Turnstile Make Explosive SNL Debut With Birds and Never Enough Medley

Turnstile made their Saturday Night Live debut on Saturday (Oct. 4), performing three songs from their Grammy-winning album Never Enough on the Dakota Johnson-hosted episode.

The Baltimore hardcore band — appearing the night after a set at Austin City Limits — opened with “Birds,” which won best metal performance at the 68th annual Grammy Awards in February. Later in the show, the five-piece returned for a medley of “I Care” and “Dull.”

The appearance marked a milestone for the band, and for the genre: Turnstile are the first hardcore act to perform on SNL since Fear’s famously chaotic 1981 appearance. Host Dakota Johnson had teased the booking in a promo earlier in the week, joking that she was ready to start a “wall of death” for the band.

Never Enough, released in June 2025, is Turnstile’s fourth album and the follow-up to their 2021 breakthrough Glow On. It debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and topped the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, while its title track became the band’s first No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart. The record earned the group five Grammy nominations — making Turnstile the first band ever nominated across the rock, alternative and metal fields in a single ceremony — and converted two of them, winning best rock album alongside “Birds.”

In August, Turnstile followed up with Never Enough: Versions, a reimagined edition of the album featuring contributions from Elton John, Hayley Williams, Slayyyter, Julien Baker, Four Tet, Blood Orange, Faye Webster and Alex G, among others.

Johnson’s turn, which featured a surprise cameo from Taylor Swift, marked her third time hosting the show and arrived a day after the theatrical release of her new film Verity. Turnstile followed season 52 premiere guest KATSEYE, with Rosalía set to perform alongside host Shane Gillis on Oct. 10 and Gracie Abrams booked for Oct. 31 with host Inde Navarrette.

Turnstile’s tour resumes Monday (Oct. 5) in Oklahoma City, followed by stops in Lawrence, Kan.; St. Louis; Ventura, Calif.; and Las Vegas before the run wraps Oct. 18 in Santa Ana, Calif.