Teresa Nervosa

Teresa Nervosa

Artist

Drummer for Texas band Butthole Surfers from 1983 to 1989.
As Teresa Nervosa, she formed a dual-drummer partnership with King Coffey on the first four Butthole Surfers albums, before leaving the band due to health issues exacerbated by their sense-assaulting 80s live shows. She would play music with Coffey and Gibby Haynes on-and-off over the following years, and briefly rejoined Butthole Surfers on their 2008 tour.

Teresa Taylor gained her widest recognition through an appearance as “Pap Smear Pusher” in one of the most memorable scenes of Richard Linklater’s 1990 film Slacker. She also prominently featured in the film’s trailer and promotional art.

After being diagnosed with an “end-stage lung disease”, Taylor passed away on June 18, 2023 aged 60. Her New York Times obituary credited her as the “Face of Generation X”, through her appearance in Slacker “help[ing] define the image of an aimless generation”.