Hurra Torpedo
Encyclopedia
Hurra Torpedo is a band from Norway
that plays songs using kitchen appliances alongside more traditional instruments. They were formed in the early nineties, are part of the artistic collective Duplex Records, and all members of the band also play in a variety of other bands in Norway.
During recent years Hurra Torpedo have had annual split- and reunion tours. The band struck international fame when a television performance of the 1983 Bonnie Tyler
power ballad "Total Eclipse of the Heart
", using kitchen appliances for percussion, spread as an internet meme
. The clip, from a Norwegian
comedy
-variety show
called Lille lørdag ("Little Saturday")
(aired on Wednesdays - "the Little Saturday
" in the Scandinavian week), was filmed in 1995. In early 2005 the clip was uploaded to the internet.
In the clip, the band, dressed in ill-fitting jogging suits, play on a stage surrounded by various kitchen appliances. Frontman Hegerberg plays guitar and sings in a deliberately off-key monotone and with a strong Norwegian accent, Schau "drums" by hitting a stove with a stick and slamming the door of a chest-freezer, while Guttormsgaard adds backing vocals, and at the climax smashes the top of an electrical stove with a cement press more or less to the beat of the song.
In October/November 2005 they became part of a viral ad campaign by going on a coast to coast tour in the U.S. that was paid for by Ford in order to promote the Ford Fusion
car. As part of the ad campaign, a mockumentary
movie called "The Crushing Blow" was being made, said to have been directed by the "character" Pip Simon who is played by the actress Tara Copeland while in reality it was directed by Joey Garfield.
By the end of November 2005 a clip from The Crushing Blow was viewed more than 500,000 times in a couple of days from the web site iFilm, and some of the clips spread around blog sites.
The band played several gigs in Norway
the first half of 2006, and the Garorock festival in Marmande, France
, with approximately 5000 in the audience.
Hurra Torpedo had two showcases at the 2006 South by Southwest
festival, and in June they went on new US Tour, starting in Boston, ending in San Francisco three weeks later. Along this tour they played to an enthused audience at the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival
in Lawrence, Kansas
. This tour has no connection with Ford.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
that plays songs using kitchen appliances alongside more traditional instruments. They were formed in the early nineties, are part of the artistic collective Duplex Records, and all members of the band also play in a variety of other bands in Norway.
During recent years Hurra Torpedo have had annual split- and reunion tours. The band struck international fame when a television performance of the 1983 Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
power ballad "Total Eclipse of the Heart
Total Eclipse of the Heart
"Total Eclipse of the Heart" is a song written and produced by Jim Steinman and recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler for her fifth studio album, Faster Than the Speed of Night...
", using kitchen appliances for percussion, spread as an internet meme
Internet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
. The clip, from a Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
-variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
called Lille lørdag ("Little Saturday")
Lille Lørdag
Åpen Post was a Norwegian sketch comedy television program that ran on the Norwegian state channel NRK from 1995 till 1996.The show was significant in launching the careers of comedians Harald Eia and Bård Tufte Johansen....
(aired on Wednesdays - "the Little Saturday
Little Saturday
Little Saturday is a Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish concept that adds Wednesday to the list of "drinking days", with Friday and Saturday...
" in the Scandinavian week), was filmed in 1995. In early 2005 the clip was uploaded to the internet.
In the clip, the band, dressed in ill-fitting jogging suits, play on a stage surrounded by various kitchen appliances. Frontman Hegerberg plays guitar and sings in a deliberately off-key monotone and with a strong Norwegian accent, Schau "drums" by hitting a stove with a stick and slamming the door of a chest-freezer, while Guttormsgaard adds backing vocals, and at the climax smashes the top of an electrical stove with a cement press more or less to the beat of the song.
In October/November 2005 they became part of a viral ad campaign by going on a coast to coast tour in the U.S. that was paid for by Ford in order to promote the Ford Fusion
Ford Fusion (North America)
The Ford Fusion is a mid-size car produced by the Ford Motor Company since the 2006 model year. The 2010 model was awarded the Motor Trend Car of the Year and its hybrid version won the 2010 North American Car of the Year Award...
car. As part of the ad campaign, a mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
movie called "The Crushing Blow" was being made, said to have been directed by the "character" Pip Simon who is played by the actress Tara Copeland while in reality it was directed by Joey Garfield.
By the end of November 2005 a clip from The Crushing Blow was viewed more than 500,000 times in a couple of days from the web site iFilm, and some of the clips spread around blog sites.
The band played several gigs in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
the first half of 2006, and the Garorock festival in Marmande, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, with approximately 5000 in the audience.
Hurra Torpedo had two showcases at the 2006 South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
festival, and in June they went on new US Tour, starting in Boston, ending in San Francisco three weeks later. Along this tour they played to an enthused audience at the Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival
Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival
Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival is a four-day music festival held in early June at Mulberry Mountain near Ozark, Arkansas. The festival has been held annually since 2004....
in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
. This tour has no connection with Ford.
Members
- Egil HegerbergEgil HegerbergEgil Hegerberg is a Norwegian musician known for his humorous lyrics and behaviour.-Career:He is best known as a bassist and vocalist, but also plays the guitar, keyboard and synth. He has experimented in several different genres such as punk rock, heavy metal, hard rock, stoner rock, acoustic...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Kristopher SchauKristopher SchauKristopher Hugh Martin Schau is a Norwegian musician, TV host, comedian, author and songwriter.-Radio and television shows:...
- percussion, backing vocals - Aslag GuttormsgaardAslag GuttormsgaardAslag Guttormsgaard is a Norwegian musician, screenwriter and actor. Together with Egil Hegerberg and Lars Lønning he is the founder of the artistic collective Duplex...
- percussion, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals
Discography
- To håndfaste burgere - cassette (Duplex Records 1992)
- Stockholm - 7" vinyl (Duplex Records 1995)
- Total Eclipse of the Heart - CD (Duplex Records 2005)
- Kollossus of Makedonia - CD (Duplex Records 2006)