Kim Ljung
Encyclopedia
Kim Ljung is a musician from Tønsberg
, Norway
. He is best known as the bassist in Norwegian alternative rock band Seigmen
and industrial band Zeromancer
. He also appeared as guest vocalist on SubGud's Time Machine.
In the beginning, the band viewed it more as fun than as a serious outlet for their musical and artistic inspirations, playing a punkish style of rock but that changed rapidly.
.
In 1992, the band changed its name to Seigmen
and released its first official album - the dark and unpolished Pluto - which took both the musical underground and many journalists by storm. On it they combined dark progressive rock
elements with punk rock
, grunge
, heavy metal
and perhaps a little gothic rock
. During the summer and fall the CD had to be reissued in several editions to satisfy the growing numbers of fan. Combined with a powerful and memorable stage act, the band soon turned into a household name in the underground music scene.
In the mid 1990s, with albums such as Ameneon (1993) and Total (1994), the band cemented its position as one of the most important and innovative in Norwegian music history. And the number of fans swelled well beyond underground status.
The apex of commercial success was reached with the album Metropolis in 1995. It made its debut, in week 44, at the number 1 spot on the important VG Album Charts. Within a few days it sold to Gold (25,000 copies) and didn't stop until it had passed 50,000! This is a good figure for any artist in a small country like Norway
.
The second half of the decade saw the band move in a more electronic direction with Radiowaves, their last proper studio album, in 1997.
In 1999, by the time their greatest hits album, Monument 1989-1999, was released, Sverre had decided to leave the band to focus on his family. An old agreement among the members was that if one of them left they should disband Seigmen
. And that's what happened after their final concert at Rockefeller concert hall in Oslo
on March 6, 1999.
with former Vampire State Building keyboard-player Erik Lunggren and the American Chris Schleyer.
Zeromancer
never managed to reach the same heights, neither with respect to musical innovation nor in popularity, as Seigmen
had. But they've toured extensively both in Europe and America, and they seem to have grown fairly popular in Germany with their take on industrial metal.
So far the band has released five albums, Clone Your Lover in 2000, Eurotrash in 2001, ZZYZX in 2003, Sinners International in 2009 and The Death Of Romance in 2010
has gathered weight until at some point in 2004 he felt compelled to collect some of the songs and release his first solo album. And due to the number of songs it turned out to be a double album!
The double CD, The other side of all things, was released on Pleasuredisc Records
on February 26, 2005 under the alias Ljungblut. The sound is a lot more acoustic and melancholic than what we ever heard from Seigmen
, but the melodies and lyrics are strong and personal and this is certainly a contender for the title Best Norwegian Album of the Year.
Different members are actively pursuing their own side projects; Alex has been working as producer for a few Norwegian artists - such as Gåte
and Don Juan Dracula, Erik has lent his keyboard and computer skills out to such various artists as the Swiss electro band Undergod and Norwegian black metal acts Satyricon
.
Even Seigmen
may still have a future, though all the members deny it, because they agreed to do "one last" concert during the UKA
-festival in Trondheim
on October 20, 2005. Six
years after disbanding the band they stood on stage together again, in front of an audience of more than 5000 people. After this success they went on a small tour in Norway in the summer of 2006.
DVD
Zeromancer
Ljungblut
Guest appearances in songs
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
, 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...
. He is best known as the bassist in Norwegian alternative rock band Seigmen
Seigmen
Seigmen was a Norwegian alternative rock band in the 1990s. The bandname is derived from a Norwegian brand of candies, "Seigmenn". The band went from a hard-edged grunge-like style to a more dynamic sound with more ambient parts and use of synthesizers and various audio-effects.-Members:* Kim...
and industrial band Zeromancer
Zeromancer
Zeromancer is a Norwegian industrial rock band formed in 1999 by members of the band Seigmen. The current lineup is Alex Møklebust , Kim Ljung , Noralf Ronthi Lorry Kristiansen and Dan Heide...
. He also appeared as guest vocalist on SubGud's Time Machine.
Early career
Kim Ljung started his musical career as bass player and songsmith in the band Klisne Seigmenn in 1989. In addition to Kim, the band consisted of his kindergarten buddy Marius Roth Christensen on guitar, singer Alex Møklebust, drummer Noralf Ronthi and guitarist Sverre Økshoff.In the beginning, the band viewed it more as fun than as a serious outlet for their musical and artistic inspirations, playing a punkish style of rock but that changed rapidly.
Seigmen
For the full article see SeigmenSeigmen
Seigmen was a Norwegian alternative rock band in the 1990s. The bandname is derived from a Norwegian brand of candies, "Seigmenn". The band went from a hard-edged grunge-like style to a more dynamic sound with more ambient parts and use of synthesizers and various audio-effects.-Members:* Kim...
.
In 1992, the band changed its name to Seigmen
Seigmen
Seigmen was a Norwegian alternative rock band in the 1990s. The bandname is derived from a Norwegian brand of candies, "Seigmenn". The band went from a hard-edged grunge-like style to a more dynamic sound with more ambient parts and use of synthesizers and various audio-effects.-Members:* Kim...
and released its first official album - the dark and unpolished Pluto - which took both the musical underground and many journalists by storm. On it they combined dark progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
elements with punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
, heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and perhaps a little gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
. During the summer and fall the CD had to be reissued in several editions to satisfy the growing numbers of fan. Combined with a powerful and memorable stage act, the band soon turned into a household name in the underground music scene.
In the mid 1990s, with albums such as Ameneon (1993) and Total (1994), the band cemented its position as one of the most important and innovative in Norwegian music history. And the number of fans swelled well beyond underground status.
The apex of commercial success was reached with the album Metropolis in 1995. It made its debut, in week 44, at the number 1 spot on the important VG Album Charts. Within a few days it sold to Gold (25,000 copies) and didn't stop until it had passed 50,000! This is a good figure for any artist in a small country like 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 second half of the decade saw the band move in a more electronic direction with Radiowaves, their last proper studio album, in 1997.
In 1999, by the time their greatest hits album, Monument 1989-1999, was released, Sverre had decided to leave the band to focus on his family. An old agreement among the members was that if one of them left they should disband Seigmen
Seigmen
Seigmen was a Norwegian alternative rock band in the 1990s. The bandname is derived from a Norwegian brand of candies, "Seigmenn". The band went from a hard-edged grunge-like style to a more dynamic sound with more ambient parts and use of synthesizers and various audio-effects.-Members:* Kim...
. And that's what happened after their final concert at Rockefeller concert hall in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
on March 6, 1999.
Zeromancer
With the departure of Sverre the other members were free to form new constellations. Somehow, Marius got left out so he went on to take an education in classical music and has since appeared on both TV and radio as lead singer for choirs. The remaining three - Kim, Alex and Noralf - formed the industrial group ZeromancerZeromancer
Zeromancer is a Norwegian industrial rock band formed in 1999 by members of the band Seigmen. The current lineup is Alex Møklebust , Kim Ljung , Noralf Ronthi Lorry Kristiansen and Dan Heide...
with former Vampire State Building keyboard-player Erik Lunggren and the American Chris Schleyer.
Zeromancer
Zeromancer
Zeromancer is a Norwegian industrial rock band formed in 1999 by members of the band Seigmen. The current lineup is Alex Møklebust , Kim Ljung , Noralf Ronthi Lorry Kristiansen and Dan Heide...
never managed to reach the same heights, neither with respect to musical innovation nor in popularity, as Seigmen
Seigmen
Seigmen was a Norwegian alternative rock band in the 1990s. The bandname is derived from a Norwegian brand of candies, "Seigmenn". The band went from a hard-edged grunge-like style to a more dynamic sound with more ambient parts and use of synthesizers and various audio-effects.-Members:* Kim...
had. But they've toured extensively both in Europe and America, and they seem to have grown fairly popular in Germany with their take on industrial metal.
So far the band has released five albums, Clone Your Lover in 2000, Eurotrash in 2001, ZZYZX in 2003, Sinners International in 2009 and The Death Of Romance in 2010
Ljungblut
But Kim has also been active on his own. Over the years material that didn't fit in with ZeromancerZeromancer
Zeromancer is a Norwegian industrial rock band formed in 1999 by members of the band Seigmen. The current lineup is Alex Møklebust , Kim Ljung , Noralf Ronthi Lorry Kristiansen and Dan Heide...
has gathered weight until at some point in 2004 he felt compelled to collect some of the songs and release his first solo album. And due to the number of songs it turned out to be a double album!
The double CD, The other side of all things, was released on Pleasuredisc Records
Pleasuredisc Records
Pleasuredisc Records is an independent record label, located in Tønsberg, Norway.A new addition the family of small, independent Norwegian record labels, Pleasuredisc can so far only claim to be the home to one artists - Ljungblut...
on February 26, 2005 under the alias Ljungblut. The sound is a lot more acoustic and melancholic than what we ever heard from Seigmen
Seigmen
Seigmen was a Norwegian alternative rock band in the 1990s. The bandname is derived from a Norwegian brand of candies, "Seigmenn". The band went from a hard-edged grunge-like style to a more dynamic sound with more ambient parts and use of synthesizers and various audio-effects.-Members:* Kim...
, but the melodies and lyrics are strong and personal and this is certainly a contender for the title Best Norwegian Album of the Year.
The future
Ljungblut and Zeromancer are both scheduled for new releases next year. As well as a Seigmen DVD containing the reunion show, videos, interviews, and a documentary with unreleased material.Different members are actively pursuing their own side projects; Alex has been working as producer for a few Norwegian artists - such as Gåte
Gåte
Gåte was a band from Trøndelag, Norway playing Norwegian folk music bred with metal and electronica. Their style has been referred to as progressive folk-rock...
and Don Juan Dracula, Erik has lent his keyboard and computer skills out to such various artists as the Swiss electro band Undergod and Norwegian black metal acts Satyricon
Satyricon (band)
Satyricon is a Norwegian black metal band, and the first one in the genre to join a multi-national record label .-Biography:Satyricon was formed in 1990 by Czral and Wargod. Ulver and Satyr soon joined them...
.
Even Seigmen
Seigmen
Seigmen was a Norwegian alternative rock band in the 1990s. The bandname is derived from a Norwegian brand of candies, "Seigmenn". The band went from a hard-edged grunge-like style to a more dynamic sound with more ambient parts and use of synthesizers and various audio-effects.-Members:* Kim...
may still have a future, though all the members deny it, because they agreed to do "one last" concert during the UKA
UKA
UKA is the largest cultural festival in Norway and is arrangedevery other year entirely by volunteer students from Trondheim. In 2007, 1394 students did volunteer work, while 78,000 event tickets were sold....
-festival in Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
on October 20, 2005. Six
years after disbanding the band they stood on stage together again, in front of an audience of more than 5000 people. After this success they went on a small tour in Norway in the summer of 2006.
Full Kim Discography
Seigmen- Det Finnes Alltid En Utvei [EP] (1990)
- Pluto [EP] (1992)
- Ameneon [Album] (1993)
- Monsun [Single] (1993)
- Total [Album] (1994)
- Hjernen er Alene [Single] (1994)
- Döderlein [Single] (1994)
- Lament [Single] (1994)
- Metropolis [Album] (1995)
- Metropolis [Single] (1995)
- Slaver av Solen [Single] (1995)
- The Grandmaster Recordings [Album] (1995)
- Radiowaves [Album] (1997)
- The First Wave [Single] (1997)
- The Next Wave [Single] (1997)
- The Opera For The Crying Machinery [Promo] (1997)
- Mørkets Øy [Single](1997)
- Monument [Album](1999)
- Rockefeller [Album] (2006)
- Döderlein [live single] (2006)
DVD
- Fra x til døden (2006)
Zeromancer
- Clone Your Lover [Album] (2000)
- Clone Your Lover [Promo] (2000)
- Eurotrash [Album] (2001)
- Eurotrash [Promo] (2001)
- Doctor Online [Single] (2001)
- Need You Like A Drug [Promo] (2001)
- Zzyzx [Album](2003)
- Famous Last Words [Promo] (2003)
- Famous Last Words [Single] (2003)
- Erotic Saints [Promo] (2003)
- Eurotrash [DVD] (2004)
- Doppelganger I love you [Promo] (2007)
- I'm yours to lose [Single] (2007)
- Sinners International [Album] (2009)
- The Death of Romance [Album] (2010)
Ljungblut
- Family Album [Promo] (2004)
- The Other Side of All Things [Album, Russian Edition] (2005)
- Capitals [Album] (2007)
- Capitals [Album, Russian Edition] (2007)
- Over Skyene Skinner Alltid Solen (2011)
Guest appearances in songs
- SubGud - Time Machine (Kim did vocals, released on Magnet)
External links
- Seigmen.org. Accessed September 28, 2008
- Korsfarer. Accessed September 28, 2008
- Zeromancer. Accessed September 28, 2008
- Ljungblut. Accessed September 28, 2008
- VG Album Charts, Week 44, 1995. Accessed September 28, 2008
- Undergod article. Accessed September 28, 2008
- UKA 2005 with Seigmen live. Accessed August 18, 2005
- Kim Ljung - Russian fan's community. Accessed September 28, 2008