to uselessly necrobump... Dude, if you want one, PM the people that own them or make a friggin' thread in the BST.

[Shreddhead]

I was born a little too late to have been old enough to attend, but i did have the cassette tape growing up. but the only memory i really have is the the song that shares the same name as the tour. oh i can still hear it today :tsmile:

But damn, some of those posters are pretty cool looking, especially the one with Mikey coming out of the sewer with the guitar. -good ol' pizza hut

[TurtleTech]

I was 8 years old and my dad took me to see it. We had awesome seats. We were only 6 rows back. I had the cassette tape of the sound track but somewhere along the way it has gotten lost, I still have the program though. I really enjoyed it. As most of you guys said the music was corny but heck Pizza Power was a kickin' tune.

[shezcrafti]

I've never seen the official program, but I do have some scans of the official tour guide!
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/ComingOutShells_a.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/ComingOutShells_b.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/ComingOutShells_c.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a56/slimer2erasmus/TMNT/ComingOutShells_crop.jpg

I wonder who thought this idea up? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle... Rock Stars?

"Turtle waxing his guitar" is going to become my new favorite euphemism.

[pannoni1]

Well I lost an eBay auction for that Program that went for about $25 including shipping, so its definitely held its value nicely, and I can see how it is rare considering the $10-$15 charge. Don't forget the Supermarket Sweep Host, David Ruprecht was also part of the TV special. Finally, if you were there, you've noticed that the south entrance was also labeled "Cowabunga Corner" on the street sign (well before Michele Ivey's idea), and is seen on the making video. I didn't see it at the time however as I was perhaps a little too young (Kindergarten) to get that detailed on Ninja Turtles and basically took what my parents offered me.

[JakeSully]

I remembered when i was 9 when it came to my city and i had a blast seeing my heroes live on stage then got the cassette album and program which was all kinds of cool.

"You can Count on Us", "pizza Power" and "Skipping Stones" are my fave songs from that show.

[mysterycolor]

is it bad that I still like those songs?


not at all :)

[Konchadunga]

You know, I forget whether I had any firsthand experience of this show. I think I vaguely remember seeing footage of the Turtles playing instruments at some point, and then seeing The Nostalgia Critic and Angry Video Game Nerd review seemed to bring about a sort of deja vu, but I still don't know for sure if I ever knew of it at the time. I was definitely watching the OT on TV at the time, though, so that may have been where I saw ads for the show.

After seeing the Critic and Nerd review, I hunted the songs down on Youtube and listened to them. There's nothing really offensive about them, but nothing really impressive either. Some of them, like "skipping stones," would likely be good songs if only they were better arranged, but overall the orchestration of the songs is very basic and feels like the work of amature musicians. The lyrics are the really bad thing a lot of the time; much of them are the same sort of "love and music will save the world" garbage you hear musicians say all the time to make themselves look cool, and many others are just lame. Their rap song is unbelievably bad; the lyrics just cut out for a lot of it, and even when they're present, contain lines like "Yo yo yo...here's Donatello. Unlike the other turtles...he's mellow." This all makes it one of the most enjoyable songs in the set due to unintentional humor.

The one song I feel is truly good is "Pizza Power." Not exactly one of the greatest rock songs ever, but musically and lyrically in line with the feel of the franchise at the time.